Etzebeth debuts as Sharks welcome their Springboks back

Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth will make his debut for the Sharks on Saturday when they host Glasgow Warriors in their United Rugby Championship clash at  Kings Park Stadium in Durban.

Etzebeth has been a key and very popular signing for the Sharks and he will play alongside a number of Springboks who are back in URC action following the conclusion of the Rugby Championship.

Scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse, fresh off his exploits with the Springboks, has returned to the Sharks team as well and he can’t wait to get stuck in.

“I’m super excited to get onto the park this weekend, for me it’s about enjoying every moment,” he explains.

“The focus for us has been on our defence, we need to get our spacing and alignment right and then to make our tackles. And when we have possession in their 22, to be absolutely accurate with the ball.

Returning Springboks will bring immense firepower, not least of all Eben Etzebeth, who will be keen to deliver a strong showing in his first outing for his new team.

“We’d like to have a big influence, but within the Sharks’ DNA and fit in as smoothly as possible. A guy like Eben is super-excited to be playing.”

Glasgow come to Durban fresh off a victory over the Vodacom Bulls and will come to Durban full of confidence.

“What we saw last weekend was Glasgow matching the Bulls physically, they disrupted the Bulls’ lineouts and attacked their breakdown. But the focus of this game is more on ourselves and pitching up on Saturday and playing the Sharks way.

In changes to last week’s game, Eben Etzebeth will get his first start and there will also be another debutant amongst the loose-trio in Vincent Tshituka, with Phepsi Buthelezi returning at eighthman in the three changes amongst the forwards.

Jaden Hendrikse takes over from an injured Grant Williams at scrumhalf, Anthony Volmink comes in for Thaakir Abrahams on the wing and Marnus Potgieter replaces Rohan Janse Van Rensburg at outside centre to complete the changes to the starting XV. Springboks Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche, Siya Kolisi, and Makazole Mapimpi are expected to make a collective impression off the bench.

Sharks
1. Ntuthuko Mchunu
2. Kerron van Vuuren
3.Thomas du Toit (c)
4. Eben Etzebeth*
5. Hyron Andrews
6. Dylan Richardson
7. Vincent Tshituka*
8. Phepsi Buthelezi
9. Jaden Hendrikse
10. Boeta Chamberlain
11. Anthony Volmink
12. Ben Tapuai
13. Marnus Potgieter
14. Werner Kok
15. Aphelele Fassi
 
Replacements
16. Bongi Mbonambi
17. Ox Nche
18. Carlu Sadie
19. Reniel Hugo
20. Siya Kolisi
21. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
22. Cameron Wright
23. Makazole Mapimpi
 
*Denotes debut for the Cell C Sharks