Vincent Tshituka leads Sharks against former side Lions in vital URC clash
UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP
Vincent Tshituka leads the Sharks into Ellis Park this Saturday as they hunt for a vital win against the Lions. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: backpagepix
Vincent Tshituka will lead the Sharks at his former hunting ground, Ellis Park, as the Durbanites look to avenge their United Rugby Championship loss to the Lions in early January. Kick-off is at 2pm on Saturday.
It will be a tough task for the Sharks as they will be without their Springbok superstars, who are being rested in accordance with national protocols. Despite the absence of key players such as Ox Nche, Andre Esterhuizen, Siya Kolisi, Bongi Mbonambi, and Ethan Hooker, coach JP Pietersen retains reasonable experience throughout the match-day 23, particularly among the replacements, where three Springboks — Vincent Koch, Phepsi Buthelezi, and Jordan Hendrikse — will add valuable impact.
In the starting line-up, there is green-and-gold experience in fullback Aphelele Fassi, wing Edwill van der Merwe, scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse, lock Jason Jenkins, and flanker Tshituka.
In the midfield, Francois Venter is a former Springbok, and he forms a threatening combination with Jurenzo “The Boogie Man” Julius, a Junior Springbok. The Sharks’ back three will pose danger — joining Fassi and Van der Merwe is rising star Jaco Williams, also a Junior Springbok.
The Sharks head into the encounter with clear objectives. Currently ninth on the overall log, they are chasing a top-eight finish while also targeting the South African Shield. A return of four or five log points against the Lions would see the Sharks leapfrog the eighth-placed Ospreys into the top eight.
It would also secure retention of the SA Shield (which the Sharks won last season) and place the team in a strong position as they head to the Bulls next week.
Sharks team v Lions
Starting XV: 15 Aphelele Fassi 14 Edwill van der Merwe 13 Francois Venter 12 Jurenzo Julius 11 Jaco Williams 10 Siya Masuku 9 Jaden Hendrikse 8 Thomas Dyer 7 Vincent Tshituka 6 Tino Mavesere 5 Jason Jenkins 4 Corne Rahl 3 Hanro Jacobs 2 Fez Mbatha 1 Phatu Ganyane; Replacements: 16 Eduan Swart 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Vincent Koch 19 Emile van Heerden 20 Phepsi Buthelezi 21 Ross Braude 22 Jordan Hendrikse 12 Yaw Penxe
* Mike Greenaway is the senior rugby reporter at Independent Media and senior contributor on our Last World on Rugby podcast on our YouTube channel The Clutch