Ox Nché and Fez Mbatha return to the Sharks starting XV. Picture: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images The Sharks have overhauled the starting front row and rotated their loose forwards for their return United Rugby Championship derby against the Stormers on Saturday. The sides meet at Kings Park at 5pm after the Durban sideupset the Stormers 30-19in Cape Town last week.
The Sharks’new front row includes Ox Nché, Fez Mbatha and Hanro Jacobs, while lock Corné Rahl starts ahead of Jason Jenkins, who has been listed amongst the replacements. Phepsi Buthelezi remains the only loose-forward who started last week. He’s joined by Springboks Siya Kolisi and Vincent Tshituka, who both played off the bench before.
The backline sees Grant Williams starting ahead of Jaden Hendrikse, the pair swopping jerseys. Edwill van der Merwe replaces Yaw Penxe on the wing as the final change to the starting XV. Captain André Esterhuizen acknowledged that despite last week’s bonus point victory, the Sharks are not getting ahead of themselves as they focus on this second match against theircoastal rivals.
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“We have a lot to improve on, we are working hard, but to know there is so much improvement ahead of us after the win last weekend is a good sign that we are on the right path,” he admitted. “Last week was a tough and brutal game, but that’s aSouth African derbyand you have to get up for everyone. We’re all in the right mindset, knowing that we can’t just give a once-off performance like that, we must back it up this weekend again.”
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