Durban - Sharks coach Robert du Preez has named his team for Saturday’s Currie Cup semi-final against the Blue Bulls at Kings Park.
Du Preez made three changes to the team that lost 31-20 at home to Western Province last weekend.
In the backline, scrumhalf Louis Schreuder and wing Kobus van Wyk return to the starting line-up, with Michael Claassens and Odwa Ndungane moving to the bench.
There is just one change to the forward pack, with Springbok Jean-Luc du Preez returning to the starting line-up. He swaps places with Jacques Vermeulen.
Du Preez has chosen a 5-3 split amongst the replacements, having loaded the bench with forwards against a team that loves nothing better than physical confrontation.
Saturday’s semi-final is scheduled for 14:30.
Teams:
Sharks
15 Garth April, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Sbu Nkosi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Ruan Botha (captain), 4 Tyler Paul, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Thomas du Toit
Substitutes: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 Jean Droste, 20 Jacques Vermeulen, 21 Michael Claassens, 22 Tristan Blewett, 23 Odwa Ndungane
Blue Bulls
15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Burger Odendaal (captain), 12 JT Jackson, 11 Johnny Kotze, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Nic de Jager, 7 Tim Agaba, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Aston Fortuin/Jannes Kirsten, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Conraad van Vuuren, 2 Edgar Marutlulle, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Substitutes: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Jannes Kirsten/Eli Snyman, 19 Jano Venter, 20 Piet van Zyl, 21 Tony Jantjies, 22 Duncan Matthews, 23 John-Roy Jenkinson