Director of rugby Neil Powell has made three enforced changes to the Sharks 23 to lock horns with Toulouse in the Champions Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.
Hyron Andrews replaces injured Springbok Eben Etzebeth at lock, while Grant Williams comes in for fellow Bok Jaden Hendrikse at scrumhalf, as loose forward Jeandre Labuschagne takes over from Emile van Heerden on the bench.
The Sharks made history when Powell’s charges became the first SA team to book a place in the last eight of the Champions Cup with a 50-35 win over Munster in Durban last week, while five-time winners Toulouse thumped the Vodacom Bulls to move on to the next stage.
Sharks centre Lukhanyo Am admitted that the team are all set after the huge Munster clash, and he expects nothing different this week against the French giants.
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“The bodies were a bit sore after the Munster game, that was a really physical game, close to test match demands,” he said. “One or two wins gets your momentum going and right now we’re in a good space. We’re going to France to go play rugby.”
On the challenge of facing Toulouse at Stade Mayol, the Bok midfielder added: “The French sides have a similar style of play to us, with a focus on the set-piece and forward-dominance with a backline that’s not afraid to move the ball around.
“It’s almost like-for-like and going to Toulouse, they’re a big side in France with home ground advantage which is going to be a challenge for us, but it’s something we’ve prepared for.
“As South African teams, we like the physical and confrontational side of things and if you bring that against a side like Toulouse’s big pack, it will give us confidence in the game.
“We just need to minimise the penalties and make sure our discipline is good so we don’t give them opportunities to get into our 22, I think that will give us a fair chance.”
Sharks – 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Hyron Andrews, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Jeandre Labuschagne, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Ben Tapuai, 23 Thaakir Abrahams.
Can the Sharks overcome a mighty task in toppling Top 14 leaders Toulouse? @mark_keohane and Zels make their Champions Cup picks. pic.twitter.com/uARZrk0xM9
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) April 6, 2023