Sharks name side heavy with forgotten Boks

The Sharks host the Toyota Free State Cheetahs and they’ve named a side heavy with forgotten Springboks.

Head coach Sean Everitt has made four changes to last week’s side, two each amongst the forwards and backs.

Out of favour Springboks Curwin Bosch, Coenie Oosthuizen, Curwin Bosch, Lwazi Mvovo and JP Pietersen have all been named in the team.

Upfront, Mzamo Majola comes in for Juan Schoeman at loosehead prop while Luke Stringer makes way for Jacques Vermeulen in the other change to the pack.

Amongst the backs, Aphelele Fassi takes over the fullback jersey from Rhyno Smith while Sanele Nohamba will start at scrumhalf with Cameron wright playing off the bench.

Looking ahead to this weekend’s match against Free State, there are some lessons that will have been taken onboard after the loss to the Pumas.

“It was a game of two halves, the wheels fell off the bus a bit because we lacked composure in the second half and while we’ve spoken about an 80-minute performance, we didn’t pull it through,” explains Cell C Sharks scrumhalf Cameron Wright.

“I don’t think there is any questioning our effort, that was there but perhaps we were a bit over-eager, throwing off-loads and 50-50 passes where it wasn’t necessarily on. From a physicality perspective I think we are up there, we have a physical side and we pride ourselves on that, it’s something we back ourselves on.”

With three matches of the pool stages remaining, it’s vital that the Cell C Sharks pick up a victory this weekend.

“We want to win every game, that’s our goal and that should be the mindset. Other teams have done us a few favours – the Blue Bulls and Western Province going down – and kept the Currie Cup quite open. But we definitely have to win, we want to win all three – that’s a non-negotiable – and we need to win all three.

After Free State lost narrowly last week, Wright expects a backlash this weekend.

“They are hurting a bit and we expect them to come hard at us, particularly early on. They like to play an expansive style of play married with physicality, so if we can match them, I think we’re in for a good shot.”

Cell C Sharks

1.Mzamo Majola
2.Kerron van Vuuren
3.Coenie Oosthuizen
4.Ruben van Heerden
5.Hyron Andrews
6.Phepsi Buthelezi
7.Jacques Vermeulen
8.Tera Mtembu (co-captain)
9.Sanele Nohamba
10.Curwin Bosch
11.Lwazi Mvovo
12.Jeremy Ward (co-captain)
13.JP Pietersen
14.Kobus van Wyk
15.Aphelele Fassi

Replacements

16.Craig Burden
17.Juan Schoeman
18.John-Hubert Meyer
19.Gideon Koegelenberg
20.Evan Roos*
21.Cameron Wright
22.Marius Louw
23.Rhyno Smith