The Hollywoodbets Sharks side to take the field on Saturday at 3pm is a Springbok-laden team that hosts Exeter Chiefs in a first round Investec Champions Cup clash at Hollywoodbets Kings Park.
Eben Etzebeth is back to lead the team against their English counterparts and the Sharks will be looking to impose themselves and a home fortress on Exeter.
“This is a very important game and we accept that we have a massive challenge ahead of us on Saturday,” loose forward Phepsi Buthelezi explained.
“We’ve prepared as best we can and look forward to it.”
The team are in a good place given recent results and will look to maintain their winning record.
“We’ve taken a lot of confidence out of our form in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship and now it’s a matter of translating that into this new competition. The nature of the tournament is a bit different, playing different teams from different countries, but it’s still a game within the four white lines and for us, we have taken a lot of confidence from our URC form and want to take that into this competition now.”
Casting his eye over Exeter, he warns that his team are in for a big test on Saturday.
“We believe that Exeter are a quality side. We’ve analysed them and they’re a really good team that likes to play with ball in hand. They’re well-coached with lots of good players.”
Hollywoodbets Sharks starting XV: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi; 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Grant Williams; 8 Siya Kolisi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter; 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Eben Etzebeth (capt); 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Dylan Richardson, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Francois Venter.
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