The Hollywoodbets Sharks XV face their fourth and final consecutive away match this Friday when they travel to Suzuki Stadium in Kimberley to take on the Suzuki Griquas in a critical fifth-round Carling Currie Cup encounter.
Following an intense schedule, including Tuesday's "Rugby's Greatest Rivalry" clash against the All Blacks, head coach Mike Vowles has been forced to rotate his squad to manage player welfare heavily. Several squad members have endured a brutal workload over the last fortnight, featuring in both the recent win over the Boland Sanlam Kavaliers and the fixture against the New Zealand national side.
Vowles made 8 positional and personnel changes to the starting line-up for their clash against the Griquas compared to the side that played Boland.
The entire starting front row from the Boland match was moved to the bench. Jaco du Toit (loosehead), Liam van Wyk (hooker), and Lee-Marvin Mazibuko (tighthead) all earned promotions to the starting fifteen, replacing Rambo Kubheka, Bryce Calvert, and Simphiwe Ngobese.
At lock, Johan Momsen shifted from flank (No. 7 against Boland) to lock (No. 4 against Griquas), filling the gap left by Deon Slabbert, who dropped out of the matchday 23 entirely.
With Momsen moving into the second row and Willem van den Hever out of the squad, Wasi Vyambwera stepped into the No. 7 jersey. Tino Mavesere shifted from No. 8 to openside flank (No. 6), allowing Hanu Pieterse to start at eighthman.
In the only change out back, Albie Bester was promoted from the bench to start at inside centre (No. 12). This pushed Janco Purchase down to the replacements bench.
"We’re back on the road on Friday afternoon, so it’s a quick turnaround for us," Vowles explained. "There are a lot of moving parts this week, so we’ll prepare well, ice a few sore bodies, and go to Kimberley fully prepared to fight for the full 80."
Hollywoodbets Sharks XV: 1 Jaco du Toit, 2 Liam van Wyk, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 4 Johan Momsen, 5 Meno Barnard, 6 Tino Mavesere, 7 Wasi Vyambwera, 8 Hanu Pieterse, 9 Ross Braude (c), 10 Tim Swiel, 11 Khuthi Rasivhaga, 12 Albie Bester, 13 Lyle Matthews, 14 Christie Grobbelaar, 15 Luan Giliomee. Replacements: 16 Jacques Marais, 17 Phiwayinkosi “Rambo” Kubheka, 18 Simphiwe Ngobese, 19 Danio Botha, 20 Sphephelo Mbonambi, 21 Juan Loots, 22 Janco Purchase, 23 Chijindu Okonta.