Vodacom United Rugby Championship action returns this weekend when the Hollywoodbets Sharks travel to Cape Town to take on the DHL Stormers at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.
The Cape side 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 Hollywoodbets Kings Park last Saturday.
“Playing the DHL 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,” said head coach JP Pietersen.
“But we must also be realistic, we need to analyse ourselves and see how we can get better because the DHL 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.
Hollywoodbets Sharks
1. Phatu Ganyane
2. Bongi Mbonambi
3. Vincent Koch
4. Jason Jenkins
5. Emile van Heerden
6. Phepsi Buthelezi
7. Manu Tshituka
8. Nick Hatton
9. Jaden Hendrikse
10. Jordan Hendrikse
11. Jaco Williams
12. Andre Esterhuizen (c)
13. Ethan Hooker
14. Yaw Penxe / PK Sobahle
15. Aphelele Fassi
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