The Cell C Sharks will have their sights set on retaining their unbeaten run when they take on Harlequins at the Twickenham Swoop in London on Saturday at 15h00 (SA Time), but they will be wary of the home side, who will be desperate to stay in the playoff race.
Harlequins know they have work to do in Round 4 of the Heineken Champions Cup against Cell C Sharks at Twickenham Stoop on Saturday if they are to qualify for the knockout stages.
Quins have notched only one win so far in the competition and sit seventh in Pool A, the penultimate qualification slot and just two points ahead of ninth-placed Gloucester Rugby.
Harlequins will also be determined to make up for their heart-breaking 30-29 defeat against Racing 92 last week despite the French side being reduced to 12 men in the closing minutes, which will add to their drive to deliver an entertaining spectacle in front of their home support.
The Durbanites have been more effective on attack and defence so far this season, and they defeated Harlequins 39-31 in their last meeting in round one, which will boost their confidence going into the clash.
Prediction: Cell C Sharks by 12
Harlequins’ coaching team have named a strong side to tackle unbeaten South African side the Cell C Sharks in front of a sold-out Stoop this weekend, with all-important points needed to qualify for knockout rugby in the Heineken Champions Cup in this weekend’s final round of pool action.
The team sees two changes to the starting XV that fell to a narrow one-point defeat against Racing 92 in Paris last Sunday. Returning from injury, lock forward Dino Lamb steps straight back into the line-up, slotting into the backrow at blindside flanker.
The second change sees winger Josh Bassett restored to the eleven jersey after being rested last time out, joining Cadan Murley and Nick David in the back three.
Scotland scrum-half Scott Steele makes a long-awaited return from injury from amongst the Impact Players, having recently completed a successful return to action with Championship side London Scottish.
Young prop fin Baxter also returns to the matchday 23 from amongst the replacements having been rested last weekend.
Previewing what is sure to be an all-action clash in South West London, Harlequins flanker Will Evans said: “We went toe to toe with a big French pack last weekend and it will be fairly similar again this week. We’re really looking forward to it. We feel we get an unfair name around Quins about being soft. But I’ve never, since being here, felt that. We go toe to toe with some of the biggest packs in the world and we’ll continue to do that this weekend.
“It will be different weather conditions at The Stoop this weekend, which they may not be used to. In front of a packed-out Stoop we’ll give it a good go and I think we expect to get a result.”
The Cell C Sharks team to take on Harlequins this weekend in their final pool match of the Heineken Champions Cup shows five changes from the side that defeated Bordeaux at Hollywoodbets Kings Park last weekend.
There is still a strong element of continuity about this side that has performed so admirably in their first appearance in the competition, but they will know that Quins will approach this game with a do-or-die attitude, knowing that back-to-back losses to the Cell C Sharks could potentially knock them out of the running.
Director of Rugby Neil Powell has had his hand forced as far as injuries go, with Bongi Mbonambi and Boeta Chamberlain, both leaving the field last week after taking knocks and neither is available for this weekend.
In their place come Kerron van Vuuren and Aphelele Fassi who is now fully over his injury. Powell’s rotational policy sees Phepsi Buthelezi and Sikhumbuzo Notshe swap eighthman jerseys, while Curwin Bosch is back for Lionel Cronje after the flyhalf was a late withdrawal from the Bordeaux game after pulling up short during the week and not healing in time.
The final change sees Thaakir Abrahams in for Makazole Mapimpi after the latter was ruled out of the next two games due to suspension.
Harlequins came from behind in the first-round match at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in December to threaten what would have been a rare away win in the tournament but were denied by a character-driven effort from the Cell C Sharks who now look to upset the applecart in London.
Although the Cell C Sharks have already qualified for the round of 16 courtesy of their three straight victories, a win will guarantee a home clash in the next round and will undoubtedly develop the team’s momentum even further than it already is.
Teams:
Harlequins: 15. Nick David, 14. Cadan Murley, 13. Joe Marchant, 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 11. Josh Bassett, 10. Marcus Smith, 9. Danny Care, 8. Alex Dombrandt (c), 7. Will Evans, 6. Dino Lamb, 5. Irne Herbst, 4. Stephan Lewies, 3. Wilco Louw, 2. Jack Walker, 1. Joe Marler. Replacements: 16. George Head, 17. Fin Baxter, 18. Simon Kerrod, 19. Tom Lawday, 20. Luke Wallace, 21. Scott Steele, 22. Tommy Allan, 23. Oscar Beard
Cell C Sharks: 15. Aphelele Fassi, 14. Marnus Potgieter, 13. Lukhanyo Am, 12. Ben Tapuai, 11. Thaakir Abrahams, 10. Curwin Bosch, 9. Jaden Hendrikse, 8. Phepsi Buthelezi, 7. Vincent Tshituka, 6. Siya Kolisi (c), 5. Gerbrandt Grobler, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Thomas du Toit, 2. Kerron van Vuuren, 1. Ox Nche. Replacements: 16. Dan Jooste, 17. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18. Carlü Sadie, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21. Grant Williams, 22. Lionel Cronje, 23. Francois Venter.
