Impressive pack for the Sharks
The Sharks have announced their team to face defending champions the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday that could include an all Springbok tight-five.
The Sharks have announced their team to face defending champions the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday that could include an all Springbok tight-five.
Bismarck du Plessis is an uncertain starter after sustaining a rib injury against the Stormers. Whether or not he will play will be decided later in the week.
For the moment he has been bracketed in with Skipper Badenhorst who has recovered from a knee injury.
If du Plessis does play, he will start alongside brother Jannie who comes in for Beast Mtawarira at loosehead prop. That means an all-Springbok tight-five is on the cards to face the much-lauded Bulls pack.
Johan Ackermann will play his last first-class game at the ground where he started his career 20 years ago.
First choice scrum-half Ruan Pienaar is out with a collarbone injury, so Rory Kockott will start at scrum-half.
French International Frederic Michalak starts at fly-half, but will be able to play back-up to Kockott if need be.
Coach Dick Muir has chosen a 5-2 bench with Adrian Jacobs and Stefan Terblanche the only two backs, while reserve last week, Keegan Daniel, gets a start at flank in place of Jacques Botes.
Botes and Jean Deysel will play off the bench.
The Sharks: 15 Francois Steyn, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Bradley Barritt, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 AJ Venter, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Johann Muller (c), 4 Johan Ackermann, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Bismarck du Plessis/Skipper Badenhorst, 1 Jannie du Plessis
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Albert van den Berg, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Jacques Botes, 21 Adrian Jacobs, 22 Stefan Terblanche
Date: Saturday, 1 March
Kick-off: 19:05 (17:05 GMT)
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Touch judges: Willie Roos (South Africa), Joey Salmans (South Africa)
Television match official: Johan Meuwesen (South Africa)
Assessor: Arrie Schoonwinkel (South Africa)