Sharks coach JP Pietersen has named his strongest available starting XV to take on the Stormers in a coastal derby at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.
Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nché and Ethan Hooker have been promoted from the bench to the starting XV as Pietersen responds to John Dobson stacking his Stormers side with returning Springboks.
MORE: Cape Town a battlefield for the ‘meneer’
The Durban side head to Cape Town for their first away match of the URC season on the back of two straight home wins at Kings Park. Etzebeth packs down in the second row alongside Darrien Landsberg, Nché starts at loosehead prop and Hooker moves onto the left wing. André Esterhuizen captains the side from inside centre.
The skipper again combines with the exciting Jurenzo Julius in midfield, while Zekhethelo Siyaya and Edwill van der Merwe join Hooker in the back three. Jaden Hendrikse and Vusi Moyo continue their successful halfback partnership.
Matt Ramao is rewarded with a start in a reshuffled loose trio. Manu Tshituka is the other flank, with Phepsi Buthelezi shifting to No 8 in place of Nick Hatton, who drops down to the bench. Thomas du Toit shifts back to tighthead prop to make room for Nché and Eduan Swart will anchor the scrum.
POLL: Who will win SA URC derbies?
SHARKS – 15 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 André Esterhuizen (c), 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Matt Romao, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Ox Nché.
Bench: 16 Esethu Mnebelele, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Stephan Lewies, 21 Nick Hatton, 22 Ivan van Zyl, 23 Gianni Lombard.
The news you have been waiting for
The Hollywoodbets Sharks are locked in for Saturday’s coastal derby against the DHL Stormers in Cape Town
Andre Esterhuizen captains the side as the Sharks go in search of a third straight @Vodacom #URC win.
DHL Stadium
… https://t.co/aXPbUXX5yh
— Sharks Rugby Club (@SharksRugby) October 8, 2026
The post Bok trio start for Sharks appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Sharks coach JP Pietersen has named his strongest available starting XV to take on the Stormers in a coastal derby at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.
The post Bok trio start for Sharks appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
