The Sharks have been boosted by the return from injury of Springboks loosehead prop Ox Nche for their rescheduled United Rugby Championship (URC) derby in Durban on Saturday.

The 2023 Rugby World Cup winner has been declared fit for the Round One URC clash after spending the past two months on the sidelines due to an upper arm muscle injury.

Nche, will pack down in the front-row alongside fellow Springboks Vincent Koch (tighthead prop) and Bongi Mbonambi (hooker) as Sharks boss John Plumtree welcomes back several players to bolster his team for this SA Shield defining game.

Sharks still without Eben Etzebeth

In the second-row, another Springboks star Eben Etzebeth is still sidelined due to concussion but fellow lock Emile van Heerden also makes his return to action after being ruled out with a knee injury.

Meanwhile, Springboks captain Siya Kolisi is named in the run-on side at number eight, after playing off the bench in last week’s corresponding fixture with the Lions in Johannesburg, and will lead the Sharks.

In the final change to the pack, Lappies Labuschagne comes in for the injured Vincent Tshituka on the blindside flank.

In the backline, Henry Immelman, who is on loan to the Sharks, makes his debut at full-back, having represented Montpellier, Edinburgh and more recently, the Bulls.

Grant Williams and Jordan Hendrikse will form the halfback partnership, with Francois Venter replacing Lukhanyo Am at inside centre in the final change to the starting XV.

There’s also good news on the fitness of hooker Fez Mbatha and loose forward James Venter and both have been included on the replacements bench after lengthy recovery periods.

Rassie Erasmus addresses Eben Etzebeth’s future after talks with ‘concussion guru’

Just two changes for the Lions

Meanwhile, Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has kept changes to a minimum to his run-on side after clinching a 38-18 victory when these sides met in Johannesburg last weekend.

Van Rooyen has made just two injury enforced alterations to his forwards with Siba Qoma and Jarod Cairns coming into the side as the starting flankers as replacements for Ruan Venter and JC Pretorius.

Captain and nmber eight Francke Horne completes the back-row while Darrien Landsberg and Ruben Schoeman continue in the second-row, while Asenathi Ntlabakanye and Juan Schoeman (props), andwell as PJ Botha (hooker) are the starting front-row.

In the backline, Tapiwa Mafura is the starting full-back and he is joined in the back three by speedsters Edwill van der Merwe and Richard Kriel while Manuel Rass and Marius Louw continue in the centres.

The side is completed by the halfback duo of Gianni Lombard and Morné van den Berg.

Saturday’s match kicks off at 2 pm and should the Sharks secure a victory, they will clinch the SA Shield in the URC.

The teams

Sharks: 15 Henry Immelman, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Siya Kolisi, (c) 7 Jeandré Labuschagne, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Nthuthuko Mchunu, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Corné Rahl, 20 James Venter, 21 Nick Hatton, 22 Jaden Hendrikse, 23 Hakeen Kunene

Lions: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Siba Qoma, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Juan Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Morgan Naudé, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Ruan Delport, 20 Izan Esterhuizen, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 WJ Steenkamp, 23 Rynhardt Jonker

Date:: Saturday, March 8
Kick-off:: 14:00 local (12:00 GMT)
Venue:: Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Referee:: Morne Ferreira (SARU)
Assistant Referees:: Stephan Geldenhuys (SARU), Sean Muller (SARU)
TMO:: Quinton Immelman (SARU)

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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/key-springboks-forward-returns-for-the-sharks-after-two-months-out-but-another-remains-on-the-sidelines