The Sharks XV may be on a five-match unbeaten run, but that hasn’t stopped head coach John Plumtree from bringing in many of his big names for tomorrow’s Currie Cup clash against the Griffons at Kings Park in Durban (1pm start).
A young squad under interim coach JP Pietersen has seen the Sharks outfit motor up the log to third place on 26 points – two ahead of the Cheetahs – and they need to keep winning to reach the semi-finals.
They are well placed to reach that goal with two league games left, but this period also coincides with the build-up to the United Rugby Championship – and the time has come for Plumtree to see that squad in action ahead of the competition opener against the Lions in Durban on September 21.
So, that means Springbok wing Makazole Mapimpi goes straight back into the No 11 jersey after being released from the national squad this week.
There are also Sharks debuts for new signings Jordan Hendrikse, Emmanuel Tshituka and Ruan Dreyer in a match 23 that will have too much firepower for the winless Griffons to handle.
It is interesting, though, that Hendrikse – who joined from the Lions in the off-season and made his Bok debut at flyhalf against Wales in June – has been slotted in at fullback instead, where veteran pivot Lionel Cronjé will continue to pull the strings alongside young scrumhalf Bradley Davids.
Hendrikse does possess a massive kicking boot that could relieve pressure from the back, but Plumtree will want to see what he offers on attack with ball in hand in the No 15 jersey.
Impressive young centre Ethan Hooker is also back in action, while Tshituka will combine with another former Lions flank in James Venter in the loose trio.
There is also a strong bench that includes older Tshituka brother Vincent, as well as Scottish international Dylan Richardson and Challenge Cup-winning flyhalf Siya Masuku.
“The plan was set in motion at the back-end of last season already of how we are going to utilise both the coaching and playing squad in these rounds of the Currie Cup,” Sharks attack coach Dave Williams said yesterday.
“We are committed to five competitions this weekend, with the Rugby Champs, URC, Currie Cup, Under-21, Under-19, and this was always going to be the week where we slowly blood the guys back into the Currie Cup squad.
“The Currie Cup is a massive squad effort moving into these final rounds, and hopefully the play-offs. It’s reward for the guys who have been training hard for the URC, and it’s their chance to play their first minutes of rugby.
“It’s a nice challenge for them to maintain the standards set by some of the youngsters – the way they’ve played, the excitement they’ve shown, to keep the momentum going.
“We’ve seen some of the tries that the Griffons have scored, and they have a number of sevens players. As the game de-structures, they have a real ability to counter well and to play on the transition.
“We’ve got a way we want to play and impose on the game, and want to keep building on what we’ve done in the previous rounds.”
Sharks Team
15 Jordan Hendrikse 14 Eduan Keyter 13 Ethan Hooker 12 Francois Venter 11 Makazole Mapimpi 10 Lionel Cronjé 9 Bradley Davids 8 Nick Hatton (captain) 7 Emmanuel Tshituka 6 James Venter 5 Reniel Hugo 4 Corné Rahl 3 Ruan Dreyer 2 Fez Mbatha 1 Braam Reyneke.
Bench: 16 Dylan Richardson 17 Dian Bleuler 18 Hanro Jacobs 19 Emile van Heerden 20 Vincent Tshituka 21 Tian Meyer 22 Siya Masuku 23 Litelihle Bester.