There’s no Eben Etzebeth but the Hollywoodbets Sharks do have their full Springbok front row starting in Saturday’s final Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash with the Vodacom Bulls in Durban.
Coach John Plumtree perhaps telegraphed the Sharks’ mind space heading into this final game in a competition where they were ruled out of contention several months ago, and instead focused on the EPCR Challenge Cup, when on Thursday he described his team as “knackered”.
The Sharks mentor admitted that while it has been an eight-day turnaround since his team triumphed 36-22 over Gloucester in the Challenge Cup final and in so doing booked their place as one of a minimum of three teams in next year’s Investec Champions Cup, the celebratory mood in the camp and in Durban rugby circles has led to it being a disrupted week.
However, in choosing an almost full strength team, with Etzebeth, Makazole Mapimpi and the presumed injured Grant Williams and the indisposed regular captain Lukyanyo Am being the Springboks missing, Plumtree has at least given his team a semblance of a chance and reason for the Sharks faithful to pitch up at Hollywoodbets Kings Park.
The absence of Etzebeth is a big blow to the home team’s chances but at the same time it will be remembered that Etzebeth was a late withdrawal from the Sharks team that played the DHL Stormers in Cape Town just before New Year and the Sharks produced one of their best games of the season and were unlucky to lose.
Young Corne Rahl was the lock who replaced Etzebeth that day and he is there again, alongside Gerbrandt Grobler, who made an impressive return from injury off the bench that day at the DHL Stadium.
Wing Werner Kok will be playing his last game for the Sharks before heading overseas and ditto reserve backline player Boeta Chamberlain, who after this will be a member of the squad his current team are playing in this match.
The Sharks do have the essential ingredient of their turnaround in the season present, namely flyhalf Siya Masuku, who in this game is partnered with Cameron Wright at halfback.
TEAM: Aphelele Fassi, Werner Kok, Ethan Hooker, Francois Venter (vice-captain), Eduan Keyter, Siya Masuku, Cameron Wright, Phepsi Buthelezi, Vincent Tshituka, James Venter, Gerbrandt Grobler, Corne Rahl, Vincent Koch, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche. Replacements: Fez Mbatha, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Khwezi Mona, Jeandre Labuschagne, Dylan Richardson, Bradley Davidson, Boeta Chamberlain, Diego Appolis.