Siya Kolisi makes timely return as Sharks reel from catastrophic injury list

Siya Kolisi will return to matchday duty for the first time since sustaining a nasty calf injury when the Hollywoodbets Sharks face Edinburgh in Friday night’s final away fixture of the URC regular season.

The Springbok captain is named among the replacements and will make his 50th appearance for the Durban-based side.

The former Racing 92 flanker hasn’t played since a January 31 URC derby against the Stormers.

Head coach JP Pietersen has made minimal changes to the team that lost 21-17 to the Ospreys in Swansea last weekend, not least given his side is reeling from a truly brutal injury list that includes ten Springboks and over twenty players in total [see the injured Sharks XV below].

The pack remains unchanged, with alterations confined to the backline.

Makazole Mapimpi comes into the starting XV on the left wing following the injury-enforced absence of Ethan Hooker, who suffered a dislocated shoulder after a questionable incident last weekend involving Wales winger Luke Morgan.

Andre Esterhuizen moves from inside to outside centre and captains the side, with Siya Masuku starting at inside centre.

Teenage fullback Zekhethelo Siyaya retains his place after making his debut last week. Jean Smith continues at fly-half, with Jaden Hendrikse at scrum-half.

The Sharks head into the Edinburgh fixture still in contention for a top-eight finish, as are their hosts.

Hollywoodbets Sharks
1. Phatu Ganyane
2. Fez Mbatha
3. Hanro Jacobs
4. Jason Jenkins
5. Emile van Heerden
6. Phepsi Buthelezi
7. Vincent Tshituka
8. Emmanuel Tshituka
9. Jaden Hendrikse
10. Jean Smith
11. Makazole Mapimpi
12. Siya Masuku
13. Andre Esterhuizen (C)
14. Edwill van der Merwe
15. Zekhethelo Siyaya

Replacements:
16. Eduan Swart
17. Ox Nche
18. Vincent Koch
19. Corne Rahl
20. Nick Hatton
21. Siya Kolisi
22. Bradley Davids
23. Marnus Potgieter

The injured Sharks XV:
1. Simphiwe Matanzima
2. Bongi Mbonambi
3. Trevor Nyakane
4. Eben Etzebeth
5. Marvin Orie
6. Matt Romao
7. Tom Dyer
8. Coetzee le Roux
9. Grant Williams
10. Jordan Hendrikse
11. Yaw Penxe
12. Francois Venter
13. Jurenzo Julius
14. Ethan Hooker
15. Aphelele Fassi

Replacements:
16. Bryce Calvert
17. Ruan Dreyer
18. Le Roux Malan
19. Luan Giliomee
20. Hakeem Kunene
21. Jaco Williams
22. Luan Giliomee