Experienced Sharks return
Sharks coach John Plumtree has wasted no time to draft in a number of seasoned players for the Currie Cup showdown with the Lions on Saturday.
Plumtree made a number of changes – with Louis Ludik, Charl McLeod and Anton Bresler returning after resting last week – for the defending champions' visit to Durban.
The trio will certainly add plenty of Super Rugby experience to a Sharks side that knocked over Western Province in Round One last week.
There are two changes to the backline, with Ludik and McLeod displacing Gouws Prinsloo and Cobus Reinach to the bench.
Bresler resumes his Super Rugby partnership with Steven Sykes in the second row.
The final change sees Jacques Botes moving to No.8 in place of Tera Mtembu, with Francois Kleinhans handed a golden opportunity with his first start for the Sharks on the flank.
Sharks: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 S'bura Sithole, 10 Riaan Viljoen, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Jacques Botes, 7 Jean Deysel (captain), 6 Francois Kleinhans, 5 Anton Bresler, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Replacements: 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Julian Redelinghuys, 18 Jandré Marais, 19. Lubabalo “Tera” Mtembu, 20 Cobus Reinach, 21 Marius Joubert, 22 Gouws Prinsloo.
Date: Saturday, August 18
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 19.15 (17.15 GMT)
Referee: Mark Lawrence
Assistant referees: Christie du Preez, Blake Beattie
TMO: Deon van Blommestein
