Sharks get Boks boost for Leinster showdown with Eben Etzebeth benched and Andre Esterhuizen captain
Sharks stars Andre Esterhuizen and Thomas du Toit.
The Sharks have been bolstered by several returning Springboks for their United Rugby Championship clash with Leinster on Saturday.
Fresh off the back of captaining the Springboks in Australia, Andre Esterhuizen with skipper the Sharks in the meeting against the defending URC champions in Durban.
He has been named in the starting XV by head coach JP Pietersen who hands Thomas du Toit his second Sharks debut at loosehead prop.
Sharks gets Bok boost for Leinster
Du Toit packs down alongside Junior Boks hooker Esethu Mnebelele and tighthead prop Vincent Koch in what will be his first appearance in the Black and White jersey since 2023. The 31-year-old front rower has rejoined the Durban club after a successful stint at Prem Rugby club Bath.
Jason Jenkins and Darrien Landsberg are in the engine room for the Sharks with Phepsi Buthelezi, Manu Tshituka and last week’s captain Nick Hatton packing down in the back row.
Jaden Hendrikse and Vusi Moyo are the starting halfbacks to face the Irish Province while Esterhuizen partners Jurenzo Julius in the centres. Edwill van der Merwe also returns having played against the Wallabies last weekend and is named in the back-three along with Lili Bester and Luan Giliomee, the latter playing for the final time before joining the Bulls.
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Returning Springboks Ox Nche, Eben Etzebeth and Ethan Hooker feature among the replacements, with Pietersen opting for the traditional 5-3 split. Nche provides front row cover along with rising star Ethan Bester and tighthead Hanro Jacobs. Matt Romao rounds out the forwards on the bench, while Ivan van Zyl and Zekhethelo Siyaya are the backline options along with Hooker.
The Sharks players who are currently not available for selection are: Bongi Mbonambi, Eduan Swart, Emile van Heerden, Fez Mbatha, Hendre Stassen, Jaco Williams, Jannes Potgieter, Jordan Hendrikse, Makazole Mapimpi, Murray Koster, PK Sobahle, Stephan Lewies, Trevor Nyakane, Vincent Tshituka, and Yaw Penxe.
URC, Round Two: Predictions, teams, kick-off times, how to watch and referee appointments
Sharks v Leinster
Sharks: 15 Luan Giliomee, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (c), 11 Lili Bester, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Nick Hatton, 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Esethu Mnebelele, 1 Thomas du Toit
Replacements: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Matt Romao, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 23 Ethan Hooker
Leinster: 15 Todd Lawlor, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Hugh Cooney, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Andrew Osborne, 10 Caspar Gabriel, 9 Fintan Gunne, 8 Josh Ericson, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Alan Spicer, 4 Conor O’Tighearnaigh, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Rónan Kelleher (c), 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 Gus McCarthy, 17 Alex Usanov, 18 Niall Smyth, 19 Brian Deeny, 20 Diarmuid Mangan, 21 Oliver Coffey, 22 Sam Prendergast, 23 Hugo McLaughlin
Date: Saturday, 3 October 2026
Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 17.30 IRE & UK / 18.30 ITA & SA
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)
Assistant Referees: Hanru van Rooyen (SARU) and Jonathan Lottering (SARU)
TMO: Ben Breakspear (WRU)
Broadcasters: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby, URC.tv
READ MORE: Bulls star ‘100%’ on return to Springboks as ‘best’ good enough for Rassie Erasmus’ team