Lukhanyo Am is back to lead the Hollywoodbets Sharks team to take on the Irish giants, Ulster
Young talent Ethan Hooker has shifted to inside centre to accommodate Am and fellow World Cup-winning prop Vincent Koch who is also set to make his Hollywoodbets Sharks’ debut from the bench.
Other changes to the team see SA Rugby Player of the Year (for the second successive year) Eben Etzebeth make a return to the starting lineup. Among the other changes in the forward pack, Hanro Jacobs swaps with Coenie Oosthuizen and Phepsi Buthelezi comes in for James Venter.
In the backline, Jaden Hendrikse and Makazole Mapimpi come into the starting lineup to make it 5 World Cup winners in the starting lineup.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Eben Etzebeth returns to Sharks XV after surgery#Springboks #URC #rugby
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 22, 2024
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Etzebeth didn’t mince his words when he reflected on the season so far while sharing his thoughts ahead of the match.
“We haven’t had a good season so far and no excuses, we need to take a hard look at ourselves as individuals and as a collective. Somehow, we haven’t been executing our plans and that’s disappointing, but we’ll be looking to rectify that over the remainder of the season and make the last part of it a successful one”, Etzebeth said.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel and the two-time World Cup winner is hopeful that the team can put in a good shift for the badge.
“As a collective, this was probably the strongest 23 we could have picked for this game so far this season and it’s a big boost having guys like Bongi and Vincent Koch back.”
With Ireland having won back-to-back Six Nations championships, Ulster will be buoyed by their national team’s success, but Etzebeth believes the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ focus should be on themselves, not their opponents.
“We as a Sharks team must get our confidence right for next season and finish this season on a high. Hopefully, we can produce a great performance on Saturday, Etzebeth added.”
Hollywoodbets Sharks
1) Ntuthuko Mchunu**, 2) Bongi Mbonambi, 3) Hanro Jacobs, 4) Eben Etzebeth, 5) Gerbrandt Grobler, 6) Phepsi Buthelezi, 7) Vincent Tshituka, 8) George Cronje, 9) Jaden Hendrikse, 10) Siya Masuka, 11) Makazole Mapimpi, 12) Ethan Hooker, 13) Lukhanyo Am (c), 14) Eduan Keyter, 15, Aphelele Fassi
Replacements
16) Kerron van Vuuren, 17) Ox Nche, 18) Vincent Koch*, 19) Corne Rahl, 20) Jeandre Labuschagne, 21) Cameron Wright, 22) Curwin Bosch, 23) Francois Venter
*Denotes debut for the Hollywoodbets Sharks
**Denotes 50th cap in an international tournament
