Sharks add front row spice
The changes do not stop there for the side that edged the Jaguares 25-2 in Buenos Aires during Round 12, as the entire front row – including replacements – have been given a full rotation. Lourens Adriaanse and Dale Chadwick will start either side of Ralepelle while Kyle Cooper, Juan Schoeman and Thomas du Toit make up the numbers on the bench.
This results in Mtawarira, Franco Marais and Coenie Oosthuizen being rested. Other changes to the forwards sees Jean-Luc du Plessis join his brother Daniel in the loose forwards department in place of the injured Jean Deysel.
Deysel suffered a horrible injury scare during the Jaguares match and will miss the encounter due to nerve damage. An Agustin Creevy tackle saw him landing awkwardly on his neck and fortunately, did not sufferer any bone damage.
The only other change is at lock as Etienne Oosthuizen switches with Lubabalo Mtyanda to start in the No.4 jersey.
There will be a new halfback pairing though as match captain Patrick Lambie is joined partnered with Michael Claassens. Stefan Ungerer drops to the bench to provide scrumhalf cover – something they never had against the Jaguares.
Springbok wing JP Pietersen switches wings as Odwa Ndungane drops to the bench. This makes space for Springbok Lwazi Mvovo to return to the starting XV while Sibusiso Sithole misses out on the match altogether.
This will be the fourth clash between our two teams, with the Cell C Sharks having won all three of the previous meetings;
Sharks: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Patrick Lambie (captain), 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Mahlatse Ralepelle, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Lubabalo Mtyanda, 20 Lubabalo Mthembu, 21 Stefan Ungerer, 22 Garth April, 23 Odwa Ndungane.
Date: Saturday, May 21
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 17.10 (15.10 GMT)
Referee: Quinton Immelman
Assistant referees: Rodney Bonaparte, Archie Sehlako
TMO: Marius Jonker