Loosehead prop Ox Nche makes a welcome return to the Hollywoodbets Sharks side named to host the Emirates Lions at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Saturday’s return leg Vodacom United Rugby Championship derby match.
He is joined in the front row by fellow Springboks Vincent Koch and Bongi Mbonambi as head coach John Plumtree has welcomed back several players to bolster his team for this SA Shield defining game.
Emile van Heerden is also back after injury, Springbok captain Siya Kolisi is also named to start after playing off the bench last week, also wearing the captain’s armband.
Lappies Labuschagne in for the injured Vincent Tshituka is the final change to the forward pack.
Henry Immelman (on loan to the Hollywoodbets Sharks) makes his debut at fullback, having represented Montpellier, Edinburgh Rugby and more recently, the Vodacom Bulls.
Grant Williams and Jordan Hendrikse will partner at halfback, with Francois Venter replacing an injured Lukhanyo Am in the final change to the starting XV.
There’s also good news on the fitness of hooker Fez Mbatha and loose forward James Venter, both of whom have been named on the bench after lengthy recovery periods.
Wing Yaw Penxe admits that this match offers his team the opportunity at a second bite of the cherry, playing the same team, they lost to last week and a shot at redeeming themselves.
“As players we had a proper look at ourselves and our game, both as individuals and as a unit, and we know where we went wrong and we’ve been working on that this week,” he explains.
“It helps to be playing the same team a week later, we’re essentially getting a second chance which doesn’t happen often and hopefully we right our wrongs this weekend.”
Identifying areas that let the team down, he explains that sharpening their skillsets and upping the physicality are the primary tasks they want to accomplish this weekend, knowing how important victory will be to their campaign aims.
“We take every game seriously and we know a win will put us in a good position on the log; every win or log point from now on is crucial and it goes without saying that we need to strive for wins in every game we play.”
Saturday’s match kicks off at 2pm and should the Hollywoodbets Sharks achieve the win at home, they will clinch the SA Shield. All roads lead to Hollywoodbets Kings Park for what promises to be a cracker of a match between two proud South African sides.
Hollywoodbets Sharks
- Ox Nche
- Bongi Mbonambi
- Vincent Koch
- Jason Jenkins
- Emile van Heerden
- Phepsi Buthelezi
- Lappies Labuschagne
- Siya Kolisi (c)
- Grant Williams
- Jordan Hendrikse
- Ethan Hooker
- Francois Venter
- Jurenzo Julius
- Yaw Penxe
- Henry Immelman*
Replacements
- Fez Mbatha
- Ntuthuko Mchunu
- Hanro Jacobs
- Corne Rahl
- James Venter
- Nick Hatton
- Jaden Hendrikse
- Hakeem Kunene
*Denotes debut for the Hollywoodbets Sharks.
The following players are not available for selection due to injury:
Andre Esterhuizen
Aphelele Fassi
Bryce Calvert
Diego Appollis
Dylan Richardson
Eben Etzebeth
Gerbrandt Grobler
Jaco Williams
Khwezi Mona
Lukhanyo Am
Makazole Mapimpi (suspension)
Manu Tshituka
Marnus Potgieter
Siya Masuku
Vincent Tshituka