Andre Esterhuizen leads a Springbok-heavy Sharks side to Loftus this Saturday. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
Captain Andre Esterhuizen is among a group of Springboks returning to the Sharks team to play the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday in their final SA derby match of the United Rugby Championship season.
Andre the Giant is back at inside centre; Ox Nche will spearhead the scrum from loosehead prop; Makazole Mapimpi is on the left wing; Vincent Koch is at tighthead prop, and Jordan Hendrikse takes over from Siya Masuku at flyhalf. However, Siya Kolisi continues with his Springbok resting, as does scrumhalf Grant Williams and centre Ethan Hooker, while Aphelele Fassi drops out at fullback because of injury.
Interestingly, coach JP Pietersen has moved youngster Jaco Williams from wing to fullback. Mapimpi has taken his place, and Edwill van der Merwe completes the back three on the right wing.
Esterhuizen’s midfield partner will be Jurenzo Julius, who had a blistering game on attack in last week’s defeat to the Lions at Ellis Park. He moves back to outside centre from 12.
The last time the Bulls and the Sharks met, a 21-12 victory over the Pretoria side at Kings Park in December saw the Sharks climb the log, and they followed that up with back-to-back victories over the Stormers to rise to the top of the SA Shield.
This Saturday, they will want to deliver the knock-out punch and secure the points needed to lift the Shield.
The Bulls reined in a four-match run of losses in the competition when they defeated Edinburgh and the Lions in successive weeks and will be buoyed by their recent form, delivering up another mouth-watering contest between the two sides.
Sharks starting XV: 15 Jaco Williams 14 Edwill van der Merwe 13 Jurenzo Julius 12 Andre Esterhuizen 11 Makazole Mapimpi 10 Jordan Hendrikse 9 Jaden Hendrikse 8 Phepsi Buthelezi 7 Vincent Tshituka 6 Tino Mavesere 5 Emile van Heerden 4 Jason Jenkins 3 Vincent Koch 2 Eduan Swart 1 Ox Nche; Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha 17 Phatu Ganyane 18 Hanro Jacobs 19 Corne Rahl 20 Thomas Dyer 21 Ross Braude 22 Siya Masuku 12 Yaw Penxe.
* Mike Greenaway is a senior rugby reporter at Independent Media and a contributor on our Last World on Rugby podcast on our YouTube channel, The Clutch.