There will be four debutants playing off the Cell C Sharks bench when the Durbanites play their penultimate Carling Currie Cup game against the Sigma Lions at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday evening.
Head coach Etienne Fynn has made a number of changes to the starting team, many of them injury induced, for a game the Sharks have to win if they want to be comfortable in their bid to make the semifinals.
One of the most interesting selections is that of Thembelani Bholi, normally a loose-forward, as lock partner for Hyron Andrews. Emile van Heerden is the player Bholi replaces in his shift from flank. That is not the end of the changes to the tight five, for Dian Bleuler and Jason Alexander come into the front row as replacements for Khwezi Mona, who goes to the bench, and the injured Fez Mbatha at loosehead prop and hooker respectively.
There are only two changes to the backline, but they are significant as the Sharks will be starting this game with a completely new halfback pairing as scrumhalf Zee Mkhabela and flyhalf Tito Bonilla slot in for Cameron Wright and Boeta Chamberlain respectively. The latter is of course expected to be part of the Sharks Vodacom United Rugby Championship team that will be named later on Friday for Saturday’s quarterfinal against the Bulls at Loftus.
The newcomers to this level of rugby on the bench are Keagan Glade, Nick Hatton, Gerado Jaars and Siviwe Zondani.
Cell C Sharks team: Nevaldo Fluers, Marnus Potgieter, Jeremy Ward, Murray Koster, Anthony Volmink, Tito Bonilla, Zee Mkhabela, Mpilo Gumede, Jeandre Labuschagne, James Venter (captain), Hyron Andrews, Thembelani Bholi, Lourens Adriaanse, Jason Alexander, Dian Bleuler. Replacements:Jacques Marais, Khwezi Mona, Keagan Glade, OJ Noa, Nick Hatton, Gerado Jaars, Jordan Chait, Siviwe Zondaro.