Siya Kolisi returns for his 50th Sharks cap this Friday as they face Edinburgh. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi will make his comeback from a calf injury in the Sharks’ United Rugby Championship (URC) visit to Edinburgh on Friday night, their final away match of the season.
Kolisi will play off the bench in what will be his 50th cap for the Sharks.
That is the good news; the bad news is that the Sharks have run out of centres following the injuries to Le Roux Malan and Jurenzo Julius, while last week’s left wing (and centre cover), Ethan Hooker, was also injured in the match against the Ospreys.
As an emergency measure, coach JP Pietersen has had to bring (flyhalf) Siya Masuku in at inside centre and shift captain Andre Esterhuizen to 13. Makazole Mapimpi replaces Hooker on the wing.
Teenage sensation Zekhethelo Siyaya remains at fullback after his breakthrough debut against the Ospreys, and he can only benefit from having the Bok captain alongside him later in the game.
The only backline substitutes are scrumhalf Bradley Davids and utility back Marnus Potgieter.
Elsewhere, Pietersen has maintained continuity — the forward pack is the same as last week, meaning the coach is once more opting for the tactic of playing Springbok strongmen Ox Nche and Vincent Koch off the bench.
This worked last week against the Ospreys — until the game descended into the farce of uncontested scrums because of injuries to the Welsh props. Many critics will be surprised that this week Pietersen is not starting with his strongest props.
The Sharks have a faint hope of making the URC Top 8, but will have to harvest a full house of log points before heading home to play Italian teams Benetton and Zebre.
Sharks starting XV: 15 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13, Andre Esterhuizen (captain), 12 Siya Masuku, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jean Smith, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Manu Tshituka, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Phatu Ganyane; Replacements: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Nick Hatton, 21 Siya Kolisi, 22 Bradley Davids, 23 Marnus Potgieter.