Ten Springboks in the starting team and three on the bench. That’s the fire-power the Sharks possess for their United Rugby Championship clash with Scarlets in Wales on Saturday.
Sharks boss Neil Powell has picked his strongest team for thee match, which pits the seventh-placed Sharks against the 14th-placed Scarlets.
Bok stars
All of the Sharks’ available Springboks will be in action, following several weeks out attending a national training camp ahead of the international Test season.
The Sharks will push a Bok-studded front row in Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi and Thomas du Toit into action, with Eben Etzebeth packing down in the second row and captain Siya Kolisi in the back row.
At the back, Jaden Hendrikse will partner Curwin Bosch as the halfback pairing, while the midfield will consist of Rohan Janse van Rensburg and Lukhanyo Am. Makazole Mapimpi, on the wing, completes the Boks in thee starting XV.
Also, Nthuthuko Mchunu, Sikhumbuzo Notshe and Grant Williams are the three Boks on the bench.
A win by the Sharks and a defeat by the sixth-placed Bulls, who face Ulster on Saturday, will see the sides change places on the URC points table.
After this weekend’s match the Sharks also face Benetton and Munster in the URC, with both matches at home, but next weekend they take on Munster as well in the Champions Cup.
Sharks: Boeta Chamberlain, Werner Kok, Lukhanyo Am, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Makazole Mapimpi, Curwin Bosch, Jaden Hendrikse, Phepsi Buthulezi, Vincent Tshituka, Siya Kolisi (capt), Emile van Heerden, Eben Etzebeth, Thomas du Toit, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche. Bench: Kerron van Vuuren, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Carlü Sadie, Gerbrandt Grobler, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Grant Williams, Ben Tapuai, Thaakir Abrahams
