Durban – Springbok colossus Eben Etzebeth will wear the No. 4 shirt for the Sharks against the Glasgow Warriors on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Kings Park (4:05pm), while a number of other Boks will be introduced off the bench.
Indeed, Glasgow should anticipate a second-half onslaught from the Sharks when Siya Kolisi, Ox Nche, and Bongi Mbonambi enter the game, as coach Sean Everitt attempts to maintain some continuity with the starting 15 that performed effectively on the Sharks’ three-match trip.
Alongside Etzebeth will be another debutant, flanker Vincent Tshituka, and Phepsi Buthelezi will replace Sikhumbuzo Notshe at number eight.
Makazola Mapimpi will also play off the bench as part of Everitt’s effort to reintegrate the Boks back into the team. Jaden Hendrikse is the other Bok to start, but he is replacing the injured Grant Williams.
Anthony Volmink replaces Thaakir Abrahams on the left flank, while Marnus Potgieter replaces the suspended Rohan Janse van Rensburg in the center.
Glasgow, coming off a victory over the Bulls, will not be scared by the Sharks when they travel to Durban.
Hendrikse informed the media that Glasgow matched the Bulls physically last weekend, disrupting the Bulls’ line-outs and attacking their breakdown. “However, the focus of this game is on ourselves and playing the Sharks’ way on Saturday.”
Sharks team: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Marnus Potgieter, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Dylan Richardson, 6 James Venter, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit (capt), 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Bongo Mbonambi, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Reniel Hugo 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Siya Kolisi, 22 Cameron Wright, 23 Makazola Mapimpi.