Eben Etzebeth makes Sharks comeback as URC’s bottom side host Lions

There is just one United Rugby Championship game on the schedule this weekend as the Sharks face off with the Lions in a Round Eight clash at Kings Park on Saturday.

Although the hosts come off the disappointment of a one-point loss to the Stormers last week, there were lots of positive signs to take for the league’s basement outfit.

In changes from last weekend’s line-up, Sharks head coach John Plumtree has brought in Fez Mbatha in at hooker with Kerron van Vuuren shifting to the replacements bench.

Meanwhile, Hanro Jacobs replaces Coenie Oosthuizen, who has carried a massive workload over the past two months, at tighthead prop with Ox Nche at loosehead.

Eben Etzebeth returns

After missing last week’s clash with the Stormers, Eben Etzebeth is back from a stomach complaint and his partner in the second-row will be Gerbrandt Grobler.

Grant Williams and Jaden Hendrikse swapping scrum-half duties is the only change to a settled backline.

Speaking ahead of the game, Williams admits that the team is in the right place both performance-wise and in the correct mental space to deliver a commanding performance on Saturday.

“Last week’s game against the Stormers was frustrating, we felt that we could have gotten the win and we felt that there were more positives than negatives,” he said. “We can now go out against the Lions and put in a performance that our fans can be proud of, so we’re pretty excited.

“We feel that as a group, we’re close to delivering the performances we want to.”

Looking at the opposition, he warns: “The Lions are a physical outfit that like to move the ball around as well, they have a heavy pack so we can expect a physical battle.

“The thing for us it to get into our stride and give our fans a performance they deserve. But our squad is in a positive place and we’re building as a unit.

“Over the last few weeks we’ve moved forward, we’re much stronger now.”

Lions a threat in Durban

Meanwhile, the Lions will look to compound the Sharks’ woes this season and inflict what would be an eighth loss in nine league games.

The visitors boast threats all over the field with Edwill van der Merwe, Richard Kriel and Quan Horn a dangerous back three and Marius Louw and Henco van Wyk a strong midfield.

Morne van den Berg and Sanele Nohamba link up in the half-backs for the match in Durban.

The Lions, who have not played a URC fixture since December 2, name Emmanuel Tshituka, Ruan Venter and Francke Horn in the back-row.

Ruben Schoeman and Darrien Landsberg pack down in the locks in front of JP Smith, PJ Botha and Asenathi Ntlabakanye.

The teams

Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Lukhanyo Am (c), 12 Francois Venter, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 James Venter, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Joel Hintz, 19 Corne’ Rahl, 20 George Cronje, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Marius Louw (c), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Sanele Nohamba, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Emmanuel Tshituka, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 JP Smith
Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Morgan Naude, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Hanru Sirgel, 21 JC Pretorius, 22 Jordan Hendrikse, 23 Rynhardt Jonker

Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park
Kick-off: 17:00 local (15:00 GMT)
Referee: Morne Ferreira (SARU)
Assistant Referees: Cwengile Jadezweni (SARU), Christopher Alison (SARU)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)

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