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Durban - The Sharks host the Bulls at Kings Park on Saturday (19:10 kick-off) with both sides facing a hostile opponent intent on denying them victory in what is shaping up to be one of the clashes of the weekend.
According to Sharks website editor Mike Marnewick, in changes to the team that played the Brumbies two weeks ago, Keegan Daniel is replaced by Jacques Botes who has been passed fit, the only change to the forward pack. In fact, the only change to the starting line-up in a great boost for continuity.
Gerhard Mostert is back for the team and will play off the bench, taking Anton Bresler’s place while Marcell Coetzee gets the opportunity to earn his second cap for the senior side after coming on against the Brumbies two weeks ago.
Otherwise, coach John Plumtree has largely stuck with the team that scored a five-pointer at home before last week’s bye.
Gaining four points and seeing the Stormers lose to the Chiefs in Hamilton last weekend means the Cape side’s lead over the Sharks has been whittled down to just one point and this week’s crunch match against the Bulls is the perfect opportunity for the Sharks to remain on track to finish top of the South African conference.
Beating the Bulls would also place further breathing space between themselves and the men from Pretoria who are currently seven points adrift. The Bulls come to Durban on a mission, knowing that a loss could well put their season in severe jeopardy as they look to emulate their recent successes in the tournament.
Having enjoyed a bye, the Sharks will arrive for this game fresh and energised, and more than a little motivated, but there is always the danger of a slow-ish start after the break.
“This has been addressed and was part of what we have discussed this week,” explained coach John Plumtree.
“It’s going to be absolutely crucial for us to come out and start very well; we didn’t do that against the Hurricanes and it took us about 40 minutes to get into the game.
“Hopefully that won’t happen this weekend.”
Teams:
Sharks:
15. Louis Ludik, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. Stefan Terblanche (captain), 12. Meyer Bosman, 11. JP Pietersen, 10. Patrick Lambie, 9. Charl McLeod, 8. Willem Alberts, 7. Jean Deysel, 6. Jacques Botes, 5. Alistair Hargreaves, 4. Steven Sykes, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 1. Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16. Craig Burden, 17. Eugene van Staden, 18. Gerhard Mostert, 19. Marcell Coetzee, 20. Conrad Hoffmann, 21. Adrian Jacobs, 22. Lwazi Mvovo
Bulls:
15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dean Greyling
Substitutes: 16 Gary Botha, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Danie Rossouw, 20 Derick Kuün, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Gerhard van den Heever
According to Sharks website editor Mike Marnewick, in changes to the team that played the Brumbies two weeks ago, Keegan Daniel is replaced by Jacques Botes who has been passed fit, the only change to the forward pack. In fact, the only change to the starting line-up in a great boost for continuity.
Gerhard Mostert is back for the team and will play off the bench, taking Anton Bresler’s place while Marcell Coetzee gets the opportunity to earn his second cap for the senior side after coming on against the Brumbies two weeks ago.
Otherwise, coach John Plumtree has largely stuck with the team that scored a five-pointer at home before last week’s bye.
Gaining four points and seeing the Stormers lose to the Chiefs in Hamilton last weekend means the Cape side’s lead over the Sharks has been whittled down to just one point and this week’s crunch match against the Bulls is the perfect opportunity for the Sharks to remain on track to finish top of the South African conference.
Beating the Bulls would also place further breathing space between themselves and the men from Pretoria who are currently seven points adrift. The Bulls come to Durban on a mission, knowing that a loss could well put their season in severe jeopardy as they look to emulate their recent successes in the tournament.
Having enjoyed a bye, the Sharks will arrive for this game fresh and energised, and more than a little motivated, but there is always the danger of a slow-ish start after the break.
“This has been addressed and was part of what we have discussed this week,” explained coach John Plumtree.
“It’s going to be absolutely crucial for us to come out and start very well; we didn’t do that against the Hurricanes and it took us about 40 minutes to get into the game.
“Hopefully that won’t happen this weekend.”
Teams:
Sharks:
15. Louis Ludik, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. Stefan Terblanche (captain), 12. Meyer Bosman, 11. JP Pietersen, 10. Patrick Lambie, 9. Charl McLeod, 8. Willem Alberts, 7. Jean Deysel, 6. Jacques Botes, 5. Alistair Hargreaves, 4. Steven Sykes, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 1. Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16. Craig Burden, 17. Eugene van Staden, 18. Gerhard Mostert, 19. Marcell Coetzee, 20. Conrad Hoffmann, 21. Adrian Jacobs, 22. Lwazi Mvovo
Bulls:
15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dean Greyling
Substitutes: 16 Gary Botha, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Danie Rossouw, 20 Derick Kuün, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Gerhard van den Heever
