Keegan Daniel will captain the Sharks as they take on the Brumbies at Kings Park this weekend.
The skipper picked up a knee injury during the first pre-season outing against the Leopard in Pietermaritzburg and has had to hand over the reigns to deputy Frans Steyn for the opening three weeks of the tournament. The big Bok centre has done an admirable holding job, returning three wins in as many starts, but will, I’m sure, be content to continue his development as leader as vice captain to Daniel. The latter, interestingly, comes in at blind side flank, as a direct replacement for injured Jean Deysel, with Marcell Coetzee remaining in the number 6 jersey.
The balance of the forward pack remains from last week’s team, however, the backline features rotational changes at scrumhalf and wing, as anticipated.
Charl McLeod, who has been forced to warm the bench for three weeks, now gets a start ahead of Cobus Reinach at scrumhalf, while Odwa Ndungane’s elevation to the starting right wing position sees JP Pietersen shift left, with Lwazi Mvovo moving down to the bench.
The other good news from a Sharks perspective is that replacement flank Jacques Botes has been cleared of a suspected wrist fracture and will again take his place in the number 19 jersey.
The Sharks
1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Craig Burden
3. Jannie du Plessis
4. Anton Bresler
5. Franco van der Merwe
6. Marcell Coetzee
7. Keegan Daniel (Captain)
8. Ryan Kankowski
9. Charl McLeod
10. Patrick Lambie
11. JP Pietersen
12. Francois Steyn
13. Paul Jordaan
14. Odwa Ndungane
15. Louis Ludik
Replacements
16. Kyle Cooper
17. Wiehahn Herbst
18. Pieter-Steph du Toit
19. Jacques Botes
20. Cobus Reinach
21. Meyer Bosman
22. Lwazi Mvovo
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right call made on mcleod me thinks. Odwa will never let us down. . If youre in town GO TO THE STADIUM!
@West Indies Cricket Board (Comment 1) : amen!
I would definitely swop Marcel and Keegan around.
Good to see Botes on the bench too, although going from a suspected wrist fracture to be clear to bench is a bit weird. Surely that means the guy must still be in a bit of pain
@Bokhoring (Comment 3) : Its irrelevant the number on the back…
Must agree ,I would have bought in one of the younger guys.
@Bokhoring (Comment 3) : Agree on both points.
amped
Brumbies have no chance.
Dammit, I was really enjoying Frans Steyn’s post match interviews.
@robdylan (Comment 2) : So we got the team right, well accept for Burden lol, I was hoping Cooper got a start.
And yes i am surprised Reinach did get the drop, Plum is changing his ways
@Bokhoring (Comment 3) : Plum said it is an injury he has had a while and he has played with it before.
So glad to have our skipper back but its a big game to be playing your first rugby in six weeks.
I’m happy with the team selected. GO SHARKS!!! We are 100% behind you.
@sharks_lover (Comment 9) : The old boy is learning to adapt
Come on boys ! Yay for having Keegan back
Welcom back Cappy!!! I hope we find our groove this weekend and score a bucket load of tries.