The Sharks will welcome back six Springboks, including captain Siya Kolisi, for their local derby against the Bulls in Durban tomorrow evening, but there will be no sign of Eben Etzebeth or Bongi Mbonambi.
A re-jigged team from the one that did duty last weekend in the Champions Cup will look to keep the winning momentum in the United Rugby Championship going in Durban (6pm start), despite the absence of two of their most influential players.
Etzebeth could not pass an HIA test, and is also struggling with a few other knocks, which ruled him out when coach John Plumtree named his team yesterday.
Kings Park saw them beat the Stormers in a nail-biting contest the last time they were in action in the URC, and Plumtree will hope his side doesn’t take it to the final second of tomorrow's clash to win.
They currently occupy sixth place on the URC log, and a win could propel them further up.
A loss in the first of two local derbies, though, will have an adverse effect on their momentum in this competition.
Plumtree said that their planning for the Bulls took a bit of a knock this week.
“We had some disruptions with injuries and illness in camp, so it’s been a disruptive week,” the coach said yesterday at his team announcement press conference.
“Eben failed his sway test (after sustaining a concussion), so he is unavailable.
“We haven’t had a perfect week by any means. But this is the competition, and we just have to be adaptable.
“You’ve got to be flexible, and deal with each day as it comes.”
Plumtree elaborated on Etzebeth’s sway test, saying after his mandatory 12 days after the concussion, he had to pass the sway test to be eligible, but he failed.
So, the Bok lock will have to sit out another week.
The Sharks coach added that Etzebeth is also struggling with some niggles in his back, and he will also go for a scan on his shoulder.
He confirmed that the other injured players, like Mbonambi, will be missing until next year, meaning they won’t feature in upcoming local derbies.
“The next two games will be a bit patchy in terms of our side. But, it’s still a good team we are putting out.”
They have an all-international front row, with Boks Ox Nche and Vincent Koch anchoring the scrum alongside Scottish hooker Dylan Richardson in the middle.
Kolisi is at the back of the scrum, with Phepsi Buthelezi and Emmanuel Tshituka on the sides.
Bok duo Jaden and Jordan Hendrikse will marshal the backline, and there will be a keen interest on how the scrumhalf-flyhalf brothers go against the Bulls.
Plumtree expects his side to put out a good response after last weekend’s drubbing in England.
“We don’t like losing by that margin,” Plumtree said about the 56-17 loss against Leicester Tigers.
“There is an expected response. It’s good to be back home in front of our supporters, and playing against a side like the Bulls would always bring the best out of us.
“I had to giggle a bit when I saw Jake’s (White, Bulls coach) comments about his (team) coming to play the Springboks.
“I think he has more Bok forwards than me, and if you look where games are won and lost, it’s in the front.
“So, I am sure they will target our pack. Our breakdown work also needs to be efficient, because they have three or four guys fetching in that team.”
Sharks Team
15 Aphelele Fassi 14 Yaw Penxe 13 Ethan Hooker 12 André Esterhuizen 11 Makazole Mapimpi 10 Jordan Hendrikse 9 Jaden Hendrikse 8 Siya Kolisi (captain) 7 Emmanuel Tshituka 6 Phepsi Buthelezi 5 Emile van Heerden 4 Jason Jenkins 3 Vincent Koch 2 Dylan Richardson 1 Ox Nche.
Bench: 16 Ethan Bester 17 Ruan Dreyer 18 Trevor Nyakane 19 Corné Rahl 20 Nick Hatton 21 Cameron Wright 22 Siya Masuku 23 Jurenzo Julius.