The 2019 Rugby World Cup winner Lukhanyo Am has been added to the Hollywoodbets Sharks injury list this week but otherwise the team that will start against the Emirates Lions in Durban on Saturday looks a significantly stronger combination to the one that lost 38-14 last week.
The Sharks played Siya Kolisi off the bench in Johannesburg as he returned from his month off but he is in the starting team at No 8 this time and the Springbok captain will also assume the leadership duties in this 12th round Vodacom United Rugby Championship fixture that also doubles as a South African Shield decider.
Should the Sharks win, they will beat the DHL Stormers to the Shield.
The Stormers are currently four points ahead in pole position on the Shield log, but if the Sharks win they will have won more games (four against three) in the derby phase and that is the tie-breaker in the event of a tie.
Of course, if the Sharks win with a bonus point they will end on 19 points to the Stormers’ 18.
🔥Your Hollywoodbets Sharks team for Saturday🔥
— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) March 7, 2025
Read the full team release article here https://t.co/dPodQoGQC2@Vodacom #URC #SHAvLIO pic.twitter.com/ny5cEopWeA
Also back in the starting team is World Cup winning loosehead prop Ox Nche, and with Wilco Louw slotting in at tighthead on the other side of Bongi Mbonambi, the Sharks have an all Springbok front row.
Emile van Heerden, out since the narrow defeat to the Stormers in Cape Town on 28 December last year, is also back and will slot in at lock alongside Jason Jenkins.
Van Heerden replaces Deon Slabbert, who made his debut in last week’s chastening game in Johannesburg.
There is an injury to Siya Masuku so Jordan Hendrikse switches from fullback to the flyhalf position where he has played his two games for the Springboks, while Henry Immelman, who is on loan from the Vodacom Bulls, will make his debut at fullback.
However, Hakeem Kunene, the promising youngster who was injured in the incident that saw him carded early in the Investec Champions Cup clash away against Bordeaux Begles, is fit again and finds place on the bench.
Grant Williams returns at scrumhalf for Jaden Hendrikse, who is on the bench, while Francois Venter replaces the injured Am.
Also back from injury and playing from the bench are James Venter and Fez Mbatha as slowly but surely the injury crisis that has blighted the Sharks starts to abate.
That doesn’t mean they are injury free of course, with Aphelele Fassi, Andre Esterhuizen, Eben Etzebeth, Trevor Nyakane and now Masuku and Am being joined on the crocked list this week by last week’s captain Vincent Tshituka.
Lappies Labuschagne will wear the No 7 jersey in Tshituka’s absence. Also unavailable due to suspension is Bok wing Makazole Mapimpi.
Final touches âś…
— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) March 7, 2025
Don’t miss out 🤩 Get your tickets now on https://t.co/ZfYk916qw8 or the Sharks Ticket office 🔥@vodacom #URC #SHAvLIO pic.twitter.com/ToPeXgrAyh
Hollywoodbets Sharks team: Henry Immelman, Yaw Penxe, Jurenzo Julius, Francois Venter, Ethan Hooker, Jordan Hendrikse, Grant Williams, Siya Kolisi (captain), Lappies Labuschagne, Phelpsi Buthelezi, Emile van Heerden, Jason Jenkins, Vincent Koch, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche.
Replacements: Fez Mbatha, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Hanro Jacobs, Corne Rahl, James Venter, Nick Hatton, Jaden Hendrikse, Hakeem Kunene.