One Springbok leads Sharks, another ruled out of playoff against Leinster
Sharks have been forced to make changes to their match-day squad ahead of a do-or-die showdown with Leinster. Sharks duo Curwin Bosch and Lukhanyo Am. Photo: Steve Haag/Shutterstock. Neil Powell has made several injury-enforced changes, including a captaincy switch, to the Sharks lineup for Saturday’s URC quarter-final against Leinster in Dublin. VIDEO: Springboks talk ‘diversity, transformation […]
Sharks have been forced to make changes to their match-day squad ahead of a do-or-die showdown with Leinster.
Sharks duo Curwin Bosch and Lukhanyo Am. Photo: Steve Haag/Shutterstock.
Neil Powell has made several injury-enforced changes, including a captaincy switch, to the Sharks lineup for Saturday’s URC quarter-final against Leinster in Dublin.
VIDEO: Springboks talk ‘diversity, transformation and respect’
The Sharks take on Leinster in a United Rugby Championship last-eight playoff showdown at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday with the tournament heading towards its climax.
Powell, the Sharks Director of Rugby, has had his hand forced in naming a changed lineup following the loss of Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and flyhalf Curwin Bosch who sustained injuries in the final pool game against Munster at Kings Park a fortnight ago.
Lukhanyo Am takes over the captaincy in Kolisi’s absence, while James Venter replaces Kolisi in the back row.
Boeta Chamberlain moves from fullback to flyhalf to accommodate the loss of Bosch, with Aphelele Fassi starting at No 15.
In other changes, after a string of impressive performances in the Currie Cup recently, Corne Rahl returns to the side, having made his URC debut earlier in the season against Connacht. The 20-year-old is in for Jeandre Labuschagne who plays off the bench, while Marnus Potgieter replaces Werner Kok on the wing.
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WHO SAID WHAT PRE-GAME?
With Leinster having clinched the top spot and enjoying home-ground advantage, they come into this game as favourites, which is not something that really bothers Sharks lock Gerbrandt Grobler.
“No-one gives us a chance, and that’s OK, we have a job to do and we believe in it, because if you don’t believe it, you can’t achieve it,” he explained from the team’s base in Dublin. “We have nothing to lose, and we’ll be throwing everything into it.”
He is equally philosophical about his team’s underdog status.
“What do you do, no-one gives you a chance, your back is against the wall, we’ll be going for it, why not believe? Anything can happen on the day: the bounce of the ball, a decision that goes your way, we’re going out there to give our best and enjoy ourselves.”
THE SHARKS TEAM TO FRONT LEINSTER
Sharks – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Marnus Potgieter, 13 Lukhanyo Am (c), 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Gerbrant Grobler, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Jeandre Labuschagne, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Nevaldo Fleurs, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg.
