Eight World Cup winners and eleven Springboks in all are starting for the Sharks versus Edinburgh in the Challenge Cup quarterfinal. One of them is Eben Etzebeth.
With eleven Springboks with caps, the Sharks have assembled a formidable squad for their crucial Challenge Cup quarterfinal matchup with Edinburgh.
In the Challenge Cup, the Sharks have performed admirably in spite of their apparent and mysterious problems in the United Rugby Championship. They have progressed to the European tournament’s playoffs and will play Scottish team Edinburgh in a quarterfinal.
Additionally, coach John Plumtree has summoned the Springbok cavalry at his disposal. In the Sharks’ match 23, eleven Springboks have been selected: Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Koch, Jaden Hendrikse, Makazole Mapimpi, Lukhanyo Am, Grant Williams (all World Cup winners), Aphelele Fassi, Ntuthuko Mchunu, and Curwin Bosch.
SHARKS ANNOUNCE AMAZING LINEUP
With just two changes to the starting lineup from the Sharks team that defeated Zebre in the round of 16 playoffs last week, Etzebeth returns from injury at No. 4, while Dan Jooste replaces Corne Rahl at hooker, moving to the bench.
a scrumhalf who is bent If Williams comes off the bench, he will receive his 50th cap for the Sharks, and Curwin Bosch, the reserve, may make his 100th appearance for the Durban-based team in international games.
Edinburgh, meanwhile, has chosen a match day squad full of Test players for the crucial match, which gets underway at Kings Park on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.
Not to be outdone by the Sharks, Edinburgh has three international players who were born in South Africa in its lineup. These are Duhan van der Merwe, a wing, and props WP Nel and Pierre Schoeman, who all presently play Test rugby for Scotland.
The three were part of Scotland’s 33-man team for the Rugby World Cup in France in 2023, when they faced the Springboks, which included players currently in the
Sharks — 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13. Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Ethan Hooker, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Lappies Labuschagne, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Curwin Bosch, 23 Francois Venter.
Edinburgh — 15 Wes Goosen, 14 Jacob Henry, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Matt Currie, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Ben Healy, 9 Ben Vellacott, 8 Bill Mata, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Grant Gilchrist (c), 4 Sam Skinner, 3 WP Nel, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Subs: 16 Dave Cherry, 17 Boan Venter, 18 D’arcy Rae, 19 Jamie Hodgson, 20 Luke Crosbie, 21 Ali Price, 22 James Lang, 23 Chris Dean.
