Co-captain Jaden Hendrikse partners brother Jordan at halfback as the Sharks head to Ellis Park on Friday to face the Lions in their final warm-up match.
Head coach JP Pietersen named a team showing several new faces to test different combinations and spread game time across the wider squad as preparation for the Vodacom URC campaign intensifies.
Only five players survive from last week’s 66-0 win over the SWD Eagles in George: lock Corné Rahl, co-captain Phepsi Buthelezi, utility forward Manu Tshituka, speedster Litelihle Bester and fullback Luan Giliomee.
Tshituka moves to the flank from No 8 while Litelihle Bester shifts from outside centre to the wing in place of Makazole Mapimpi.
PHEPSI: Sharks to keep teams guessing
Simphiwe Matanzima gets the nod at loosehead, joining Liam van Wyk and Hanro Jacobs in a fully reshuffled front row. Former Lions star Darrien Landsberg is the fourth new face named in the tight five.
Flanker Matt Romao comes into the back row to round out the changes made up front.
In the backline, Janco Purchase teams up with newcomer Suleiman Hartzenburg in the reshaped midfield combination, and Yaw Penxe returns on the wing to complete the rotational switches.
The Sharks begin URC 2026-27 with successive matches at Kings Park, hosting the Ospreys on 26 September before welcoming Leinster to Durban.
SHARKS – 15 Luan Giliomee, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Suleiman Hartzenburg, 12 Jaco Purchase, 11 Litelihle Bester, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse (c), 8 Manu Tshituka, 7 Matt Romao, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi (c), 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Liam van Wyk, 1 Simphiwe Matanzima.
Bench: 16 Esethu Mnebelele, 17 Phatu Ganyane, 18 Nemo Roelofse, 19 Johan Momsen, 20 Jason Jenkins, 21 Thomas Dyer, 22 Tino Mavesere, 23 Nick Hatton, 24 Ivan van Zyl, 25 Vusi Moyo, 26 Siya Masuku, 27 Khuthi Rasivhaga, 28 Zekhethelo Siyaya.
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
The post Bok playmakers link up for Sharks trip appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Co-captain Jaden Hendrikse partners brother Jordan at halfback as the Sharks head to Ellis Park on Friday to face the Lions in their final warm-up match.
The post Bok playmakers link up for Sharks trip appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
