could BE BOKS TO THE WALL for blues

World Cup-wining captain Siya Kolisi is one of eight Springbok internationals in the Sharks side to face Leinster this evening (5.15pm).

Fellow 2019 starting finalists Bongi Mbonambi and Makazole Mapimpi are also included, while Leo Cullen’s men will be pleased Lukhanyo Am is unavailable.

Staggering

What’s more, Ben Tapuai is a seven-time capped Wallaby and the electric-heeled Werner Kok, a 2016 Olympic silver medalist, has a staggering 184 Blitzbok Sevens caps.

The contrast with Leinster — who left all 11 of their Ireland stars who started against Scotland in the Six Nations, as well as Ryan Baird and James Ryan, at home — is startling.

Academy second-row Brian Deeny, an Ireland Under-20 cap, makes his debut, having previously played for Wexford Wanderers and Clontarf.

Second-row partner Jack Dunne has two starts from four caps to date, totalling just 87 playing minutes in those games.

Full-back Chris Cosgrave, who made his debut against Connacht last month, makes a first start for the province.

The half-backs are familiar, Harry Byrne and Nick McCarthy, but they remain understudies to Johny Sexton/Ross Byrne and Jamison Gibson-Park/Luke McGrath, respectively.

The match marks Byrne’s return from an injury in early March.

Notable

The front-row has two notable Ireland stars in Andrew Porter and Rónan Kelleher, while the back-row of Rhys Ruddock, Scott Penny and Max Deegan are URC staples.

Sub hooker John McKee is also set for a debut, a notable catch for the province, in that he captained Campbell College to an Ulster Schools Cup in 2018 and was an Ireland underage skipper before enrolling in UCD.

Cell C Sharks: Fassi; Kok, Tapuai, Louw, Mapimpi; Bosch, Hendrikse; Nche, Mbonambi, Du Toit (capt), Roets, Grobler, Kolisi, Venter, Buthelezi. Reps: Van Vuuren, N Mchunu, K Mchunu, Hugo, Labuschagne, Notshe, Williams, Chamberlain.

Leinst er: Cosgrave; O’Brien, Osborne, Frawley, O’Loughlin; H Byrne, McCarthy; Porter, Kelleher, Clarkson, Deeny, Dunne, Ruddock (capt), Penny, Deegan. Reps: McKee, Dooley, Ala’alatoa, Murphy, Soroka, Foley, Hawkshaw, Moloney.