Lambie to bench for Sharks

Patrick Lambie will feature from the bench for the Sharks in their Currie Cup match against the Pumas in Durban on Friday.

Lambie has been released from the Springbok squad and will be expected to get some much-needed game time as he continues his comeback from a bicep injury that kept him out of the game for four months.

Speaking following the Springbok team announcement, Bok coach Heyneke Meyer gave the reasons behind his decision to release Lambie.

'Pat missed four months of Super Rugby and although he made his return towards the end of the competition, it was felt that he could do with some game time this weekend before we leave for Argentina.'

In the only other change to the team who claimed a hard-fought victory over Griquas last weekend, lock JC Astle replaces Stephan Lewies in the second row.

Cameron Wright will continue at scrumhalf after impressing on debut, while former England prop Matt Stevens will have to be content with a place on the bench.

Sharks – 15 SP Marais, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 S'bura Sithole, 12 Paul Jordaan, 11 Tonderai Chavhanga, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 Tera Mtembu (c), 7 Ettienne Oosthuizen, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Marco Wentzel, 4 JC Astle, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Thomas du Toit.
Subs: 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Matt Stevens, 18 Johan Meyer, 19 Francois Kleinhans, 20 Hanco Venter, 21 Patrick Lambie, 22 Lionel Cronjé.

Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images