FOLLOWING their poor Super 12 showing the Natal Sharks will be on the hunt to restore some pride ahead of the Currie Cup when they clash with former Springbok and Natal legend Gary Teichmann’s heavyweight Newport outfit at Kings Park on Saturday. Caretaker coach Jake White has chosen a strong side for the match, with Hentie Martens and Clinton van Rensburg doing halfback duty, while Gaffie du Toit moves back to fullback. Stefan Terblanche, who missed out on Springbok selection, will partner Trevor Halstead at centre. Newport, with a squad of 29 players on tour, are expected to field their strongest combination following a fine domestic season in which they finished as runners-up to Cardiff in the Welsh championship. The men from Newport will have shaken off most of their ring rust after a week of training and a warm-up match against College Rovers, and look set to take the Sharks head-on. Kings Park’s favourite son, Teichmann, was set in to play one half for Newport and one for the Sharks, but this is yet to be determined. Former Natal teammmates Henry Honiball and Kevin Putt were also rumoured to be in the Sharks line-up, but a change of plan may see them playing in an exhibition match with several other former Natal stalwarts.
Newport:
Franco Smith, Matthew J. Watkins, Jason Jones-Hughes, Andy Marinos, Ben Breeze, Shane Howarth, Steve Moore, Gary Teichmann (Capt), Jason Forster, Alix Popham, Ian Gough, Gareth Taylor, Rod Snow, Paul Young, Peter Rogers