Sharks bring out their Boks for Lions clash
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach Robert du Preez has unveiled his team for Sunday’s pre-season match against the Lions at Cape Town Stadium.
The matchday squad consists of a number of Springboks with the likes of Curwin Bosch, Makazole Mapimpi, Lukhanyo Am, Sibusiso Nkosi, Lwazi Mvovo, Louis Schreuder, Daniel du Preez and Thomas du Toit all starting.
Bok hooker Armand van der Merwe has been included on the bench.
There few young guns in the Sharks’ matchday 23 looking to impress ahead of this year’s Super Rugby campaign.
The likes of Kerron van Vuuren as the starting hooker, with prop Khutha Mchunu, lock JJ van der Mescht and victorious Sharks Under-19 captain and No.8 Phendulani ‘Phepsi’ Buthelezi are some of the new faces hoping to put up their hands for further inclusion during the course of the season.
There are also number of players missing for this match, most notably those who have done duty for their clubs in Japan until recently, as well as some Springboks after a heavy workload in 2018.
Schreuder, the season captain, will lead the side on Sunday.
This match is part of double-header at the Cape Town Stadium on Sunday with the Stormers hosting the Bulls in the other clash.
Sharks: 15 Lwazi Mvovo, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Louis Schreuder (captain), 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Tyler Paul, 6 Jacques Vermeulen, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Gideon Koegelenberg, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Replacements -from: Akker van der Merwe, Mzamo Majola, Khutha Mchunu, JJ van der Mescht, Luke Stringer, Wian Vosloo, Phepsi Buthelezi, Cameron Wright, Rhyno Smith, Jeremy Ward, Aphelele Fassi.
Date: Sunday, February 3
Venue: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 14.00 (12.00 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni, Divan Uys
TMO: Christie du Preez
Player of the Year🏆
Drum roll please… and #OurSharks Player of the Year Award goes to the industrious, Lukhanyo Am! The crafty midfield back was a shining light throughout the 2018 Vodacom @SuperRugby season.🔥
Congratulations, Lukhanyo!👏@SibayaCasino #SharksPlayerAwards pic.twitter.com/HZzzMoyA6R
ADVERTISEMENT— The Sharks (@TheSharksZA) January 25, 2019
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