The Hollywoodbets Sharks welcome the All Blacks to Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Tuesday evening (11th August) for a historic second tour match in South Africa, as Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry comes to Durban as part of New Zealand’s first full tour in South Africa in many years.
The eight-match tour sees the All Blacks take on the four Vodacom United Rugby Championship clubs, alongside a four-match Test series against the Springboks. The tour gets underway this evening when New Zealand faces the DHL Stormers in Cape Town.
Despite the demands on squad depth, with several players on national duty and a Carling Currie Cup campaign to negotiate, Hollywoodbets Sharks head coach JP Pietersen has assembled an exceptionally exciting side that blends youth with vast experience, including players with Test-level credentials.
The inclusion of All Blacks legend Ma’a Nonu, who joined the team this Tuesday, has been named among the replacements and is sure to add further excitement to an already highly anticipated clash. Nick Hatton will captain the side, which features a number of players from the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ Vodacom United Rugby Championship pre-season squad.
The match also provides an opportunity to welcome back several familiar faces who have forged their names in Durban, while adding international experience to the occasion through the inclusion of players such as Nemo Roelofse, the 120kg loosehead prop, who has been plying his trade with Racing 92 in France, and lock Hendre Stassen, who has also played in France with Stade Français.
Pietersen has once again embraced his philosophy that “if he’s good enough, he’s old enough”, with young stars Vusi Moyo and Zekhethelo Siyaya named in the starting XV. Rambo Kubekha, Matt Romao and Luan Giliomee are among the impact players who will look to make their mark from the bench.
For the Hollywoodbets Sharks, Tuesday’s clash represents more than simply a pre-season fixture. It is an opportunity for a new generation of Sharks players to test themselves against one of the most iconic teams in world rugby, while Durban plays host to one of the sport’s most celebrated rivalries.
Hollywoodbets Sharks: 1. Nemo Roelofse, 2. Eduan Swart, 3. Vincent Koch, 4. Hendre Stassen, 5. Emile van Heerden, 6. Phepsi Buthelezi, 7. Manu Tshituka, 8. Nick Hatton (c), 9. Bradley Davids, 10. Vusi Moyo, 11. Litelihle Bester, 12. Murray Koster, 13. Jurenzo Julius, 14. Donovan Don, 15. Zekhethelo Siyaya. Replacements: 16. Liam van Wyk, 17. Rambo Kubekha, 18. Simphiwe Ngobese, 19. Vincent Tshituka, 20. Matt Romao, 21. Ivan van Zyl, 22. Luan Giliomee, 23. Ma’a Nonu.