The Hollywoodbets Sharks team for Saturday’s second Investec Champions Cup game against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road looks well short of what a full strength side, when everyone is fit, would look like.
The Sharks do have a long injury list, with the likes of Springboks Eben Etzebeth, Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Koch, Grant Williams and Lukhanyo Am among an injured list released along with the team announcement that runs as long as the starting team itself - exactly 15 players for each.
Of course the list of walking wounded also includes key players who were injured in the opening Champions Cup game against Exeter Chiefs at Hollywoodbets Kings Park last weekend - Vincent Tshituka and James Venter. Add in Fez Mbatha, Gerbrandt Grobler it becomes quite extensive, but there are also top players not on the list who will be missing from the Leicester clash.
They include first choice Sharks and Bok fullback Aphelele Fassi, wing Makazole Mapimpi, the big and influential inside centre Andre Esterhuizen, loosehead prop Ox Nche and Springbok captain Siya Kolisi. It appears that the quintet is being rested, which is an indication that coach John Plumtree, having seen his team bank five points in their first game in this competition, is focusing on next week’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship derby against the Vodacom Bulls.
🔥 Your Hollywoodbets Sharks starting XV for tomorrow's clash 🔥
— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) December 13, 2024
Read full team release article on https://t.co/ihwHpKBNca #InvestecChampionsCup #LEIvSHA pic.twitter.com/tArB9cpim9
With Fassi not playing, Jordan Hendrikse finds himself at the fullback position he occupied in the Sharks’ winning Currie Cup campaign, with Siya Masuku again lining up at flyhalf. Francois Venter returns to the side at inside centre, with Ethan Hooker continuing in the No 13 jersey, while the pacy Yaw Penxe is back as the starting left wing for the first time in a while.
Although it is a changed up team it is still a strong side, with Ntutuko Mchunu coming in at loosehead for Nche to join fellow internationals Dylan Richardson and Trevor Nyakane in the front row, while Jason Jenkins and Emile van Heerden will pair up in the second row. Phepsi Buthelezi, who takes Venter’s place in the No 6 jersey, will captain the side in the absence of Kolisi.
Jeandre Labuschagne was a fairly frequent starter on the blindside flank before this season and there is certainly nothing wrong with Emmanuel Tshituka, brother of Vincent, at No 8.
The game will be a good test of the Sharks’ depth and Plumtree has space to test it given that last week’s game netted a full house of log points. Although if the selection costs his team victory it could come back to bite him when the Sharks play two tough Champions Cup games against Toulouse (home) and Bordeaux Begles (away) in January.
An interesting inclusion in the extended squad is that of young fullback Hakeem Kunene, who was outstanding for the Sharks in the early stage of the Currie Cup season. The Sharks though are going a lot deeper into their depth in this game than would have been anticipated considering a win at Welford Road would be just about enough to assure their advance to the round of 16 and take some of the pressure off for the January matches.
Hollywoodbets Sharks team: Jordan Hendrikse, Eduan Keyter, Ethan Hooker, Francois Venter, Yaw Penxe, Siya Masuku, Jaden Hendrikse, Emmanuel Tshituka, Jeandre Labuschagne, Phepsi Buthelezi (captain), Emile van Heerden, Jason Jenkins, Trevor Nyakane, Dylan Richardson, Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: Ethan Bester, Phatu Ganyane, Hanro Jacobs, Corne Rahl, Tinotenda Mavesere, Bradley Davids, Diego Appolis, Hakeem Kunene.