Sharks reshuffle their backline for Dragons

The Hollywoodbets Sharks have reshuffled their backline, making six changes (three positional) for their second round Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash at Rodney Parade in Newport against the Dragons.

Coach John Plumtree has reshuffled the backline to give it a leaner look with young Jean Smith coming in at 10, and Jaden Hendrikse, who filled in the pivot position last weekend, moving back to his more regular nine jersey.

The next reshuffle is in the midfield where young upstart Jurenzo Julius comes into the 13 jersey, leaving Lukhanyo Am - one of the players who starred against Glasgow - to move to inside centre and Francois Venter dropping to the bench.

The final reshuffle is winger Edwill van der Merwe, a try scorer against Glasgow, moving to fullback to fill a gap left by an injury to Yaw Penxe, with former SA under-20 winger PK Sobahle getting his shot on the wing.

The forwards are the same and according to loose forward Phepsi Buthelezi, even though the Sharks ended up fading at the end of the match and losing in Glasgow, the team took a lot of positives out of it with a long injury list back at home.

“Having looked back at the game, we know we could have been better in certain aspects which was disappointing from our side and definitely something we’re good to look to improve on this week,” he said this week from the team’s camp in Newport.

“But there were a lot of positives and even though we’ll never be happy with a loss, we must look to take those positives into the Dragons game.

“It’s really simple from our side: we want our fans to see a proud and hardworking Hollywoodbets Sharks team that’s going to go out and work hard for one another and show pride in the Sharks jersey.

“Something we’ve spoken a lot about during the preseason was working hard for the badge and that’s what we want to show on Friday night.”

Hollywoodbets Sharks: Edwill van der Merwe; PK Sobahle, Jurenzo Julius, Lukhanyo Am, Christie Grobbelaar; Jean Smith, Jaden Hendrikse; Vincent Tshituka (captain), Emmanuel Tshituka, Phepsi Buthelezi, Marvin Orie, Deon Slabbert, Ruan Dreyer, Fez Mbatha, Simphiwe Matanzima.

Replacements: Eduan Swart, Cameron Dawson, Cebo Dlamini, Bathobele Hlekani, Nick Hatton, Ross Braude, Francois Venter, Hakeem Kunene.

Players not considered for selection due to injury: Albie Bester, Aphelele Fassi, Bradley Davids, Bryce Calvert, Coetzee le Roux, Corne Rahl, Diego Appollis, Emile van Heerden, Ethan Bester, Gideon Koegelenberg, Hanro Jacobs, Jaco Williams, Jason Jenkins, Jannes Potgieter, Jordan Hendrikse, Litelihle Bester, Phatu Ganyane, Siya Masuku, Trevor Nyakane and Yaw Penxe