Six Boks swimming with the Sharks
The Sharks have six Springboks back from World Cup and straight into their side for the weekend’s clash with the table-topping Golden Lions.
The fresh injection of Boks will strengthen the Sharks efforts to secure a home semifinal against a Lions team that is rest a couple of key players.
Patrick Lambie and Odwa Ndungane come straight back into the starting XV at fullback and wing respectively, while Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Willem Alberts and JP Pietersen are all on the bench.
There is another Springbok coming back into the team at No.8, as Ryan Kankowski has recovered from injury to take up his place at the back of the scrum.
Two veterans Stefan Terblanche and Marius Joubert form the midfield partnership in the absence of the injured Adi Jacobs.
There are also changes in the front row, where Eugene van Staden moves across to loosehead and makes way for Wiehahn Herbst at tighthead and Craig Burden shakes off his injury troubles to pull on the No.2 jersey.
Sharks: 15 Patrick Lambie, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Stefan Terblanche, 12 Marius Joubert, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Conrad Hoffmann, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Keegan Daniel (captain), 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Jean Deysel, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Eugene van Staden.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Willem Alberts, 19 Jacques Botes, 20 Ross Cronje, 21 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22 JP Pietersen.
Date: Saturday, October 15
Venue: Mr Price Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Jason Jaftha
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper, Christie du Preez
TMO: JC Fortuin