Sharks go full strength in Challenge Cup opener

John Plumtree has answered a question that many would have been asking this week by naming a full strength Hollywoodbets Sharks team for Saturday’s Investec Challenge Cup clash with Pau in Durban.

With his team not competing in the prestigious Champions Cup this season, it was thought coach Plumtree might use the Challenge Cup games as a development opportunity or quest to build his resource base.

However, with Springbok World Cup hero Ox Nche making his first start of the season after playing off the bench in his first two games back from his international duties, and all the other available Boks selected to play, he has sent out a clear message that he’s looking for the confidence building victories that will give his men some momentum when they head into the next block of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship at the end of this month.

The Sharks do need to get some winning momentum going after the renaissance suggested by the big URC win over the Dragons the last time they played in Durban turned into a false dawn when the KZN franchise lost heavily in Pretoria last week and the next two weeks, with the glare from the media and supporters not quite so intense, is the opportunity to do that.

Nche comes in for Ntuthuko Nchunu, who has carried a heavy workload in the early part of the season, as one of two changes to the front row. The other sees the return of Kerron van Vuuren at hooker in place of Fez Mbatha, who drops out of the match day 23 completely this week.

Young Corne Rahl starts alongside Eben Etzebeth in the second row, but the interesting selection is that of Le Roux Roets, the former Pumas strongman, as the second row back-up. Roets has been out injured and his physical presence could be welcomed in a Sharks pack that was bullied a bit at Loftus.

At the back there are two changes, with the two Springbok scrumhalves, Jaden Hendrikse and Grant Williams, swapping roles this week. Hendrikse started the last two games but this time around he is playing off the bench. Marnus Potgieter is back on the right wing in place of Aphiwe Dyantyi.

Hollywoodbets Sharks team: Aphelele Fassi, Marnus Potgieter, Lukhanyo Am (captain), Francois Venter, Makazole Mapimpi, Curwin Bosch, Grant Williams, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Phepsi Buthelezi, James Venter, Corne Rahl, Eben Etzebeth, Coenie Oosthuizen, Kerron van Vuuren, Ox Nche.

Replacements: Daniel Jooste, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Hanro Jacobs, Le Roux Roets, Jeandre Labuschagne, Jaden Hendrikse, Lionel Cronje, Ethan Hooker.