Fresh Sharks ready for Bulls URC knock-out challenge
After some recovery time following their trip to Ireland, the Cell C Sharks have made just one change to their starting line-up for their Vodacom United Rugby Championship quarter-final against the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus on Saturday.
The change comes in the second row where Le Roux Roets returns to the line-up after he missed the trip to Ireland for the birth of his child. He comes in for Ruben van Heerden who shifts to the bench.
Coach Sean Everitt is excited to have Roets back in the starting XV following some strong performances for the Sharks in the competition.
“Le Roux was playing really good rugby before he missed the trip to Ireland,” Everitt said. “He has been our first-choice number four lock and after the birth of his baby girl he was up for selection and it made sense to get him back in the side.”
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The Sharks finished a single point behind the Bulls
on the overall table and beat the Pretoria-based side twice in the competition,
however Everitt believes they will be underdogs when they take to the pitch on
the Highveld on Saturday.
“The underdog tag suits us, and the guys are very motivated by it.”
Everitt also understands that the branding might be appropriate given the Bulls record on their home patch.
“We know that the Bulls are really good at home but fortunately we have had success there in the tournament and the guys aren’t too daunted by it.
“Obviously we lost our last game in Ireland but that doesn’t make us a bad team and we will take a lot of confidence from our performances in the competition into this match.”
With World Cup winners strewn all over the park and one shot to qualify for the semi-finals, Everitt seems confident that his big-game players will guide the team well.
“It’s important that you enjoy the privilege of being in a knock-out game especially one in the URC which is probably one of the best competitions in the world.
“The calmness around the team needs to be felt throughout the side, and the guys that we have in our group that have World Cup play-off experience certainly helps.”
Cell C Sharks
1. Ox Nche, 2. Bongi Mbonambi, 3. Thomas du Toit (c), 4. Le Roux Roets, 5. Reniel Hugo, 6. Siya Kolisi, 7. Henco Venter, 8. Phepsi Buthelezi, 9. Jaden Hendrikse, 10. Curwin Bosch, 11. akazole Mapimpi, 12. Marius Louw, 13. Lukhanyo Am, 14. Werner Kok, 15. Aphelele Fassi.
Replacements
16. Kerron van Vurren, 17. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18. Khutha Mchunu, 19. Ruben van Heerden, 20. Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21. Grant Williams, 22. Boeta Chamberlain, 23. Ben Tapuai.
