The Sharks have named three debutants in their matchday 23 for the Toyota Challenge Cup clash with the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Australian centre Ben Tapuai and Samoa international flank Olajuwon ‘OJ’ Noah both start from the off, while former Western Province and Stormers prop Dian Bleuler has been named among the replacements.
All three joined the Durbanites prior to the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.
Tapuai won seven caps for the Wallabies between 2011 and 2012, while he also won a Super Rugby title with the Reds in 2011 and was a member of the Harlequins squad that won the Premiership last season.
Noah made his debut for Samoa in their 2023 Rugby World Cup qualifying clash against Tonga in July. The 31-year-old Australian-born loose forward previously played semi-professionally in Australia’s Shute Shield for NHRU Wildfires.
Bleuler featured for the Stormers against the British and Irish Lions during the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa. Apart from his single cap for the Stormers, he played seven times for Western Province in the Currie Cup.
Aphelele Fassi was released by the Springboks ahead of their final end-of-year-tour Test against England on Saturday and slots in on the bench. However, there is no place in the 23 for Sbu Nkosi, who was also released by the Boks.
Number eight Henco Venter will captain the side.
Sharks: 15 Rynhardt Jonker, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Marnus Potgieter, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Henco Venter (c), 7 OJ Noah, 6 James Venter, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Le Roux Roets, 3 Khuta Mchunu, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Khwezi Mona.
Replacements: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Reniel Hugo, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Jeremy Ward, 23 Aphelele Fassi.
