Rhyno Smith will start against his former team for Benetton at Kings Park on Saturday.
Smith represented the Sharks from 2016 to 2019 before moving to the Cheetahs, and has since established himself in Italy following his switch to Benetton in 2021. He has made 83 appearances for the Treviso-based club.
The 33-year-old is named at fullback for the Vodacom URC clash in Durban, with Louis Lynagh returning on the right wing and Ignacio Mendy on the left.
In midfield, Tommaso Menoncello continues at outside centre, with Leonardo Marin coming into the starting lineup alongside him. Jacob Umaga starts at flyhalf, while Alessandro Garbisi partners him at scrumhalf and will captain the side.
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Up front, Benetton have made several changes.
Destiny Aminu starts at loosehead prop, with Bautista Bernasconi at hooker and Marcos Gallorini returning at tighthead. In the second row, Niccolò Cannone captains the side alongside Giulio Marini.
Riccardo Favretto shifts to blindside flank, joining Alessandro Izekor, while Lorenzo Cannone continues at No 8.
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The 10th-placed Sharks and 13th-placed Benetton are both out of playoff contention heading into the penultimate round of the league phase.
BENETTON – 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Leonardo Marin, 11 Ignacio Mendy, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Alessandro Garbisi, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Alessandro Izekor, 6 Riccardo Favretto, 5 Giulio Marini, 4 Niccolò Cannone (c), 3 Marcos Gallorini, 2 Bautista Bernasconi, 1 Destiny Aminu.
Bench: 16 Nicholas Gasperini, 17 Ivan Nemer, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Mattia Midena, 20 So’otala Fa’aso’o, 21 Federico Ruzza, 22 Andy Uren, 23 Federico Zanandrea.
Photo: Darren Stewart/INPHO
The post Sharks face familiar threat appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Rhyno Smith will start against his former team for Benetton at Kings Park on Saturday.
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