Sharks mix it up

The Sharks have called on some youth and experience to plug the gaps in their team for their clash with the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld this weekend.

With Craig Burden having been called up to the Springbok touring squad to Argentina following the loss of Bismarck du Plessis to injury, Monde Hadebe, the former Sharks Under-21 captain, gets an opportunity to prove his worth while Franco Marais is elevated from his current role with the Sharks U1s onto the bench as back-up.

Meyer Bosman will not be risked this weekend after injuring his knee against the Lions, which sees Springbok Marius Joubert coming into the starting line-up at inside centre.

Otherwise the starting line-up is unchanged from the combination that managed to beat the golden Lions in Johannesburg last weekend.

Sharks coach John Plumtree has opted for a five-two split on the bench which opens the door for another young player, Brynard Stander, who will earn his first cap for The Sharks should he play.

As the only unbeaten side in the tournament, the Sharks go into this match with some confidence, although know that they will need to be on top of their game when they face the Blue Bulls who will be smarting from their defeat to the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein last week.

Sharks: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Marius Joubert, 11 S'bura Sithole, 10 Riaan Viljoen, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Jacques Botes, 7 Jean Deysel (captain), 6 Francois Kleinhans, 5 Anton Bresler, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Monde Hadebe, 1 Dale Chadwick.

Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Julian Redelinghuys, 18 Jandre Marais, 19 Lubabalo Mtembu, 20 Brynard Stander, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Gouws Prinsloo.

Date: Saturday, August 25

Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)

Referee: Jaco Peyper

Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen, Cobus Wessels

TMO: Gerrie Coetzee