Category: United Rugby Championship

Sean Everitt has selected a almost unchanged team against Leinster. Aphelele Fassi starts at full back and Le Roux Roets and Reniel Hugo swap places between the starting team and bench.

Siya Kolisi and Henco Venter will regain their jerseys for the match against the Lions while Reniel Hugo starts in the 5 lock position and Le Roux Roets moves back to the bench. No changes have been made to the backline.

The Sharks will do well not to underestimate the Lions who have recently managed to put away top 5 teams Munster and Edinburgh.

Sean Everitt has made 4 changes in the pack (likely to rest some players) but only 2 in the misfiring Sharks back line. Le Roux Roets, James Venter, Jeandre Labushagne and Phepsi Buthelezi will all start in the forwards while Jaden Hendrikse and Jeremy Ward will start in 9 and 12 respectively.

Aphelele Fassi is still out injured but the Sharks will welcome back Ox Nche. Anthony Volmink takes over the fullback position after not having featured in any Sharks team for weeks.

Having doing well to manage bonus points against below strength Benetton and Scarlets teams (due to Six Nations call-ups) and the bottom dwelling Zebre team, the Sharks will face a full strength Edinburgh team featuring the likes of Hamish Watson.

Sean Everitt has selected Grant Williams and Ben Tapaui to start with Jaden Hendrikse and Jeremy Ward dropping to the bench. Ntuthuko Mchunu replaces the injured Ox Nche with Khwezi Mona moving onto the bench. Curwin Bosch keeps the flyhalf jersey with Boeta Chamberlain back on the bench.

The bad news over the last week or so is that Lukhanyo Am will be off chasing Yen in Japan with immediate effect. Fortunately he should be back in about two months time. Siya Kolisi has been named captain in his absence.

The Sharks will play Benetton in Treviso on Saturday. Benetton has lost a number of players to the Italian national team, but the Sharks will do well to remember the humiliation Benetton dished out to the Bulls last year.

Gerbrandt Grobler and Henco Venter start in the pack while Sikhumbuzo Notshe will make a welcome return later in the game. Marius Louw comes in at inside centre while Lukhanyo Am puts the 13 jersey back on. Curwin Bosch replaces Boeta Chaimberlain on the bench.

The Sharks will need to improve all over the park after an indifferent performance against the Stormers. Neil Powell (future defense coach for the Sharks after the current Sevens season) visited the Sharks this week – hopefully he can provide some tips on how to improve the back line defense after the Stormers regularly found gaps to exploit.

Ben Tapuai picking up an injury during training required a midfield reshuffle with Lukhanyo Am moving to 12 and Jeremy Ward coming in at 13. Grant Williams and Boeta Chaimberlain move to the bench with Jaden Hendrikse and Tito Bonilla starting this week. Werner Kok moves onto the bench.

Cape Town is usually a good hunting ground for the Sharks – so hopefully the Sharks can play to their potential and put the Stormers away. The Sharks will have to improve their exits and cut down the penalty count.

Sean Everrit had made only two changes to the starting lineup from last week. Siya Kolisi replaces James Venter who drops out of the squad, and Bongi Mbonambi replaces Kerron van Vuuren who drops down to the bench.