Andrews blow for Natal
September 13, 2001

The Natal Sharks will have to do without the services of their captain and veteran lock Mark Andrews in Saturday's important Bankfin Currie Cup game against the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

According to team doctor Craig Robert, Andrews aggravated an old neck injury at training on Wednesday. The injury resulted in spasm of his neck and right shoulder.

Charl van Rensburg will resume the captaincy in the absence of Andrews, with Philip Smit slotting in as AJ Venter's new second-row partner.

Springbok Albert van den Berg is back after missing the previous game with a groin injury, but he is somewhat surprisingly only on the substitutes' bench. Natal Sharks coach Rudolf Straeuli made six changes to the side that lost to the Falcons last Saturday.

Anton Pitout, axed from the squad for the Falcons match, is back in favour. He is at right wing in place of Deon Kayser, who shifts to outside centre in place of the injured Andre Snyman. Springbok pivot Butch James replaces Herkie Kruger at flyhalf.

In the pack Brad Mcleod-Henderson starts in place of Warren Brosnihan, Smit is in for Andrews and John Smit replaces fellow Springbok hooker Lukas van Biljon.

Natal Sharks: Justin Swart, Anton Pitout, Deon Kayser, Trevor Halstead, Stefan Terblanche, Butch James, Craig Davidson, Shaun Sowerby, Charl van Rensburg (capt), Brad Macleod-Henderson, AJ Venter, Philip Smit, Etienne Fynn, John Smit, Ollie le Roux. Substitutes: Lukas van Biljon, Eduard Coetzee, Albert van den Berg, Warren Brosnihan, Dave von Hoesslin, Herkie Kruger, Clark Manuel.

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