Sundaymail Editor
Online Reporter
THE duo of Shingi Katsvere and Matthew McNab is set to get its first taste of Currie Cup First Division rugby when the Goshawks take on the Leopards at City Park Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, this weekend.
Both are new arrivals to Brendan Dawson’s extended squad.
The two are among the few changes the Goshawks’ head coach has made to the team’s starting 15 for Saturday’s game amid hopes of a quick turnaround after the recent 48-nil defeat to SWD Eagles.
While both are ordinarily wingers, Katsvere will be operating at the left channel, while McNab comes in at the right-centre position.
Katsvere will be partnered alongside France-based winger Shayne Makombe, who also tried out the centre position last week.
Changes to the starting line-up will see Sean Beevor replace George Saungweme and move from right flank to lock.
Skipper Hilton Mudariki has been rested for the match, which sees the return of Kyle Galloway at scrumhalf position.
Hooker Matthew Mandioma is set to make his way to the bench, with Liam Larkan taking his position.
The arrival of the duo should boost the team’s confidence after the one-sided mauling away to SWD Eagles, a defeat that also saw the end of the team’s three-match unbeaten run.
The result saw the Zimbabwe Goshawks maintain their seventh spot on the log table, while their opponents, Leopards, are one rung below.
Both teams, however, have 12 points from six matches going into this weekend’s round of games and are only separated by try-difference.
The Kenya Simbas and the winless Border Bulldogs round up the table as they currently lie ninth and tenth, respectively.
At the summit, the Down Touch Griffons, Eastern Province and Valke make up the top-three teams of the competition and currently have 35, 26 and 22 points in that order.
GOSHAWKS TEAM
Victor Mapunga, Liam Larkan, Bornwell Gwinji, Sean Beevor, Kelvin Kanenungo, Johan Du Preez, Aiden Burnett, Kyle Galloway, Taku Musingwini, Shingi Katsvere, Marcus Nel, Matthew McNab, Shayne Makombe, Tawanda Matipano
Replacements
Matthew Mandioma, Gabriel Sipapate, Tyran Fagan, George Saungweme, Biselele Tshamala, Carlos Matematema, Brendon Marume, Godfrey Munzanargwo
Online Reporter