Kruger boost for battling Griquas
Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:14
Inside-centre Herkie Kruger and eighthman Heinrich Stride return to the Griqua team to face the Falcons in their Currie Cup fixture in Kimberley on Saturday.
To allow for local spectators to first watch the South Africa versus Australia Tri-Nations match in Durban, the kick-off for the game in Kimberley has been moved back to 17.00 (15.00 GMT).
Kruger returns after an injury-enforced break, while Stride was rested for last Friday's match against the Blue Bulls.
Also returning to the home team's starting line-up for this "must-win" match for Griquas are the halfback combination of flyhalf Conrad Barnard and scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius, along with lock Brendon Snyman - the latter replacing Cilliers Coetzer, who is continuing his career in France.
Stride's return means skipper Gareth Krause will play his 91st match for Griquas once again wearing the No.6 jersey.
With right wing Gavin Passens having sustained a knee injury, Bjorn Basson has been moved from fullback to replace him, with Riaan Viljoen moving from the midfield to wear the No.15 jersey.
After a lengthy injury lay-off centre Barry Geel makes a welcome return, having been named among the replacements.
Griquas: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Lafras Uys, 12 Herkie Kruger, 11 MJ Mentz, 10 Conrad Barnard, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Heinrich Stride, 7 Stephan Gerber, 6 Gareth Krause (captain), 5 Brendon Snyman, 4 Wayne van Heerden, 3 Ruaan du Preez, 2 Hans van Dyk, 1 Albertus Buckle.
Replacements: 16 James van der Walt, 17 Bees Roux, 18 Jacques Lombaard, 19 Rohan Kitshoff, 20 Dougie Helmuth, 21 Barry Geel, 22 Egon Seconds.
Date: Saturday, August 23
Venue: Absa Park, Kimberley
Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT)
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Touch judges: Lourens van der Merwe, Archie Sehlako
