Botes in as Sharks change three

Editor

Veteran Jacques Botes returns to the Sharks’ starting line-up for his Kings Park swansong against the Golden Lions in Durban on Friday.

Veteran Jacques Botes returns to the Sharks’ starting XV for what will be his Kings Park swansong when the defending Currie Cup champions host the Golden Lions in Durban on Friday.

The return of the loose forward at the expense of Khaya Majola, is one of three changes made by coach Brad MacLeod-Henderson to his side for a game the hosts must win if they want to retain any hope of claiming a home semi-final.

Lock Stephan Lewies and prop Thomas du Toit are both back from injury and start in place of JC Astle and Dale Chadwick respectively.

Hooker Kyle Cooper has been bracketed with Monde Hadebe and faces a late fitness test on his injured knee.

The backline remains unchanged after Springbok winger Lwazi Mvovo was again released to play by national coach Heyneke Meyer.

Among the replacements, Matt Stevens and Fred Zeilinga have both also been passed fit to play and have been named on the bench.

Sharks: 15 SP Marais, 14 S’bura Sithole, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 Tera Mtembu (c), 7 Etienne Oosthuizen, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Marco Wentzel, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Kyle Cooper/Monde Hadebe, 1 Thomas du Toit.
Replacements: 16 Monde Hadebe/Franco Marais, 17 Dale Chadwick, 18 Matt Stevens, 19 JC Astle, 20 Khaya Majola, 21 Conrad Hoffmann, 22 Fred Zeilinga.

Date: Friday, October 3
Kick-off: 19:10 local (17:10 GMT)
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Referee: Lesego Legoete
Assistant referees: Oregopotse Rametsi, Stefan Breytenbach
Television match official: Jason Jaftha