Five Springboks return to the Sharks’ match 23 for Friday night’s URC clash against Cardiff at the Arms Park.
Centre André Esterhuizen and wingers Ethan Hooker and Edwill van der Merwe have been named in the starting XV, while props Ox Nché and Thomas du Toit are set to come off the bench.
They were rested for last Saturday’s 40-33 Investec Champions Cup win against Lyon in France.
Sharks coach JP Pietersen has made nine changes to his starting XV as the Durban-based club looks to build on that impressive away victory.
Esterhuizen resumes the captaincy from Nick Hatton and partners Jurenzo Julius in midfield, with the latter promoted from the bench in place of Suleiman Hartzenberg.
Hooker and Van der Merwe replace Lili Bester and Jaco Williams on the wings respectively, while Jaden Hendrikse and Gianni Lombard resume their halfback combination in place of Ivan van Zyl and Jordan Hendrikse.
Jason Jenkins and Emile van Heerden start in the second row with Eduan Swart taking over from Ethan Bester at hooker.
The loose trio of Manu Tshituka, Matt Romao and Hatton remains unchanged.
Along with Nché and Du Toit, the bench features the returning Vincent Tshituka and Siya Masuku, while Bester, Stephan Lewies, Van Zyl and Williams provide further cover.
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The Sharks are fifth on the URC log after opening their campaign with home wins against the Ospreys and Leinster before losing to the Stormers in Cape Town.
Cardiff are just one point behind them in sixth place, having also won two of their opening three matches.
SHARKS – 15 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 André Esterhuizen (c), 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Nick Hatton, 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Matt Romao, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Phatu Ganyane.
Bench: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Ox Nché, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Stephan Lewies, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Jaco Williams.
Photo: Cole Cruickshank/Gallo Images
The post Bok boost for Sharks in Cardiff appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Five Springboks return to the Sharks’ match 23 for Friday night’s URC clash against Cardiff at the Arms Park.
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