Hooker Jaco Visagie will be tasked with leading the Fidelity ADT Lions this Friday for his side’s first Currie Cup match of the season against the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV in Durban (5.15pm).
Head coach Mziwakhe Nkosi has opted for a balanced outfit which features the necessary experience, with a glimpse of the future in the likes of prop forward RF Schoeman (starting) with Junior Springbok SJ Kotze and exciting halfback Layton Horn possibly earning their senior debuts.
Speaking ahead of his side’s trip to eThekwini, Nkosi was upbeat ahead of this year’s campaign, especially with the progression of some the youngsters to senior rugby.
“We’re excited about the start of the campaign and very keen to get going and with hopes of going deep in the competition,” he said.
“We believe we have got a good blend of players in the team to tackle the Sharks under the leadership of Jaco. A large part of our guys have come through the ranks at the franchise, and I’m sure are keen to put their hands up in this competition and establish themselves,” he concluded.
Elsewhere, powerful loose forward Ruan Venter returns to rugby after completing his suspension handed down to him for his red card in the United Rugby Championship against Glasgow Warriors back in May. Jarod Cairns and Izan Esterhuizen complete the back row with the latter bringing international club competition experience.
Last season’s marquee signing Kade Woluter leads the attack alongside another junior international Nico Steyn at halfback. Seasoned campaigner Rabz Maxwane returns on the left wing, with Boldwin Hansen and Gianni Lombard rounding up the back three.
New recruit Tapiwa Mafura could get his opportunity off the bench.
Hollywoodbets Sharks XV starting XV: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Diego Appollis, 12 Murray Koster, 11 Jaco Williams; 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Bradley Davids; 8 Nick Hatton (capt), 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Tino Mavesere; 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Coetzee le Roux; 3 Khwezi Mona, 2 Daniel Jooste, 1 Abraham Reyneke. Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Phatu Ganyane, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Reinier Viljoen, 20 Siya Ningiza, 21 Tiaan Fourie, 22 Alwayno Visagie, 23 Muller du Plessis.
Fidelity ADT Lions starting XV: 15 Gianni Lombard, 14 Boldwin Hansen, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Zander du Plessis, 11 Rabz Maxwane; 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Nico Steyn; 8 Izan Esterhuizen, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns; 5 Ruben Schoeman, 4 Raynard Roets; 3 RF Schoeman, 2 Jaco Visagie (capt), 1 Morgan Naude. Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 Heiko Pohlmann, 19 Ruhan Straeuli, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Layton Horn, 22 Rynhardt Jonker, 23 Tapiwa Mafura.
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