Category: United Rugby Championship

Plum has selected a very strong team for the Scarlets game this coming Friday night. Ox, Etzebeth, Mapimpi, Am, Kok and Fassi will all start with Hendrikse moving back on the bench.

The Sharks have a bit of an openside flank crisis at the moment with both James Venter and Dylan Richardson out injured. Phepsi will have to fill the role while Vincent Tshituka moves into the 8 position. Not sure why Masevere was not rather looked at? Bongi is still not available (Sharks will need him in next week’s semi) so Fez Mbatha will start. Boeta Chamberlain gets another opportunity from the bench.

Plum has decided to rest a number of his first choice players for Friday night’s game against the Warriors. Nick Hatton will feature behind the scrum with Curwin Bosch getting a start at 10, Murray Koster at 13 and Boeta Chamberlain at 15. Vincent Koch, Vincent Tshituka, Siya Masuku and Ethan Hooker will provide reinforcement from the bench later in the game.

Plum will start his first choice front row against Edinburgh. Emile van Heerden is back from injury and replaces Gerbrandt Grobler. James Venter is back at open side and Phepsi moves back to 8. Francois Venter swaps places with Ethan Hooker and Werner Kok comes in for the injured Eduan Keyter.

Ox, Vincent (both from the bench) and Eben will all strengthen the pack for the Sharks this Saturday. I am not a fan of Phepsi at openside – not sure if James Venter is out injured. George Cronje gets another start at 8 and need to start showing the form that made the Sharks buying him from Free State.

The Sharks travel to Johannesburg pretty much playing for pride, practicing for the Challenge Cup and giving more game time to youngsters. Ntuthuko Mchunu have the big boots of Ox Nche to fill to keep the scrum up along with Bongi and Coenie Oosthuizen. Jaden Hendrikse, Lukhanyo Am and Makazole Mapimpi are all rested – not sure why Am and Mapimpi who missed a number of games due to injuries at the World Cup need rest at this stage.

The Sharks have lost Eben Etzebeth due to a knee injury, but are welcoming back Bongi Mbonambi and Vincent Tshituka on the bench. Plum has selected a fairly strong pack and his most experienced back line.

Siya Masuku will likely make his debut for the Sharks in the second half, with Bradley Davids coming in for Grant Williams.

Plum has made some rotational changes to the team that played in Cape Town. Fez Mbatha starts at hooker alongside Hanro Jacobs. Gerbrandt Grobler gets a start in the 5 jersey and Grant Williams and Jaden Hendrikse swaps places. Rohan jVR is back on the bench.

Emile van Heerden will again feature at 5 lock with Lappies Labuschagne adding some beef to the loose trio with Phepsi moving to the back of the scrum. Jaden Hendrikse swaps with Grant Williams with the rest of the backline remaining the same as the one that lost against the Cheetahs.

Hard grafting Werner Kok has suffered a hamstring niggle and is replaced by Aphiwe Dyantyi. Apart from that injury enforced change, Plum has selected exactly the same team as last week.

Plum has hauled out the big artillery for the game against the Dragons. Eben Etzebeth and Ox Nche (from the bench) will add some much needed muscle in the pack while Jaden Hendrikse and Grant Williams (from the bench) will hopefully add some starting zip to the attack (Cam Wright actually did a pretty decent holding job in the mean time). Makazole Mapimpi should improve the finishing of opportunities.