Sharks team for Lions clash
Butch James will play his first game for The Sharks after battling a knee injury, having been named at flyhalf for Friday evening’s SA Franchise Challenge match against the MTN Golden Lions at Ellis Park.
Dale Chadwick also returns to action after overcoming a severe ankle injury, he will partner Kyle Cooper and Wiehahn Herbst in a fairly young front row missing the likes of Jannie and Bismarck du Plessis and Beast Mtawarira to the Springboks.
The Sharks have brought in Griquas lock Edwin Hewitt to shore up a shortfall in the lock department where he will partner with Jandre Marais in the second row.
The familiar faces of captain Keegan Daniel, Jean Deysel and Lubabalo Mtembu form the loose-forward trio with scrumhalf Charl McLeod partnering James behind the scrum.
The backline is a mix of youth and experience, Sean Robinson and Odwa Ndungane on the wings, Heimar Williams getting his first start for The Sharks where he will partner Louis Ludik (also back from injury) in the midfield and Riaan Viljoen providing the last line of defence at fullback.
The reserves bench sees Cobus Reinach named, another welcome returnee back from injury, with Fred Zeilinga and Tyler Fisher providing backline support and Monde Hadebe, Allan Dell, Brynard Stander and Khaya Majola making up the rest of the substitutes.
(File Photo: Gallo Images)
Mak Dlamini
Twitter - @ECRSportswave - @Mak Dlamini