The Cell C Sharks are back at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday when they host the DHL Stormers in what should be another intense Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash between two old rivals.
VURC action reverts to round one – but just for this week – as the original match, back in September last year, was postponed due to a scheduling conflict.
The coastal derby, featuring the two South African teams looks to offer every bit of drama we’ve come to expect when these two teams meet.
Springbok resting protocols – to manage the country’s top players in this Rugby World Cup year – have necessitated a number of changes in recent weeks, including Saturday’s match.
Cell C Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell has made two changes to the front row, Ntuthuko Mchunu replacing Ox Nche and Carlü Sadie coming in for Thomas du Toit with the rest of the pack that served the team so well last week remaining in place.
Cameron Wright gets a start at scrumhalf for the injured Grant Williams while Rohan Janse van Rensburg is back in the side, playing at centre with Ben Tapuai shifting to outside centre in place of Francois Venter.
Cell C Sharks fullback Aphelele Fassi and Man of the Match in last week’s defeat of Edinburgh said that his team is in a good space ahead of this big home match.
“We’ve taken a lot of energy out of that game,” he admitted. “There was massive character shown by the boys and we’re very proud of that. I could see on the training pitch this week that there’s a lot of belief and energy in the group. From a defensive point of view, that win was a positive from us and it’s something we want to continue to grow.”
Of the Stormers, he acknowledged the huge challenge that lies ahead against the defending champs.
“Coastal derbies are always special, we know the style of play they want to play, we know the threats they bring in terms of the breakdown, the set-piece and going forward in terms of our plan is to just match that and take the opportunities we’ve identified. And being clinical in converting those into points.”
Cell C Sharks
1. Ntuthuko Mchunu
2. Kerron van Vuuren
3. Carlu Sadie
4. Hyron Andrews
5. Gerbrandt Grobler
6. James Venter
7. Henco Venter
8. Phepsi Buthelezi (C)
9. Cameron Wright
10. Curwin Bosch
11. Thaakir Abrahams
12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg
13. Ben Tapuai
14. Marnus Potgieter
15. Aphelele Fassi
Replacements
16. Dan Jooste
17. Dian Bleuler
18. Hanro Jacobs
19. Reniel Hugo
20. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
21. Bradley Davids
22. Lionel Cronje
23. Yaw Penxe
