Category: United Rugby Championship

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.

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.

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.

Sean Everitt had to make three injury enforced changes to the team. Justin Basson replaces Gerbrandt Grobler in the starting team with Hyron Andrews slotting onto the bench. Anthony Volmink replaces Fred Zeilinga (who has flown home with a knee injury) on the bench. Fortunately Aphelele Fassi who was substituted due to a niggle against Zebre is fit and able to start in the 15 jersey.

Sean Everitt has selected both James Venter and Dylan Richardson in the starting pack. This will make for a pretty mobile loose trio, but the Sharks may struggle in the tight exchanges especially with Le Roux Roets not on tour. Another unexpected choice is the selection of Ben Tapuai at 12 and Rohan Janse van Rensburg at 13 and not the other way around. Thaakir Abrahams gets the nod at 14 while Marnus Potgieter covers from the bench.

With Damian Willemse out the Boks only has Frans Steyn for the 10 jersey (although Faf de Klerk and Willie le Roux are bandied as options). Similarly due to injuries to Curwin Bosch and Lionel Cronje the Sharks with only Boeta Chamberlain as recognized flyhalf and place kicker have called on Fred Zeilinga to assist.

The squad looks good in the prop, hooker, no 5 lock, open side and eight man department but will miss the experience and bulk of Le Roux Roets (no 4 lock), Henco Venter (blindside flank) and Jeandre Labuschagne (blindside) in the pack.

Sean Everitt has gone for continuity with only 1 change to the starting lineup (Le Roux Roets at 4 with Ruben van Heerden dropping to the bench). This week he is using a 5-3 bench split with Ben Tapui rejoining the squad.

The pundits are talking up the Bulls (and the Stormers): Matfield believes Bulls’ better coaching will trump Sharks’ star power in URC showdown. Mallett backs Bulls for URC title charge.

Bookies are currently giving odds of 1.53 for a Bulls win with the Sharks at 2.58.

It will certainly be a close game that the Sharks can win, but the team will need to make better decisions, cut down on mistakes and show absolutely 100% commitment from every player in the squad.

The Sharks will have play maker Lukhanyo Am back at outside center while hard working Ruben van Heerden starts in the number 4 jersey. Le Roux Roets who provides a lot of bulk and go forward to the Sharks pack is not in the mix – I can only assume he is out injured. Likewise fiery Gerbrand Grobler will also be missed.

I am worried that the Sharks will be rusty due to the bulk of the squad not playing rugby for 3 weeks. If the Sharks can pull of a win they will be guaranteed a home quarter final.

Sean Everitt has picked an unchanged side for the game against Connacht. The Sharks should be safe for a quarter final, but now it is all to play for the final position in the top 8 in order to play the QF at home.

The Sharks showed some very positive progress in the game against Leinster (good to see Bosch and Fassi counter-attacking again), but they do need to work on their discipline. Too often the team let up the pressure by giving away silly penalties at crucial times.