World Cup winning Springbok returns to start for Sharks

The Sharks are set to welcome back World Cup winning South Africa centre Lukhanyo Am for their contest against Connacht at Kings Park tomorrow in the United Rugby Championship.

While the bulk of the victorious Springboks squad are still unavailable for South African teams due to mandatory rest periods, Am has been released after not playing a game for South Africa in France. In fact, the 29-year-old was only drafted into the squad midway through the tournament after Makazole Mapimpi was ruled out with a facial injury.

Winless in their opening four matches of the season and sitting at the bottom of the URC standings, this will be the Sharks' first home match of the campaign against a Connacht side who only lost their first match last round.

Looking ahead to the match, head coach John Plumtree said: "They’re another Irish side that is pretty experienced, they have a lot of URC caps amongst the forwards, so it’s going to be a great battle for our forward pack. They play dangerously, like all the Irish teams they’re very unpredictable, we will have to break them down. Defensively, it is going to be tough.

"It’s going to be a tough challenge for us, they’re a pretty consistent side, a real threat. We’re going to have to play really well and I’m hoping our energy for this first game back home is high, and that we get a good crowd that cheers us on."

Hollywoodbets Sharks XV

1. Ntuthuko Mchunu

2. Dylan Richardson

3. Coenie Oosthuizen

4. Corne’ Rahl

5. Emile van Heerden

6. James Venter

7. Phepsi Buthelezi

8. Sikhumbuzo Notshe

9. Cameron Wright

10. Curwin Bosch

11. Aphiwe Dyantyi

12. Francois Venter (c)

13. Lukhanyo Am

14. Werner Kok

15. Aphelele Fassi

Replacements

16. Daniel Jooste

17. Dian Bleuler

18. Hanro Jacobs

19. Jeandre Labuschagne

20. Tino Mavesere

21. Zee Mkhabela

22. Boeta Chamberlain

23. Rohan Janse van Rensburg