As URC action resumes, the Sharks head into one of their biggest challenges of the season when they tackle the Stormers away from home, while the Bulls are preparing for a testing battle of their own against Edinburgh.
The Sharks side has a strong Springbok influence from 1 to 23, with the bench particularly boasting an imposing presence as Ox Nche, Siya Kolisi and Grant Williams slot in among the substitutes.
Changes to the side see a rotational switch on both sides of the front row as Phatu Ganyane and Vincent Koch come in for Ox Nche and Hanro Jacobs respectively. Corne Rahl makes way for Emile van Heerden at lock, and in the final change to the pack, Phepsi Buthelezi starts ahead of Matt Romao at loose forward.
Amongst the backs, Jaco Williams comes onto the wing, Andre Esterhuizen takes over the captaincy and the number 12 jersey, with Jurenzo Julius providing cover off the bench, and finally Ethan Hooker starts in place of Le Roux Malan at outside centre.
Sharks coach JP Pietersen said they did hope a powerful bench could swing matters in their favour on Saturday at Cape Town Stadium.
“I won’t say it’s a Bomb Squad,” he said. “I think the guys who started last week put their hands up and deserved to start again. If you look at the mix, it’s a good team that starts and a great team to finish the game.”
Strength of Bulls side mirrors that of Sharks
Although Bulls coach Johan Ackermann has opted for some strategic rotation, he has still been able to name a Springbok-laden team that includes the likes of Kurt-Lee Arendse, Handre Pollard, Ruan Nortje, Ruan Vermaak, Wilco Louw, Johan Grobbelaar and Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Marcell Coetzee – a well-known. former Sharks star – again leads the side as the Bulls prepare for a big challenge at Scotstoun Stadium.
“They’re one of the teams that kick the most in the competition,” Ackermann said. “They’re very strong in the air and they kick a lot of contestables, which suits the conditions here.
“They’ve got seven or eight players in the Scotland squad and another four in the Scotland A squad. They’re well coached, they smother you, contest the breakdown well and have X-factor players. It’s a big challenge against a quality side, especially on their home ground.”
TEAMS
EDINBURGH vs BULLS (Friday, 21:45)
EDINBURGH – 15 Harry Paterson, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Wes Goosen, 12 James Lang, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Ben Vellacott, 8 Magnus Bradbury (c), 7 Freddy Douglas, 6 Liam McConnell, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Glen Young, 3 D’Arcy Rae, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Bench: 16 Harri Morris, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Callum Hunter-Hill, 20 Ben Muncaster, 21 Charlie Shiel, 22 Cammy Scott, 23 Piers O’Conor.
BULLS – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Sebastian de Klerk, 12 David Kriel, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Mpilo Gumede, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Bench: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Alu Tshakweni, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Harold Vorster, 23 Stravino Jacobs.
STORMERS vs SHARKS (Saturday, 19:30)
STORMERS – TBC
SHARKS – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Yaw Penxe/PK Sobahle, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (c), 11 Jaco Williams, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Nick Hatton, 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Phatu Ganyane.
Bench: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Vincent Tshituka, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Jurenzo Julius.
