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Bismarck returns for Sharks

Cape Town - There are no real surprises in the Sharks team announced to meet the Chiefs at Mr Price Kings Park on Saturday in a week nine Vodacom Super Rugby clash, although the news is good surrounding the availability of hooker Bismarck du Plessis.

According to the Sharks' website, a variety of small injury issues have been deemed just that – small – and he has been passed fit to start against the table-topping Chiefs after missing the Blues game completely and playing a short stint off the bench against the Hurricanes the previous week.

There are two other changes in the starting line-up, both amongst the forwards with the backline remaining unchanged from last week’s win over the Blues.

Jacques Botes plays in his 96th Vodacom Super Rugby match for the Sharks in place of Marcell Coetzee who has carried an enormous workload this season, having started every match to date, and he gets a timely half-break from the attrition of rugby at this level.

The final change to the starting XV sees a straight rotational swap between Willem Alberts and Jean Deysel.

Young Pieter-Steph du Toit has been entrusted with the number 18 jersey, providing second row cover and he will certainly relish the opportunity of running at the opposition in what would be his senior debut. He comes in for Jandre Marais who has been named to captain The Sharks XV.

Teams:

  
Sharks:
15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Louis Ludik, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Keegan Daniel (captain), 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Anton Bresler, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2  Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Dale Chadwick

Substitutes: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Marcell Coetzee, 21 Frederic Michalak, 22 Meyer Bosman

Chiefs:
15 Andrew Horrell, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Alex Bradley, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke (captain), 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Mahonri Schwalger, 1 Arizona Taumalolo

Substitutes: 16 Hika Elliot, 17 Josh Hohneck, 18 Michael Fitzgerald, 19 Tanerau Latimer, 20 Augustine Pulu, 21 Jackson Willison, 22 Robbie Robinson
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