Whitehead starts at No 10 for the Sharks against Connacht

Vodacom United Rugby Championship action returns this week after a month-long international break with the Hollywoodbets Sharks taking on Connacht in Galway, Ireland, on Saturday evening.

With the Springboks taking on Wales earlier, the Sharks have had to make do without most of their internationals, although the bench is boosted by the inclusion of Grant Williams who has been released from national duty. There is also a new face, with Suzuki Griquas stalwart George Whitehead drafted in at flyhalf where he starts this weekend’s game.

Captain Vincent Tshituka is excited for what lies ahead and explains that, “We’ve been able to prepare well for this challenge against Connacht, the guys have put in a lot of hard work and there’s been a good, positive vibe going in to this game.

“The past few weeks have been about connecting with the team, it’s been a tough start to the season, not one we wanted but the only way to build is to bounce back together and put in the hard work, which is exactly what we’ve done. We hope we get to reap those results as well.

“Team connection has been a massive part of the last few weeks for us, connecting on and off the field, connecting as individuals and it’s been working, the guys are in a really good space.”

Looking at the opposition, he admits that, “Connacht is a quality side and extremely hard team to beat, especially at home. Although they haven’t had the start to the season they would have liked, we’re under no illusion that they are quality. That will inspire them to create a spark that turns the season around for them and we know exactly what we’re facing.

“But we’ve worked hard on our preparation over the last few weeks and it’s about putting it together as a team, coming with a solid plan against them and as a team, we’re really excited for the challenge.”

Playing their rugby out of the 6 126-seater Sportsground stadium, Connacht’s rugby base is smaller than the other three franchises, drawing from only 8% of the total Irish population.

Founded 140 years ago in 1885, Connacht joined Leinster, Ulster and Munster 10 years after the trio’s establishments as provincial unions and while the smaller cousin to the three big Irish provinces was always competitive, they battled in the big competitions like the Heineken and Challenge Cups.

Big upsets were scored, including a shock defeat of Toulouse in France in 2013, while the 2015/16 season produced real fireworks, defeating Leinster 20-10 in the Pro12 final to hand them their first major title.

The team finished in 13th position on the VURC log last year, their worst year since 2021/22 when the South African teams were included in the competition and they finished 12th. In 2022/23 they finished in seventh place – their highest finish and in 2023/24 finished 11th.

Notably players include Bundee Aki, who represented Ireland in last weekend’s loss to the Springboks and New Zealand’s Josh Ioane. The team is captained by Cian Prendergast, brother of flyhalf Sam who he played alongside in the weekend Test match against the Boks.

Galway, located on the Atlantic coast, is often wet and windy and opposition teams find their home ground – the Dexcom Stadium – an inhospitable place to play rugby. Indeed Saturday’s game will be played in near-freezing conditions, the weatherman predicting temperatures between 3°C and 9°C on the day.

Although the city does not experience temperature extremes, the highest temperature ever recorded in Galway was 31.7°C in July 1921, a far cry from Durban in the summer!

Spelt ‘Gaillimh’ in Irish, the 85 000 residents that call Galway home are known as Galwegians. Although the city was settled earlier, the area grew under the King of Connacht, Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair in 1124.

By 1484, the walled city was controlled by merchant families, known as The Tribes of Galway, and the city’s nickname – ‘City of the Tribes’ – reflects that now.

The city embraces culture significantly, hosting the Galway International Arts Festival which was established in 1978 and runs annually for two weeks in July where artists representing theatre, music, visual arts, opera, street spectacle, dance, discussion and comedy are showcased.

Ireland’s Cultural Heart, Galway was named the European Region of Gastronomy in 2018 and the European Capital of Culture for 2020.

Hollywoodbets Sharks starting XV: 15 Jordan Hendrikse, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Makazole Mapimpi; 10 George Whitehead, 9 Jaden Hendrikse; 8 Emmanuel Tshituka, 7 Vincent Tshituka (capt), 6 Matt Romao; 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jason Jenkins; 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Phatu Ganyane. Replacements: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Emile van Heerden, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Le Roux Malan, 23 Hakeem Kunene.

SATURDAY

Connacht Rugby v Hollywoodbets Sharks

Dexcom Stadium, Galway – KO 7.45pm IRE & UK/8.45pm ITA/9.45pm SA

Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU, 14th league game)

AR 1: Andrew Brace (IRFU) AR 2: Jack MacNeice (IRFU)

TMO: Keith David (WRU)

Live on: TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv