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.
Plumtree has been fortunate to be able to mostly retain the same run-on lineup as the Sharks look to end a disappointing four-week European tour on a positive note, making just two changes for the clash at the Stadio Lanfranchi.
George Cronje starts at No 8, swapping places with Sikhumbuzo Notshe who drops to the bench after last week’s defeat against Welsh club Ospreys in London, while Boeta Chamberlain takes over the No 10 jumper from Curwin Bosch, who is ruled out with concussion.
Veteran playmaker Lionel Cronje has been named among the replacements, and will look to make an impact with Daniel Jooste, Khwezi Mona and Marnus Potgieter.
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A heavy injury toll that includes hooker Kerron van Vuuren, locks Gerbrandt Grobler, Reniel Hugo and Le Roux Roets, loose forward Vincent Tshituka, scrumhalf Francois Hougaard and now Bosch has played a role in what has been a difficult month for a young Sharks squad missing eight Springboks.
The Durbanites still look for a first win in the 2023-24 URC after their 19-5 loss to Ospreys at the Twickenham Stoop. It was the Sharks’ third consecutive defeat in the competition this season and remain in 16th place on the league table.
Sharks – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Francois Venter (c), 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 George Cronje, 7 Phepsi Buthelezi, 6 James Venter, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Dylan Richardson, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Subs: 16 Daniel Jooste, 17 Khwezi Mona, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Zee Mkhabela, 22 Lionel Cronje, 23 Marnus Potgieter.
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images