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Beast and Coenie back in Sharks shake-up

rugby16 April 2019 13:44| © Cycle Lab
By:JJ Harmse
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Beast Mtawarira © Getty Images

The Cell C Sharks will continue with the status quo in the positions that are most under scrutiny but have five changes plus a positional switch for their Good Friday Vodacom Super Rugby clash with the Reds at Jonsson King’s Park.

As assistant coach Braam van Straaten had hinted would be the case, Curwin Bosch continues at fullback while the out of form and apparently low on confidence Robert du Preez gets a chance to resurrect himself as the starting flyhalf. Perhaps the quality of the opposition played a role in head coach Robert du Preez senior’s decision, for if you want a player to regain confidence, a home game against the Reds is the time to do it, and not in an away game in New Zealand against Crusaders or Chiefs, which is what follows for the Sharks.

The big question of course should be directed at what happens if Robert junior doesn’t recover from his mistake-ridden performance against the Jaguares, when King’s Park fans made no secret of how they felt when he left the field to allow Bosch to move to flyhalf in the second half. For if now is the right opportunity to rebuild confidence, it is probably also time to try something new.

Beast Mtawarira and Coenie Oosthuizen return to strengthen a pack that still did well in the scrums last week, while Jacques Vermeulen, perhaps only challenged by Dan du Preez for the right to be rated the best loose-forward against the Emirates Lions the previous week, is back in the No 7 jersey.

Philip van der Walt features in the positional switch, with Luke Stringer dropping out to accommodate him on the openside flank.

Perhaps the most interesting change is the one at outside centre, where Lukhanyo Am, probably because of the Springbok resting policy, takes the weekend off and is replace by Kobus van Wyk. While that call might surprise many, Van Wyk played most of his early career at No 13, and was only retreaded their by Western Province after he had starred their for the Junior Springbok team that won the 2012 Junior World Championship.

In the other change Sbu Nkosi makes a welcome return at wing. There is certainly plenty of explosiveness out wide for the Sharks and they should profit from ball being sent in that direction. The focus will be on how it is got there.

One area where the Sharks have definitely strengthened since last week is the bench. Thomas du Toit reverts to his impact role, but is joined among the forwards by Tyler Paul, who has recovered from injury, while Jean-Luc du Preez will play the same role he played last week - only with some game time behind on this occasion. Centre Marius Louw is an experienced midfield back-up.

Cell C Sharks team: Curwin Bosch, Sbu Nkosi, Kobus van Wyk, Andre Esterhuizen, Lwazi Mvovo, Robert du Preez, Louis Schreuder, Daniel du Preez, Jacques Vermeulen, Philip van der Walt, Hyron Andrews, Ruben van Heerden, Coenie Oosthuizen, Kerron van Vuuren, Tendai Mtawarira. Replacements: Fez Mbatha, Juan Schoeman, Thomas du Toit, Tyler Paul, Jean-Luc du Preez, Cameron Wright, Marius Louw, Aphelele Fassi.

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