Sharks team starts to take shape

Curwin Bosch is at flyhalf and Aphelele Fassi at fullback in the Cell C Sharks starting team for Saturday’s final Vodacom Super Rugby warm-up fixture against the Vodacom Bulls in Ballito.

Coach Robert du Preez said on Wednesday that his starting team for the match will be a close approximation of the one that will start against the Sunwolves in the first Super Rugby match the following week. That being so, it is interesting to note that several players you would have expected to be first choices are playing off an extended bench on Saturday instead.

One of those players is Robert du Preez junior, who wore the No 10 throughout last year’s Super Rugby campaign, with Bosch playing at fullback. Du Preez was one of the frontline players rested from the team that played against the Lions in the Super Hero game against the Lions in Cape Town last Sunday, and perhaps the coach has decided to ease him back off the bench, but the selection does nonetheless give Bosch another chance to show what he can do.

Fassi is an electrifying young talent and showed great promise when introduced to top rugby in the Currie Cup last year. That followed a solid apprenticeship in the Sharks XV that contested the Supersport Challenge, where he was a regular try-scorer.

Fassi started out on the wing in 2018 but shifted to fullback for some games and reminded those who attended the Super Hero Day at Cape Town Stadium of the extra dynamic he can bring to the Sharks’ attacking game.

Springbok Andre Esterhuizen is another benched backline player you would expect to be in the starting team when at full strength. With 33 players called up for the preparation exercise in Ballito, Du Preez will have the chance to look at several options in what he describes as effectively two full matches. The action starts at 2pm.

“We have two full teams and when the game is finished on Saturday everyone involved in the pre-season would have played, thus rewarding them for the hard work they have put into this pre-season,” said Du Preez.

It is understood that the Bulls will also be close to full strength, so the first part of the game should provide a fair indication of what can be expected in the coming season.

Cell C Sharks team: Aphele Fassi, Sbu Nkosi, Lukhanyo Am, Marius Louw, Makazole Mapimpi, Curwin Bosch, Louis Schreuder, Daniel du Preez, Tyler Paul, Jacques Vermeulen, Ruan Botha, Hyron Andrews, Coenie Oosthuizen, Akker van der Merwe, Beast Mtawarira. Replacements: Juan Schoeman, Fezo Mbatha, Khutha Mchunu, Ruben van Heerden, Gideon Koegelenberg, Wian Vosloo, Luke Stringer, Phepsi Buthelezi, Cameron Wright, Robert du Preez, Lwazi Mvovo, Andre Esterhuizen, Jeremy Ward, Leolin Zas, Courtney Winnaar, Kerron van Vuuren, Grant Williams, Rhyno Smith.