Mtawarira returns for the Sharks

Editor

The Sharks have made four changes to their team to face the Bulls, with Springbok prop Tendai Mtawarira back from injury.

The Sharks have made four changes to their team to face the Bulls on Saturday, with Springbok prop Tendai Mtawarira back from injury.

Mtawarira has been sidelined for more than a month by a calf injury and his return to fitness comes as a big boost to a team crippled by injuries. JC Janse van Rensburg is the man to miss out as a result.

In the only other change to the pack, Pieter-Steph du Toit slots into the second row after Anton Bresler suffered a shoulder injury in training on Thursday.

JP Pietersen is another who misses out due to injury, with the Springbok back having suffered a groin injury against the Force last time out. Piet Lindeque will wear the number thirteen jumper in his absence.

The only other change sees Sean Robinson take up a spot on the replacements bench as cover for the back three.

“This is a big game for both teams, the Bulls have been playing really well lately, their forwards have dominated and they're enjoying momentum. They've also dominated territory through their kicking game, they've dominated upfront and we know it's going to be a really tough game for us,” coach John Plumtree told the Sharks' official website.

“Although our preparation this week has been quite short, we have trained well, and we're looking forward to putting our plans into place and the boys can go out there and enjoy the massive clash that this game is.

“It's great to be back home, to play at our stadium and hopefully we'll get a really nice crowd on Saturday.”

Sharks: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Piet Lindeque, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Keegan Daniel (capt), 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Jandre Marais, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Tera Mtembu, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Sean Robinson.

Date: Saturday, May 25
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)