Kolisi starts for Sharks against Bulls

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi will make his debut for the Cell C Sharks in Friday night’s Kick Off 2021 clash with the Vodacom Bulls in Durban.

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Significantly, Kolisi has been included in the starting team in his regular No6 jersey that he wore for the DHL Stormers and also wears for the Springboks. While that is an interesting selection in the sense that at first glance it suggests the Sharks are moving away from selecting a specialist fetcher at openside flank, Everitt did give an indication that there might be mitigating circumstances directing the selection for this week’s game.

“Siya has been working really hard and has been looking good in training so he deserves a start and a chance to show us what he can do in the black and white of the Sharks,” said Everitt.

“James Venter, a regular openside option, is unfortunately out injured at the moment, while Dylan Richardson is not feeling well. So Siya gets a start at openside and we will using him to fulfil a different kind of No6 role than he did when he played No6 for Western Province.”

Kolisi, like 11 of the other top flight Sharks players, has been part of a Sharks conditioning camp while the other players were playing in the earlier preparation series games.

Generally the Sharks team for this game looks like one that is heading back towards full strength as the Durbanites seek revenge for their Currie Cup final defeat nearly two months ago, but that is not the case in all positions.

For instance, while Everitt said he was going to use Boeta Chamberlain off the bench in this game, it is a thumb injury to Curwin Bosch that offers the former age-group star his second consecutive start in the No10 jersey.

“Curwin injured his thumb in training and has gone for scans and we will know more about the extent of the injury later,” said the Sharks coach.

Anthony Volmink is the starting fullback ahead of the talented Aphelele Fassi, but again Everitt hinted that not too much should be read into the selection.

“Anthony was brought to the Sharks as a fullback and we haven’t had a chance to play him there yet in the preparation games so this is his opportunity to show what he can do there. We know what Aphelele can do, he played for his in the last stages of the Currie Cup and he also played in the first three preparation games so he doesn’t need more game time.”

Players who join Kolisi in returning to the team from conditioning camp include Springbok wing Sbu Nkosi, Marius Louw (he played as a replacement last week), Henco Venter, Ruben van Heerden and Ox Nche. It is interesting to note that while Simon Majola is listed as the back-up loosehead prop for this game, the man everyone is talking about, young Ntuthuko Mchunu, finds place on the extended bench.

“Ntuthuko has come through faster than we expected and has been incredible if you consider he only played three games at prop for the under-21 team last year and that the three preparation games were his introduction to this level of rugby,” said Everitt.

“He did get one or two scrums wrong last week but that is to be expected from a young guy who has only played three games at prop and who was scrumming against an experienced former international player in Jannie du Plessis. We are very excited about how he has gone but we will manage him and nurture him at this stage (of his development).”

Mchunu was playing No8 for Maritzburg College just two years ago and was convinced to change position after leaving school.

“We felt he wasn’t tall enough for a No8, which along with blindside flank is normally a position that is expected to present a lineout option,” said the Sharks coach.

Everitt confirmed that Japan based Springbok World Cup winning wing Makazole Mapimpi is expected to return to the Sharks at the end of the Japanese season at the end of April and should be available for most of the Rainbow Cup. Everitt said his understanding was that the first Rainbow Cup games would be played on 24 April and would be derby fixtures played in South Africa.

CELL C SHARKS TEAM: Anthony Volmink, Sbu Nkosi, Lukhanyo Am (captain), Marius Louw, Yaw Penxe, Boeta Chamberlain, Jayden Hendrikse, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Henco Venter, Siya Kolisi, Ruben van Heerden, Emile van Heerden, Thomas du Toit, Fez Mbatha, Ox Nche.

Replacements: Kieron van Vuuren, Simon Majola, John-Hubert Meyer, JJ van der Mescht, Phepsi Buthelezi, Sanele Nohamba, Rynhardt Jonker, Aphelele Fassi, Mpilo Gumede, Nthuthuko Mchunu, Grant Williams.