Sharks ring changes for EPCR Challenge Cup debut
The Hollywoodbets Sharks have been bolstered by the return
of some of their players back from injury as they venture into their first
foray of EPCR Challenge Cup action this weekend, hosting Section Paloise at
Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday afternoon.
In changes from last week’s side, Ox Nche starts, swapping jerseys with Ntuthuko Mchunu who has carried a heavy workload over the past two months while Kerron van Vuuren returns at hooker.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks’ second row stocks are up with the return of Le Roux Roets to the team after long-term injury, where the big imposing player will add value off the bench.
The loose forward trio of James Venter, Phepsi Buthelezi and Sikhumbuzo Notshe remains in place, while the Springbok scrumhalf duo of Grant Williams and Jaden Hendrikse swap jerseys. In the final change, Marnus Potgieter returns to action in place of Aphiwe Dyantyi on the wing.
Three pools of six teams make up the 18 team tournament that culminates in the final on Friday 24 May, taking place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Pool A comprises the Hollywoodbets Sharks and Toyota Cheetahs from South Africa, Section Paloise.
And Oyonnax (France), Dragons RFC (Wales) and Zebre Parma (Italy) taking on one another during December and January, before the knock-outs starts in April and the tournament climax scheduled for the next month.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks opponents’, Section Paloise, also known as Section or Pau, are a professional rugby club based in Pau, France, based in the Pyrenees-Atlantiques (an old royal city).
Hollywoodbets Sharks
1 Ox Nche, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Corne Rahl, 6 James Venter, 7 Phepsi Buthelezi, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 9 Grant Williams, 10 Curwin Bosch, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 12 Francois Venter, 13 Lukhanyo Am (c), 14 Marnus Potgieter, 15 Aphelele Fassi.
Replacements
16 Daniel Jooste, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Le Roux Roets, 20 Jeandre (Lappies) Labuschagne, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Lionel Cronje, 23 Ethan Hooker.
