The injury crisis that has dogged the Sharks this season struck again in their preparations for their away Champions Cup match against Bordeaux on Sunday (3pm SA time kick-off), with Vincent Tshituka and James Venter suffering recurrences of the arm injuries that sidelined them for over a month.
The two loose forwards travelled with the Sharks to France, only to break down in training this week.
Coach John Plumtree said on Friday that he is at his wits’ end because of the deepening injury crisis.
“I’ve been in coaching for a long time, and I don’t recall having a run as bad as this one,” he said.
“I’m scratching for players, and am using youngsters for this game that I had not planned on using in this competition.”
The Sharks nevertheless have a formidable starting line-up, even with Plumtree needing to give star prop Oc Nche a rest of sorts by playing him off the bench.
Springbok loosehead Nche has carried a heavy workload this season, and Plumtree has an able replacement for him in rising star Ntuthuko Mchunu at No 1.
He will be in the front row with fellow Boks Trevor Nyakane and Bongi Mbonambi.
The Sharks have a new halfback combination in Grant Williams and Siya Masuku.
The former is back for injury, and that allows Jaden Hendrikse to have a semblance of a break by playing off the bench, while Masuku comes in from the cold to replace injured Jordan Hendrikse in the No 10 jersey.
Also in the backline, Ethan Hooker shifts to the wing to allow last week’s try-scorer against Toulouse, Jurenzo Julius, to start in the midfield, where he will partner the experienced Francois Venter. | Independent Media Sport
Sharks Team
15 Yaw Penxe 14 Eduan Keyter 13 Jurenzo Julius 12 Francois Venter 11 Ethan Hooker 10 Siya Masuku 9 Grant Williams 8 Siya Kolisi (captain) 7 Manu Tshituka 6 Phepsi Buthelezi 5 Jason Jenkins 4 Corné Rahl 3 Trevor Nyakane 2 Bongi Mbonambi 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Bench: 16 Ethan Bester 17 Ox Nche 18 Hanro Jacobs 19 Jeandré Labuschagne 20 Dylan Richardson 21 Bradley Davids 22 Jaden Hendrikse 23 Hakeem Kunene.