Sharks change two for Dragons URC clash

Rodney Parade will play host for Saturday’s match as the Sharks take on a Dragons side that won at home for the first time in 18 months last week, and gave new head coach Dai Flanagan a first win in charge.

Gerbrant Grobler and Fred Zeilinga miss out due to injury with Justin Basson getting a first start for the Sharks while Anthony Volmink comes onto the bench.

Sharks coach Everitt is looking forward to seeing Basson go in the starting XV having made a strong cameo off the bench last Friday night.

“He brings physicality to the pack and adds some weight in the second row,” Everitt said. “He’s a good ball carrier and a strong defender and as you saw last weekend our maul stopping wasn’t good so he will give us ammunition to stop their mauls.”

Last campaign the Sharks beat the Dragons comfortably at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, however with a new coach and different conditions, Everitt believes the Dragons will be a very different outfit this time around.

“We were fortunate enough to play the Dragons at home last season and we are expecting a different challenge from them this season in Newport.

“They physical and pride themselves on their physicality and the collisions, so we have to be up for it physically to be able to get the result again.

“Dragons dominated Munster in the collisions last week and in the mauls and set-piece so we know what is coming our way.

“They are vastly improved from the outfit that turned out at Kings Park earlier in the year,” Everitt added.

Cell C Sharks v Dragons

1 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 3 Thomas du Toit (c), 4 Justin Basson, 5 Reniel Hugo, 6 James Venter, 7 Dylan Richardson, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 9 Grant Williams, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 12 Ben Tapuai, 13 Rohan Janse Van Rensburg, 14 Werner Kok, 15 Aphelele Fassi.

Replacements

16 Dan Jooste, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Marnus Potgieter, 23 Anthony Volmink.