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Mixed Lions injury update on McCarthy, Smith, Hansen and Graham
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Plumtree packs 8 Boks into Sharks team for URC clash with Stormers
By Simon Thomas
Having beaten Glasgow and Munster in the last two rounds, the Sharks will be looking to complete a hat-trick of victories over URC champions when they take on the Stormers in front of an expected 20,000-plus crowd in Durban.
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Coach John Plumtree has certainly shown his intent by packing his team with Springboks.
Skipper Siya Kolisi, Aphelele Fassi, Vincent Koch and Jaden Hendrikse all start just a week on from figuring in South Africa’s big win over Wales in Cardiff, while fellow ‘Bok stars Makazole Mapimpi, Lukhanyo Am, Ox Nche and Andre Esterhuizen are also drafted into the team.
Plumtree said: “With the Springboks coming back to us, the challenge is integrating them as quickly as we can.
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“It’s how we keep the plan simple, make sure everyone understands it and that we are pretty clear on what we are trying to do going into the Stormers.
“They are a really good team. They have been a top side in the URC over the last three years, so we know it’s going to be a massive challenge for us.”
He added: “The squad understands the game model we are trying to play. We saw that against Glasgow and Munster.
“When we get the momentum that we need, we are a pretty tough team to stop, especially at home.
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“I think it’s really important we do well at home and create an environment where we are really hard to beat here. That’s certainly something we have talked about as a team.”
The Stormers welcome back Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezelu at No 10 as he makes his first appearance of the season following knee surgery, while fellow Springbok Manie Libbok provides fly-half cover on the bench.
Coach John Dobson said: “These South African derbies are always big occasions and this is a great opportunity for us to show what we are all about and rise to the challenge we will face in Durban.”
Hollywoodbets Sharks: Aphelele Fassi, Ethan Hooker, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi, Siya Masuku, Jaden Hendrikse, Ox Nche, Dylan Richardson, Vincent Koch, Jason Jenkins, Gerbrandt Grobler, James Venter, Vincent Tshituka, Siya Kolisi (CAPT)
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Replacements: Ethan Bester, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Trevor Nyakane, Corne Rahl, Phepsi Buthelezi, Emmanuel Tshituka, Grant Williams, Jordan Hendrikse
DHL Stormers: Warrick Gelant, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Ruhan Nel, Dan du Plessis (CAPT), Leolin Zas, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Herschel Jantjies, Ali Vermaak, Joseph Dweba, Neethling Fouche, JD Schickerling, Ruben van Heerden, Dave Ewers, Ben-Jason Dixon, Marcel Theunissen
Replacements: Andre-Hugo Venter, Brok Harris, Sazi Sandi, Adre Smith, Keke Morabe, Louw Nel, Stefan Ungerer, Manie Libbok
