Veteran former All Black centre Ma’a Nonu has been included on the Hollywoodbets Sharks bench for their Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour match against his countrymen at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Tuesday.
Nonu, who is 44 years old, was recently announced by the Sharks as a new player/coach, with his role being chiefly to mentor the youngsters. The Sharks teased the idea of playing Nonu against the All Blacks earlier this week, and there was some understandable opposition for those who understand these games to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for players who may never play test rugby.
Yet while it is true that Nonu doesn’t have as much to gain from this game as a young up-and-coming player would, it should at the same time be acknowledged that the Sharks team called up to face what is expected to be a full-strength All Black team is a very young one.
There’s a veteran in double Springbok World Cup winner Vincent Koch lining up in the front row, and Emile van Heerden, Phepsi Buthelezi and reserve loose-forward Vincent Tshituka, who has been released from the Bok squad to play in the game, and Bok-capped former Bulls and Saracens scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl is also on the bench for what will be his first Sharks cap. But otherwise, most of the Sharks players playing in the game are in their early twenties, or even younger than that.
Vusi Moyo is a capped Bok, having made his international debut at his regular home ground just a few weeks ago, but he has only played one game at URC level. The fit-again fullback Zekhethelo Siyaya, who sustained an injury playing for South Africa A against Zimbabwe in June, is just 18 and has played just three senior games for the Sharks.
Compared to the rest of the backline, inside centre Jurenzo Julius, at 22 years of age and having played 18 games for the Sharks, is a veritable veteran - so it is easy to understand why there is a need for Nonu to be part of the group.
There are several recent Junior Boks, such as Luan Giliomee on the bench, as well as a member of last year’s winning Junior Bok team, Matt Ramoa, who is also on the bench, so overall there is a big accent on youth in the selection and they will all be part of a massive occasion as the Sharks face the All Blacks for the first time since 1976.
Hollywoodbets Sharks team to play the All Blacks (7.10 pm on Tuesday, 11 August): Zekhethelo Siyaya, Donovan Don, Jurenzo Julius, Murray Koster, Litelihe Bester, Vusi Moyo, Bradley Davids, Nick Hatton, Manu Tshituka, Phepsi Buthelezi, Emile van Heerden, Hendre Stassen, Vincent Koch, Eduan Swart, Nemo Roelofse. Replacements: Liam van Wyk, Rambo Kubekha, Simphiwe Ngobese, Vincent Tshituka, Matt Ramoa, Ivan van Zyl, Luan Giliomee, Ma’a Nonu.