Nonu to start on the bench for the Sharks when they face the All Blacks

The Hollywoodbets Sharks welcome the All Blacks to Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Tuesday evening (7.10pm) for an historic second tour match in South Africa, as Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry comes to Durban as part of New Zealand’s first full tour in South Africa in many years.

The eight-match tour sees the All Blacks take on the four Vodacom United Rugby Championship clubs, alongside a four-match Test series against the Springboks. The tour gets underway this evening when New Zealand faces the DHL Stormers in Cape Town.

Despite the demands on squad depth, with several players on national duty and a Carling Currie Cup campaign to negotiate, Sharks head coach JP Pietersen, has assembled an exceptionally exciting side that blends youth with vast experience, including players with Test-level credentials.

The inclusion of All Blacks legend Ma’a Nonu, who joined the team this Tuesday, has been named among the replacements and is sure to add further excitement to an already highly anticipated clash. Nick Hatton will captain the side, which features a number of players from the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ Vodacom United Rugby Championship pre-season squad.

The match also provides an opportunity to welcome back several familiar faces who have forged their names in Durban, while adding international experience to the occasion through the inclusion of players such as Nemo Roelofse, the 120kg loosehead prop, who has been plying his trade with Racing 92 in France and lock Hendre Stassen, who has also played in France with Stade Français.

Pietersen has once again embraced his philosophy that “if he’s good enough, he’s old enough”, with young stars Vusi Moyo and Zekhethelo Siyaya named in the starting XV. Rambo Kubekha, Matt Romao and Luan Giliomee are among the impact players who will look to make their mark from the bench.

For the Sharks, Tuesday’s clash represents more than simply a pre-season fixture. It is an opportunity for a new generation of Sharks players to test themselves against one of the most iconic teams in world rugby, while Durban plays host to one of the sport’s most celebrated rivalries.

All Black head coach Dave Rennie has named his team to play the Sharks at Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium in Durban on Tuesday 11 August, in the second match of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry presented by Castle Double Malt.

Bradley Slater’s All Black career is off to a whirlwind start, with the hooker flying in to join the squad just five days ago as a replacement for the injured George Bell. Slater is set to make his All Blacks debut from the bench alongside loose forward Semisi Ta'eiloa.

Meanwhile, seven players from the All Blacks team that beat the Stormers 38-21 on Friday have again been named in the 23 for this second match of the tour.

Hooker Asafo Aumua, lock Sam Darry, halfback Kyle Preston, and wing Caleb Clarke, who all came off the bench against the Stormers, will start against the Sharks. Prop Pasilio Tosi, who started in the Stormers game, will provide impact from the bench, alongside fellow prop Ollie Norris and loose forward Ethan Blackadder, who get their second bench start of the tour.

Luke Jacobson will captain the All Blacks for the first time.

“Luke is the obvious choice to captain the team against the Sharks. He is highly respected, has a great feel for the game and will lead through his actions,” Rennie said.

“Two more players will pull on the All Blacks jersey for the first time against the Sharks. On behalf of the whole squad, I want to congratulate Semisi and Bradley on achieving this very special milestone, and I know their family and friends will be incredibly proud.

“The opening match gave the players a real introduction to the way that South African teams play and the Sharks will be no different. With a short turnaround between games, today has been a big day of preparation. There is a lot of excitement in the group, with the majority of the squad about to play their first game of the tour.”

Hollywoodbets Sharks starting XV: 15 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 14 Donovan Don, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Murray Koster, 11 Litelihle Bester; 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Bradley Davids; 8 Nick Hatton (capt), 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi; 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Hendre Stassen; 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Nemo Roelofse. Replacements: 16 Liam van Wyk, 17 Rambo Kubekha, 18 Simphiwe Ngobese, 19 Vincent Tshituka, 20 Matt Romao, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Luan Giliomee, 23 Ma’a Nonu.

All Black starting XV: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Fehi Fineanganofo, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke; 10 Ruben Love, 9 Kyle Preston; 8 Luke Jacobson (capt), 7 Wallace Sititi, 6 Tupou Vaa’i; 5 Sam Darry, 4 Josh Lord; 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Ethan de Groot. Replacements: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Ethan Blackadder, 20 Semisi Ta'eiloa, 21 Cam Roigard, 22 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23 Emoni Narawa.