The day that Hollywoodbets Sharks coach John Plumtree has been dreaming about for months has finally arrived with Springbok man mountain Eben Etzebeth returning from injury to lead a powerful, full strength team against Edinburgh on Friday night.
We already knew Etzebeth was back in the mix when he was included in the extended Sharks squad that left on a two match Vodacom United Rugby Championship tour that will make or break their season earlier in the week.
However, seeing Etzebeth back on the team sheet is surely all the booster fuel the rest of the Sharks players need as they head into the decisive phase of the season.
Another legendary World Cup winner in Lukhanyo Am joins Etzebeth in the starting team, along with possible future RWC winner and current Bok first choice fullback Aphelele Fassi. Like Etzebeth, Fassi has been out for some time and his return along with that of Am should have a big impact on the Sharks’ attacking prowess.
Am will partner Andre Esterhuizen in the midfield for the first time since December and if they can reproduce the form they were showing then the Edinburgh defence will have their work cut out.
Of course the caveat to that is that the forwards will need to win the ball first but the Sharks should back themselves to do that given that Etzebeth’s return means they have five forwards in the pack that featured in the last World Cup final.
Siya Kolisi continues at No 8 but has been given a break from the captaincy by Plumtree, something that is aligned with the policy that was adopted before Etzebeth was ruled out with concussion in early December.
Plumtree explained that decision at the time around Kolisi also having the pressure of leading his country, but it is also probable that Plumtree reckons giving Etzebeth the leadership responsibility brings the best out of him.
The Sharks players certainly appear to react to him when he is present and he should be a galvanising force for a team that has produced a few limp, flat performances recently. The loss at home to the Leinster second-string team the last time they played a URC game was a big setback to their quest for a top-two log finish and they will need to win overseas now to make up for it.
The return of the Sharks’ trio of Boks noticeably increases the depth of the match day squad, with for instance Jason Jenkins, who was the star lock when Etzebeth was absent, now adding star quality impact from the bench.
With Jaden Hendrikse wearing the No 9, the Sharks also have an international scrumhalf in the form of Grant Williams covering scrumhalf, while Ntuthuko Mchunu, the backup loosehead prop, is also a capped Bok.
In all, there are 12 Boks in the starting team and three on the bench, with future Boks such as Ethan Hooker, Jurenzo Julius and arguably Siya Masuku also in the match day 23. Hooker will continue on the wing, where he has impressed this season for the Sharks.
Of course, next year current Lions star Edwill van der Merwe will fill that position so the Sharks have little to complain about when it comes to backline resources.
Yet rugby matches are not played on paper and the Sharks know they still have to get the job done against an Edinburgh team that has claimed two South African scalps over the past two weeks in the form of the Lions and the Vodacom Bulls in the Challenge Cup.
“Edinburgh is going to be a tough game, they are in good form and their confidence will be really high so we know it is going to be a tough match,” said Plumtree from Edinburgh.
“Winning URC games away from home is never easy and it certainly hasn’t been easy for us as a team in the past. So it will be great if we can put in a good performance and get a good result.”
HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS TEAM: Aphelele Fassi, Ethan Hooker, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi, Jordan Hendrikse, Jaden Hendrikse, Siya Kolisi, Vincent Tshituka, Phepsi Buthelezi, Emile van Heerden, Eben Etzebeth (captain), Vincent Koch, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche. Replacements: Fez Mbatha, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Hanro Jacobs, Jason Jenkins, James Venter, Grant Williams, Siya Masuku, Jurenzo Julius.