Veteran prop Trevor Nyakane has been included in the Sharks lineup to tackle the Pumas in round 5 of the 2024 Currie Cup at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.
Head coach JP Pietersen has welcomed back two-time Springbok world champion Nyakane, who replaces Mawande Mdanda at tighthead for the trip to Nelspruit.
Tino Mavesere, back from Zimbabwe’s Rugby Africa Cup campaign, comes in at flank in the only other change to the pack, with Eduan Keyter replacing Yaw Penxe on the wing.
After bringing through numerous youngsters over the past month, Pietersen has named just one debutant – flyhalf Chris Horak – as cover off the bench.
The Sharks have taken confidence from last week’s victory over the Lions, their first in this year’s edition of rugby’s oldest competition.
“The win restored confidence, we knew we were playing good rugby and were disappointed not to get over the line in two of the games and we needed an 80-minute performance; going forward we need to continue with those 80-minute performances,” skipper Nick Hatton said.
“The team is in a good space, but we have to understand that it’s just one win and we have another big challenge this weekend. We’re well-aware of what’s ahead, but we are in a good place and the guys believe. It’s only one win, but we’re hungry for more.”
Sharks – 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Litelihle Bester, 12 Jurenzo Julius, 11 Jaco Williams, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Bradley Davids, 8 Nick Hatton (c), 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Reniel Hugo 4 Batho Hlekani, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Dan Jooste, 1 Abraham Reyneke.
Subs: 16 Bryce Calvert, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Kabous Bezuidenhout, 19 Hennie Sieberhagen, 20 Siya Ningiza, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Chris Horak, 23 Scott Nel.
Photo: Charle Lombard/Gallo Images
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
