Sharks rotate starting XV for Crusaders

Upfront, hooker Franco Marais and prop Coenie Oosthuizen are back in the starting lineup after they played off the bench against the Bulls.

Meanwhile Cobus Reinach relieves Michael Claassens of the number 9 jersey, while the Du Preez brothers swap out at blindside flank.

There is plenty of continuity in the side, with all of the starting XV having been involved in the past few weeks of action. There is also the matter of making amends for their draw with the Bulls last weekend. Locked deeper in the minds of the Sharks will be a desire to avenge their dismal 52-10 loss to the Crusaders last year.

Director of rugby Gary Gold was adamant that last year's result has no bearing or relevance this weekend, but a win over the Canterbury outfit will do wonders for the Sharks confidence and their already impressive season.

"It's a completely different year, completely different season, new tournament and I think it is a danger to even be thinking about what happened last year. There were so many different parameters at play. We haven't given it too much thought and we certainly haven't referenced last year," Gold said. "It's irrelevant and it can only trip us up if we consider it. The only thing I would say is that we know how good they are and they deserve our respect. If you go walkabout, like we did last year, you can see what can happen to you."

With the focus firmly on this year's campaign, Gold has continued to stick by his rotation policy. With the Crusaders boasting an All Black front row, it was fitting that both Marais and Oosthuizen returned to the starting lineup for what will be a big tussle upfront.

"Last week was a rotation and if you rotate you have to stick by your word and let the other guys come back in. You can't rotate and tell the guys they're dropped a week later. They were always going to come back in, that was the plan for this weekend. It was also to give Franco and Coenie a bit of down time last week in the build up to the Bulls so that they could be a bit more fresh for this week for what is going to be an almighty battle upfront," Gold explained.

Meanwhile eighthman Philip van der Walt is rewarded for his good form with another start. It is just reward for the industrious loose forward, who has played his heart out whether from the bench or the starting lineup.

"It's reward for his form and also an element of rotating the twins. Dan started last week and Jean-Luc was out. Dan played with a niggle to his bicep and now Jean-Luc is back so we rotated them. It's also about keeping Keegan (Daniel) and Deysie (Jean Deysel) in the mix as well - they're not in the 23 but they are there and there about," Gold said.

The Sharks host the Crusaders at Growthpoint Kings Park. Kickoff is at 17h15 on Saturday.

Sharks team:

15 Willie le Roux, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Joe Pietersen, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Tendai Mtawarira (captain)

Substitutes:

16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Daniel du Preez, 21 Michael Claasens, 22 Garth April, 23 Odwa Ndungane

(File Photo: Gallo Images)

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