Sharks unchanged for Bulls
Sharks coach Robert du Preez has named an unchanged starting XV for his side’s Super Rugby clash with the Bulls at Kings Park in Durban on Saturday.
Following minimal changes in the last two weeks of sublime showings in New Zealand, the coach felt that those who had done such proud duty against the Blues then Hurricanes deserved a shot at the Bulls.
He has however made three rotational changes on the bench with Akker van der Merwe replacing Franco Marais while Tyler Paul will now cover lock ahead of Hyron Andrews and Daniel du Preez returns to the matchday 22 from injury and will potentially form a trio of brothers on-field should he join fellow loose forward Jean-Luc and fly-half Robert during the match.
Beast Mtawarira believes that the Bulls match offers the opportunity to continue the form they showed in the last two weeks.
“Those performances in New Zealand showed what this team is all about,” he said. “We can take a lot out of the way we played in those games.”
The Bulls have already enjoyed their two mandatory byes and with a game in hand over the second placed Sharks (in the South African Conference) and two over the conference leading Lions, will come to Durban full of purpose in their own quest to move up the table.
However, they will be up against a fired-up Sharks side high on confidence and determined to make their efforts count after the last gasp loss to the Hurricanes last weekend when we dominated but could not get the win.
“The tour didn’t all go our way as far as results are concerned, but it ended up us showing what we’re all about. We showed how well we can play against the Blues and Hurricanes, that we can be contenders. We are getting cohesion in our game, we’ve changed our mindset – we want to attack, not defend.
“We want to put in massive performances in front of our home supporters,” said Mtawarira emphatically.
“This match is going to be a cracker, they are highly motivated, but so are we. It’s going to be two dynamic attacks up against each other and that means fireworks.”
Sharks: 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Tera Mtembu, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Philip van der Walt, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Ruan Botha (c), 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 Tyler Paul, 20 Daniel du Preez, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Marius Louw, 23 Kobus van Wyk
Date: Saturday, April 14
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 17:15 local (15:15 GMT)
Referee: Egon Seconds (South Africa)
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs (South Africa), Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa)
Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa)