Sharks field several newbies alongside experienced heads
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach JP Pietersen named his side to face the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday.
The Sharks have three debutants in their starting line-up and four more on the bench.
Nick Hatton will lead the side, having stepped into the leadership role last year, as the defending Currie Cup champions open their campaign on Saturday against the Lions in Johannesburg.
Head coach JP Pietersen understands the pressure that lies ahead, but the former Sharks and Springbok star has exhorted his charges to stand up and fight.
“What a challenge for this young group to go up to Joburg, to test ourselves and stay in the fight.
“We’re excited for the campaign, we have a young group, but there is experience in Nick Hatton and Bradley Davids, and hopefully they’ll just continue to grow and get even better,” he said.
“But with this young group of players, it’s exciting.”
Pietersen is under no illusions as to the challenge that lies ahead.
“The Lions will want to speed up the game, play fast to put us under pressure, and attack us at set-piece time as well.
“They have a good kicking game, we know what to expect, but we’ve prepared well for this Saturday, and the challenge will be for the young men to stay in the fight and not become overwhelmed with the tempo of the Lions’ play, and to handle the pressure.
“The main thing for us is to control what we can and stay in the fight. If we can do that, we have a good opportunity.
“We have youth, we have hunger, we have power and if we can stay in the fight until the end, that allows us to get a result.”
Sharks: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Phiko Sobahle, 13 Litelihle Bester, 12 Janco Purchase, 11 Khuthi Rasivaga, 10 Jean Smith, 9 Bradley Davids, 8 Nick Hatton (captain), 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Sphephelo Mbonambi, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Gideon Koegelenberg, 3 Mawande Mdanda, 2 Bryce Calvert, 1 Phatu Ganyane
Replacements: 16 Willem van Wyk, 17 Dian Bleuer, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Kuhle Mthimkhulu, 20 Tomas Dyer, 21 Tiaan Fourie, 22 Drico Marx, 23 Chijindu Okonta
Date: Saturday, July 26
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: Dylen November (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Hernus Coetzee (South Africa), Phumzile Mbewu (South Africa)
TMO: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa)
