A 21-12 victory over the Pretoria side at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in December set the Hollywoodbets Sharks up nicely on the log, and they followed that up with back-to-back, home and away victories over the DHL Stormers to rise to the top of the SA Shield.
This Saturday is all about delivering the knock-out punch and securing the points needed to lift the shield, but it’s not going to be easy against the side two places above the Hollywoodbets Sharks on the overall log, having played one game fewer and enjoying a one-point lead over the Durban side.
Head coach JP Pietersen has welcomed back Springboks Ox Nche, Vincent Koch, Phepsi Buthelezi, Jordan Hendrikse, Makazole Mapimpi and Esterhuizen to the starting line-up as he looks to provide leadership and experience to his team against the old foe.
The Vodacom Bulls reined in a four-match run of losses in the competition when they defeated Edinburgh and the Lions in successive weeks and will be buoyed by their recent form, delivering up another mouth-watering contest between the two sides whose shared history of battle goes back decades.
Hollywoodbets Sharks
- Ox Nche
- Eduan Swart
- Vincent Koch
- Jason Jenkins
- Emile van Heerden
- Tino Mavesere
- Vincent Tshituka
- Phepsi Buthelezi
- Jaden Hendrikse
- Jordan Hendrikse
- Makazole Mapimpi
- Andre Esterhuizen (Captain)
- Jurenzo Julius
- Edwill van der Merwe
- Jaco Williams
Replacements
- Fez Mbatha
- Phatu Ganyane
- Hanro Jacobs
- Corne Rahl
- Thomas Dyer
- Ross Braude
- Siya Masuku
- Yaw Penxe