The Hollywoodbets Sharks team to play the DHL Stormers in a Vodacom United Rugby Championship match in Cape Town has been bolstered for the second round, return leg derby on Saturday (5pm kick-off).
The forward trio of hooker Dylan Richardson, lock Emile van Heerden and No 8 Siya Kolisi have all been passed fit after withdrawing from the match late last week, the Bok skipper leads the Hollywoodbets Sharks this weekend.
In other changes, Ethan Hooker shifts from centre to wing to accommodate the absence of Makazole Mapimpi, with the highly-rated, exciting Jurenzo Julius getting a start after wearing the No 23 jersey last week.
“For us, this week was about getting a few bodies back for this match,” explained head coach John Plumtree. “We had eight forwards out from the pack against the Vodacom Bulls but the nice thing about coming back from England and getting a win against them is that the boys will go into this game with a bit of confidence.
“Going down to Cape Town and beating the Stormers isn’t an easy task but we’re looking forward to it.”
Missing so many players last week proved to be a major challenge but the role and contribution of senior team members must never be underestimated. Once again, they will be called upon to provide guidance and motivation.
“The leaders are doing a good job, demanding standards and even when the chips are down, someone has to step up, and they do,” Plumtree concluded.
DHL Stormers starting XV: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 11 Seabelo Senatla; 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies; 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Deon Fourie (capt); 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat; 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ali Vermaak. Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Neethling Fouché, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Willie Engelbrecht, 21 Paul de Villiers, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Jean-Luc du Plessis.
Hollywoodbets Sharks starting XV: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Ethan Hooker; 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse; 8 Siya Kolisi (capt), 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi; 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins; 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Dylan Richardson, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Francois Venter, 17 Bryce Calvert, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Trevor Nyakane 20 Corne Rahl, 21 Nicholas Hatton, 22 Bradley Davids, 23 Siya Masuku.
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