Sharks throw Boks straight in
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The Sharks have included Frans Steyn, JP Pietersen and Willem Alberts in their stating line-up to take on the Stormers at Newlands on Saturday.
Pietersen and Steyn have returned from Japan and no time has been wasted introducing them to the starting line-up, while Willem Alberts has been given the all-clear to play after spending time rehabbing an injury.
Pietersen and Steyn have also proven themselves at training and they form a new centre partnership.Ryan Kankowski will join the elite group of Super Rugby centurions when he plays in his 100th game for the Sharks, in a loose forward bolstered by the return of Alberts.
The Sharks will be hoping to match the kind of talent that lurks at the back of the Stormers scrum in the shape of SA Rugby Player of the Year in 2014, Duane Vermeulen.
“We are in a fortunate position that we have experienced Springbok players that have either recovered from injury or have returned from Japan,” explains Director of Rugby Gary Gold.
“We are excited to have them back and involved in our matchday squad. We also have commitments to SA Rugby to rest selected players."
This sees Jannie du Plessis drop out of the matchday squad all together and a return of Matt Stevens to tighthead prop.“The Stormers are the in-form team in South Africa at present and we are playing them in front of their passionate home crowd," Gold continued.
"We are under no illusions about how tough the challenge is going to be.
"This is probably going to be a tougher battle than last week.
"Our squad has had a good training week and are determined to get our campaign back on a winning track.”
The following were not considered for selection due to injuries: Lubabalo Mtembu (Acute flare up of chronic knee – one week), Jean Deysel (Minor procedure to ankle – four to six weeks), Stephan Lewies (Minor procedure on knee – six to eight weeks) and Etienne Oosthuizen (Knee injury – three to four weeks).
Sharks: 15 SP Marais, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Francois Steyn, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Lubabalo Mtyanda, 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Bismarck du Plessis (captain), 1 Thomas du Toit.
Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Dale Chadwick, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Marco Wentzel, 20 Renaldo Bothma, 21 Conrad Hoffmann, 22 Andre Esterhuizen, 23 Jack Wilson.
Date: Saturday, March 7
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Quinton Immelman (South Africa), Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa)
TMO: Deon van Blommestein (South Africa)
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