Eben rested against the Dragons
Dave Williams (or Neil Powell) has made just two rotational changes to the starting lineup – James Venter and Jaden Hendrikse swaps with Tinotenda Mavesere and Grant Williams. However Dan Jooste, Coenie Oosthuizen, Le Roux Roets, Lionel Cronje and Rohan Janse van Rensburg all move onto the bench. Eben Etzebeth is rested for this match. On that topic hopefully this plus the following three weeks counts towards Eben’s mandatory break.
Winning this match will guarantee the Sharks third place in the coming round of 16 (meaning that the Sharks will play the team coming 4th in its pool with the highest log points compared to the other two). Winning with a BP should guarantee them a second place unless Gloucester can also win with a BP and overtake the Sharks on points difference (currently 51 points behind the Sharks). If Montpelier loses or draws the Sharks may even move to first. In all these cases the match will be played in Durban.
Losing the match will still result in the Sharks qualifying (unless they loose to Dragons by more than 28), but they will end up playing one of the stronger teams away from home. So all to play for.
- Ox Nche
- Fez Mbatha
- Hanro Jacobs
- Corne’ Rahl
- Gerbrandt Grobler
- James Venter
- Jeandre Labuschagne
- Phepsi Buthelezi
- Jaden Hendrikse
- Curwin Bosch
- Makazole Mapimpi
- Francois Venter
- Lukhanyo Am (c)
- Werner Kok
- Aphelele Fassi
Replacements
- Dan Jooste
- Ntuthuko Mchunu
- Coenie Oosthuizen
- Le Roux Roets
- Tinotenda Mavesere
- Grant Williams
- Lionel Cronje
- Rohan Janse van Rensburg