Pressure is mounting at Border Bulldogs as head coach Elliot Fana hit the panic button by making seven changes ahead of their massive encounter against the Touch Down Griffons on Saturday.
The seven changes come after the Bulldogs suffered a third successive loss to the Leopards on Friday.
“We want to play a running game and Murie (Mkokeli) plays a better running game than Oliver (Zono),” said Fana.
Lunga Dumezweni will start at inside centre ahead of Sethu Tom.
At outside centre, Sonwabiso Mqalo is out injured and in comes Lundi Ralarala.
Siyasanga Ncanywa drops completely from the squad “to go get match fitness at club rugby level” with Mike Makase coming in. Makase’s inclusion could resuscitate the MM combo with Makazole Mapimpi on the right wing.
“If you were to ask me, am I panicking?
“Yes I am panicking…I am panicking because we have lost three matches,” said Fana.
“This is why we want to move on by bringing in new players with fresh legs and fresh ideas.”
Border are on eighth on the Currie Cup qualifiers table with Griffons immediately above them.
Bulldogs squad: Yanga Xakalashe; Mihlali Mpafi, Johannes Jonker, Lindo Welemu, Wandile Putuma; Luk Nomzanga, Siya Mdaka (capt); Nkosikhona Nofuma, Bangi Kobese, Thembani Mkokeli (v-capt), Mike Makase, Lunga Dumezweni, Lundi Ralarala, Makazole Mapimpi, Masixole Banda
Reserves: Ludwe Booi, Blake Kyd, Athi Khethani, Johannes Janse van Rensburg, Zukisani Tywaleni, Sethu Tom and Sipho Nofemele. — zingisam@dispatch.co.za
Panic stations for Fana
The seven changes come after the Bulldogs suffered a third successive loss to the Leopards on Friday.
“We want to play a running game and Murie (Mkokeli) plays a better running game than Oliver (Zono),” said Fana.
Lunga Dumezweni will start at inside centre ahead of Sethu Tom.
At outside centre, Sonwabiso Mqalo is out injured and in comes Lundi Ralarala.
Siyasanga Ncanywa drops completely from the squad “to go get match fitness at club rugby level” with Mike Makase coming in. Makase’s inclusion could resuscitate the MM combo with Makazole Mapimpi on the right wing.
“If you were to ask me, am I panicking?
“Yes I am panicking…I am panicking because we have lost three matches,” said Fana.
“This is why we want to move on by bringing in new players with fresh legs and fresh ideas.”
Border are on eighth on the Currie Cup qualifiers table with Griffons immediately above them.
Bulldogs squad: Yanga Xakalashe; Mihlali Mpafi, Johannes Jonker, Lindo Welemu, Wandile Putuma; Luk Nomzanga, Siya Mdaka (capt); Nkosikhona Nofuma, Bangi Kobese, Thembani Mkokeli (v-capt), Mike Makase, Lunga Dumezweni, Lundi Ralarala, Makazole Mapimpi, Masixole Banda
Reserves: Ludwe Booi, Blake Kyd, Athi Khethani, Johannes Janse van Rensburg, Zukisani Tywaleni, Sethu Tom and Sipho Nofemele. — zingisam@dispatch.co.za
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