Mbatha rewarded for try-scoring effort against Dragons

Last gasp try hero Fez Mbatha has been rewarded for his scoring heroics at the end of the Dragons game as he is part of three rotational changes to the Hollywoodbets Sharks team to face Benetton in their next tour match at Stadio Monigo in Treviso on Saturday.

Coach John Plumtree hasn’t tinkered too much with the side, with Mbatha coming in for Dylan Richardson, while Trevor Nyakane starts at loosehead in place of Ntuthuko Mchunu.

In the loose forwards Phepsi Buthelezi and Emmanuel Tshituka swap jerseys this week while the backline for the clash remains the same.

All three changes are on the bench for the game and will have a role in the outcome of the match in the secons half.

Hollywoodbets Sharks attack coach Dave Williams believes the team is building a lot of confidence after their win over the Dragons.

“It all starts with how we exit from the back of the field and that’s giving us some good field position and then we have great individual moments from players and we execute from there,” he explains.

Williams believes the combinations are growing in their roles and is keen to see them on the field in Italy this weekend.

“Those connections are massive, and the benefit of that away semifinal and away final was getting time together and now the third game on the road in the URC, so we’ve spent a lot of time together building those connections, both on and off the field.”

“Those late comebacks are something we pride ourselves on, showing strength in staying in the fight. We have pressure moments that we’re able to deliver in those final moments.

“We’d like to pull away but we know the calibre of our opposition this week with their test match experience.“It’s going to be a great challenge for us, one we’re looking forward to. It’s going to be a great contest among the forwards and the two backlines, but it’s all about turning pressure moments into points.”

Hollywoodbets Sharks: Jordan Hendrikse, Eduan Keyter, Jurenzo Juries, Andre Esterhuizen, Ethan Hooker; Siya Masuku, Jaden Hendrikse; Phepsi Buthelezi, Vincent Tshituka, James Venter, Gerbrandt Grobler, Jason Jenkins, Ruan Dreyer, Fez Mbatha, Trevor Nyakane.

Replacements: Dylan Richardson, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Hanro Jacobs, Corne Rahl, Emmanuel Tshituka, Bradley Davids, Lionel Cronje, Francois Venter.

THE FOLLOWING PLAYERS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR SELECTION DUE TO INJURY:

- Braam Reyneke

- Diego Apollis

- Emile van Heerden

- IG Prinsloo

- Khwezi Mona

- Marnus Potgieter

- Siya Ningiza

- Thomas Dyer

- Yaw Penxe