Los Pumas star replaces Boeta against Stormers
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sharks have revealed their team to face the Stormers on Saturday at the Cape Town Stadium.
Following last week’s 22-all draw against the same opponents at Kings Park, head coach Sean Everitt has not tinkered too much with the team for the return leg.
The forward pack that dominated the Stormers at scrum time has been given an overwhelming thumbs up, while Everitt has swapped the jerseys of flyhalf and scrumhalf, with Jaden Hendrikse starting at nine and Argentine international Tito Bonilla at 10.
While last week’s incumbents Grant Williams and Boeta Chamberlain playing off the bench.
With the injury to inside centre Ben Tapuai, captain Lukhanyo Am has shifted into his place with Jeremy Ward coming off the bench and into the starting line-up at outside centre.
This opens the door for Werner Kok to wear the number 23 jersey, with the final change seeing Reniel Hugo making way for Gerbrandt Grobler.
While there was a lot to enthuse about in the first leg clash with the Stormers last week, one concern was not closing out the victory when the Sharks held a decent lead.
This is not a structural issue but more about composure and bringing an element of ruthlessness to their game that Everitt will have outlined in the preparations to this match and exhorted his players to adopt this week.
With just two points separating the Sharks and Stormers on the URC table, every log point counts and this match presents the opportunity to put some daylight between them and the chasing South African sides.
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 13 Jeremy Ward, 12 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Tito Bonilla, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Jeandre Labuschagne, 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nché
Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Gerbrandt Grobler, 20 Henco Venter, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Werner Kok.
Date: Saturday, February 5
Venue: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT)
Referee: AM Jacobs
Assistant Referees: Cwengile Jadezweni, Morne Ferreira
TMO: Marius Jonker
