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Eben’s return strengthens Sharks further for Edinburgh

rugby12 April 2024 12:16| © SuperSport
By:Gavin Rich
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Eben Etzebeth © Gallo Images

There was talk of the Hollywoodbets Sharks being full strength over the past few weeks but there was one remaining part of the jigsaw to be fit into place each time and that piece will be in place for Saturday’s EPCR Challenge Cup quarterfinal against Edinburgh.

The Sharks have been very close to full strength over the past few weekends but the last time Eben Etzebeth played for the team, Vincent Koch had to pull out with a stomach bug at the last minute.

Koch is back, as he was last week in the round of 16 tie against Zebre, and now Etzebeth is back too.

The Springbok double World Cup-winner and reigning two time successive SA Rugby Player of the Year award holder comes back into the starting team after missing out last Sunday with the rib injury sustained in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash with Edinburgh two weeks ago.

He comes in for young Corne Rahl, who is still learning but is increasingly adding more value every time he plays for the Sharks.

Etzebeth recently referred to Rahl as a star of the future and there is no better judge of that potential than the experienced Springbok, who will bring additional experience to the Sharks and it will be needed as they head into the sharp end of the competition.

Rahl making way for Etzebeth in the starting team means Gerbrandt Grobler drops out of the match 23 to accommodate Rahl as lock back-up on the bench.

The only other change to the match day squad sees Dan Jooste rotated as the reserve hooker with Kerron van Vuuren.

CRUCIAL GAMES

With Grant Williams there again as the back-up scrumhalf, the Sharks appear to have their full complement of current Springboks (Aphiwe Dyantyi isn’t a current Bok) playing for them in this important game and coach John Plumtree will be delighted about that.

Since Plumtree’s side has headed back to full strength there has been backing for his claim that big things will happen when his Boks are all back playing.

They are back now, and there are a few additional ones on the way next year, so the Sharks will be eager to finish off the season with the kind of momentum they can take into next season.

Whether or not the next season will include Champions Cup rugby depends on them winning games like the one they play on Saturday.

After this, they have two more steps to take to the trophy that is given extra significance by the fact the holder of it gets to play Champions Cup next year if they haven’t already qualified through their league.

In the Sharks’ case, their current lowly position on the URC table leaves them well away from qualifying by that route, so the next few Challenge Cup games, starting with Saturday’s, are going to be crucial for the Sharks as they are a franchise that needs to be in the more elite of the two European Cup competitions.

“The road to the final won’t be easy, but for now our focus is on the quarterfinal and getting over that and that’s how we move forward in this competition, how we get better,” said influential senior player Bongi Mbonambi during the buildup week.

Mbonambi added that he expects Edinburgh, who should be bolstered by the return of a few Scottish internationals who didn't play in the Easter Saturday game in Durban, to be better prepared and mount a stronger challenge than they did when the Sharks won 23-13 two weeks ago.

TEAM: Aphelele Fassi, Werner Kok, Lukhanyo Am, Ethan Hooker, Makazole Mapimpi, Siya Masuku, Jaden Hendrikse, Phepsi Buthelezi, Vincent Tshituka, James Venter, Emile van Heerden, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche.

 REPLACEMENTS: Dan Jooste, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Hanro Jacobs, Gerbrandt Grobler, Jeandre Labuschagne, Grant Williams, Curwin Bosch.

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