Powerful Sharks squad heads to Scotland and Ireland

A powerful Hollywoodbets Sharks touring squad flies to Scotland this week ahead of their Vodacom United Rugby Championship two-match run in rounds 15 and 16.

They will meet Edinburgh on Friday night (8.30pm kick-off) at Hive Stadium, before heading to Ireland to take on Ulster in their final away match, ahead of two home games at Hollywoodbets Kings Park before the knockouts.

With the focus now solely on the VURC campaign and the push for a top four finish to the pool stages, Sharks head coach John Plumtree has selected possibly the strongest squad he has had available to him this season, as he welcomes back Springboks Eben

Etzebeth, Grant Williams, Lukhanyo Am and Aphelele Fassi, the quartet having missed various parts of the season to injury but are now back in the reckoning.

This tour represents an important juncture in the Sharks’ campaign as they look to wrestle precious log points away from home against two sides who are still well in the running for a top four finish (Ulster are currently sixth, while Edinburgh lie in eighth place).

The 16 forwards and 12 backs who answer the call of duty in the Black & White jersey are only too aware of the demands these final four weeks present, before the knockouts.

With everything to play for, and the possibility that a couple of external results go their way, every point they collect before the quarter-finals inches them closer to a home quarter-final, and possibly even a home semi-final.

But for now, a confident Edinburgh team awaits.

FORWARDS

Bongi Mbonambi, Eben Etzebeth, Emile van Heerden, Ethan Bester, Fezokuhle Mbatha, Hanro Jacobs, James Venter, Jason Jenkins, Manu Tshituka, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Ox Nche, Phepsi Buthelezi, Ruan Dreyer, Siya Kolisi, Vincent Koch, Vincent Tshituka.

BACKS

Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Bradley Davids, Ethan Hooker, Grant Williams, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Jurenzo Julius, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, Siya Masuku, Yaw Penxe.