Five changes for Sharks against Edinburgh

Hollywoodbets Sharks coach John Plumtree has made five changes to his starting team for Saturday’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash with Edinburgh in Durban.

Usually the dictum that “you don’t change what isn’t broken” comes into play after a good win, which last week’s 22-12 triumph over Ulster was, but two of those changes see World Cup-winning Springboks coming into the starting team. Ox Nche and Vincent Koch will be wearing single digits on their backs this week after playing off the bench against Edinburgh.

Of course, the Sharks are also laying a heavy emphasis on the EPCR Challenge Cup, which looks their only likely route at this point into next season’s Investec Challenge Cup, which may explain why Gerbrandt Grobler misses out this week, with Emile van Heerden coming in as Eben Etzebeth’s lock partner. Corne Rahl continues his impressive development as a star of the future from the bench.

Speaking of stars of the future, it might be a little surprising to some to see Ethan Hooker, the 21-year-old centre who was man of the match last weekend, playing this game off the bench, with Francois Venter starting in the No 12 jersey alongside skipper Lukhanyo Am.

Of course, these days rugby matches are contested by squads of 23 rather than teams of 15 so this move could be explained around a need to strengthen the bench.

The only other change at the back sees the injured Eduan Keyter being replaced by Ulster-bound Werner Kok on the right wing, while James Venter returns at openside flank to enable Phepsi Buthelezi to start this week in the No 8 position he played for 78 minutes against Ulster due to the injury to George Cronje.

Team: Aphelele Fassi, Werner Kok, Lukhanyo Am, Francois Venter, Makazole Mapimpi, Siya Masuka, Jaden Hendrikse, Phepsi Buthelezi, James Venter, Vincent Tshituka, Emile van Heerden, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche.

Replacements: Dan Jooste, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Hanro Jacobs, Corne Rahl, Jeandre Labuschagne, Cameron Wright, Curwin Bosch, Ethan Hooker.