Zekhethelo Siyaya of South Africa during the Springbok U18 Captains Run at Brackenfell High School in Cape Town in 2024
Image: BackpagePix
The 18-year-old SA Schools fullback Zekhethelo Siyaya will make his debut for the Sharks on Saturday in their United Rugby Championship visit to the Ospreys.
The lethal attacker is the latest youngster to wear a Sharks No 15 jersey this season, which has been a touch doomed — first Springbok Aphelele Fassi was seriously injured, and then Junior Boks Jaco Williams and Luan Giliomee both had strong debuts only for them to pick up injuries.
Siyaya is the latest product of Durban's Westville Boys’ High to come through at the Sharks, after hooker Bryce Calvert and Ethan Hooker. The latter, of course, has quickly hit great heights, and something similar is expected of Siyaya, who was a schoolboy sensation with his brilliant attacks from the back field.
The youngster will be joined in the back three by Hooker and Edwill van der Merwe, so he will be in good hands.
With Hooker being picked on the left wing, the No 13 jersey goes to Junior Bok Le Roux Malan. He partners returning captain Andre Esterhuizen in the midfield, with Jurenzo Julius making his comeback from injury off the bench.
Also back from injury is Manu Tshituka, who will play at No 8. His brother, Vincent, is on the blindside flank, and Phepsi Buthelezi will play openside flank. That means Siya Kolisi is not in the match-day squad, although he has travelled to Wales.
It is possible that, with him still to return from a calf injury, his comeback game will be next week against Edinburgh.
Interestingly, coach JP Pietersen has chosen to use two Springboks props in Ox Nche and Vincent Koch off the bench, with youngsters Phatu Ganyane and Hanro Jacobs starting.
Sharks: 15 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Le Roux Malan, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (captain), 11 Ethan Hooker, 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 Bradley Davids, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Jurenzo Julius.