Pienaar gets Sharks' No.9 jersey for Munster clash
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach Sean Everitt has revealed his team for their United Rugby Championship opener against Munster in Limerick on Saturday.
Everitt has stuck with the same pack of forwards that lined up against the Bulls in the Currie Cup Final.
Ruan Pienaar, on loan from the Cheetahs, marks his return to the Sharks after an 11-year absence from the team where his senior career began.
He will wear the No.9 jersey on Saturday.
The only other change to the starting XV sees Boeta Chamberlain named at flyhalf after the departure of Lionel Cronje following his short-term stint with the Durban side during the Currie Cup.
There is a welcome return for the lock duo of Hyron Andrews and Ruben van Heerden.
The pair have been named on a forward-dominated six-two split on the bench.
Sharks: 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Werner Kok, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi (captain), 7 Henco Venter, 6 Dylan Richardson, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Le Roux Roets, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Khwezi Mona.
Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Mpilo Gumede, 20 Ruben van Heerden, 21 Hyron Andrews, 22 Sanele Nohamba, 23 Jeremy Ward.
Date: Saturday, September 25
Venue: Thomond Park, Limerick
Kick-off: 19.35 (20.35 SA time; 18.35 GMT)
Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa), Dermot Blake (Ireland)
TMO: Jon Mason (Wales)
