Category: EPCR Challenge Cup

Plum has rested most of his regular starters for the game against Lyon. Siya Masuku, Andre Esterhuizen, Francois Venter and Yaw Penxe will start with Emile van Heerden and Jurenzo Julius playing from the bench. Gerbrand Grobler is back from injury with Tino Masevere getting another opportunity. Nick Hatton will captain the team from 8.

Plum has selected a very powerful team for the EPCR Challenge Cup semi-final on Saturday. The loose trio look a lot more balanced with James Venter at 6 and Phepsi at 8. The back line is unchanged from last week. Cam Wright comes onto the bench for the injured Jaden Hendrikse.

Eben Etzebeth is out with a rib injury but there are still 7 World Cup Boks in the squad with 6 starting.

Corne Rahl starts in place of Eben with Gerbrandt Grobler on the bench. Ethan Hooker starts at 12 with Francois Venter moving to the bench. Good to see Grant Williams back on the bench.

Dave Williams (or Neil Powell) has made just two rotational changes to the starting lineup – James Venter and Jaden Hendrikse swaps with Tinotenda Mavesere and Grant Williams. However Dan Jooste, Coenie Oosthuizen, Le Roux Roets, Lionel Cronje and Rohan Janse van Rensburg all move onto the bench. Eben Etzebeth is rested for this match. On that topic hopefully this plus the following three weeks counts towards Eben’s mandatory break.

Teams like the Lions (9 log points) and Ospreys (9 log points) have already qualified for the round of 16, but no-one in Pool 1 (even Sharks with 12 log points and Cheetahs with 9 log points) have yet qualified.

Plum has kept the same back line, but has made some changes in the pack with Corne Rahl swapping with Eben Etzebeth. Tino Masevere gets his first start in an international competition with Diego Appollis and Eduan Keyter likely making their debuts in the second half. Khwezi Mona comes onto the bench in place of Joel Hintz (who has looked very uncomfortable in the last two games).

Plum had made two changes to the starting team – Werner Kok is back at wing and Le Roux Roets starts in the 5 jersey. It should make any front row happy knowing that Etzebeth and Roets are providing the go forward behind them.

Plum has shuffled his team around after the hiding the Sharks received in Loftus. Ox Nche will start along with Kerron van Vuuren. Corne Rahl replaces Emile van Heerden and may have to compete in the lineouts against the wily Sam Whitelock who joined Pau after the World Cup.