The Durban outfit will be hoping to end their four-week European tour on a high when they take on Zebre Parma on Friday evening at 19:30.
The Vodacom United Rugby Championship has reached the 4th round and the Sharks are still yet to register a win. They did open the tournament with some powerful opponents; from playing in Ireland against Munster to even making a debut in London playing Ospreys.
Head coach John Plumtree who’s had a chance to deal with the team for the first time is adamant that their best rugby is yet to come.
Head coach John Plumtree has opted for consistency, naming a relatively unchanged Sharks starting XV to face Zebre Parma in the Vodacom URC on Friday night. https://t.co/MVxo5sF7nx
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) November 9, 2023
The average age of 23 just tells you that this young side is still growing, and change does take time to adopt. Not to mention a heavy injury toll that includes Gerbrandt Grobler, Reniel Hugo, Le Roux Roets and other key players.
Given this injury list and the missing Springboks, this tour has served as a learning curve for our young sharkies.
On Friday evening, the Hollywoodbets Sharks will be looking to make it three from three against their Italian opponents.
John Plumtree has made 2 changes from the team that lost to Ospreys last weekend: George Cronje starts at eighthman, swapping jerseys with last week’s incumbent Sikhumbuzo Notshe, while Boeta Chamberlain has come into the starting line-up in place of Curwin Bosch.
Having turned down lucrative offers to leave Durban, Aphelele Fassi is determined to realise his potential on a multi-year contract with the Sharks. https://t.co/yIeQYIZ2cL
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) November 6, 2023
A special moment for the ‘Weekend Special’ Aphelele Fassi who will be 50th Sharks appearance.
Hollywoodbets Sharks:
1. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 2. Dylan Richardson, 3. Coenie Oosthuizen, 4. Corne Rahl, 5. Emile van Heerden, 6. James Venter, 7. Phepsi Buthelezi, 8. George Cronje, 9. Cameron Wright, 10. Boeta Chamberlain, 11. Aphiwe Dyantyi, 12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 13. Francois Venter (c), 14. Werner Kok, 15. Aphelele Fassi
Replacements:
16. Daniel Jooste, 17. Khwezi Mona, 18. Hanro Jacobs, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21. Zee Mkhabela, 22. Lionel Cronje, 23. Marnus Potgieter
