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.
JPP is still keeping his best props on the bench. He brought them on too late last week allowing the Ospreys scrum dominance which they used to get into Sharks territory. By the time Ox and Koch started destroying the Ospreys scrum it was too late – especially when the Welsh reverted to cheating.
The Sharks showed some variation and intent on attack early in the game, but the usual unforced errors allowed the Ospreys the opportunity to stay in the game. Unfortunately some senior players were guilty of dropping / losing the ball in the tackle too often. Hopefully the Sharks can show the same (or even more) variation for longer periods and also cut down on unforced errors.
- Phatu Ganyane
- Fez Mbatha
- Hanro Jacobs
- Jason Jenkins
- Emile van Heerden
- Phepsi Buthelezi
- Vincent Tshituka
- Emmanuel Tshituka
- Jaden Hendrikse
- Jean Smith
- Makazole Mapimpi
- Siya Masuku
- Andre Esterhuizen (C)
- Edwill van der Merwe
- Zekhethelo Siyaya
Replacements
- Eduan Swart
- Ox Nche
- Vincent Koch
- Corne Rahl
- Nicholas Hatton
- Siya Kolisi *
- Bradley Davids
- Marnus Potgieter
Injuries
Aphelele Fassi, Bongi Mbonambi, Bryce Calvert, Coetzee le Roux, Eben Etzebeth, Ethan Bester, Ethan Hooker, Francois Venter, Grant Williams, Hakeem Kunene, Jaco Williams, Jordan Hendrikse, Jurenzo Julius, Le Roux Malan, Luan Giliomee, Marvin Orie, Matt Romao, Ruan Dreyer, Simphiwe Matanzima, Tom Dyer, Trevor Nyakane, Yaw Penxe