JP Pietersen's injury-hit Sharks side faces an uphill task in Galway on Friday night.
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An injury-hit Sharks team faces an uphill task in Galway on Friday night when they tackle an in-form Connacht side in a Round of 16 Challenge Cup match.
While the Sharks do have classy World Cup winners up front in Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nche, and Vincent Koch, they are very thin on the ground in the backline, with almost all of their first-choice players nursing injuries in Durban, including captain Andre Esterhuizen.
Up-and-coming flank Nick Hatton will lead the side in the absence of Andre the Giant. With the Hendrikse brothers, Jaden and Jordan, crocked, the Sharks are fielding an inexperienced halfback pairing in Jean Smith and Ross Braude.
Etzebeth is making his comeback after a 12-match suspension dating back to an eye-gouge incident in the Springboks’ November international against Wales. The big fellow will be highly motivated to pay the Sharks back for his lengthy absence, and if he can quickly get into a groove and lead from the front, it will give the Sharks a chance of upsetting Connacht, who are notoriously difficult to beat in Galway. They have also won their last five games.
The Sharks could also be inspired by the fact that they are in the same position as in 202,4 when they won the Challenge Cup. Like back then, the Sharks have endured a poor URC campaign but can turn their season around in the Challenge Cup.
The Sharks are going to struggle to make the URC top eight — they are tenth with four rounds to go — so if they beat Connacht, they will put all of their eggs in the Challenge Cup basket because if they win it, they will make it into next season’s Champions Cup via the back door.
Teams
Connacht: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Shane Jennings, 13 Cathal Forde, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Chay Mullins, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Matthew Devine, 8 Cian Prendergast, 7 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 6 Josh Murphy, 5 Darragh Murray, 4 Joe Joyce, 3 Sam Illo, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Billy Bohan Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Niall Murray, 20 Paul Boyle, 21 Colm Reilly, 22 Sean Naughton, 23 John Devine
Sharks: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Le Roux Malan, 12 Marnus Potgieter, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jean Smith, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Nick Hatton (captain), 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Ox Nche Replacements: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Corné Rahl, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Ethan Hooker
Date: Friday, April 3 Venue: Dexcom Stadium, Galway Kick-off: 9pm SA time Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland) Assistant referees: Ru Campbell (Scotland), Rob McDowell (Scotland) TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)