Tshituka to lead as Sharks bare teeth
09/06/2024 06:28 AM
Vincent Tshituka will skipper the Sharks XV against the Vodacom Bulls in Durban on Sunday, as John Plumtree continues to integrate his URC stars into the Currie Cup.
The Sharks go into the last fixture of the regular season at Kings Park with an impressive six-game unbeaten streak, and won 41-27 in the last meeting between the teams in Pretoria last year.
Both sides have already booked their place in next week’s semi-finals of this year’s edition of rugby’s oldest competition.
Tshituka takes over the captaincy from Nick Hatton, and will pack down with his brother Emmanuel and Phepsi Buthelezi in a powerful and exciting loose trio.
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Up front, there will be a new-look second and front row, with Springbok loosehead prop Ntuthuko Mchunu getting a run and two-time world champion Trevor Nyakane in support off the bench.
Junior Springboks Jurenzo Julius and Litelihle Bester have been outstanding throughout the Currie Cup campaign, and will start at outside centre and right wing, respectively.
Siya Masuku gets the nod in the No 10 jumper in the only other change to the backline.
Sharks – 15 Jordan Hendrikse, 14 Litelihle Bester, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Ethan Hooker, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Bradley Davids, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka (c), 6 Emmanuel Tshituka, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Gerbrandt Grobler, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Dylan Richardson, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Subs: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Lappies Labuschagne, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Lionel Cronje, 23 Jaco Williams.
Photo: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images
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