Frans Steyn will captain the Sharks from inside centre in their Super Rugby opener against the Cheetahs on Saturday.
Cobus Reinach starts at scrumhalf ahead of Charl McLeod who provides ample ability off the bench, with Ryan Kankowski, back from a six month stint in Japan, starting at number eight alongside fellow loose forwards Jacques Botes and Marcell Coetzee.
Franco van der Merwe partners Anton Bresler in the second row while there are no real surprises in the backline with Pat Lambie at flyhalf, Frans Steyn partnering Paul Jordaan in the midfield, Springboks JP Pietersen and Lwazi Mvovo out wide and Louis Ludik completing the line-up at fullback.
"It was a case of the experience factor with the tight five I've chosen," said Sharks coach John Plumtree.
"The way the Cheetahs play influenced a lot of the selections, they have a lot of speed and genuine threats in their backline and we have to be able to match that defensively.
"We've picked a side that has the most experience for the occasion. Scrumhalf was a horses for courses selection in terms of the strengths I require for the day."
The Sharks: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Francois Steyn (capt), 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Odwa Ndungane
Date: Saturday, February 23
Kick-off: 17:05 local (15:05 GMT)
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jason Jaftha (South Africa), Tiaan Jonker (South Africa)
Television match official: Gerrie Coetzee (South Africa)
Comments
carpelone says...
That's is where I would like to be, in Bloem to see this.
I do not see a stronger conference this year, and we should take the opportunity this year to get the RC, with all those Old Blacks.
Posted 14:51 21st February 2013
martinmarais78 says...
Looks like the Sharks had a great shopping trip with fantastic imports.
David versus Goliath...
Posted 08:06 21st February 2013
bloemboy says...
Cannot wait to see the tussle at wing, both sides. My bet is that the wings for the team of the week wil come from this game. Hope its not from the Shark team though. The Lambie / Goosen matchup is also mouthwatering, though it may be interesting to see if Goosen shades Lambie despite getting backfoot ball
Posted 06:38 21st February 2013
georgesmith says...
F. Steyn is a Bok legend. Great decision by J. Plumtree. F. Steyn will kick the opening penalty of the game from 50metres.
Posted 04:14 21st February 2013
ben7 says...
That backline is INSANE! But so is the Cheetahs so hard one to call
Posted 23:39 20th February 2013
Lucasrg says...
Good team! how long is left before Bismark joins the trainings?
Go Sharks....let's start brightly
Posted 19:38 20th February 2013