The Sharks XV get their Vodacom Cup campaign underway in East London tomorrow night, when they face the Border Bulldogs at 7pm. New coach Deon Kayser has named a formidable side packed with experience for the encounter.
Old man Sangoni “Mox” Mxoli returns after a long absence indeed, earning his 16th Vodacom Cup cap for the Sharks at loosehead prop, a full seven years after he last played for what was then the Wildebeest. The 29-year-old has also played for the Blue Bulls and EP Kings at this level, but has been plying his trade for Rovers in Durban for the last few years while working as a Sports Officer at Westville Boys High. Next to him in the front row are two younger players whose names are just as familiar to fans – Monde Hadebe (a Westville product himself) as hooker and the 37-time Super Rugby player Wiehahn Herbst at tighthead.
The lock combination re-unites a pair who played plenty of times together during last year’s Currie Cup campaign, new father Edwin Hewitt (whose son Edwin was born yesterday) and the adaptable Peet Marais. Captain Tera Mtembu adds Super Rugby experience to the back row, where he’ll partner young Khaya Majola and Francois Kleinhans in the loose trio.
Hewitt is the only member of the starting pack not to have come through the Sharks Academy.
There are more home-grown lads in the backline, with Stefan Ungerer (Maritzburg) and Fred Zeilinga (Glenwood and the 2013 Vodacom Cup Player of the Year) running the show from halfback. Exciting Endre Esterhuizen will be at 12, alongside an exciting young prospect in 20-year-old Neil Maritz. Hansie Graaf, who finally makes a competitive competition debut for the Sharks, adds experience at fullback, while wings Sizo Maseko and Alcino Izaacs, like the rest of the backs, have come through the Sharks age-group system.
On the bench, the one to watch is 18-year-old prop Thomas du Toit, who is next to former Junior Bok Franco Marais as hooker replacement. Marco Wentzel continues his comeback from shoulder surgery in jersey 18, while young Johann Meyer is the replacement loose forward. Tim Swiel lurks besides scrumhalf Hanco Venter and utility back Keelin Bastew amongst the backline replacements.
The Sharks XV
15. Hansie Graaff
14. Sizo Maseko
13. Neil Maritz
12. Andre Esterhuizen
11. Alcino Izaacs
10. Fred Zeilinga
9. Stefan Ungerer
8. Tera Mtembu (captain)
7. Francois Kleinhans
6. Khaya Majola
5. Peet Marais
4. Edwin Hewitt
3. Wiehahn Herbst
2. Monde Hadebe
1. Mox Mxoli
Replacements
16. Franco Marais
17. Thomas du Toit
18. Marco Wentzel
19. Johann Meyer
20. Hanco Venter
21. Tim Swiel
22. Keelin Bastew
Tweet
No sign of Tim Whitehead?
No Tim Whitehead 😐 is it due to injury or a sign that he’s moving on?
No Keegan or TW.
Methinks that they are both closer to the Sharks Super Rugby team than we all think.
Perhaps they aren’t being risked at this stage or are both carrying injuries.
Called the starting XV spot on Rob!
Some serious talent in that team!
Thats def a very good side. One does wonder what the likes of Botes, Daniel, Whitehead and Chavanga are doing? Are there injuries? Cos if not these guys could be lacking serious match practise
@Butchie34 (Comment 1) : @Greg (Comment 2) : @John Galt (Comment 3) : TW had an op according to a comment in another thread.
Whitehead is injured again
@robdylan (Comment 8) :
Thanks.
I`m guessing this won`t be televised? 🙄
Read in our local newspaper today that Border only started practicing this week, so I think there is a massive score on it’s way
@Original Pierre (Comment 10) : no – I hear someone sold the floodlights
@robdylan (Comment 12) : Sharp…..very sharp
@FireTheLooser (Comment 13) : thank you – I’ll be here all week. Try the fish
Wow, we are so blessed with talent this year. It’s a shame these players have to go and play with 5 people in the stands watching and no tv exposure.
Tera is the captain, not Monde
Botes, Daniel and the likes should play VC so they can stay match fit atleast :annoyed:
This team strong enough to play bulls or stormers in S15- 😆
VC, IF ALL GOES WELL WILL BE WON FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER AND THE FIRST TROPHY IN 2014 FOR THE SHARKS. 🙂
where is Jake’s blue eyed boy Ettienne Oosthuizen ?
@robdylan (Comment 8) : nooo 🙁
I wish he could get back to the same form that got us into the S15 final. he was by far the best inside center in the country back then.
@Observer (Comment 18) : sounds like he picked up an injury against Sarries and is fighting to get fit? Not sure…
Zeilinga kicks off
@Ludz (Comment 21) : you, sir, are a legend 🙂
7-0 to Sharks, Graaff try, converted by Fred, 20 minutes in
Sharks Xv in trouble…. 10-24 down with about 30 to play.
Border taking every sniff of a chance, it seems
Right back in 24-22 to Border
Thomas du Toit scores! Sharks lead 29-24
Wors try… Sharks lead 36-24
43-24… Andre Esterhuizen
so….
Tries Hansie Graaff, Peet Marais, Neil Maritz, Thomas du Toit, Wiehahn Herbst, Andre Esterhuizen.
Cons Zeilinga (5)
Pen Zeilina
final score 46-24
Tries Hansie Graaff, Peet Marais, Neil Maritz, Thomas du Toit, Wiehahn Herbst, Andre Esterhuizen.
Cons Zeilinga (5)
Pens Zeilina (2)
Thanks for taking over here Rob, I was struggling to watch with all the updating on twitter and other platforms
Thanks for the scores.
Rovers beat welkom 85 zip
@bobby 26 (Comment 33) : nice