Sharks coach JP Pietersen has announced a rejigged Sharks XV line-up to face defending Currie Cup champions the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein tomorrow (5.15pm start).
Pietersen has picked a new front row as he looks to combat a big strength of the Cheetahs, with Dian Bleuler, Dan Jooste and Kabous Bezuidenhout in for Abraham Reyneke, Ethan Bester and Mawande Mdanda.
Bester, who was Player of the Match for the Sharks in their big 40-21 win over Griquas at Kings Park in Durban last week, was not considered because of an injury.
The Cheetahs are in third place in the standings, with the Sharks heading to the Free State Stadium two positions below them.
Two wins and a draw from their past three outings have propelled the Durbanites up the log to 17 points, and they will hope to continue their resurgence to challenge for a semi-final spot.
That would mean a lot for a young group, after the senior players recovered from a disastrous United Rugby Championship campaign last season to grab the EPCR Challenge Cup title, while they also await a number of new signings for the new URC season, including Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and lock Jason Jenkins.
There is just one change to the backline, where Alwayno Visagie replaces Jurenzo Julius at inside centre.
3️⃣ more years inked with Jurenzo “Boogieman” Julius 😤#SharksYoungBloods #BackOnTheDottedLine pic.twitter.com/1bn8Y9gdU1
— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) August 15, 2024
“What a nice challenge for this young team, going to Bloem and to test the character of the group more,” Pietersen said.
“The more we get tested, the better we will get and that’s the thing with rugby – you have to always be up for the challenge, which is something we have shown this season.
“Going to Bloem is a big one for us, but we have momentum from the last three games.
“It not easy up there, the Cheetahs have a good record at home. They will move the ball and try and speed things up, so that they can take advantage of us in the last 20 minutes, when visiting teams from the coast tend to tire.
“So, we have to start well and build ourselves into the game.”
Meanwhile, the Sharks also announced yesterday that fullback Hakeem Kunene, centre Litelihle Bester and lock Coetzee le Roux have all signed two-year contract extensions, while Julius has concluded a three-year deal.
Sharks Team
15 Hakeem Kunene 14 Eduan Keyter 13 Litelihle Bester 12 Alwayno Visagie 11 Yaw Penxe 10 Lionel Cronjé 9 Jaden Hendrikse 8 Nick Hatton (captain) 7 Jannes Potgieter 6 Tino Mavesere 5 Reniel Hugo 4 Bathobele Hlekani 3 Kabous Bezuidenhout 2 Dan Jooste 1 Dian Bleuler.
Bench: 16 Bryce Calvert 17 Braam Reyneke 18 Mawande Mdanda 19 Coetzee le Roux 20 Hennie Sieberhagen 21 Siya Ningiza 22 Bradley Davids 23 Tiaan Swanepoel.