Bok flyer starts for Sharks
The Sharks will welcome back Springbok flyer JP Pietersen when they travel to Bloemfontein to take on the Free State Cheetahs in a Currie Cup crunch match on Saturday.
The Bok wing had a pin removed last week after undergoing surgery in August from the injury he picked up during the Super Rugby Final, forcing him to miss the Rugby Championship.
Pietersen will start on the left wing in one of several changes to the Sharks starting XV.
Louis Ludik starts at fullback, while Meyer Bosman is named to take over from Riaan Viljoen at flyhalf – where he was named last week, before the conditions dictated a change in style.
Viljoen drops down to the bench this week.
The experienced Charl McLeod starts at scrumhalf ahead of the exciting Cobus Reinach.
In the only change to the pack Steven Sykes is out, with Jandré Marais taking his place in the second row.
On the bench Julian Redelinghuys slips out of the matchday 22, with Allan Dell given an opportunity out of the Under-21 ranks.
Sharks: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Meyer Bosman, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Keegan Daniel (captain), 7. Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Anton Bresler, 4 Jandré Marais, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Pieter Dixon, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Peet Marais, 19 Tera Mtembu, 20 Cobus Reinach, 21 Riaan Viljoen, 22 S'bura Sithole.
Date: Saturday, October 6
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Jason Jaftha
Assistant referees: Joey Salmans, Marc van Zyl
TMO: Gerrie Coetzee
