Durban – The Sharks have named a trio of debutants for their Super Rugby season-opener against the Cheetahs at Kings Park in Durban on Saturday.
Centre Waylon Murray, returning to the union after leaving four years ago, starts in midfield, while flanker Renaldo Bothma is named in the loose trio.
England international lock Mouritz Botha is selected in the second row alongside Springbok Pieter-Steph du Toit, who will return to competitive rugby after nearly a year out of the game due to injury.
“Our guys have prepared well for the tournament and there is a fantastic spirit in the camp,” director of rugby Gary Gold said.
“We want to play an exciting brand of rugby which our fans expect and to score tries. The only way to win matches is to score tries and to do that you need to keep the ball in hand.”
Patrick Lambie and Cobus Reinach make up the half-back pairing, while naming an all-Bok front row of Jannie du Plessis, captain Bismarck du Plessis and Tendai Mtawarira.
A host of players like JP Pietersen, Frans Steyn, Ryan Kankowski and Michael Claassens are unavailable for the game.
Gold said he considered the Cheetahs to be one of the most dangerous sides to play against and on their day they had the ability to beat any team.
“We are expecting a physical battle against a well-coached team, who have some exciting young players in their squad.”
Sharks: SP Marais, S'bura Sithole, Waylon Murray, Heimar Williams, Lwazi Mvovo, Patrick Lambie, Cobus Reinach, Tera Mtembu, Renaldo Bothma, Marcell Coetzee, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Mouritz Botha, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis (captain), Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: Kyle Cooper, Dale Chadwick, Matt Stevens, Marco Wentzel, Jean Deysel, Conrad Hoffmann, Fred Zeilinga, Odwa Ndungane.– Sapa