Sharks go big by naming 9 Rugby Championship-winning Springboks in XV

The Sharks have turned to a host of their South Africa internationals in search of their first United Rugby Championship win of the season against Ulster on Saturday.

Back on South African soil following their opening three matches of the season in Scotland, Wales and Ireland against Glasgow Warriors, Dragons and Leinster, John Plumtree has named nine players from Rassie Erasmus’ victorious South Africa squad in this year’s Rugby Championship. Vincent Tshituka and Makazole Mapimpi were also named as standby squad members.

Of the nine players, only Vincent Koch did not feature at some point in the Championship, but the tighthead has already featured for the Sharks this season, coming into the squad last week alongside Ethan Hooker and Bongi Mbonambi. Edwill van der Merwe, who started in the shock loss to Australia at the beginning of the tournament, has started all three matches for the Sharks this season, and will start again at full-back in the first home match of the season.

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Superstars such as Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi and Grant Williams will be making their first starts of the season as the Sharks look to arrest their poor start to the season, where they have only managed a draw against Dragons.

Despite the return of the Springboks captain to the team, as well as Etzebeth, Tshituka will continue to skipper the side.

Fixture

United Rugby Championship

Sharks

26 - 34

Full-time

Ulster

All Stats and Data

“It’s very exciting to be back playing at Hollywoodbets Kings Park this weekend,” said Hooker.

“I want to make my home team proud, the vibe is pretty good being back and you get that sense of a home feeling.

“We’re all keen and looking forward to going out on Saturday and performing for our fans. They can look forward to this week’s game as much as we are. We’ve trained really hard, exciting things are coming and we hope to see a full stadium coming out in support and watching a really good game of rugby.”

Sharks XV
15 Edwill van der Merwe
14 Ethan Hooker
13 Jurenzo Julius
12 Andre Esterhuizen
11 Makazole Mapimpi
10 Siya Masuku
9 Grant Williams
1 Ox Nche
2 Bongi Mbonambi
3 Vincent Koch
4 Eben Etzebeth
5 Marvin Orie
6 Siya Kolisi
7 Vincent Tshituka (C)
8 Phepsi Buthelezi

Replacements
16 Fez Mbatha
17 Simphiwe Matanzima
18 Ruan Dreyer
19 Bathobele Hlekani
20 Emmanuel Tshituka
21 Jaden Hendrikse
22 Jordan Hendrikse
23 Lukhanyo Am