Already out of contention for the Vodacom Cup quarter finals, the Sharks XV head to PE to play the Kings on Friday night with a team chock-full of surprises. Tera Mtembu will play his first game back from a long knee injury, starting in the number 8 jersey.
As we’ve come to expect, the changes to the team are wholesale. Only the front row and midfield remain intact from the unit that went down to Griquas last week; Monde Hadebe captains from hooker with Barend Potgieter and Marne Coetzee either side of him. Injuries to locks JC Astle and Johan du Toit mean a completely new second row pairing, comprising two players who joined from the Bulls age group ranks this year, Jean Droste and Christiaan de Bruyn. Johan Meyer shifts to flank to accommodate Mtembu, with Khaya Majola still at 6. Sias Koen heads benchwards, where he’ll act as utility forward cover alongside another injury returnee, Francois Kleinhans.
Hanco Venter is still at scrumhalf, but has a new halfback partner in Heimar Williams (with Cameron Wright benched). Marius Louw and Paul Jordaan continue in midfield, with Paul Perez replacing Alcino Izaacs at right wing. Garth April and Tonderai Chavhanga retain their places in the back three – altogether there are six changes to the starting lineup, one of them positional.
Mees Erasmus replaces Andrew du Plessis as reserve hooker in the only other bench move.
Sharks XV: 15. Garth April, 14. Paul Perez, 13. Paul Jordaan, 12. Marius Louw, 11. Tonderai Chavhanga, 10. Heimar Williams, 9. Hanco Venter, 8. Tera Mtembu, 7. Johan Meyer, 6. Khaya Majola, 5. Jean Droste, 4. Christiaan de Bruin, 3. Marne Coetzee, 2. Monde Hadebe (Captain), 1. Barend Potgieter
Replacements: 16. Johan Erasmus, 17. Mthunzi Moloi, 18. Sias Koen, 19. Francois Kleinhans, 20. Cameron Wright, 21. Sandile Kubeka, 22. Alcino Izaacs
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could be a fun game to watch
Good to see Tera back in action.
Decent backline…whether they can gel…and forwards can get them ball is another story however.
Welcome back Tera! Great news 😛
The whole team looks great on paper. I cannot understand why they struggle. Anyone would be giving a left nut to field a roster like this…seriously baffled.
@Kabouter (Comment 1) : I’ll let you know I’ll be there give updates 😉
Good!
Mtembu is a guy coming through the ranks which I believe can be a great asset to the Sharks.
@pierre_mackie (Comment 6) : hmmm, if we did have to prep for a massive mothers day I would have joined you. We should meet up for a few cc or sr games
So good to see Tera back? Any opinions on the lock pair?
@vanmartin (Comment 9) : First question mark was supposed to be an exclamation mark. Oops.
@vanmartin (Comment 9) : hard to say…. the Bulls would have kept them if they were first choice