By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Ox Nche and Aphelele Fassi have both returned from injuries to bolster a Hollywoodbets Sharks team for Saturday’s Vodacom URC match against the Lions at Kings Park.
Nche has been out since he injured his leg playing for the Boks against Japan at Wembley Stadium in London at the start of the national team’s November tour. He comes back into the team as the starting loosehead in place of Phatu Ganyane, with Ganyane shifting to the bench.
He will pack down with his long-time Bok partner in hooker Bongi Mbonambi and the promising young tighthead Hanro Jacobs.
Fassi was out of rugby for several months following the injury sustained playing for the Boks in their record 43-10 win over New Zealand in Wellington in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship season, but was back in the starting lineup when the Sharks beat Saracens in their second Investec Champions Cup game at Hollywoodbets Kings Park a few weeks ago.
Lock Corne Rahl and fullback Siya Masuku also make welcome returns to the match 23, both named on the bench.
The Sharks won their last URC outing against the Vodacom Bulls in Durban two weeks ago, but are 13th on the log and in desperate need of victory against the eighth-placed Lions.
Sharks – – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (c), 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Manu Tshituka, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Bench: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Phatu Ganyane, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Nick Hatton, 22 Jaden Hendrikse, 23 Siya Masuku.