Friday evening’s second Carling Currie Cup fixture sees the two bottom-placed sides, the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV and DHL Western Province, battle it out in Durban at 19:10 (SA Time) to see who can register their first win of the campaign.
Unless they manage a draw, Friday evening’s late game in Durban between the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV and DHL WP will see a first-time winner this season.
The honours are even in the last eight matches between the two teams; however, their current form does not make for good reading. They have each scored only one bonus point from their four games so far in 2025 and are at the bottom of the log.
The two coastal rivals have found the going extremely tough in terms of scoring, with the Sharks scoring only 27 points and conceding 143, and WP in turn collecting 83 points and leaking 166.
Flank Paul de Villiers will make his first appearance of the season for DHL Western Province. There are six changes in total to the starting line-up for the coastal clash.
De Villiers starts at openside flank, with the only other change to the forward pack seeing the experienced Cabous Eloff come in at loosehead prop.
There is a new halfback pairing, with scrumhalf Ezekiel Ngobeni making his first start and linking up with flyhalf Kyle Smith. The other two changes to the backline see Luke Burger and Jared Africa start on the wings.
Hollywoodbets Sharks XV head coach JP Pietersen has made six changes and one positional switch to the team that went down bravely to the Suzuki Griquas, who remain unbeaten at home this season.
The switch sees Jaco Williams return to wing after playing fullback last week; he replaces Paschal Ekeji, with Hakeem Kunene returning in the number 15 jersey.
Other backline changes see Jean Smith in for Vusi Moyo at flyhalf and hard-running wing Phikolomzi “PK” Sobahle returning after missing last week’s match; he takes over from Christie Grobbelaar on the other wing.
Amongst the forwards, Liam van Wyk comes in for Bryce Calvert at hooker, Le Roux Coetzee is back at lock, in for Gideon Koegelenberg, and Tino Mavesere also returns to action, taking over from SA Under 20 star Matt Romao on the flank.
Teams:
Hollywoodbets Sharks XV: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Phiko Sobahle, 13 Diego Appollis, 12 Marnus Potgieter, 11 Jaco Williams, 10 Jean Smith, 9 Ceano Everson, 8 Nick Hatton (c), 7 Bathobele Hlekani, 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Coetzee Le Roux, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Liam van Wyk, 1 Phatu Ganyane. Replacements: 16 Willem van den Hever, 17 Phiwayinkosi Kubheka, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Jannes Potgieter, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Drico Marx, 23 Albie Bester
DHL Western Province:15 Tristan Leyds, 14 Jared Africa, 13 Gino Cupido, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Luke Burger, 10 Kyle Smith, 9 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 8 Louw Nel, 7 Riley Norton, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Gary Porter (c), 4 Alex Groves, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Cabous Eloff. Replacements: 16 Luca Bakkes, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Herman Lubbe, 19 Enos Ndiao, 20 De Wet Marais, 21 Asad Moos, 22 Ronald Brown, 23 Brendan Venter.