The Hollywoodbets Sharks could scarcely have asked for a tougher start to the season. Last weekend, they faced the defending champions, Munster in Limerick, and Saturday at 17:55 they are up against a Leinster team that beat the Durbanites by 35-05 on their last visit to Dublin, in the 2023 URC quarter-final.
The visitors will probably be looking to assert dominance at scrum time, last weekend, the Hollywoodbets Sharks won all of their attacking scrums; in contrast, Leinster conceded five scrum penalties.
Hollywoodbets Sharks head coach John Plumtree has named exciting signing Aphiwe Dyantyi on the bench as he looks set to make his debut in the Black & White jersey, along with scrumhalf Francois Hougaard whose experience will be called on when he too plays his first game for the Hollywoodbets Sharks.
Changes to the starting line-up include Hanro Jacobs for Coenie Oosthuizen at tighthead prop, Corne’ Rahl for the injured Reniel Hugo and Vincent Tshituka replacing George Cronje. Two changes in the backline see Rohan Janse van Rensburg getting a start at inside centre and Aphelele Fassi in for Boeta Chamberlain at fullback.
Hollywoodbets Sharks eighthman Phepsi Buthelezi admits that his team is on a growth trajectory and believes there is so much more to come.
“There was a bit of rustiness [against Munster], but we have a new plan with the new coaching staff and there were a lot of positives to take from last week’s performance,” he explains.
“We are going in with more of an attacking mindset, and coach Plum has come in and drives what the jersey means to us and the fans back home: that whenever we step out onto the park, to be mindful of who we’re representing and to never take that opportunity for granted. That’s our biggest focus, to make ourselves and the people of KwaZulu-Natal proud every time we play.”
Max Deegan is set to make his 100th appearance for Leinster, as Cullen makes five changes from the team that lost to Glasgow Warriors last weekend.
Cullen made two changes in the backline, with Jamie Osborne and Cormac Foley (pictured above) coming into the starting lineup. In the forwards, Michael Ala’alatoa returns to the team for his first appearance since starring for Samoa in the Rugby World Cup. Lee Barron and Rhys Ruddock also come into the pack.
Ciarán Frawley starts at full-back, with Tommy O’Brien and Jordan Larmour on the wings. Osborne joins Charlie Ngatai in the centre, with Harry Byrne and Foley completing the back line.
In the pack, Jack Boyle starts alongside Barron and Ala’alatoa in the front row. Ross Molony and Jason Jenkins retain their places in the second row with Ruddock, captain Scott Penny and Deegan in the back row.
Teams:
Hollywoodbets Sharks: 1. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 2. Kerron van Vuuren, 3. Hanro Jacobs, 4. Corne Rahl, 5. Emile van Heerden, 6. James Venter, 7. Vincent Tshituka, 8. Phepsi Buthelezi, 9. Cameron Wright, 10. Curwin Bosch, 11. Marnus Potgieter, 12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 13. Francois Venter (c), 14. Werner Kok, 15. Aphelele Fassi. Replacements: 16. Dylan Richardson, 17. Dian Bleuler, 18. Khwezi Mona, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. George Cronje, 21. Francois Hougaard, 22. Boeta Chamberlain, 23. Aphiwe Dyantyi.
Leinster: 1 Jack Boyle, 2 Lee Barron, 3 Michael Ala’alatoa, 4 Ross Molony, 5 Jason Jenkins, 6 Rhys Ruddock, 7 Scott Penny (c), 8 Max Deegan, 9 Cormac Foley, 10 Harry Byrne, 11 Jordan Larmour, 12 Charlie Ngatai, 13 Jamie Osborne, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 15 Ciarán Frawley. Replacements: 16 Dylan Donnellan, 17 Paddy McCarthy, 18 Rory McGuire, 19 Brian Deeny, 20 Will Connors, 21 Ben Murphy, 22 Sam Prendergast, 23 Rob Russell.
