Harlequins Black Head Coach, Gert Mulder decided to leave nothing to chance for his team’s opening match at the 2022 World Sports Betting Club Easter Festival.

Quins take on Vereeniging in the main fixture at Harlequin Park on tonight and the hosts will field their best available 23.

“Vereeniging will only play one match at the Festival. For them, it is a case of ‘go big or go home’ and they will hold nothing back. We have also noted the enthusiasm and anticipation in their camp and the momentum they have gained with the recent win against NWU Vaal in the Valke’s Peregrine Super League,” said Mulder.

“Corné (backline coach) and I had two choices: the first was to have a bomb squad on the bench giving non-regular starters a shot in the run-up team. The second was to largely stick to the team that won three of our four warm-up matches. After careful consideration, we decided on the latter strategy because we need to make a solid start to the tournament and can not leave anything to chance against a dangerous opponent like Vereeniging,” remarked Mulder.

 

Two players will get their first chance in the Quins Black starting XV.

Up front newcomer Juandré Michau will make his official debut for Quins. He has made a very good impression since joining his new club and his inclusion at No 7 was expected.

In the backline Duhann Gunther gets his big break at inside centre. He played off the bench in the match against the Pumas but on Thursday he will celebrate his first start for Quins Black.

Very good news is that Carling Forwood is back at Number Eight. He had to overcome a string of serious injuries but is almost his old self. Before his injuries, Forwood was one of the best loose forwards around.

It is also encouraging to have the talented Coenie Visser back in the fold after missing out on the warm-up matches due to a back injury. He will man the last outpost.

The team is:

[1-15]

Dylan Weideman, Attie Joubert ©, Gerhard van der Merwe, Matthew van Biljon, Etienne Matthys, Dwayne Weitz, Juandré Michau, Carling Forwood, Ruaan du Preez, Hendrik Mulder (v-c), Werner Pieterse, Duhann Gunther, Kevin Osborne, Junior Malele, Coenraad Visser.

[16-23]

Enrique Courtiers, Barry Viljoen, Quintus de Bruin, SJ Oberholzer, Gerhard Coetzee, Michael Cross, Marnus Coetzee, Theuhan Brits.