Sharks face Rebels without Am
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach Sean Everitt has named his team to face the Melbourne Rebels on Saturday.
Andre Esterhuizen will take over the captaincy duties for Lukhanyo Am who is being rested this week.
Jeremy Ward comes into the starting XV in the No.13 jersey.
Prop Thomas du Toit, who was a late withdrawal last week, returns to the starting team.
“Thomas caught a virus a couple of days before the match against the Hurricanes, he felt better on Saturday morning but became feverish again once we got to the stadium so we had to withdraw him,” head coach Sean Everitt confirmed.
Curwin Bosch is also back in the No.10 jersey after he was granted personal leave last week because of a family bereavement. Wing Makazole Mapimpi, who left the field early with a head knock last week, is fit for the clash.
Sanele Nohamba will start in the No.9 jersey this week.
Boeta Chamberlain has returned home after failing the return to play HIA test and Lwazi Mvovo has been called up in his place and has been named on the bench
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Jeremy Ward, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (captain), 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Sikumbuzo Notshe, 7 Tyler Paul, 6 James Venter, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 Le Roux Roets, 20 Henco Venter, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Marius Louw, 23 Lwazi Mvovo.
Date: Saturday, February 22
Venue: MARS Stadium, Ballarat
Kick-off: 14.45 (05.45 SA time; 03.45 GMT)
Referee: AJ Jacobs (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Damon Murphy (Australia), James Quinn (Australia)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)
