Butch James will play his first game for The Sharks after battling a knee injury, having been named at flyhalf for Friday evening’s SA Franchise Challenge match against the MTN Golden Lions at Ellis Park.
Sharks Media release
Dale Chadwick also returns to action after overcoming a severe ankle injury, he will partner Kyle Cooper and Wiehahn Herbst in a fairly young front row missing the likes of Jannie and Bismarck du Plessis and Beast Mtawarira to the Springboks.
The Sharks have brought in Griquas lock Edwin Hewitt to shore up a shortfall in the lock department where he will partner with Jandre Marais in the second row.
The familiar faces of captain Keegan Daniel, Jean Deysel and Lubabalo Mtembu form the loose-forward trio with scrumhalf Charl McLeod partnering James behind the scrum.
The backline is a mix of youth and experience, Sean Robinson and Odwa Ndungane on the wings, Heimar Williams getting his first start for The Sharks where he will partner Louis Ludik (also back from injury) in the midfield and Riaan Viljoen providing the last line of defence at fullback.
The reserves bench sees Cobus Reinach named, another welcome returnee back from injury, with Fred Zeilinga and Tyler Fisher providing backline support and Monde Hadebe, Allan Dell, Brynard Stander and Khaya Majola making up the rest of the substitutes.
The Sharks: 1. Dale Chadwick, 2. Kyle Cooper, 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 4. Edwin Hewitt, 5. Jandre Marais, 6. Keegan Daniel (Captain), 7. Jean Deysel, 8. Lubabalo Mtembu, 9. Charl McLeod, 10. Butch James, 11. Sean Robinson, 12. Heimar Williams, 13. Louis Ludik, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 15. Riaan Viljoen
Replacements: 16. Monde Hadebe, 17. Allan Dell, 18. Brynard Stander, 19. Khaya Majola, 20. Cobus Reinach, 21. Fred Zeilinga, 22. Tyler Fisher
Good on the Sharks, for not doing what the Stormers / WP did by not respecting the idea of sending a competative side.
Basically only the Sharks Springboks and injured players are not in the side.
Strong front row, adequate locks, great loosies, Cherl McLeod at scrummie and Butch finally ready to go, worrysome midfield and good back three.
Kudos, Sharks, that’s the spirit!
Good team. Probably the best loose trio that we have put out this season. Should have had them start like that for most games. Keegan for me is better playing openside than 8. Sooooooooooooooo damn pleased we have Tera starting at 8. He is gonna be a star at 8 if Sharks play him there consistently.
Finally Butch gets to play. For me it was a waste having him this year. Missed every game until now. Though we will have him no doubt for the last 3 games on the bench.
Excellent front row. Jandre Marais is a good lock not sure about Hewitt have not seen much of him. Ludik playing outside centre? Wow! that is a surprise. Damn injury curse this year for my team, so looking forward to seeing this team play.
Just looked at the bench. YESSSSS see we have Fisher, Zeilinga and Stander there. Looking forward to seeing them get some game time.
Well bless my cotton socks!
@ grootblousmile:
@ Puma:
Just shows that at least the KZN boys have integrity and honour.
I certainly hope the Lions put up a good fist of it. They need some HARD games from somewhere before the promotion / relegation games.
1 @ grootblousmile:
Sharks were always gonna put out a their best team available as we still have 3 more S15 Games to play and we want to win them all. So you need your players to get some game time, otherwise they would be rusty.
4 @ Puma:
Makes one frown upon the freegin Stormers / WP even more, does’nt it… I mean they also still have both the Cheetahs and Bulls to prepare for in Super Rugby.
3 @ Scrumdown:
This will be a great game to watch mate. That is a top class Sharks team. Lions too will have a damn good go at us that is for sure and this will be a good game for them to get ready for their relegation game. Does your boys play the Bulls as well? Thought they were gonna play Province, Sharks and Bulls.
Good luck to your team for that relegation game. Lions are my 2nd team, so hoping they come out with a win in both games.
5 @ grootblousmile:
Think they missed something by not playing their best. They too need game time. Or are they worried about injuries? Could be have no idea. I am just chuffed with this Sharks side chosen, it is a very good team. So looking forward to this game now.
6 @ Puma:
Lions have already played the Bulls, before the start of actual Super Rugby season (as did the Cheetahs)… played the Bulls regulars.
They still play the Blue Bulls, so I do not expect that to be a Super Rugby squad side, but rather a preparatory side for the Currie Cup, minus Super Rugby guys
@ grootblousmile:
@ Puma:
Lions will play the Bulls again, and against the Griquas, to make up for the cancelled French sides.
9 @ Lion4ever:
They will play the Blue Bulls, not the Bulls…
Ek wou amper weer Lions pik soos altyd, maar gaan nou van plan verander.
Wat is Butch James deesdae, n Leeu of n Haai?
Ook n goeie speler wat nooit ten volle tot sy reg gekom het nie, soos Brent Russell.
@ grootblousmile:
Its just a matter of semantics.
13 @ Lion4ever:
No it’s not, actually…
The Full Bulls Super Rugby squad has played the Lions this year in terms of the SARU Super Rugby brief, and so when the Blue Bulls run out against the Lions in a couple of weeks, it will be the 2nd time a side from the Blue Bulls Rugby Union plays the MTN Lions (to help them prepare).
If it was only the 1st time, and only a Blue Bulls outfit was sent to play in stead of the Bulls Super Rugby side, the same stench would have clung to that decision, which now clings to the Stormers / WP, for the disrespect they showed 2 weeks ago.
So no, it is not semantics… not in the least.
The Lions and their supporters must just always remember who supported them when it counted, and who tried to stick the knife into the Lions deeper and deeper. The Lions were supported by the Sharks and the Bulls… and that continues to be the case.
12 @ Pietman:
Hy is nou weer volle Shark… maar ons sal Vrydagaand sien of hy nog iets beteken
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