The Hollywoodbets Sharks, who are out of playoff contention, will return to Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday at 16:00 (SA Time), to host Benetton in what marks their second-last appearance of the campaign, and although both teams have only pride to play for, this should set the scene for a hard-fought match-up.
The KwaZulu-Natalians, coached by JP Pietersen, will draw confidence from their better attacking record. However, the teams are level on 402 points conceded, which could make it a tight battle.
Head coach JP Pietersen has made changes to the team since the last match, some injury-enforced, with Andre Esterhuizen leading a team filled with vast experience and an interesting name at fly-half.
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, starting at flank, is one such player, a seasoned campaigner, who will look to add composure and attacking nous to a team that will look to finish the remaining two weeks of the tournament on a high after a season that offered so much but ultimately didn’t deliver on the team’s ambitions.
Kolisi is joined by his front row Bok team-mates Ox Nche and Vincent Koch in the starting line-up, while young Zekhethelo Siyaya who has really embraced his opportunities, has been handed the coveted flyhalf jersey, with Jurenzo Julius partnering Esterhuizen in the midfield.
Teams
Hollywoodbets Sharks: 15 Jaco Williams, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (captain), 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 9 Bradley Davids, 8 Emmanuel Tshituka, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Phatu Ganyane, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Nicholas Hatton, 21 Ross Braude, 22 Jean Smith, 23 Litelihle Bester.
Benetton: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Leonardo Marin, 11 Ignacio Mendy, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Alessandro Garbisi, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Alessandro Izekor, 6 Riccardo Favretto, 5 Giulio Marini, 4 Niccolò Cannone (captain), 3 Marcos Gallorini, 2 Bautista Bernasconi, 1 Destiny Aminu. Replacements: 16 Nicholas Gasperini, 17 Ivan Nemer, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Mattia Midena, 20 So’otala Fa’aso’o, 21 Federico Ruzza, 22 Andy Uren, 23 Federico Zanandrea.