URC – Hollywoodbets Sharks Need To End Munster Rugby’s Unbeaten Streak

 

The clash between the Hollywoodbets Sharks and Munster, on Saturday at 16:00 (SA Time) could prove to be a humdinger given the fact that only one point separates the sides on the standings and with both teams having registered only two victories so far this season, although the Durbanites have a game in hand after the domestic teams’ round-one fixtures were postponed.

The Hollywoodbets Sharks showed encouraging form from the beginning of the season with a six-point defeat against Connacht away in their opening game before defeating the Dragons in Newport, and after a glitch against Benetton in their final tour game, they bounced back strongly to defeat the Glasgow Warriors.

The KwaZulu-Natalians will undoubtedly look to build on this against Munster, who currently find themselves in a dip after losing their last two matches against Leinster and the DHL Stormers respectively.

Spicing up the clash, the teams are closely matched on attack and defence with Munster holding only a 21-point lead in terms of terms of points scored in their five matches to the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ four, while the Irish outfit have conceded seven points more, which will undoubtedly set the scene for a humdinger of a clash.

The two sides have met three times before in the Vodacom URC, with Munster winning two to add to a 22-22 draw on their only previous visit to Durban in April 2023.

Hollywoodbets Sharks head coach John Plumtree has rejigged his loose forward trio, shifting Springbok captain Siya Kolisi to eighthman, with Phepsi Buthelezi playing off the bench this week and James Venter coming into the starting line-up at flank, joined by Vincent Tshituka, with Emmanuel Tshituka dropping out.

Grant Williams comes in for Jaden Hendrikse at scrumhalf, the pair swapping jerseys for the final change to the starting XV.

After defeating the reigning champions, this week it’s the turn of Irish giants Munster who visit Hollywoodbets Kings Park off the back of a 34-19 loss to the DHL Stormers in Cape Town in their first tour match last week.

For Hollywoodbets Sharks fullback Aphelele Fassi, it’s all about the twin aim of stopping their opponents while implementing their game plan on the Irish.

“We know that Munster is a quality side with a lot of internationals who want to play a quick controlled game. We’ve done our review and have plans on how we want to stop them as well as implement our game and create opportunities for ourselves as well.”

Munster Rugby made four changes and two positional switches as Craig Casey, Rory Scannell, Stephen Archer and John Hodnett come into the starting XV.

Casey starts at scrum-half after missing last week’s clash against Stormers in Cape Town due to a knock.

John Ryan moves from tighthead prop to loosehead and Seán O’Brien moves from inside centre to the left wing.

Three Academy players are included among the replacements – props Kieran Ryan and Ronan Foxe and back-row forward Ruadhán Quinn.

Second-year Academy player Foxe is in line for his Munster debut.

Diarmuid Barron is also included after completing the return-to-play protocols.

Mike Haley, Calvin Nash and O’Brien start in the back three.

Rory Scannell and Tom Farrell form the centre partnership with Casey and Jack Crowley in the half-backs.

John Ryan, Niall Scannell and Stephen Archer pack down in the front row with Jean Kleyn and captain Tadhg Beirne in the engine room.

Tom Ahern, Hodnett and Jack O’Donoghue complete the starting XV.

Barron, Kieran Ryan and Foxe provide the front-row backup with Fineen Wycherley, Quinn and Alex Kendellen completing the forward cover.

Ethan Coughlan and Billy Burns are the backline replacements.

On the injury front, Shane Daly (leg), Jeremy Loughman (knee) and Alex Nankivell (hip) were all unavailable.

Teams:

Hollywoodbets Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Siya Kolisi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Eben Etzebeth (c), 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Francois Venter.

Munster Rugby: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Rory Scannell, 11 Seán O’Brien, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Jack O’Donoghue, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Tom Ahern, 5 Tadhg Beirne (c), 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 John Ryan. Replacements: 16 Diarmuid Barron, 17 Kieran Ryan, 18 Ronan Foxe, 19 Fineen Wycherley, 20 Ruadhán Quinn, 21 Ethan Coughlan, 22 Billy Burns, 23 Alex Kendellen.