Sharks bring back big guns for local Rainbow Cup final
The Cell C Sharks welcome back a number of their frontline players for what is essentially a Rainbow Cup SA final against the Bulls at Jonsson Kings Park this Saturday.
In what was a test of their depth, the Sharks’ younger, more inexperienced side beat the Lions at Ellis Park last weekend, but this week coach Sean Everitt has opted to go with several his first-string players.
Lukhanyo Am returns to captain the side while Curwin Bosch slots back into the number ten jersey while Aphelele Fassi and Siya Kolisi are both picked in the starting XV.
Anthony Volmink shifts to the wing while Phepsi Buthelezi retains his spot at number eight and Khutha Mchunu comes into the front-row while his surname-sake Ntuthuko Mchunu and Wian Herbst drop out with Khwezi Mona the other change in the props.
Thembelani Bholi also makes a return to the starting line-up.
The Sharks have battled against the Bulls in recent times, but coach Sean Everitt wants to look at their last performance against the Bulls as a whole and not just the score-line.
“In the last outing at Loftus, we were in the game at half-time and leading,” Everitt said.
“I thought we dominated for 50 minutes but unfortunately unravelled in the last 20 or so and conceded four soft tries, so we have to look at the game as a whole and put it into perspective.
“We’ve bounced back before and we haven’t lost to the Bulls at home, so we’re very keen to turn the tables on them at home.”
The Bulls, along with the Sharks, have only lost one match in the competition and that was to the Lions two weeks ago. The men from Pretoria snuck past the Stormers last week so the Sharks will fancy their chances on home turf this weekend.
“The Bulls have improved as well, they’ve found ways to win, they’re a good team, but the result against the Lions gave us a lot of confidence for this game,” Everitt added.
It’s not only a must-win for the Sharks, they need to win the match with a bonus point and prevent the Bulls from getting a bonus point in order to qualify for the PRO14 Rainbow Cup North versus South Final against Benetton next weekend in Treviso.
The Sharks are yet to confirm which players will be on the bench for this weekend’s clash.
Cell C Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Anthony Volmink, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Marius Louw, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 JJ van der Mescht, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Khwezi Mona.
Replacements: TBC
