It’s a good thing that the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ newly appointed permanent head coach JP Pietersen has been part of the Durban franchise’s system for a while and will be fully conversant of the challenges that he faces as mentor of a team that has so many Springboks contracted.
After going fully loaded into the two Vodacom URC derbies against coastal rivals, the DHL Stormers, meaning they had all their Boks available and present, the Sharks are heading to Johannesburg for their important round 11 clash with the Lions without several of the players who starred for them in Cape Town and Durban in the last two weekends of January.
Skipper Andre Esterhuizen, who has been a big part of the Sharks’ recent successes since Pietersen has come in as coach for John Plumtree, is among a clutch of Boks who will not be in Johannesburg - others being Ethan Hooker, Siya Kolisi, Ox Nche and Grant Williams, while of course Eben Etzebeth is still suspended and Bongi Mbonambi still injured.
On top of that, Pietersen has elected to swop around his flyhalves this week, with Jordan Hendrikse, so excellent both in Cape Town and in the return clash with the Stormers in Durban, playing this time off the bench on the occasion of his return to the ground he called home in his years playing for the Lions.
There are some Boks present for this clash - Aphelele Fassi is at fullback and another former Lions player, Edwill van der Merwe, joins him in a back three that has benefitted from the good entry that the pacy Junior Bok winger Jaco Williams made to senior URC rugby when playing against the Stormers.
But there is a completely changed midfield, with Jurenzo Julius lining up at inside centre alongside veteran Francois Venter. Tino Mavesere comes in on the openside flank for Bok captain Kolisi, with Thomas Dyer at No 8 and Vincent Tshituka captaining the side from the blindside flank.
Former Free State prop Cameron Dawson, who signed for the Sharks in the past few weeks, gets an opportunity playing off the bench, with Hanro Jacobs and Phatu Ganyane as the starting props.
Jason Jenkins and Corne Rahl are the locks, as they were in the second game against the Stormers, with Emile van Heerden covering from the bench.
In a surprise move to rival the one of the benching of Jordan Hendrikse, Pietersen has also decided not to start with Phepsi Buthelezi, who was excellent in the starting back row in both games against the Stormers. Along with Van Heerden, Hendrikse, Yaw Penxe and double World Cup winner Vincent Koch he does though add to what looks a potent and experienced bench.
Hollywoodbets Sharks team: Aphelele Fassi, Edwill van der Merwe, Francois Venter, Jurenzo Julius, Jaco Williams, Siya Masuku, Jaden Hendrikse, Thomas Dyer, Vincent Tshituka (captain), Tino Mavesere, Jason Jenkins, Corne Rahl, Hanro Jacobs, Fez Mbatha, Phatu Ganyane.
Replacements: Eduan Swart, Cameron Dawson, Vincent Koch, Emile van Heerden, Phepsi Buthelezi, Ross Braude, Jordan Hendrikse, Yaw Penxe.