DURBAN – The Sharks will be throwing everything at the visiting Golden Lions in their Currie Cup match in Durban on Friday night.
The first-round match was an interesting affair as the Sharks, struggling initially, won 47-31 in the end.
The Sharks will be looking to maintain their winning ways and their top-of-the-log status.
With Jeremy Ward confirmed injured for this match (he sustained a collarbone injury against the Blue Bulls), Tristan Blewett makes his run-on debut, having played off the bench last weekend, with Inny Radebe returning to the side for Blewett among the replacements.
The only other change sees Franco Marais coming in for Chiliboy Ralepelle, with Akker van der Merwe playing back-up at hooker.
Wing Sbu Nkosi and No 8 Dan du Preez are also back in Durban after spending some time in the Springbok squad in Bloemfontein this week.
For Jean Droste, who came to Durban from the Bulls three years ago, the move has been a good one.
“Change is always good, having spent all my life in Pretoria, and I’m happy to have made the move,” he said.
“Confidence is high, we’ve spoken about complacency. but I don’t think this team is in danger of becoming complacent. We’ve set ourselves goals and we want to execute them.”
Sharks Team
15 Garth April, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Tristan Blewett, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Sbu Nkosi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Ruan Botha (captain), 4 Tyler Paul, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Thomas du Toit.
Bench:16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Jean Droste, 19 Lubabalo Mtembu, 20 Cameron Wright, 21 Inny Radebe, 22 Rhyno Smith.