Siya Kolisi: The OUTRAGEOUS Springboks-laden team the Sharks can pick
A look at how the Sharks could line up following the signing of Siya Kolisi.
Following Springboks captain Siya Kolisi’s return to the Sharks, we take a look at how the Durban-based side could line up for the 2024/25 season.
The Sharks had an underwhelming United Rugby Championship campaign in 2023/24 finishing with just four wins from 18 matches but were able to end the season on a high clinching the Challenge Cup title.
Ahead of John Plumtree’s second season back in charge of the franchise, the head coach and director of rugby have recruited top talents to improve the squad, particularly with the signing of Springboks captain Kolisi.
With that in mind, we take a look at how the Durbanites could line up and how they are able to field a fully-fledged international starting XV if they wish to do so.
Potential Sharks XV for the 2024/25 season
15 Aphelele Fassi
The brilliant fullback missed just two of the Sharks‘ matches across the Challenge Cup and URC last season with his form earning him a recall to the Springboks squad. Now that he is set to have more involvements with the Test team, the Sharks have recruited back-ups in Tian Swanepoel while Jordan Hendrikse has been tested at fullback in the Currie Cup.
Still, in the big matches, Fassi will be the go-to man at fullback while also providing an option on the wing. Keep an eye out for Hakeem Kunene who will likely break into the URC squad this year and could feature at fullback or on the wing too.
14 Eduan Keyter
The departure of Werner Kok to Ulster has opened up a vacancy on the Sharks’ right wing with Springbok Aphiwe Dyantyi also leaving Durban. If the Sharks were to go the full international XV route, Grant Williams or Lukhanyo Am could slot in on the wing but Eduan Keyter looks to be the most likely starter when the season kicks off.
Yaw Penxe will also be in the mix and perhaps ex-Blitzboks Muller du Plessis too, although he is more of a centre in the XVs game. Litelihle Bester is a rookie to keep an eye on as well. The Sharks have multiple midfielders who could more than do a job out wide and some have to do so to break into the starting lineup and get used to the next step up.
13 Lukhanyo Am
Despite the season fast approaching, it’s not 100% clear whether Lukhanyo Am will still be in the Sharks set-up for the 2024/25 season with reports linking him to a move abroad. However, if he does stay in Durban he will compete with impressive youngsters Ethan Hooker and Jorenzo Julius for a starting role.
Am has the edge still and could combine in an all-Bok midfield rekindling his partnership with Andre Esterhuizen which could result in Hooker and Julius spending some time on the wing or on the pine. Diego Appollis is another centre in the Sharks’ stocks.
12 Andre Esterhuizen
Returning to Durban after a hugely successful stint with Harlequins, Esterhuizen a massive boost at inside centre would form a lethal centre pairing with Am or either of the aforementioned youngsters. Let’s not forget that the ever-consistent Francois Venter gives the Sharks another Springboks midfielder to select and one that is comfortable at 12 and 13.
11 Makazole Mapimpi
The veteran winger still shows no sign of dropping in quality despite losing a touch of pace. Makazole Mapimpi is still a lethal finisher as he showed several times for the Sharks last season.
10 Siya Masuku
Following the departure of Bok Curwin Bosch to Brive, the Sharks still have two quality options at fly-half in Siya Masuku and Jordan Hendrikse – the latter joining from the Lions.
Hendrikse was preferred by Rassie Erasmus for the Test match against Wales at Twickenham and both are likely to start the URC season with Hendrikse in at fullback as Fassi wraps up his international commitments.
Masuku will likely get the nod for the number ten jumper for the start of the season after his heroics in the Challenge Cup but he now has fierce competition for the jersey that he nailed down.
Lionel Cronje is currently featuring in the Currie Cup for the Sharks but was listed on the leavers’ list from the URC squad but the Durbanites have further options in Jean Smith and Chris Horak.
9 Jaden Hendrikse
When the Sharks have had both Springbok scrum-halves Jaden Hendrikse and Grant Williams fit and firing, it has been the former that has generally been favoured for the starting role. However, both are fantastic players and the Sharks can chop and change with little fuss.
They do also have the experience of Cameron Wright and Tian Meyer to lean on with Bradley Davids one of the more youthful nines on their books.
Springboks legend highlights how Siya Kolisi’s Sharks return could benefit his career
8 Phepsi Buthlezi
Newly capped Springbok Phespi Buthlezi is likely to shift between flank and number eight once again this season, particularly with Kolisi’s arrival. Meanwhile, Lions’ star Emmanuel Tshituka has followed his older brother Vincent to the Sharks and adds even more depth at number eight. Nick Hatton is a rising star and has captained the Currie Cup team this year.
7 Vincent Tshituka
Vincent Tshituka featured at blindside and number eight for the Sharks last year but with Kolisi and his brother’s arrival in Durban, he is bound to feature mostly in the seven jumper. The excellent loose forward has reportedly attracted interest from French clubs and it’s easy to see why. If it is not him on the side of the scrum, Jeandre Labuschagne and Jannes Potgieter could well feature there. The Sharks have also increased their lock stocks for this season and we could see Jason Jenkins or Gerbrandt Grobler add more height to the flanker role.
6 Siya Kolisi
The man himself. Kolisi is likely to miss a host of games through rest and Springbok duty but when fit, the Sharks have a world-class player and leader in their back-row. If he is not in the starting XV, then his void could be filled by the impressive James Venter or the likes of George Cronje or Zimbabwe international Tinotenda Mavesere. Scotland forward Dylan Richardson is also a capable flanker but we expect him to feature more in the front row going forward.
5 Jason Jenkins
Yet another Springbok who has been added to the Sharks’ ranks joining the side from Leinster. Jenkins has just one Test cap to his name but showed his quality with Leinster. Outside of the new signing, the Sharks do have solid options in Gerbrandt Grobler, Emile van Heerden and Reniel Hugo while there is much hype around Junior Bok Bathobele Hlekani.
4 Eben Etzebeth
Much like Kolisi, when not on Test duty or resting, the Sharks will have Eben Etzebeth packing down in their all-star pack. Etzebeth needs little introduction having proven his class in other 100 Test matches for the Springboks. The veteran lock has the young Corne Rahl backing him up, a player that Etzebeth himself has backed for a bright future.
3 Vincent Koch
The Sharks have three Springbok tightheads on their books for the upcoming season and another who looks bound to pull on the Green and Gold jumper. As it stands, Vincent Koch is the standout of the lot but he will be more than ably backed up by fellow Boks Trevor Nyakane and Ruan Dreyer with Hanro Jacobs enjoying a rapid rise last campaign.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg with several young props impressing in the Currie Cup too.
2 Bongi Mbonambi
Much like the prop stocks, the Sharks’ hooker depth is brimming with quality but Bongi Mbonambi is the pick of the lot. The excellent Bok has strong back-ups in Scotland hooker Richardson as well as Fez Mbatha and Daniel Jooste. Youngsters Ethan Bester and Bryce Calvert are worth keeping an eye on too.
1 Ox Nche
One last Springbok in the Sharks team completing an all-Bok tight-five. Ox Nche is easily one of the best scrummagers and looseheads in the game but when he is unavailable expect to see fellow international Ntuthuko Mchunu in the number-one jumper. Nyakane and Dreyer could both fill the role too while Braam Reyneke and Dian Bleuler featured during the Currie Cup.
