Sharks add more Springbok power to star-studded lineup

Neil Powell has tweaked the Sharks pack for their enticing Champions Cup round of 16 tie against Munster at Kings Park on Saturday.

ALSO READ: Champions Cup — Sharks vs Munster stats and facts

Springbok Sikhumbuzo Notshe has been brought into the Sharks starting lineup at the expense of Phepsi Buthelezi, who drops to the bench for the last 16 encounter in Durban.

In the second row, the experienced Gerbrandt Grobler trades places with Emile van Heerden, who joins Buthelezi among the replacements.

Munster, currently fifth on the Vodacom United Rugby Championship log – won two of their four pool games in the Champions Cup, going down twice to Toulouse, but earned enough points to finish in sixth place on the Pool B log, while the Sharks, with their three wins, finished Pool A in third spot which afforded them the honour of a home fixture in the knock-outs.

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KOLISI READY TO LEAD SHARKS PAST MUNSTER

“We weren’t good in our last game, but we’ve worked hard to rectify that,” captain Siya Kolisi said in the build-up to the game. “This is a playoff match, everything in the past no longer matters, but I think we will be much better, we don’t want a loss to define us.

“And Munster’s loss last week also doesn’t define them.”

With Sharks match taking place on Saturday and warm weather predicted, everything points to a day of excitement both on and off the field.

“The European Cup has a vibe different to everything else, and Munster will experience that, as well as the heat of Durban.”

ALSO READ: Champions Cup — The ‘South African project has worked’

TEAM TO FRONT MUNSTER IN CHAMPIONS CUP LAST 16

Sharks – 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Emile van Heerden, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Ben Tapuai, 23 Thaakir Abrahams.