Young Cronjé in pivotal role at Newlands
Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:55
Sharks coach John Plumtree, who has drafted in all his available Springboks, has handed the crucial flyhalf role to teenage sensation Guy Cronjé for their opening match of the Currie Cup season - against Western Province at Newlands on Saturday.
The Under-19 star, Cronjé, impressed Plumtree as replacement against the British and Irish Lions last month and then in his starting role against the Pumas in last Friday's compulsory friendly.
The young product of Michaelhouse, and twin brother of Ross, the latter having made his debut for The Sharks in this year's Super 14, will face a tough test in going up against Emerging Springbok Willem de Waal at Newlands.
"I was very happy with Guy's performance against the Pumas," Plumtree said on the Sharks website.
"A lot of things about that position come naturally for him and he understands time and space, he's going to be excellent in time. It will certainly be a baptism of fire for him in Cape Town, but we'll put him in and see how he goes."
Plumtree also had no hesitation in throwing his returning Springboks straight into action on Saturday.
The pack features four Boks - in captain Johann Muller, fellow lock Steven Sykes, along with props Jannie du Plessis and Deon Carstens - and another two players from the Emerging Boks squad in flanks Jean Deysel and Jacques Botes.
Muller, Sykes and Carstens featured in the third and final Test against the B&I Lions in Johannesburg last Saturday.
Bok No.8 Ryan Kankowski, who is still nursing a leg strain, has been bracketed on the bench with Justin Downey - with a late call on his fitness to be made.
In the backline Odwa Ndungane also returns from Bok duty against the Lions and will start in the No.14 jersey, with veteran Bok Stefan Terblanche at fullback.
The Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Andries Strauss, 12 Riaan Swanepoel, 11
Luzuko Vulindlu, 10 Guy Cronjé, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Keegan Daniel, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Johann Muller (captain), 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Deon Carstens.
Replacements: 16 Skipper Badenhorst, 17 Patric Cilliers, 18 Albert van den Berg, 19 Justin Downey/Ryan Kankowski, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Monty Dumond, 22 Chris Jordaan.
Date: Saturday, July 11
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: François Veldsman, Cobus Wessels
TMO: JC Fortuin
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