Aiming to finish their three match European tour on a high, Cell C Sharks will have an almost unchanged line up when they take on the VURC log leaders.
With all teams still trying to find their feet in the new season, the Durban outfit has won their first two matches and want to make it three in a row.
Assistant coach of Cell C Sharks Warren Whiteley said, “We’ve been working really hard over the last two weeks or so, we were disappointed in certain aspects of play in the first game [against Zebre] particularly, but we felt we made improvements against the Dragons.
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“However, we haven’t reached the standards we’ve set for ourselves so there is an emphasis on improvements.”
Two changes have been made to the starting line up both rotational, as Hyron Andrews and Reniel Hugo swapping jersey numbers in the second row, also Sikhumbuzo Notshe and Phepsi Buthelezi at eighthman.
“As coaches, we’re really excited with what we’ve seen [with the loose trio] over the last couple of weeks, it’s been phenomenal, and we know there’s going to be even more improvement in that department as we progress in the competition.
“What’s most important for us is the cohesion of the players which is really important and that does take time, especially in a loose trio and they’ll find each other the more they play together.
“And we have our Springboks as well as guys coming back from injury who will join the squad. But it’s really all about cohesion, guys playing together and finding combinations that work best for the team.
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“We have a specific game model that we trust and believe in,” Whitely explained, “and we want to keep it simple. The boys will make certain decisions on the day and in the moment, according to our game model and the plan for that weekend.
“We know Leinster have a powerful pack and a very strong maul – amongst other things – and this week is another great opportunity for us to keep improving.”
Cell C Sharks
1. Ntuthuko Mchunu
2. Kerron van Vuuren
3. Thomas du Toit (c)
4. Justin Basson
5. Hyron Andrews
6. James Venter
7. Dylan Richardson
8. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
9. Grant Williams
10. Boeta Chamberlain
11. Thaakir Abrahams
12. Ben Tapuai
13. Rohan Janse Van Rensburg
14. Werner Kok
15. Aphelele Fassi
Replacements
16. Dan Jooste
17. Dian Bleuler
18. Carlu Sadie
19. Reniel Hugo
20. Phepsi Buthelezi
21. Cameron Wright
22. Nevaldo Fleurs*
23. Marnus Potgieter