Vodacom United Rugby Championship rugby resumes after the brief Christmas break with the Hollywoodbets Sharks hosting the Lions at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (SA Time).
Head Coach JP Pietersen has the good fortune of welcoming back some of his stalwarts, including Springboks Ox Nche and Aphelele Fassi, both of whom are recovering from their respective ailments and are set to make their starts.
Corne Rahl and Siya Masuku also make welcome returns to the matchday 23, both named on a bench filled with exciting youngsters as well as experienced, calm heads in the form of Springboks Phepsi Buthelezi and Jaden Hendrikse.
In all, Pietersen has made just the three changes to the starting XV, with Nche starting for Phatu Ganyane at loosehead, Manu Tshituka in place of Phepsi Buthelezi at eighthman, joining Ganyane on the bench, and Fassi at 15 for Hakeem Kunene the final switch.
Hollywoodbets Sharks
- Ox Nche
- Bongi Mbonambi
- Hanro Jacobs
- Jason Jenkins
- Emile van Heerden
- Siya Kolisi
- Vincent Tshituka
- Manu Tshituka
- Grant Williams
- Jordan Hendrikse
- Makazole Mapimpi
- Andre Esterhuizen (c)
- Ethan Hooker
- Edwill van der Merwe
- Aphelele Fassi
Replacements
- Eduan Swart
- Phatu Ganyane
- Mawande Mdanda
- Corne Rahl
- Phepsi Buthelezi
- Nick Hatton
- Jaden Hendrikse
- Siya Masuku