Sharks defence must front up against Ospreys, says Esterhuizen

Ospreys and Wales captain Jac Morgan should be available to play against the Sharks on Saturday. Picture: Huw Fairclough/Getty Images Sharks captain André Esterhuizen believes his side’s defence will have their work cut out for them in their United Rugby Championship clash with the Ospreys in Wales on Saturday night (kick-off 8.45pm). The Ospreys sit just one spot below the Sharks on the URC table, at 11th, and will have most of their Welsh internationals available, while the Durban union are still missing several Springboks.

Wales captain Jac Morgan recently returned from injury, though Dewi Lake is battling a shoulder knock. Morgan will aim to give the club just their second-ever top-eight finish before he and Lake move to Gloucester amid Welsh rugby’s uncertain future. Welsh international scrumhalf Kieran Hardy, flanker Harri Deaves, flyhalf Dan Edwards, lock Rhys Davies and No 8 Morgan Morse could all make an impact.

For the Sharks, Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth misses thetouring squaddue to a hip injury, though Siya Kolisi returns and Edwill van der Merwe, Ox Nché, Vincent Koch, Vincent Tshituka, Ethan Hooker, Jaden Hendrikse and Makazole Mapimpi could also feature. Bok centre André Esterhuizen will lead the team. He said that the Sharks need tofind consistencyafter a very up-and-down season hampered by a change in coaches.

[paywall]

“The mood in the camp is great at the moment,” Esterhuizen said as the Sharks establish themselves in Europe with Edinburgh to follow next week. “Ospreys are a tough side to play, especially there. They are a physical side that likes to move the ball around.

“We know they are going to play a lot of rugby. They’ve got a nice attacking style. We are looking forward to the challenge.” While the Sharks have only failed to reach the playoffs once, Ospreys have only reached the quarterfinals on one occasion, when they were thumped 23-7 away to Munster in 2023/24.

[/paywall]