The Hollywoodbets Sharks have been bolstered by the return of some of their players back from injury as they venture into their first foray of EPCR Challenge Cup action this weekend, hosting Section Paloise at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday afternoon.
In changes from last week’s side, Ox Nche starts, swapping jerseys with Ntuthuko Mchunu who has carried a heavy workload over the past two months while Kerron van Vuuren returns at hooker.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks’ second row stocks are up with the return of Le Roux Roets to the team after long-term injury, where the big imposing player will add value off the bench.
The loose forward trio of James Venter, Phepsi Buthelezi and Sikhumbuzo Notshe remains in place, while the Springbok scrumhalf duo of Grant Williams and Jaden Hendrikse swap jerseys. In the final change, Marnus Potgieter returns to action in place of Aphiwe Dyantyi on the wing.
Three pools of six teams make up the 18 team tournament that culminates in the final on Friday 24 May, taking place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Pool A comprises the Hollywoodbets Sharks and Toyota Cheetahs from South Africa, Section Paloise.
And Oyonnax (France), Dragons RFC (Wales) and Zebre Parma (Italy) taking on one another during December and January, before the knock-outs starts in April and the tournament climax scheduled for the next month.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks opponents’, Section Paloise, also known as Section or Pau, are a professional rugby club based in Pau, France, based in the Pyrenees-Atlantiques (an old royal city).
Hollywoodbets Sharks
1. Ox Nche
2. Kerron van Vuuren
3. Coenie Oosthuizen
4. Eben Etzebeth
5. Corne Rahl
6. James Venter
7. Phepsi Buthelezi
8. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
9. Grant Williams
10. Curwin Bosch
11. Makazole Mapimpi
12. Francois Venter
13. Lukhanyo Am (c)
14. Marnus Potgieter
15. Aphelele Fassi
Replacements
16. Daniel Jooste
17. Ntuthuko Mchunu
18. Hanro Jacobs
19. Le Roux Roets
20. Jeandre (Lappies) Labuschagne
21. Jaden Hendrikse
22. Lionel Cronje
23. Ethan Hooker
Players not available for selection due to injury or suspension:
- Bongi Mbonambi
- Cameron Wright
- Dylan Richardson (Thumb surgery)
- George Cronje (suspension)
- Gerbrandt Grobler
- Hyron Andrews (suspension)
- Ignatius Prinsloo
- Nevaldo Fleurs
- Reniel Hugo
- Rohan Janse van Rensburg
- Vincent Koch
- Vincent Tshituka
- Werner Kok
The post EPCR CHALLENGE CUP appeared first on The Sharks Durban.
Click here to submit your News – free.
Have you tried: Reach Trust for Solar and Building Management?
Quick Durban KwaZulu-Natal Fact: Sardine Run – An extraordinary natural phenomenon, that is witnessed annually on the KwaZulu-Natal coast, during late autumn or early winter, is the “sardine run”. Also referred to as “the greatest shoal on earth”, the sardine run occurs when millions of sardines migrate from their spawning grounds south of the southern tip of Africa, northwards along the Eastern Cape coastline towards KwaZulu-Natal, following a path close inshore, often resulting in many fish washing up on beaches along the coast. The huge shoal of tiny fish can stretch for many kilometres and is followed and preyed upon by thousands of predators, including game fish, sharks, dolphins and seabirds. Usually the shoals break up and the fish disappear into deeper water around Durban. Many questions surrounding this exceptional event remain unanswered.
