Aphelele Fassi has sustained an ankle injury and will be out for 8 weeks. Gianni Lombard will start in the fullback jersey with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu replacing Johan Goosen who will cover the backline along with Sanele Nohamba. Marco van Staden will provide more balance to the loose trio with Phepsi Buthelezi moving down to the bench. JJ Kotze and Mornay Smith should feature later in the second half.
(more…)Manie Libbok will likely feature later in the game against France with Damian Willemse retaining the 10 jersey. Rienaber has made a number of changes to the team that lost to Ireland. Franco Mostert slots in for the injured Lood de Jager with Marvin Orie moving onto the bench. Willie le Roux starts in the 15 jersey with Cheslin Kolbe moving back to 14, and Kurt-Lee Arendse moves over to 11. Faf de Klerk starts with Cobus Reinach on the bench. Ox Nche and Bongi Mbonambi swap jerseys with Steven Kitshoff and Malcolm Marx.
(more…)Lourens Adriaanse has been diagnosed with lymphoma cancer and is currently on treatment. He has therefore decided to retire from professional rugby and focus on regaining his health. He plans to finish his articles in accounting.
Lourens contributed to the Sharks team from 2014-2017 and again since 2021. We wish him a speedy recovery and all the best in his new career.
The du Preez twins have been called up for the SA A team with Jean-Luc slotting in at 8 while Phepsi will start as the open side flank. I assume Dan du Preez will cover lock. Both Stormers hookers have been selected – so Ruan Nortje and Jason Jenkins can expect a tough time in the lineouts.
(more…)Cheslin Kolbe has been selected to start at fullback completing a very dangerous back three with Kurt-Lee Arendse and Makazole Mapimpi. Hopefully the inside backs can manage to manipulate the Irish defenses to provide them with some ball in good positions to show their magic. We know they will be chasing box kicks most of the time though.
(more…)Sharks Thomas du Toit, Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Jaden Hendrikse and Makazole Mapimpi will embark on the end of year tour with the Boks, while Ntuthuko Mchunu, Phepsi Buthelezi, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Grant Williams and Aphelele Fassi may feature in the SA A games against Munster and Bristol.
I do think Boeta Chamberlain should have been selected for the A team but I guess that is my Shark prejudice showing.
(more…)The Sharks will be without their Bok squad for the game on Sunday against the Bulls. New recruit Francois Venter slots straight into the 13 jersey (not sure if Marnus Potgieter deserved to drop to the bench though). Fiery Gerbrandt Grobler is back from injury layoff to start in the number 4 jersey. Cameron Wright will start at 9 with Grant Williams back from injury on the bench.
(more…)LATEST: The game has been postponed due to entire Ulster squad down with E-coli
Sean Everrit will start all his available Boks against Ulster with Kerron van Vuuren, Ntuthuko Mchunu and Anthony Volmink moving down to the bench. Dylan Richardson drops out of the squad and is replaced by James Venter.
(more…)Sean Everett has shored up the Sharks side with his available Boks including Eben Etzebeth that will make his debut in a Sharks jersey. New recruit Vincent Tshituka will feature in the number 7 jersey.
Midfield has been reshuffled with red-carded Rohan JvR replaced by Marnus Potgieter. Jaden Hendrikse starts in place of the injured Grant Williams and Anthony Volminck comes in for Thaakir Abrahams.
The Sharks at times showed great attacking skills against Leinster but were really poor defensively (and also exiting after receiving a kick off). This was very evident with poor tackling out wide, but the Sharks also allowed Leinster to get on the front foot across the field too often. Defense has reportedly been the focus in training this week.
(more…)The Sharks will not use any of their Boks coming back from duty in the RC in the last match of their first European tour of the season. Hyron Andrews starts for Reniel Hugo who moves to the bench. Likewise hard-grafting Phepsi Buthelezi swaps jerseys with Sikhumbuzo Notshe. Nevaldo Fleurs may make his URC debut later in the game.
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