Springbok Ethan Hooker has returned to the Hollywoodbets Sharks team for Friday night’s important Vodacom URC clash with Cardiff in Durban.
Hooker missed last week’s game following a family bereavement but will be back in action this week and while Le Roux Malan did well as his late replacement last week and score a try, having a star player like Hooker back in the mix should further bolster the Sharks’ confidence after their excellent 45-0 win over Munster last week.
Hooker slots in alongside his regular midfield partner and team captain Andre Esterhuizen, who has been immense for the Sharks both in his role at inside centre and as skipper over the past few weeks. Hooker’s return is one of just two changes to the side as coach JP Pietersen has opted to reward the team that whitewashed Munster.
The other change comes at scrumhalf, where Bradley Davids comes in for his first start of the season as a replacement for Bok scrumhalf Grant Williams. Coach Pietersen will explain his selections later in a press conference later on Thursday morning but it would appear Williams is injured as two players - Ross Braude and Jaden Hendrikse - have been bracketed as the halfback replacement for Friday night’s game.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Pietersen has opted to keep his pack unchanged as the unit was completely dominant last weekend. It does mean though that Springbok loosehead Ox Nche will continue in his role as impact player, as will fellow World Cup winner Vincent Koch.
Given his recent form, it shouldn’t be too long before the starting tighthead Hanro Jacobs is a Bok himself, with South Africa boasting an abundance of riches in one of rugby’s most important positions.
Although he won’t be starting this week Malan will still have a role to play by playing off the bench.
Luan Giliomee, the young player who everyone was talking about after his impressive debut last week, gets a chance to back up against the Welsh team in a game that is every bit as critical to the Sharks as last week’s was - the Sharks can’t afford to drop any games if they want to be in with a chance of making the top eight that brings with it URC playoff and Investec Champions Cup qualification.
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi withdrew from the team on the eve of the match last week with a calf injury which must be persisting because he is not in the match 23, which means Nick Hatton will continue in the No 8 jersey to allow Phepsi Buthelezi to continue filling Kolisi’s role on the side of the scrum.
Hollywoodbets Sharks team: Luan Giliomee, Yaw Penxe, Ethan Hooker, Andre Esterhuizen (captain), Makazole Mapimpi, Jordan Hendrikse, Bradley Davids, Nick Hatton, Vincent Tsituka, Phepsi Buthelezi, Emile van Heerden, Jason Jenkins, Hanro Jacobs, Fez Mbatha, Phatu Ganyane. Replacements: Eduan Swart, Ox Nche, Vincent Koch, Corne Rahl, Jannes Potgieter, Jaden Hendrikse/Ross Braude, Jean Smith, Le Roux Malan.