The Sharks have named a Super Rugby team with one change to the starting side that lost to the Crusaders for this weekend’s match against the Lions at Kings Park in Durban.
Philip van der Walt suffered a neck injury against the Crusaders and has been ruled out for this week so Daniel du Preez comes into the starting line up at No.8.
Du Preez’s place on the replacements bench is taken up by former Sharks captain Keegan Daniel which is the only change to the bench.
“This is going to be an incredibly tough fixture, made even tougher by the fact that the Lions are in our pool,” said Sharks Director of Rugby, Gary Gold.
“The outcome of this game is going to be significant to the status of this pool at a later stage.
“They are a fantastic team and we have a huge amount of respect for them. We know how good they are with ball in hand and the questions they ask on defence.
“Our focus is on our own game and after a break last week, our players returned to training in high spirits with renewed energy and focus.
“We want to play with more ball in hand and ask questions of our own. The set-piece battle is going to be important and it will lay the foundation for us to launch our attacks off.
“It is important for us to perform well before we go on tour, which will set the tone for a tough, yet exciting, three week assignment in New Zealand.”
Sharks
15. Willie le Roux , 14. JP Pietersen , 13. Paul Jordaan , 12. Andre Esterhuizen , 11. Lwazi Mvovo , 10. Joe Pietersen , 9. Cobus Reinach , 8. Daniel du Preez , 7. Jean-Luc du Preez , 6. Marcell Coetzee , 5. Stephan Lewies , 4. Etienne Oosthuizen , 3. Coenie Oosthuizen , 2. Franco Marais , 1. Tendai Mtawarira (C)
Replacements: 16. Kyle Cooper , 17. Juan Schoeman , 18. Lourens Adriaanse , 19. Hyron Andrews , 20. Keegan Daniel , 21. Michael Claassens , 22. Garth April , 23. Odwa Ndungane
