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Sharks bulk up on Bok muscle

By @rugby365com
Thursday 26 Feb 2026

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sharks’ inspirational captain, Andre Esterhuizen, is back to lead them when they face the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Head coach JP Pietersen has welcomed back Springboks Ox Nche, Vincent Koch, Phepsi Buthelezi, Jordan Hendrikse, Makazole Mapimpi, and Esterhuizen to the starting line-up as he looks to provide leadership and experience to his team against the old foe.

The tenth-ranked Sharks are behind the eighth-placed Bulls, who have a game in hand, and leads the SA Shield standings.

A 21-12 victory over the Pretoria side at Kings Park in December set the Sharks up nicely on the log, and they followed that up with back-to-back, home and away victories over the Stormers to rise to the top of the SA Shield.

They let it slip against the Lions last weekend and will be out to rectify the mistakes that cost them dearly.

This Saturday is all about delivering the knock-out punch and securing the points needed to lift the shield. Still, it’s not going to be easy against the side two places above the Sharks on the overall log, having played one game fewer and enjoying a one-point lead over the Durban side.

Sharks: 15 Jaco Williams, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (captain), 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikste, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Phatu Ganyane, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Thomas Dyer, 21 Ross Braude, 22 Siya Masuku, Yaw Penxe

Date: Saturday, February 28
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 17.00; 15.00 GMT
Referee: Morne Ferreira (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Griffin Colby (South Africa) & Jonathan Lottering (South Africa)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)

 

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