Sharks name rookie scrumhalf
Rookie scrumhalf Cameron Wright will make his Currie Cup debut for the Sharks when they travel to Kimberley to take on Griquas on Saturday.
The defending champions also have several other players set to make their first appearance for the Durban-based team.
England prop Matt Stevens, Boland import JC Astle, former South African Schools scrumhalf Hanco Venter and Brumbies import Lionel Cronjé will all feature for the first time in Sharks colours when they come off the bench.
The Sharks will take on Griquas with a number of younger players in the absence of their established Springbok stars.
"We're very excited ahead of our Currie Cup campaign," coach Brad Macleod-Henderson said.
"We have a tough start, playing Griquas away in Kimberley, and everyone knows it's not an easy place to go and get a result but the guys are looking forward to it.
"But we've had a good week's training, there has been great energy, a lot of young guys, everyone is looking forward to playing – especially those who haven't played as much rugby as they would have liked this year – so it's a great opportunity and everyone is very excited."
Sharks: 15 SP Marais, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Sibusiso Sithole, 12 Paul Jordaan, 11 Tonderai Chavhanga, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 Lubabalo Mtembu (captain), 7 Etienne Oosthuizen, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Marco Wentzel, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Thomas du Toit.
Replacements: 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Dale Chadwick, 18 Matt Stevens, 19 JC Astle, 20 Francois Kleinhans, 21 Hanco Venter, 22 Lionel Cronjé.
Date: Saturday, August 9
Venue: GWK Park, Kimberley
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert
Assistant referees: Lourens van der Merwe, Francois de Bruin
TMO: JJ Wagner
