The Hollywoodbets Sharks will be looking to maintain their momentum leading into their EPCR Challenge Cup final, but they would also like to leapfrog Cardiff for their best possible log finish when they host Benetton on Saturday at 16:05 (SA Time).
The 13th-placed Hollywoodbets Sharks will enter their match against the eighth-placed Benetton well aware of the fact that they cannot overtake them on the log, but with the Durbanites having qualified for the EPCR Challenge Cup final against Gloucester, and the side determined to finish the Vodacom URC season strongly, they could do the Emirates Lions a massive favour if they topple the Italian visitors.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks, meanwhile, will look to build on their impressive form of late when they take on Benetton, especially after winning two of their last three Vodacom URC matches – against Edinburgh and the Scarlets, the latter being on tour – and after toppling Clermont-Auvergne last weekend in London to become the first South African team in history to qualify for the EPCR Challenge Cup final.
The KwaZulu-Natalians may have only won four matches in the competition to Benetton’s nine, but the teams are not far off from one another on attack and defence, meaning it could prove to be a humdinger.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks are back in action at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday when they entertain Italian outfit Benetton in the closing stages of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.
While they might have swapped tournaments, they have not let the focus of the season waver and will be using this match for growth and improvement.
Hollywoodbets Sharks Head coach John Plumtree hasn’t tinkered much with the side that defeated Clermont last weekend to advance to the EPCR Challenge Cup Final as he looks to maintain continuity in team selection as well as how the team continues to gel.
There are two changes in the forwards where Corne Rahl replaces Emile van Heerden and Gerbrandt Grobler gets a start at flank, with Vincent Tshituka shifting to eighthman in place of Phepsi Buthelezi.
The final change sees Francois Venter replacing Ethan Hooker at centre.
Assistant coach Warren Whitely admits that despite the change in focus in terms of title aspirations, there isn’t much in the way of shifting focus, but using this match to fine-tune their performances.
“What we’ve made clear is that after our review of the Clermont game, there were things we felt that we need to work on and be better at, so this weekend gives us an opportunity to be better, even though it’s a different competition.
“We will need to be better in the final and that’s why our focus is on this week, to be better than we were against Clermont and improve where we can.”
Teams
Hollywoodbets Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Lukhanyo Am (c), 12 Francois Venter, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Vincent Tshituka, 7 Gerbrandt Grobler, 6 James Venter, 5 Corne Rahl, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Lappies Labuschagne, 20 Tino Mavesere, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Diego Appolis.
Benetton Rugby: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Ignacio Mendy, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Ignacio Brex, 11 Onisi Ratave, 10 Leonardo Marin, 9 Andy Uren, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Sebastian Negri, 6 Alessandro Izekor, 5 Eli Snyman (cn), 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 1 Federico Zani. Replacements: 16 Bautista Bernasconi, 17 Destiny Aminu, 18 Giosué Zilocchi, 19 Edoardo Iachizzi, 20 Riccardo Favretto, 21 Dewaldt Duvenage, 22 Jacob Umaga, 23 Marco Zanon.