Cape Town - Springbok prop Jannie du Plessis and his wife Ronel on Wednesday became proud parents of a baby girl, named Rossalie, according to reports.

Du Plessis, 30, was on Wednesday included on the Sharks' bench for their Super Rugby match against the Rebels at Kings Park on Saturday.

“Jannie has a bit of a knee injury and his wife is about to have a baby, he's had a difficult week so Wiehahn Herbst starts at tighthead prop," coach John Plumtree explained.

Plumtree made seven changes from the side thumped 29-10 by the Brumbies in Durban last week.

Springbok back Francois Steyn has been axed from the starting line-up with Meyer Bosman replacing him at at inside centre, while Lwazi Mvovo and Cobus Reinach return to the run-on XV having played off the bench last week. Odwa Ndungane drops out of the match-day 22 altogether, with Charl McLeod and Steyn moving to the bench.

Among the forwards, Herbst replaces Du Plessis, while lock Anton Bresler drops out of the squad, allowing Pieter-Steph du Toit to be drafted in. Kyle Cooper (hooker) and Jacques Botes (flank) come in for Craig Burden and Ryan Kankowski respectively.

Kick-off is at 17:10 on Saturday.

Teams:

Sharks:

15 Louis Ludik, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Keegan Daniel (captain), 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Tendai Mtawarira

Substitutes: 16 Craig Burden 17 Jannie du Plessis 18 Jandre Marais 19 Ryan Kankowski 20 Charl McLeod  21 Frans Steyn 22 Riaan Viljoen

Rebels:

TBA