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.

I expect this team will really struggle with cohesion on attack and defense due to lack of game time and more importantly game time together. Clearly the Sharks have given up on the Challenge Cup – basically treating this match as a warm up for players returning from injury or suspension.

15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Le Roux Malan, 12 Marnus Potgieter, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jean Smith, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Nick Hatton (c), 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Ox Nche.
Bench: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Ethan Hooker.