The Hollywoodbets Sharks will close out the year with a Vodacom United Rugby Championship coastal derby against old foes DHL Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday at 19:00 (SA Time).
These two teams have a tumultuous history of huge battles over the years and a fixture featuring the pair of South African coastal teams is never without excitement or action.
It’s certainly an opportunity to place a marker in the sand – for both sides – who have greater aspirations for this intercontinental tournament that means so much to the participants.
Head coach John Plumtree has largely stuck to the same team he has named over the last number of fixtures, and with an extra week’s break since their last outing, will be looking for an explosive, high-intensity performance from his charges.
There are three changes to the starting line-up, with Emile van Heerden back to replace Le Roux Roets, while Jeandre “Lappies” Labuschagne comes in at flank, meaning a shift to eighthman for Phepsi Buthelezi in place of Sikhumbuzo Notshe.
Plumtree has made just one change to the backline, Jaden Hendrikse getting a start with Grant Williams playing off the bench in a straight jersey swap.
Fans will also get to see 27-year-old Joel Hintz for the first time in a Hollywoodbets Sharks jersey. The New Zealand prop was brought over to Durban as front row cover from 2020 National Provincial Championship title-holders Hawke’s Bay, while he has also turned out for the New England Free Jacks in Major League Rugby in the USA.
George Cronje returns to action in the penultimate change, with Boeta Chamberlain completing the rotation, taking over from Lionel Cronje.
Hollywoodbets Sharks: 1. Ox Nche, 2. Kerron van Vuuren, 3. Coenie Oosthuizen, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 5. Emile van Heerden, 6. James Venter, 7. Lappies Labuschagne, 8. Phepsi Buthelezi, 9. Jaden Hendrikse, 10. Curwin Bosch, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 12. Francois Venter, 13. Lukhanyo Am (c), 14. Werner Kok, 15. Aphelele Fassi. Replacements: 16. Daniel Jooste, 17. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18. Joel Hintz, 19. Corne Rahl, 20. George Cronje, 21. Grant Williams, 22. Boeta Chamberlain, 23. Ethan Hooker.
Players not available for selection due to injury:
• Bongi Mbonambi
• Dylan Richardson
• Gerbrandt Grobler
• Nevaldo Fleurs
• Reniel Hugo
• Vincent Koch
• Vincent Tshituka