Hollywoodbets Sharks coach John Plumtree revealed his thinking on one key area when, as he was expected to, he announced a team that included several returning Springboks for Saturday’s crucial Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash with Glasgow Warriors.
It is the Sharks’ first home game of the new season and the interest of the Durban rugby public for the Hollywoodbets Kings Park clash should have been considerably boosted by the news that the Boks’ most capped player of all time, Eben Etzebeth, will be leading a star-studded team into battle against the URC champions.
The revealing selection was at flyhalf, where Jordan Hendrikse gets to wear the Sharks No 10 for the first time.
The former Emirates Lions star, who made his Bok debut at flyhalf against Wales at Twickenham in June, has played exclusively at fullback for the Sharks thus far, but the return of Aphelele Fassi at No 15 made the switch back to Hendrikse’s more regular position a sensible move.
Hendrikse will be partnered at halfback by his scrumhalf fellow Bok brother, Jaden.
🔥Your Hollywoodbets Sharks team for Saturday led by Eben Etzebeth🔥
— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) October 17, 2024
Read full team release article on https://t.co/vRfvfm9ize@vodacom #URC #SHAvGLA pic.twitter.com/Bn5DCb0j74
The backline in particular has a Bok look to it, with wing Eduan Keyter the only player among the backs who has not been capped at international level.
Lukhanyo Am returns from international duty to partner Andre Esterhuizen, who has been in outstanding form in the URC and was part of the Bok squad until his red card early in the game against Portugal in Bloemfontein in July.
Bok skipper Siya Kolisi is back in Sharks colours for the first time since he left for France at the end of the 2022/2023 season, but Plumtree has elected to give him a break from the captaincy responsibilities, which is why Etzebeth will be the leader on Saturday.
Front row players Vincent Koch, Bongi Mbonambi and Ox Nche are other Castle Lager Rugby Championship and recent World Cup winners who all get to play their first URC games for the current season in the game against Glasgow, who are coached by former Bok assistant coach Franco Smith.
Apart from Keyter, the only other Sharks players starting on Saturday who are not Bok internationals are flank Emmanuel Tshituka and lock Emile van Heerden.
There are another four Boks on the Sharks bench for the Kings Park game, with Trevor Nyakane, Ruan Dreyer, Jason Jenkins and Grant Williams all having worn the green and gold at some stage of their careers.
Siya Masuku, who has had a lengthy run as the Sharks’ starting flyhalf, moves to the bench as cover for Hendrikse, while Jurenzo Julius, one of the bright young sparks in the Sharks team that won the Currie Cup four weeks ago, is also on the bench.
Vincent Tshituka, who led the Sharks to their Currie Cup triumph and has been a capable leader of the team, is one of the players who played last week in the loss to Benetton who is out injured at present.
The Sharks will be very eager to bounce back from their unexpected 38-10 loss in Treviso with a statement win against the champions.
Hollywoodbets Sharks team: Aphelele Fassi, Eduan Keyter, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi, Jordan Hendrikse, Jaden Hendrikse, Phepsi Buthelezi, Emmanuel Tshituka, Siya Kolisi, Emile van Heerden, Eben Etzebeth (capt), Vincent Koch, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche.
Replacements: Fez Mbatha, Trevor Nyakane, Ruan Dreyer, Jason Jenkins, James Venter, Grant Williams, Siya Masuku, Jurenzo Julius