1
Eben Etzebeth to captain Sharks in Challenge Cup final
By Josh Raisey
South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth will lead the Sharks in the Challenge Cup final on Friday against Gloucester in place of the injured Lukhanyo Am.
The Sharks and South Africa centre is out with a shoulder injury, so his two-time World Cup winning teammate will deputise.
Etzebeth will lead a side that only has two changes from the XV that triumphed over ASM Clermont Auvergne, with the Springbok gaining a new second row partner in Gerbrandt Grobler.
Grobler, who started on the bench against Clermont, replaces Emile van Heerden in the pack. In the backline, James Venter replaces Am, with Ethan Hooker moving into the No13 jersey.
Ox Nche starts in an all-Springboks front row in what will be his 50th appearance for the side in international competitions.
Speaking ahead of the match, the loosehead said: “The mood in the camp is pretty good, everyone is focussed. It’s a big game for us all, everyone is in tune and excited; we just want to give it our all.
“Keeping players calm and everyone focussed on what they need to do and how they can help the team; that’s our biggest task at the moment.
“This is a serious game, it means a lot to us, it’s something we haven’t done as a union and it’s going to be as big a challenge for us.
“We’re approaching it the same way: the intensity is the same because we could be the first South African team to win a European title.
“It would be an amazing reward if we did it!”
Sharks XV
15 Aphelele Fassi
14 Werner Kok
13 Ethan Hooker
12 Francois Venter
11 Makazole Mapimpi
10 Siya Masuku
9 Grant Williams
8 Phepsi Buthelezi
7 Vincent Tshituka
6 James Venter
5 Gerbrandt Grobler
4 Eben Etzebeth (c)
3 Vincent Koch
2 Bongi Mbonambi
1 Ox Nche
Replacements
16 Fez Mbatha
17 Ntuthuko Mchunu
18 Hanro Jacobs
19 Lappies Labuschagne
20 Dylan Richardson
21 Cameron Wright
22 Curwin Bosch
23 Eduan Keyter
Trending on RugbyPass
2
All Blacks XV player ratings vs Munster
3
Suaalii strikes awe as Wallabies lose midfielder
4
Scott Robertson responds about handling errors
5
Latest Comments
I think we need to get innovative with the new laws.
Now red cards are only 20 minutes, Razor should send Finau on a head hunting mission to hospitalise their 10 with a shoulder to the chops.
Give the conspiracy theorists a win.
Go to commentsEngland played well enough to win but couldnt score when they needed to and couldnt defend a couple of X-Factor moments from Telea which was ultimately the difference. They needed to hold the ball more and make the AB's make more tackles. Territorially they were good for the first 60. Defending their lead and playing pragmatic rugby in the last 20 was silly. The AB's always had the potential to come back. England still have a long way to go, definite progress would have been shown had they won but it seems they are still stuck where they were shortly after the six nations and their tour to NZ
Go to comments