DURBAN - Normal service has resumed at the Sharks with the return of Curwin Bosch to the No 10 jersey for Saturday’s Super Rugby quarter-final against the Lions after his curious relegation to the bench for last week’s round robin match between the same teams in Durban.
That is the only change coach Robert du Preez has made, with Garth April dropping to the bench to cover both 10 and 15 for the knock-out game at Ellis Park.
Many rugby followers were mystified by the decision to play Bosch off the bench last week and it seems that coach Du Preez had answered the calls from Sharks fans to have a match-winner in Bosch restored to the key position of flyhalf.
Bosch is one of the leading points scorers in Super Rugby, behind only Elton Jantjies of the Lions, with Lionel Cronje of the Kings third. The Highlanders’ Marty Banks is fourth.
In a possible change on the bench, regular hooker Franco Marias has bracketed with Stephan Coetzee. Marais is undergoing concussion protocols and might yet make the bench if he is passed fit.
Sharks
– 15 Lwazi Mvovo, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 S'busiso Nkosi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Philip van der Walt (c), 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Thomas du Toit.
Subs:
16 Franco Marais/Stephan Coetzee, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Jean Droste, 20 Tera Mtembu, 21 Michael Claassens, 22 Garth April, 23 Jeremy Ward.