In a bid to recalibrate after a disappointing opener, Sharks coach John Plumtree has shuffled the deck for the upcoming clash against the Dragons in Newport. Notably, Jean Smith will be steering the ship at flyhalf, while Jaden Hendrikse returns to the more familiar waters of scrumhalf. The backline rejig also introduces Jurenzo Julius at No 13 and sees Edwill van der Merwe donning the No 15 jersey, stepping in for the sidelined Yaw Penxe.
The front eight remains untouched, riding the wave of a solid yet ultimately fruitless effort against Glasgow. In the engine room, Vincent Tshituka will once again captain the side, embodying the vigor that Sharks are known for.
From the scenic setup in Newport, loose forward Phepsi Buthelezi shared insights into the team's mindset following their recent defeat.
"Having looked back at the game, we know we could have been better in certain aspects, which was disappointing from our side and definitely something we’re going to look to improve on this week,"
Buthelezi remarked. Despite the setback, the team is keen on extracting positives to build momentum against the Dragons.
The sentiment in camp is clear and focused on redemption. Buthelezi emphasized the squad's determination to display their resilience and honor the Sharks' legacy.
"It’s really simple from our side: we want our fans to see a proud and hardworking Sharks team that’s going to go out and work hard for one another and show pride in the Sharks jersey. Something we’ve spoken a lot about during the pre-season was working hard for the badge and that’s what we want to show on Friday night,”
he added.
The team lineup for the match is as follows: SHARKS – 15 Edwill van der Merwe, 14 PK Sobahle, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Christie Grobbelaar, 10 Jean Smith, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Vincent Tshituka (c), 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Deon Slabbert, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Simphiwe Matanzima; Bench: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Cebo Dlamini/Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Bathobele Hlekani, 20 Nick Hatton, 21 Ross Braude, 22 Francois Venter, 23 Hakeem Kunene.
As the Sharks gear up to turn the tide against the Dragons, all eyes will be on how these strategic changes pan out on the field. Will this blend of familiar faces and new roles ignite the spark that Sharks desperately seek? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: they're not going down without a fight.
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In a bid to recalibrate after a disappointing opener, Sharks coach John Plumtree has shuffled the deck for the upcoming clash against the Dragons in Newport. Notably, Jean Smith will be steering the ship at flyhalf, while Jaden Hendrikse returns to the more familiar waters of scrumhalf. The backline rejig also introduces Jurenzo Julius at No 13 and sees Edwill van der Merwe donning the No 15 jersey, stepping in for the sidelined Yaw Penxe.
The front eight remains untouched, riding the wave of a solid yet ultimately fruitless effort against Glasgow. In the engine room, Vincent Tshituka will once again captain the side, embodying the vigor that Sharks are known for.
From the scenic setup in Newport, loose forward Phepsi Buthelezi shared insights into the team's mindset following their recent defeat.
"Having looked back at the game, we know we could have been better in certain aspects, which was disappointing from our side and definitely something we’re going to look to improve on this week,"
Buthelezi remarked. Despite the setback, the team is keen on extracting positives to build momentum against the Dragons.The sentiment in camp is clear and focused on redemption. Buthelezi emphasized the squad's determination to display their resilience and honor the Sharks' legacy.
"It’s really simple from our side: we want our fans to see a proud and hardworking Sharks team that’s going to go out and work hard for one another and show pride in the Sharks jersey. Something we’ve spoken a lot about during the pre-season was working hard for the badge and that’s what we want to show on Friday night,”
he added.The team lineup for the match is as follows: SHARKS – 15 Edwill van der Merwe, 14 PK Sobahle, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Christie Grobbelaar, 10 Jean Smith, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Vincent Tshituka (c), 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Deon Slabbert, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Simphiwe Matanzima; Bench: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Cebo Dlamini/Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Bathobele Hlekani, 20 Nick Hatton, 21 Ross Braude, 22 Francois Venter, 23 Hakeem Kunene.
As the Sharks gear up to turn the tide against the Dragons, all eyes will be on how these strategic changes pan out on the field. Will this blend of familiar faces and new roles ignite the spark that Sharks desperately seek? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: they're not going down without a fight.