By Brenden Nel.
No Eben Etzebeth. No Bongi Mbonambi and Springbok captain Siya Kolisi on the bench.
Cell C Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell surprised with some of his changes as he shuffled his side ahead of their Vodacom United Rugby Championship derby against the Emirates Lions in Durban on Friday.
There was an expectation the Sharks would field their Springboks for the derby but Powell has resisted that, giving several Boks a rest after two wins in the Heineken Champions’ Cup in as many weeks and has picked a largely mix and match slide.
Powell has made eight changes and one positional swop to the side that won their match in Bordeaux last weekend.
Phepsi Buthelezi will captain the revamped slide while Thomas du Toit moves to loosehead in a front row that has Carlu Sadie against his old sidie at tighthead and Dan Jooste replacing Mbonambi at hooker.
Another ex-Lion, Vincent Tshituka will face his brother Emmanuel, who was named at flank for the Lions, but not at loose forward. Tshituka moves to lock, where he will replace Etzebeth and partner Hyron Andrews in the engine room.
Sikhumbuzo Notshe moves into the six jersey with Kolisi dropping to the bench, while Jeandre Labuschagne adds his weight to the loose trio with Buthelezi at No 8.
In the backline Grant Williams gets a start at halfback with Jaden Hendrikse dropping off to the bench while Rohan Janse van Rensburg returns to the midfield to partner Lukhanyo Am, replacing the combination of Ben Tapuai and Francois Venter respectively.
But such is the rich depth the Sharks have that this side looks just as potent in the backline against a Lions side that hasn’t beaten a South African franchise all year.
Cell C Sharks: Boeta Chamberlain; Werner Kok, Lukhanyo Am, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Makazole Mapimpi; Curwin Bosch, Grant Williams; Phepsi Buthelezi (captain), Jeandre Labuschagne, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Hyron Andrews, Vincent Tshituka, Carlu Sadie, Dan Jooste, Thomas du Toit.
Replacements: Kerron van Vuuren, Dian Bleuler, Hanro Jacobs, Gerbrandt Grobler, Siya Kolisi, Jaden Hendrikse, Lionel Cronje, Ben Tapuai.