Hollywoodbets Sharks head coach JP Pietersen has rightly backed the value of continuity in his selection by keeping changes to a minimum for Saturday night’s Vodacom URC clash with Munster in Limerick.
Indeed, apart from rotation of the front rows, all the changes made from the side that won impressively against Cardiff are injury enforced.
There were some significant injuries in the midfield during last weekend’s 36-21 triumph at Cardiff Arms Park, with Springbok centre Andre Esterhuizen forced not only to miss this match but also the national squad’s away Nations Cup campaign, while his centre partner Jurenzo Julius is also out injured after not reappearing after halftime for the second half last week.
They will both be sorely missed, Esterhuizen for his strong carries and sheer presence at the gainline and Julius for the flair he brings at outside centre on attack.
He was very good in the Sharks’ No 13 jersey against Cardiff.
However, the Sharks do have capable back-up, and Bok wing Ethan Hooker did well when he was forced to switch inside following the departure of Esterhuizen in the first minute of play against Cardiff.
Hooker has played much of his rugby in the midfield and is certainly no stranger to the position, one he could well end up specialising in for the Boks during the course of time.
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And Suleiman Hartzenberg, on loan to the Sharks from the DHL Stormers, was long considered the future in the outside centre position for the Cape side even though the presence of the experienced Ruhan Nel had limited him to mostly playing wing.
Hartzenberg was good for the Sharks in the inspiring win over Lyon in the EPCR Challenge Cup a few weeks ago.
OX ON THE BENCH
Apart from those two enforced changes, one of them a positional switch, which means Jaco Williams comes in on the left wing for Hooker, there are three other changes to the side that beat Cardiff, with Pietersen sticking largely with the combinations that did well last time out.
Springbok Ox Nche returns to the starting team after playing off the bench against Cardiff, as does hooker Ethan Bester and another Bok in the form of tighthead prop Thomas du Toit.
Bester played off the bench last week and Eduarn Swart starting. Now Swart drops out of the match day squad and Junior Bok captain Esethu Mnebelele comes into his place on the bench.
Gianni Lombard continues at flyhalf alongside Jaden Hendrikse in a side that will be captained by No 8 Nick Hatton because of Esterhuizen’s absence.
Cameron Dawson, flown in during the week for the injured Phatu Ganyane, who started at loosehead last week, is on the bench this time, as is Litelihe Bester, who is another player who was flown from Durban as the SOS was sent out following the three injuries sustained in Cardiff.
HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS TEAM: Zekhethelo Siyaya, Edwill van der Merwe, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Ethan Hooker, Jaco Williams, Gianni Lombard, Jaden Hendrikse, Nick Hatton (captain), Manu Tshituka, Matt Ramao, Emile van Heerden, Jason Jenkins, Handro Jacobs, Ethan Bester, Ox Nche.
Replacements: Esethu Mnebelele, Cameron Dawson, Thomas du Toit, Stephan Lewies, Vincent Tshituka, Ivan van Zyl, Siya Masuku, Litelihle Bester.