Giant steps in for the Sharks
The Sharks have made a 'Giant' change at lock for the match against the Lions at Kings Park on Saturday with Lubabalo Mtyanda starting as part of a handful of changes.
The Sharks also welcome back captain Bismarck du Plessis to the team to host the Lions.
Director of Rugby, Gary Gold, explaining the rationale in making new selections, explains: “Due to injuries, we have had to necessitate a few changes to the team.
“Apart from those injury-enforced changes, we have tried to keep the team as consistent as possible, so that players have another opportunity to get the wrongs of the past weekend right.”
They will have to make do without the likes of wing Sibusiso Sithole, Mouritz Botha and Tendai Mtawarira, but that opens the door of opportunity to Odwa Ndungane, debutant lock Mtyanda and Dale Chadwick.
Two very exciting young talents in Thomas du Toit and Andre Esterhuizen come onto the bench for this week’s match.
Sharks: 15 SP Marais, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Heimar Williams, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Lubabalo Mtembu, 7 Renaldo Bothma, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Lubabalo Mtyanda, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis (captain), 1 Dale Chadwick.
Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Matt Stevens, 19 Marco Wentzel, 20 Jean Deysel, 21 Conrad Hoffmann, 22 Fred Zeilinga, 23 Andre Esterhuizen.
Date: Saturday, February 21
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Rohan Hoffmann (Australia)
Assistant referees: Andrew Lees (Australia), Stuart Berry (South Africa)
TMO: Deon van Blommestein (South Africa)
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