Eben Etzebeth will spearhead the Sharks' URC European Tour, where they will play against Edinburgh and Ulster. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
Timing can be everything in life, and the Sharks have it on their side after John Plumtree named by far his strongest squad of the year for a vital overseas tour to Edinburgh and Ulster.
The United Rugby Championship (URC) has four rounds to go before the Top 8 sides in the 16-team competition go through to the play-offs. There is jostling for position from every side apart from runaway log leaders Leinster, and the Sharks now have an ominously powerful team to negotiate the tense business end to the competition.
The returning Springbok quartet of Eben Etzebeth, Aphelele Fassi, Lukhanyo Am, and Grant Williams is a godsend for Plumtree and will spearhead the Sharks’ surge toward the playoffs.
Etzebeth, the great warrior of Springbok rugby, has not played for four months but has been training for some time. A player of his stature will get straight back on the horse.
Rust will be minimal as he anchors a fearsome tight five with probably Jason Jenkins (Gerbrandt Grobler picked up an injury in the Challenge Cup loss to Lyon), and a front row of Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, and Vincent Koch. That would be an all-Springbok tight five, with fellow Boks Ntuthuko Mchunu and Ruan Dreyer on the bench.
It is likely that the pack to start against Edinburgh on Friday night will be completed by a loose-trio of Siya Kolisi at No 8, and Vincent Tshituka and Phepsi Buthulezi on the flanks. Of that forward combination, only Tshituka has not been capped for South Africa.
It is a similar story in the backline. Jaden Hendrikse will likely start, and fellow Bok Grant Williams will be the supersub; the starting flyhalf will probably be Jordan Hendrikse, with Siya Masuku the backup.
The starting midfield is likely to be Andre Esterhuizen and Jurenzo Julius, with Am playing off the bench. The wing berths will almost certainly be occupied by Ethan Hooker and Makazole Mapimpi, and Fassi makes a welcome return at fullback.
Youngsters Hooker and Julius would be the only players in that backline uncapped by the Springboks.
The bulk of the 18-man squad did not travel to Lyon for the Challenge Cup match and have been preparing for Edinburgh and, the following week, Ulster in Belfast.
There can be no excuses from this Sharks squad. They have a rich pedigree, vast experience, exciting youth, and are fresh.
This tour represents an important juncture in the Sharks’ campaign as they look to wrestle precious log points away from home against two sides who are still well in the running for a top four finish (Ulster are currently sixth, while Edinburgh lie in eighth place).
With everything to play for, and the possibility that a couple of external results could go their way, every point they collect before the quarter-finals inches them closer to a home quarter-final, and possibly even a home semi-final.
Forwards: Bongi Mbonambi, Eben Etzebeth, Emile van Heerden, Ethan Bester, Fez Mbatha, Hanro Jacobs, James Venter, Jason Jenkins, Emanuel Tshituka, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Ox Nche, Phepsi Buthelezi, Ruan Dreyer, Siya Kolisi, Vincent Koch, Vincent Tshituka.
Backs: Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Bradley Davids, Ethan Hooker, Grant Williams, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Jurenzo Julius, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, Siya Masuku, Yaw Penxe
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