Sharks keep winning formula
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks coach Robert du Preez has retained his ‘winning formula’ for his team’s first home match of the Super Rugby season.
The Sharks get their home campaign off to a challenging start when they host the Blues on Saturday.
The starting line-up to take on the New Zealand side remains unchanged from last week’s team that smashed the Sunwolves in Singapore.
The match sees the return of Springbok Thomas du Toit, in for Khutha Mchunu on the bench, and Curwin Bosch for Rhyno Smith, also on the bench.
“We were very happy with last week’s win against a quality side that will upset a few teams this year, but now we’re looking ahead to the Blues,” flyhalf Robert du Preez said.
“We played some exciting rugby and some brutal rugby, especially the front row that laid the platform for the rest of the team and we were able to score some lovely tries thanks to the hard work from the forwards.”
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Louis Schreuder (captain), 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Tyler Paul, 6 Jacques Vermeulen, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Hyron Andrews, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Armand van der Merwe, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Gideon Koegelenberg, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Jeremy Ward, 23 Curwin Bosch.
Date: Saturday, February 23
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 15.05 (13.05 GMT; 02.05, Sunday, February 24 NZ time)
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni, Griffon Colby (South Africa)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Sharks team announcement presser:
