Sharks rush SA's best player back
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sharks team named to take on the Stormers at Kings Park on Saturday shows just two changes to the side that defeated the Lions last week.
Sharks coach Sean Everitt rushed back the Springbok duo of Siyamthanda Kolisi and Mbongeni Mbonambi to the starting line-up.
The Springbok captain, Kolisi, who was named South Africa’s Player of the Year on Thursday, and hooker Mbonambi return to play against their former side.
Kolisi replaces James Venter on the side of the scrum and Mbonambi starts for Kerron van Vuuren at hooker.
The rest of the match 23 remains unchanged.
Being able to select an almost identical side regularly allows for great continuity from a team with high performance and success aspirations and the fact that the United Rugby Championship is now firmly on track, means continuity in play and personnel feature prominently in the coaching set-up.
This match is equally important for the result needed as the performance required.
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Henry Chamberlain, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Phendulani Buthelezi, 7 Jeandré Labuschagne, 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi,
1 Retshegofaditswe Nche.
Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Khuthazani Mchunu, 19 Reniel Hugo, 20 Henco Venter, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Joaquin Bonilla, 23 Jeremy Ward.
Date: Saturday, January 29
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT)
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni, Morne Ferreira
TMO: Quinton Immelman
