Cell C Sharks coach Sean Everitt has made several changes to his team for Saturday’s Kick Off 2021 clash with the Emirates Lions in Johannesburg.
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Everitt always said he would start bleeding back the first-choice players who sat out the early games in the preparation series because they were in conditioning camp at this point and he has been true to his word, although there is still an experimental look to the team captained by Lukhanyo Am.
The World Cup-winning Springbok is joined in the starting team by a couple of other teammates who were part of the side who narrowly lost the Currie Cup final against the Vodacom Bulls over a month ago and haven’t played since.
They include hooker Dan Jooste, flank Henco Venter, No 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Sanele Nohamba (who was reserve scrumhalf in the Loftus decider) and wing Yaw Penxe. Fullback Aphelele Fassi was already back playing in the game against the Toyota Cheetahs last week.
It is interesting to note that Venter has shifted back to the openside flank on the team sheet after playing blindside in the Currie Cup. Could that be an indication that Everitt is paving the way for Springbok captain Siya Kolisi to wear the No 7 jersey when he makes his debut for his new franchise after moving up the coast from the Stormers?
On the subject of openside flanks, it is also interesting to note that Dylan Richardson, the Sharks’ first-choice No 6 in the Currie Cup and the latter part of the Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked season, is down to perform the duties of back-up hooker in this match.
Le Roux Roets, who played for the Sharks in last year’s initial Super Rugby season on loan from the Pumas, makes his first start after making a permanent move to Durban from Nelspruit. He is joined in the second row by Reniel Hugo, the former Cheetahs and Maties player who will be making his first start for the Sharks after playing off the bench in Bloemfontein.
An interesting selection is that of Boeta Chamberlain at flyhalf. The former age-group star has almost been forgotten about since the arrival of Manie Libbok and Jordan Chait to back up Curwin Bosch among the Sharks No 10s, but he enjoyed a good first Currie Cup season a few years ago and is certainly good enough to push Bosch for his place.
If you consider that both Libbok and Chait produced some good play during the previous two games, the Sharks are certainly blessed when it comes to depth at flyhalf. And ditto at scrumhalf, where Nohamba is backed up by Grant Williams in this game. Bosch is back in the playing group as one of the reserves, as are centre Marius Louw and prop Thomas du Toit.
Ntuthuko Mchunu continues as one of the front row reserves, his third selection there in succession, which can be seen as an indication of just how much the retreaded prop, who played loose-forward for Maritzburg College just a few years ago, has impressed the Sharks coaches.
CELL C SHARKS TEAM:
Aphelele Fassi, Werner Kok, Lukhanyo Am (captain), Rynhard Jonker, Yaw Penxe, Boeta Chamberlain, Sanele Nohamba, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Mpilo Gumede, Henco Venter, Reniel Hugo, Le Roux Roets, John-Hubert Meyer, Dan Jooste, Mzamo Majola. Replacements: Dylan Richardson, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Thomas du Toit, Emile van Heerden, Thembelani Bholi, Grant Williams, Curwin Bosch, Marius Louw.