Sanlam Boland Kavaliers head coach Hawies Fourie has announced his match-day 23 to face the Fidelity ADT Lions in the Carling Currie Cup semi-final at Ellis Park on Saturday.
The Kavaliers have been boosted by the return of two key backline players. Playmaker Ashlon Davids is back at flyhalf after recovering from injury, while fullback James Tedder also returns after missing last week’s Western Cape derby against DHL Western Province.
There will be extra motivation for players such as Davids, Tedder, Sibusiso Sangweni, and HP van Schoor, who all once called Ellis Park their home during their stints with the Lions.
Fourie, however, has also been dealt a significant blow with both prolific try scorer Donovan Don (thigh) and powerhouse Wayrin Losper (shoulder), both ruled out due to injury.
Jayden Bantom, who made his debut off the bench against WP, gets his first start in place of Don on the wing. Veteran scrumhalf Louis Schreuder is back in the number 9 jersey after playing off the bench in Cape Town. He swaps places with Chriswill September.
Up front, lock Ameer Hendricks gets a start in place of Michael Benadie, who will play a role off the bench, while the fit-again Khwezi Mafu replaces Sauliegh Arendse at openside flanker. Mthokozisi Gumede starts at loosehead prop in place of Losper after covering tighthead prop last week, with Laurence Victor now providing tighthead cover from the bench.
Saturday’s semi-final will kick off at 17:00 with Griffon Colby the man in charge in the middle.
Sanlam Boland Kavaliers: 15 James Tedder, 14 Xavier Mitchell, 13 David Brits, 12 Lunathi Nxele, 11 Jayden Bantom, 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Thurlow Marsh (captain), 7 Sibusiso Sangweni, 6 Khwezi Mafu, 5 Marlyn Williams, 4 Ameer Hendricks, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Mthokozisi Gumede
Replacements: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 Lamla Nunu, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Michael Benadie, 20 Jurie van Vuuren, 21 Chriswill September, 22 Juan Mostert, 23 Erik Lambrecht