John Plumtree expressed his delight at being able to name the “strongest Sharks team” since his return to Durban, featuring seven fit World Cup winners against Ulster on Saturday. DYLAN JACK reports.
Springbok tighthead prop Vincent Koch, who will get his first run for the Sharks from the bench at Kings Park, is one of seven 2023 World Cup winners in the matchday-23 to face Ulster.
Captain Lukhanyo Am, lock Eben Etzebeth, scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse and wing Makazole Mapimpi all return to join Bongi Mbonambi in the starting lineup, while Ox Nche is on the bench.
Bottom of the table and 22 points off the top eight, the Sharks are unlikely to make the URC playoffs, but Plumtree said ahead of Saturday’s match that there is something for the players to play for in the final part of the season.
“We’ve had a bit of a break and we’ve got players coming back in from Springbok resting. We’ve had the opportunity to reset some goals for the rest of the season,” Plumtree said.
“We’ve got three months of rugby left, but we see it as a really exciting time for us. There are two home games coming up, hopefully, in the EPCR and before that we’ve got two URC games, both against good teams.
“This is a team that I’ve been wanting to select for a while. We are getting our squad back. Guys are coming back from injury. We just want to get going with a good performance tomorrow and next week in the build up to the EPCR playoffs.
“We are also looking to create some competition in the squad. There hasn’t really been enough pressure on players for selection. That makes players comfortable and complacent. A full-strength Sharks has competition for places and that’s what we want.”
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While a host of Springboks have returned after the loss to the Lions at Ellis Park, centre Ethan Hooker, wing Eduan Keyter and flyhalf Siya Masuku have all retained their places in the starting lineup.
“I’ve been impressed with Ethan Hooker,” Plumtree said. “I want to give him more time to gain some confidence at this level.
“Look at Eduan Keyter on the wing, I thought he played well against the Lions. It grows our competition out wide. When Aphiwe [Dyantyi] comes back, he’s not available at the moment, and we have Werner Kok and Mapimps.
“Curwin [Bosch] and Siya will fight it out for the number 10 jersey. We will see how that battle goes. Curwin can play at fullback as well.
“This is the strongest Sharks team I have been able to pick for a while. The benefit of that for me, is the fact that we are going to be able to create competition.”
Photo: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
