Sharks Super rugby head coach Sean Everitt has named a team with several changes for Saturday’s home match against the Jaguares.
The team have returned home to Kings Park full of confidence and optimism but know that everything in the past, especially the good parts, is history and counts for nothing when the teams meet on Saturday afternoon.
Last week, head coach Sean Everitt rested flankers James Venter and Tyler Paul and both have been restored to the starting line-up, as has wing Sbu Nkosi.
Not that his stand-in, Madosh Tambwe has done anything wrong. Quite the contrary. He has been a revelation since joining the Sharks from the Lions last year and has taken his opportunities with both hands since standing in for Nkosi following an injury on tour that forced him home for recovery.
But the Springbok wing, Nkosi is back to full fitness and while Tambwe has been shifted to the bench, it has no bearing on his abilities or performances, but rather the fact that we have an exciting group of talented players, who will be called upon to deliver for the team at different stages of the competition.
This team resembles the side that played the season-opener against the Bulls almost completely, the only change coming on the bench where Tambwe is named this week and Boeta Chamberlain was included in week one.
With the Stormers having their bye this weekend, this match takes on an interesting hue. The outcome will have a strong bearing on how the South African Conference will look on Saturday with the Sharks gaining the opportunity to go top should they defeat the Jaguares.
Sharks
15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Tyler Paul, 6 James Venter, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 Le Roux Roets, 20 Henco Venter, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Jeremy Ward, 23 Madosh Tambwe