Sharks lose Springbok

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks coach Sean Everitt has named his team to take on the Highlanders at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Friday.

Unfortunately for the Durban side, try-scoring Springbok wing Sibusio Nkosi has a minor niggle and will miss this game, handing newly-recruited Madosh Tambwe a debut start for the Sharks.

Two players are also set to achieve personal milestones in this game in captain Lukhanyo Am, who is set to play his 50th Super Rugby game for the Sharks (he already has 10 other Super Rugby caps for the Kings) and Craig Burden who will earn his 50th Super Rugby cap, if he comes off the bench.

Head coach Sean Everitt admitted that the win over the Bulls was important for the team to set the tone for the season, particularly before touring.

“It was a massive confidence booster,” he said of the 23-15 win at Jonsson Kings Park on Friday evening.

“It was good reward for the players who worked tirelessly over the course of the pre-season. They’ve been amazing so it’s good that they put in a good performance, even if there were some errors, both teams made them in the tough conditions. So we’re happy with how things went and it was great to get onto the plane with a win.”

Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Sikumbuzo Notshe, 7 Tyler Paul, 6 James Venter, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nche

Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 Le Roux Roets, 20 Henco Venter, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Henry Chamberlain, 23 Jeremy Ward

Date: Friday, February 7

Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

Kick-off: 19.05 (08.05 SA time; 06.05 GMT)

Referee: Angus Gardner

Assistant referees: Paul Williams, James Doleman

TMO: Chris Hart