The return of Paul Jordaan and inclusion of Springbok Lwazi Mvovo has added a formidable feel to a powerful Sharks backline for this Saturday’s crucial Currie Cup clash against the Bulls at Loftus (5.05pm).
Having battled to consistently find his best form during the first half of the Currie Cup, Jordaan was afforded a break last week to refresh and refocus, and there is no doubt he will return re-energised and with a point to prove.
Jordaan comes back into his more familiar position at outside centre, with S’bura Sithole shifting to right wing in place of the injured Odwa Ndungane.
Encouragingly, young Andre Esterhuizen has been retained at inside centre, where the talented Baby Bok produced a promising debut against the Cheetahs last Saturday.
Although Esterhuizen made a few errors, and conceded a couple of unnecessary penalties, he added a different dimension to the Sharks’ backline with his powerful ball-carrying ability.
Weighing in at over 100kgs and standing 1.92m tall, Esterhuizen reminds one of a young Frans Steyn, but the Sharks coaches are also mindful of the fact that the talented 20-year remains a work-in-progress.
“We picked Andre so he could help us get over the gain-line, and he certainly did that (last Saturday),” backline coach Sean Everitt commented. “He can be happy with his first start, but he is still learning as a player and there are a couple of things he needs to work on, which hopefully he can get right this weekend.”
This week the Sharks have also been boosted by the return of Mvovo from the Boks, with the speedster slotting in on the left wing in place of Tonderai Chavhanga, who moves to the bench.
Mvovo has formed part of the Springboks’ Rugby Championship squad, but has yet to feature in the competition, and so he will be desperate for some game-time, and determined to make a statement with a strong performance.
The final change to the Sharks’ backline comes at fullback, where SP Marais has been reintroduced to the starting line-up after a sprightly cameo off the bench last weekend, and there is no doubt his booming left boot will be a key factor on the Highveld.
Everitt emphasised that their option-taking would need to be spot on against a resurgent Bulls side that has recently won back-to-back games.
“What we have to do is still play rugby in the right areas of the field, and then if the opportunities present themselves, we must take them. We need to get continuity in the way we are playing at the moment.”
Up front, there is just a solitary change for the Sharks as Marco Wentzel moves to No 5 in place of Stephan Lewies, who continues to manage a chronic knee problem, while JC Astle makes a timely return to the second row after overcoming an injury.
Meanwhile, the Bulls will be without flank Deon Stegmann after he was suspended for striking a player with his elbow in their Currie Cup clash against the EP Kings last Friday.
However, hooker Bongi Mbonambi was cleared of further sanction after receiving a yellow card in the match for charging into a ruck without using his arms.
Sharks: 15 SP Marais, 14 S’bura Sithole, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Conrad Hoffmann, 8 Tera Mtembu (captain), 7 Etienne Oosthuizen, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Marco Wentzel, 4 JC Astle, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Dale Chadwick
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Danie Mienie, 18 Johan Meyer, 19 Khaya Majola, 20 Cameron Wright, 21 Tim Swiel, 22 Tonderai Chavhanga - Daily News