Saracens braced for Springbok-laden Sharks in Kings Park clash

It may be a stretch to suggest that the Sharks’ clash with Saracens in Durban this weekend is a warm-up for next year’s Springboks versus England Test, but there will nevertheless be a host of players from both sides involved in that fixture.

Saracens are mid-table in the English Premiership but, like the Sharks, are expected to climb the ladder now that their international players have returned from the November Test window.

The Sharks will field the likes of André Esterhuizen, Siya Kolisi, Ethan Hooker, Grant Williams, Makazole Mapimpi and Bongi Mbonambi, while Saracens welcome back heavyweight England (and British & Irish Lions) players Maro Itoje, Ben Earl, Elliot Daly, Owen Farrell and Jamie George. They also boast a new sensation in teenage wing Noah Caluri, who made his England debut a few weeks ago.

The North London club arrive at Kings Park off the back of a statement 47–10 victory over Clermont.

Saracens boss Mark McCall is expecting a mighty showdown with a Sharks side determined to turn around their one-from-seven season under new head coach JP Pietersen.

“Coming to Durban to play the Sharks is a privilege,” McCall said. “They’ve got one of the best squads in the competition.

“I know they’ve had a difficult start to their season, but they’ve been massively disrupted by the Springboks and how many players have been available. They’ve also had two trips to Europe already to play URC matches, which is a really tough way to go about things.

“We understand they’ve got around 15 Springboks who didn’t go to Toulouse last week and who are preparing to play against us,” McCall added. “So we’re going to come up against a top side — highly motivated and with their Springboks back.

“The Sharks are a massive rugby organisation and, although they’ve had a difficult start to the season, this is a proper team. If you look at their squad man for man, they are as talented and as tough as almost any team in Europe.”

McCall said he had taken note of the backroom changes, with John Plumtree making way for Pietersen.

“A change of coach can often have an impact, and you usually see an improvement. But regardless of that, they’ve got a very strong group of players, and they’re going to improve, for sure.

“They’ve got almost everybody available now, so we know we’ll be facing them at their best.”