Sharks rest key Bok pair

The Bulls will be facing a Sharks team with a difference tomorrow in Durban as the KwaZulu-Natal franchise announced a side yesterday featuring seven changes to their starting line-up, most notably in their backline.

Curwin Bosch returns at fullback and will be looking to spark a Sharks side that is trying to build momentum for the play-offs, while Andre Esterhuizen (above) has served his suspension and will bring steel in midfield against Bulls Jan Serfontein and Jesse Kriel.

But injuries to Lwazi Mvovo, Kobus van Wyk and Lukhanyo Am mean rare starts for Odwa Ndungane at rightwing and S’bura Sithole at outside centre.

Powerhouse flank Jean-Luc du Preez will sit out tomorrow’s King’s Park clash, with Tera Mtembu an able replacement.

Coach Robert du Preez has been forced into a change at lock due to yet another ill-discipline ban, this time Ruan Botha’s act of madness for SA A which sees him out for three weeks. The similarly fiery Etienne Oosthuizen replaces him in the second row, while SA A hooker Franco Marais starts in place of Chiliboy Ralepelle.

Eyebrows have been raised over Du Preez’s decision to rest his two starting Springboks, his son JeanLuc and prop Tendai Mtawarira, but the coach explained that their workload has just been too much.

“We would have liked to have picked the strongest possible team for the Bulls game, but the guys are just sore and there are niggles,” Du Preez said.

Thomas du Toit – what a season he has had – will therefore start in the No 1 jersey, while Juan Schoeman is the reserve loosehead in place of Mtawarira.

Exciting prospect Jeremy Ward has recovered from his broken nose and has been included on the bench in place of flyhalf Benhard Janse van Rensburg.

Bosch, even though his efforts in the No 10 jersey at the Junior World Cup were not what he would have wanted, will be the back-up to flyhalf Garth April.