United Rugby Championship action returns this weekend when the Sharks, led by Andre Esterhuizen, travel to Cape Town to take on the Stormers.
The Cape Town franchise has enjoyed a successful first half of the tournament, currently undefeated and offering a huge challenge to the Durban team who showed their own prowess in delivering a 50-point defeat to Clermont at Kings Park last Saturday.
“Playing the Stormers who are top of the log, we know what they’re going to bring, and the win over Clermont has given us confidence and belief that our game model works,” head coach JP Pietersen told the Sharks’ website.
“But we must also be realistic, we need to analyse ourselves and see how we can get better because the Stormers are going to be a tougher opponent.”
Pietersen’s side has a strong Springbok influence from 1 to 23, the bench offering an imposing look about it, and the players that come on will bring vast experience, as well as an expectation on them to deliver the same kind of ruthlessness that was shown against Clermont last Saturday.
Changes to the side see a rotational switch on both sides of the front row, Phatu Ganyane and Vincent Koch in for Ox Nche and Hanro Jacobs, while Corne Rahl makes way for Emile van Heerden, and in the final change to the pack, Phepsi Buthelezi starts ahead of Matt Romao at loose-forward.
Amongst the backs, Jaco Williams comes onto the wing, Andre Esterhuizen takes over the captaincy and the number 12 jersey, with Jurenzo Julius providing cover off the bench, and finally Ethan Hooker starts in place of Le Roux Malan at outside centre.
Sharks – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (c), 11 Jaco Williams, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Nick Hatton, 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Phatu Ganyane.
Replacements: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Vincent Tshituka, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Jurenzo Julius.
