Och aye! Sharks keen to have a go at Edinbugh
THE Sharks have surrendered four of their best players to Springbok resting protocols, but given that their opponents tonight, Edinburgh, have 10 players at a Scotland camp, the Durbanites must be favourites for this United Rugby Championship encounter.
Relaxing at home for this game are key forwards Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi, both immense leaders, and in the backline Lukhanyo Am and Jaden Hendrikse. Otherwise, the Sharks are at full strength and they really ought to take this opportunity to put Edinburgh away on their home turf.
Actually, the word turf is incorrect because Edinburgh play on an artificial surface and if there is one factor counting against the Sharks, it is their inexperience on a surface that is reasonably commonplace in Europe.
All of the South African teams that have played on these surfaces have struggled, and Sharks boss Neil Powell says they have trained as much as possible on the surface.
“The artificial pitch is very different and we have done our best to get used to it this week,” he said. “It is a very quick surface and it is vital that we stop Edinburgh from getting momentum.
“We have to be very physical in those first contact situations,” he added. “We were not strong in that area last week against Harlequins and that is why they were able to run at us and score those three quick tries at the start of the game.”
While Etzebeth and Kolisi are a major part of the Sharks’ pack, the good news is that two other Springbok forwards have been allowed to play this week — Thomas du Toit and Ox Nche will be in the front row.
“Still having Ox and Thomas helps with the physical battle and that is important because we saw how physical Edinburgh were last week when they beat Saracens,” Powell said.
In fact, Edinburgh will be without 10 Scotland players, including South African-born props Pierre Schoeman and WP Nel.
Also absent are key backs in wings Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham, flyhalf Blair Kinghorn and fullback Emiliano Boffelli, the ace Argentinian goal-kicker.
The hosts do have four South Africans in their squad in fullback Henry Immelman, wing Wes Goosen, loosehead prop Boan Venter and his backup on the bench, Luan de Bruin, while they do have the services of British & Irish Lions flank Hamish Watson.
“Edinburgh are one place above us on the log (8th) and they want to climb up the standings as much as we do,” Powell warned. “Yes, it is a big game but it is about our standards every week.
“If we make one game bigger than another we are on the wrong path — we ask for a massive effort and clinical execution every week, and if we get that, the results should look after themselves.”
Edinburgh – 15 Henry Immelman, 14 Wes Goosen, 13 Mark Bennett (c), 12 James Lang, 11 Jack Blain, 10 Charlie Savala, 9 Ben Vellacott, 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Nick Haining, 5 Glen Young, 4 Marshall Sykes, 3 Murray McCallum, 2 Adam McBurney, 1 Boan Venter.
Subs: 16 Dave Cherry, 17 Luan de Bruin, 18 Lee-Roy Atalifo, 19 Jamie Hodgson, 20 Ben Muncaster, 21 Charlie Shiel, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Cammy Hutchison. Sharks – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Marnus Potgieter, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi (c), 7 Henco Venter, 6 James Venter, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Hyron Andrews, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Carlü Sadie, 19 Reniel Hugo, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Lionel Cronje, 23 Yaw Penxe.