'New' flyhalf for Sharks
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks have left the warm climate of Durban and headed north to chilly Treviso in Italy for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship clash with Benetton.
This match offers the Durbanites the opportunity to get stuck into overseas opposition once more following a period of South African derbies over the last few months.
With the tournament starting to hot up and the resumption of games against international teams, the Sharks will embrace the challenge to lay a marker in the competition.
Sharks head coach Sean Everitt has largely stuck with the same team that defeated the Bulls in their last outing for Saturday’s clash, making just two changes to the starting line-up.
Ruben van Heerden comes in for Hyron Andrews (concussion) in the second row, opening the door for Le Roux Roets to come into the 23-man squad where he is named to play off the bench.
The second change sees Curwin Bosch starting at flyhalf, with Argentine international Tito Bonilla named amongst the replacements.
Following the sublime form he showed for the Sharks in their Currie Cup victory over the Lions, scrumhalf Cameron Wright has been called into the URC squad and rewarded with a place on the bench.
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Marius Louw, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 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 Le Roux Roets, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 23 Werner Kok.
Date: Saturday, February 26
Venue: Stadio Monigo, Treviso
Kick-off: 16.05 (15.05 GMT; 17.05 SA Time)
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Assistant referees: Filippo Russo (FIR) & Alberto Favero (FIR)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
#ICYMI: The Sharks hope to avoid the ignominy that befell the Bulls and Stormers on their first ventures to Italy. #URC https://t.co/sZtCrAZMXz
— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) February 24, 2022
