Bok prop Koch bolsters young Sharks team for Sale clash

The Hollywoodbets Sharks have left out most of their first choice players and gone with a young and mostly less experienced team for their third round Investec Champions Club clash with the Sale Sharks in Manchester on Saturday night.

The word “mostly” is used because in some instances there has been a return of experience, most notably at tighthead prop, where double World Cup winner Vincent Koch will make his first first start for the Sharks in quite a while.

There is also nothing inexperienced about outside centre Francois Venter, who became a Springbok after captaining the Cheetahs to the Currie Cup title almost 10 years ago, or for that matter right wing Yaw Penxe who is well travelled.

For the most part though the game is being used as a chance for the Sharks to test their depth and give some promising young players who haven’t had recent game time an opportunity to show what they do, led by Venter’s centre partner Jurenzo Julius.

The side will be captained by young Nick Hatton, who although only 22 years of age is already marking himself as an outstanding leader and talented looseforward.

Hatton was in charge when the Sharks turned in a feisty performance even when quite heavily defeated by mighty Toulouse in their Champions Cup opener in France in early December. This team does have a similar look to it, but is arguably stronger, with Corne Rahl now back from injury and in the side to partner another recent returnee from injury in the form of Emile van Heerden in the second row.

The ball-scavenging openside flank Tino Mavesere has played some good games for the Sharks and the Zimbabwean will be looking to add further to his reputation with another tigerish showing, while the back row is completed by Emmanuel Tshituka. Tshituka’s more experienced brother Vincent, who has played for the Boks, is on the bench.

Your Hollywoodbet Sharks to take on The Sale Sharks tomorrow 💥#europeanrugbychampionscup pic.twitter.com/2PL89uxvSk — The Sharks (@SharksRugby) January 9, 2026

It is good to see promising young looseforward Matt Ramao, a member of last year’s world championship winning Junior Bok team, on the bench, and also pleasing to see young hooker Ethan Bester, highly rated by former Sharks coach John Plumtree, making his seasonal debut after a long injury layoff.

Siya Masuku, a match winner for the Sharks when they won the EPCR Challenge Cup in 2024, is back in the No 10 jersey outside Ross Braude, who ranks among one of the more promising recent Sharks acquisitions. He will be backed up by Ceano Everson, a young player who did well in the Currie Cup but will be making his debut for the Sharks in an international competition.

The Sharks need to win both remaining games, including the Durban clash with Clermont-Auvergne on Saturday week, to challenge for a home round of 16 match, but they could get through with just one more win if they are happy to travel. The KZN version of the Sharks are one point behind the fourth placed Sale Sharks on the Pool 1 log, with the top four teams going through.

Hollywoodbets Sharks team: Hakeem Kunene, Yaw Penxe, Francois Venter, Jurenzo Julius, Le Roux Malan, Siya Masuku, Ross Braude, Nick Hatton (captain), Emmanuel Tshituka, Tinotenda Mavesere, Emile van Heerden, Corne Rahl, Vincent Koch, Eduan Swart, Lee-Marvin Mazibuko.

Replacements: Ethan Bester, Phatu Ganyane, Mawande Mdanda, Vincent Tshituka, Matt Romao, Ceano Everson, Jean Smith, Marnus Potgieter.