mens
United-rugby-championship
Eben Etzebeth was promoted from the bench and started for the team Sharks on Saturday United Rugby Championship derby against the Stormers.
The Springbok lock is one of three internationals elevated to JP Pietersen’s starting XV after the 26-20 win over Leinster last weekend, with Ox Nche and Ethan Hooker also stepping up from the substitutes.
Nche starts from a loose head, which sees Thomas du Toit move from no. 1 on a solid head. Hooker comes in on the left wing, while Etzebeth partners Darrien Landsberg in the second row for the league leaders’ first away game of the campaign.
There are further changes in the pack, with Matt Romao starting at blindside and Phepsi Buthelezi moving to No.8. Zekhethelo Siyaya gets the No.15 shirt, while Gianni Lombard is set to make his debut for the Sharks from the bench.
The Sharks travel south after opening their season with back-to-back wins at home, but scrum coach Philip Lemmer expects the set-piece battle to be a major factor against Stormers a side featuring several Springbok faces.
“It’s definitely going to be a huge battle this week, like two big brothers fighting each other at race time because they all know each other very well, having fought together in the Pits and against each other.
“It’s a big competition and a big focus point to see who can dominate at scrum time.”
Sharks XV: 15 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (captain), 11 Ethan Hooker; 10 Vuci Moyo, 9 Jaden Hendricks; 1 Ox Nche, 2 Eduan Swart, 3 Thomas du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 6 Matt Romao, 7 Manu Tshituka, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi.
Replacements: 16 Esethu Mnebelele, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Stephan Lewies, 21 Nick Hatton, 22 Ivan van Zyl, 23 Gianni Lombard.