The Hollywoodbets Sharks team to play Glasgow Warriors at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday (3.45pm SAST) has been bolstered by the return of a number of Springboks for this first Vodacom United Rugby Championship home game of the campaign.
Five Springboks forwards, including a Springbok front row and three more in the backline, underline the threat the Durban side hope to impose on their Scottish visitors.
Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi and Vincent Koch form an all-international front row, with the most capped-ever Bok Eben Etzebeth packing in behind them, where he partners with Emile van Heerden in the second row. Etzebeth will also captain the side.
Back from his stint in France is Siya Kolisi, once again wearing the Black & White colours of the Sharks with pride. The Springbok captain will link up with fellow loose-forwards Emmanuel Tshituka and Phepsi Buthelezi.
Former Glenwood Boys High scholars Jaden and Jordan Hendrikse feature as the halfback pairing, while Makazole Mapimpi is back from his Bok duties, along with Lukhanyo Am and Aphelele Fassi who all add experience, skill and rugby ability to the side in this crucial game.
The Sharks will require every possible bit of bite in their arsenal as they take on second on the log Glasgow who have won three of their four fixtures, the only loss taking place in round one, away to Ulster and then going down by a solitary point.
The reigning champions present formidable opposition but this is a Sharks side with big ambitions and this is a match they know is vital to their campaign aims.
Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith said: “To play a Sharks side containing 12 Springboks coming off a Rugby Championship win is a daunting task and one that will be a big opportunity for us to measure ourselves against. The levels of experience in the Sharks squad are near-unmatched in the BKT URC and is a hallmark of the quality they have available. It’s a chance to test ourselves against the world’s best at one of the toughest venues in the competition.”
Hollywoodbets Sharks starting XV: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi; 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse; 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 Siya Kolisi; 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Eben Etzebeth (capt); 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 James Venter, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Jurenzo Julius.
Glasgow Warriors starting XV: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Stafford McDowall, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (capt), 11 Kyle Rowe; 10 Tom Jordan, 9 George Horne; 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson; 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Max Williamson; 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Gregor Hiddleston, 1 Nathan McBeth. Replacements: 16 Johnny Matthews, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Alex Samuel, 20 Gregor Brown, 21 Henco Venter, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Adam Hastings.
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