Sharks' Bok trio back in starting line-up to face Stormers
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Hollywoodbets Sharks head coach JP Pietersen named his side to face the Stormers in Round Three of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship at DHL Stadium on Saturday.
Pietersen has made several positional and rotational changes to his side for the local derby.
Three Springboks who featured off the replacements bench last weekend against Leinster are named in the starting line-up: Ox Nche, Eben Etzebeth and Ethan Hooker for this coastal clash.
Former Lion Gianni Lombard is also in line to make his Sharks debut off the bench.
Reflecting on the challenge that lies ahead, Sharks scrum coach Philip Lemmer said:
“It’s definitely going to be a massive battle this week; it’s like two big brothers taking each other on at scrum time because they all know one another really well, having scrummed together at the Boks and against each other as well.
“It’s a big contest and a big point of focus to see who can dominate at scrum time.
“Pre-season helps a lot, but the standards the guys set for themselves is gold for us.
“Each guy keeps the guy next to him accountable, and that’s the only way to drive standards.
“So, it’s our standards that are our fire; we’re not marking 90 percent or percent, we’re marking standards on whether we nail the job or not, and that’s keeping us accountable.
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“If we maintain that, the results and good stats will come by themselves.”
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Looking at the opposition and the big picture around what the result of the match means, Lemmer said:
“The local derbies are important for log points as well as the team’s morale, and regardless of who the Stormers select, Boks or not, they’re a great team.
We know it’s not going to be easy on Saturday; we’re in for a huge battle, and that’s just as it should be.
“It’s set to be a tight contest, but hopefully a great game that showcases the best of this coastal rivalry.”
Sharks: 15 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (captain), 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi,7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Matt Romao, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Eduan Swart,1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Esethu Mnebelele, 17 Cameron Dawson, Vincent Koch, Jason Jenkins, Stephan Lewies, Nick Hatton, Ivan van Zyl, Gianni Lombard
Date: Saturday, October 10
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 16.00 SAST (14.00 GMT)
Referee: Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Griffin Colby (South Africa), Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
*The following Sharks players are currently not available for selection: Bongi Mbonambi, Fez Mbatha, Jannes Potgieter, Jordan Hendrikse, Makazole Mapimpi, PK Sobahle, Simphiwe Matanzima, Trevor Nyakane, Vincent Tshituka, Yaw Penxe
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