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Bosch to flyhalf as Sharks ring the changes

rugby25 April 2019 09:37| © Cycle Lab
By:JJ Harmse
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Curwin Bosch © Gallo Images

Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira has been installed as captain of a Cell C Sharks team that features six changes for the opening Vodacom Super Rugby tour game against the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday.

The headline change is the long awaited one at flyhalf, with Curwin Bosch being given a chance to wear the No 10 jersey, while Robert du Preez junior drops to the bench. Bosch hasn’t started at flyhalf in Super Rugby since Du Preez moved back to Durban from the Cape at the start of last year.

Regular skipper Louis Schreuder is being rotated this week so the Sharks will start with a completely new halfback pairing. Cameron Wright, who looked threatening when he came on as a replacement in the second half of the loss to the Reds last week, wears the No 9 this time, with Schreuder playing off the bench.

Springbok Lukhanyo Am is back in the midfield after being rested for the Good Friday clash, with Kobus van Wyk dropping out of the playing squad. Makazole Mapimpi returns to the team on the wing in place of Lwazi Mvovo.

The rest of the changes are to the pack: Thomas du Toit swops places with Coenie Oosthuizen, with Oosthuizen reverting to the bench, while Jean-Luc du Preez makes his return to the starting team on the blindside flank in place of Jacques Vermeulen. Vermeulen will play off what can be considered a strong Sharks bench.

Among the replacements this week are last year’s captain Ruan Botha, who is back from an injury enforced absence that extends back to the third round clash with his former team, the Stormers, and Akker van der Merwe. The latter has now completed the suspension he incurred for his dust-up with Schalk Brits in the home game against the Bulls.

The team does have a strong look to it, particularly with the injection of experience to the bench.

"The plan was to rotate and make changes to the team, we need to make sure that everyone is engaged on this tour. We have a 27-man squad and it’s important that every single player feels that they have an opportunity to play and to contribute,” explained head coach Robert du Preez.

"There are a few players in our squad who have played a lot of games and we have been resting some in the last few weeks. There are a couple of guys who have played 80-minute games and we’re looking at managing their practice and more specifically game-time appropriately."

Cell C Sharks team: Aphelele Fassi, Sbu Nkosi, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi, Curwin Bosch, Cameron Wright, Daniel du Preez, Jean-Luc du Preez, Philip van der Walt, Hyron Andrews, Ruben van Heerden, Thomas du Toit, Kerron van Vuuren, Tendai Mtawarira (captain).

Replacements: Akker van der Merwe, Mzamo Majola, Coenie Oosthuizen, Ruan Botha, Jacques Vermeulen, Louis Schreuder, Robert du Preez, Marius Louw

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