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Siya Kolisi set for second debut as Sharks roll out Bok big guns for URC champs

Siya Kolisi (Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

South Africa captain Siya Kolisi is set to make his Sharks return on Saturday against United Rugby Championship winners Glasgow Warriors, after being named to start at Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium.

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The 33-year-old rejoined the Durban outfit in September after a year in the Top 14 with Racing 92, and is one of an array of Springboks that will make their first appearance of the season following a victorious Rugby Championship campaign.

In a turn of events, Kolisi will be led by lock Eben Etzebeth, who became South Africa’s most-capped player of all time during the Championship. Their Springbok team-mates, Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi and Vincent Koch, all return as well to provide an all-Springbok and all-World Cup-winning front-row.

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The back line is not exactly lacking in South Africa internationals either, with wing Eduan Keyter being the only player that has not pulled on the green jersey. The international influence does not end with the starting XV though, with Trevor Nyakane and Grant Williams providing support from the bench.

With only one win from their opening three matches, Sharks head coach John Plumtree will relish being able to roll out some superstars of the game, particularly against a Warriors side that sit in second place in the URC table.

Fixture
United Rugby Championship
Sharks
28 - 24
Full-time
Glasgow
All Stats and Data

Hollywoodbets Sharks
1. Ox Nche
2. Bongi Mbonambi
3. Vincent Koch
4. Eben Etzebeth (c)
5. Emile van Heerden
6. Siya Kolisi
7. Emmanuel Tshituka
8. Phepsi Buthelezi
9. Jaden Hendrikse
10. Jordan Hendrikse
11. Makazole Mapimpi
12. Andre Esterhuizen
13. Lukhanyo Am
14. Eduan Keyter
15. Aphelele Fassi

Replacements
16. Fez Mbatha
17. Trevor Nyakane
18. Ruan Dreyer
19. Jason Jenkins
20. James Venter
21. Grant Williams
22. Siya Masuku
23. Jurenzo Julius

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c
cw 4 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

Thanks JW for clarifying your point and totally agree. The ABs are still trying to find their mojo” - that spark of power that binds and defines them. Man the Boks certainly found theirs in Wellington! But I think it cannot be far off for ABs - my comment about two coaches was a bit glib. The key point for me is that they need first a coach or coaches that can unlock that power and for me that starts at getting the set piece right and especially the scrum and second a coach that can simplify the game plans. I am fortified in this view by NBs comment that most of the ABs tries come from the scrum or lineout - this is the structured power game we have been seeing all year. But it cannot work while the scrum is backpeddling. That has to be fixed ASAP if Robertson is going to stick to this formula. I also think it is too late in the cycle to reverse course and revert to a game based on speed and continuity. The second is just as important - keep it simple! Complex movements that require 196 cm 144 kg props to run around like 95kg flankers is never going to work over a sustained period. The 2024 Blues showed what a powerful yet simple formula can do. The 2025 Blues, with Beauden at 10 tried to be more expansive / complicated - and struggled for most of the season.

I also think that the split bench needs to reflect the game they “want” to play not follow some rote formula. For example the ABs impact bench has the biggest front row in the World with two props 195cm / 140 kg plus. But that bulk cannot succeed without the right power based second row (7, 4, 5, 6). That bulk becomes a disadvantage if they don’t have a rock solid base behind them - as both Boks showed at Eden Park and the English in London. Fresh powerful legs need to come on with them - thats why we need a 6-2 bench. And teams with this split can have players focused only on 40 minutes max of super high intensity play. Hence Robertson needs to design his team to accord with these basic physics.



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