The Hollywoodbets Sharks will look to build continuity from last week’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship victory over Ulster when they host Edinburgh at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday afternoon.
Head coach John Plumtree has made five changes to his team, beginning with the powerful front row of Ox Nche in place of Ntuthuko Mchunu and Vincent Koch getting his first start after making his debut last week, with Bongi Mbonambi completing an all-Bok front row.
Tighthead prop Vincent Koch explains in the build-up to the match that while they’ve looked at their opposition and worked on a plan for the game, their focus has really been on themselves.
“Edinburgh have a completely different team this week to the one that played the Stormers where they rested a number of their Scottish internationals,” he points out.
“Although we’ve analysed them, we looked at ourselves first and how we as a team can get better. We want to deliver the best performance we can, for the full 80 minutes.
“It’s going to be tough, especially upfront, they have loads of international players and we know it’s not going to be easy, especially after their defeat to the Stormers. They’ll be disappointed with that result and will want to rectify that against us.”
In other changes, Emile van Heerden replaces Gerbrandt Grobler in the second row while James Venter makes his return and Phepsi Buthelezi shifts to eighthman in place of George Cronje who suffered a disappointing injury last week.
In the only change in the backline, Werner Kok replaces the injured Eduan Keyter on the wing.
Hollywoodbets Sharks:
1. Ox Nche
2. Bongi Mbonambi
3. Vincent Koch
4. Eben Etzebeth
5. Emile van Heerden
6. James Venter
7. Vincent Tshituka
8. Phepsi Buthelezi
9. Jaden Hendrikse
10. Siya Masuka
11. Makazole Mapimpi
12. Francois Venter
13. Lukhanyo Am (c)
14. Werner Kok
15. Aphelele Fassi
Replacements
16. Dan Jooste
17. Ntuthuko Mchunu
18. Hanro Jacobs
19. Corne Rahl
20. Jeandre Labuschagne
21. Cameron Wright
22. Curwin Bosch
23. Ethan Hooker