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Team for Edinburgh

Apart from the newly injured, coach JPP has kept most of the players that featured against the Ospreys. Makazole Mapimpi comes in for the injured Ethan Hooker. Andre shifts to 13 and Siya Masuku will play 12 next to Jean Smith. Siya Kolisi will play off the bench.

BTW the URC rejected JPP’s request to investigate the foul play that left Ethan Hooker out for at least 2 months. Seems SA players are not deserving of protection against thuggery.

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Eben back for Challenge Cup

JPP has selected a strong tight five including Boks Ox Nche, Vincent Koch and Eben Etzebeth for the game against Connacht. Makazole Mapimpi and Edwill van der Merwe are the only Boks in the back line with Ethan Hooker on the bench. A fairly decent team on paper but including a majority of players who have not had any game time recently.

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Jaco at 15 for Loftus

Mapimpi is back to face the Bulls with Jaco Williams (no Aphelele Fassi) at 15. Jurenzo Julius (no Ethan Hooker) is partnering Andre Esterhuizen in a new centre combination.

Ox Nche and Vincent Koch will add some needed scrum power for the Sharks but Bongi Mbonambi is also still missing. Tino Mavesere, Vincent Tshituka and Phepsi Buthelezi forms a decent loose trio.

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Sharks missing Boks for Lions

The Sharks will take on the Lions at Ellis Park without a number of Bok players (e.g. Ox, Bongi, Siya, Grant, Andre, Ethan) due to rest protocols. Edwill van der Merwe and Aphelele Fassi will start with Vincent Koch on the bench. Thomas Dyer will get his second start for the Sharks at the back of the scrum. Interestingly Jurenzo Julius has been selected at inside centre and Francois Venter at outside.

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Coaching changes

The Sharks have now implemented the coaching changes that was hinted at:

Firstly JPP has now been appointed as the permanent head coach of the Sharks team. Scott Mathie will join as the new attack coach next season and as far as I can tell Warren Whitely, Philip Lemmer and Joey Mongale will retain their assistant positions.

Neil Powell will no longer look over the coach’s shoulder but will become the new Head of Junior Rugby.

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Strong squad for rematch

JPP has been able to select close to his strongest squad for the rematch against the Stormers at Kings Park. Fez Mbatha is back playing between Ox Nche and Hanro Jacobs. Jason Jenkins moves to the bench with Corne Rahl starting. Phepsi starts in the number 8 jersey along Vincent Tshituka and Siya Kolisi. Grant Williams and Jaden Hendrikse swap jerseys this week with Edwill van der Merwe making his return to the team.

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