The Cell C Sharks have reverted to their first choice team for Saturday’s Heineken Champions Cup clash with the Bordeaux-Begles at HollywoodBets Kings Park.
A win for the Sharks against the French outfit they narrowly beat in Bordeaux just over a week before Christmas will secure them their place in the round of 16, and it was with the importance of this match in mind that Sharks director of rugby Neil Powell opted to send a second string squad to Galway for last week’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash with Connacht.
The decision to go understrength meant that the first-choice players were spared the long journey to the northern hemisphere and, as prop Thomas du Toit said during the week, it will hopefully pay off with a fresh Sharks team delivering the kind of performance that dispatched the Vodacom Bulls the last time the Sharks' first-choice side played at home.
There are minimal changes from the Springbok-laden side that defeated the Bulls, with Vincent Tshituka coming in for Henco Venter on the flank in the only change to the pack.
There are two changes at the back, with Jaden Hendrikse replacing Grant Williams at scrumhalf and Wallaby international Ben Tapuai returns at inside centre for Rohan Janse van Rensburg, who is one of a clutch of players last week in Galway who will feature this week, albeit only off the bench. Siya Kolisi captains a team that features six Springboks who you’d consider to be either first choice for the national team, or close to it, plus Du Toit, who featured in the last match the Boks played in 2022 against England at Twickenham.
Cell C Sharks team: Boeta Chamberlain, Marnus Potgieter, Lukhanyo Am, Ben Tapuai, Makazole Mapimpi, Curwin Bosch, Jaden Hendrikse, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Vincent Tshituka, Siya Kolisi (captain), Gerbrandt Grobler, Eben Etzebeth, Thomas du Toit, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche.
Replacements: Kerron van Vuuren, Nthuthuko Mchunu, Carlu Sadie, Hyron Andrews, Phepsi Buthelezi, Cameron Wright, Lionel Cronje, Rohan Janse van Rensburg.