Sharks change a few for Stormers outing
With the news of an injury to Sikhumbuzo Notshe, the Cell C Sharks have made one injury enforced change, and two rotational switches, for their Rainbow Cup SA clash with the Stormers this Saturday.
In the big change, Thembelani Bholi comes into the side to start on the flank while Henco Venter shifts to number eight for the fixture against the side from Cape Town that picked up their first win of the competition over the weekend.
Coach Sean Everitt is rewarding the hard work of Bholi with a well-deserved start.
"(He is) a guy (Bholi) that has trained really hard over the last few weeks and really deserves a start this week," Everitt said. "As far as his attitude is concerned he brings physicality to the loose trio.
"JJ (Van der Mescht) played in the first game and we thought that he could do some extra work around his conditioning and that would make him better.
"He's certainly benefitted from that and is in great nick at the moment."
The other change for the Sharks comes in the midfield where Marius Louw comes into the side in place of Jeremy Ward.
"Marius got injured at the end of the Preparation Series so hasn't been up for selection so we want to get him up and running.
"With him you get a high work-rate and a different energy to Jeremy (Ward) where his second efforts at the breakdown are really good and his breakdown work is outstanding.
"For us it's great that Marius is back after quite a serious injury," Everitt added.
There will be a final to the whole Rainbow Cup competition where the winner of the Rainbow Cup SA will face the Pro14 Rainbow Cup winners in Europe.
Everitt believes that any final is significant and winning it is the ultimate goal.
"Everyone wants to play in a final and what a great experience it will be to travel to Europe to play the best they have to offer.
"It will be great for us especially going into a European competition later in the year and gives us a bit of a measure of where we are at going into that competition.
"I felt we were unlucky not to win the Currie Cup final and it will be just reward to finish on top of the log in the Rainbow Cup SA."
There is just one change on the bench for the Sharks with Ruben van Heerden replacing Le Roux Roets.
Cell C Sharks
1. Ox Nche, 2. Fez Mbatha, 3. Thomas du Toit, 4. JJ van der Mescht, 5. Reniel Hugo, 6. Siya Kolisi, 7. Thembelani Bholi, 8. Henco Venter, 9. Jaden Hendrikse, 10. Curwin Bosch, 11. Yaw Penxe, 12. Marius Louw, 13. Lukhanyo Am (C), 14. Sbu Nkosi, 15. Aphelele Fassi,
Replacements
16. Kerron van Vuuren, 17. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18. Wiehahn Herbst, 19. Ruben van Heerden, 20. Phepsi Buthelezi, 21. Sanele Nohamba, 22. Manie Libbok, 23. Werner Kok
