The Sharks XV are back on the road for the third time in four weeks as they travel to Kimberley to take on the Griquas in a Currie Cup fourth-round clash against the 2022 finalists on Friday afternoon.
Coach JP Pietersen, buoyed by his team’s brave effort against the Cheetahs last weekend in going down 5-7, has stuck with his young blood and has handed Junior Springbok heavyweight Bathobele Hlekani his first start this season.
The 20-year-old will be playing in his familiar role at flank, although he made his debut for the Sharks XV last year, also in week four, but selected at lock.
Another change in the pack sees Bryce Calvert returning at hooker for Jacques Marais.
Deon Slabbert is in for Corne Rahl at lock, and Matt Romao takes over at flank from Tino Mavesere.
SA Under-20 star Ceano Everson replaces Bradley Davids at scrumhalf in the first of the backline changes, while fans get to see wing Paschal Ekeji for the first time. He is of Nigerian descent and was born in Lesotho, and he was schooled at Grey College. He read for an honours degree in agriculture at the University of Stellenbosch.
Ekeji played Varsity Cup rugby and is back from a stint in the USA, where he had a shot at the NFL. Ekeji takes over from Yaw Penxe.
The final change sees SA Sevens star, Commonwealth gold medalist and Olympic bronze medalist Christie Grobbelaar, replacing last week’s Player of the Match, Phikolomzi “PK” Sobahle, on the wing.
Friday’s clash at the Suzuki Stadium in Kimberley kicks off at 3pm.
Sharks Team
15 Jaco Williams, 14 Christie Grobbelaar, 13 Diego Appollis, 12 Marnus Potgieter, 11 Pascal Ekeji, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Ceano Everson, 8 Nick Hatton (captain), 7 Batho Hlekani, 6 Matt Romeo, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Gideon Koegelenberg, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Bryce Calvert, 1 Phatu Ganyane.
Bench: 16 Willem van den Hever, 17 Simphiwe Ngobese, 18 Phiwaynkosi Khubeka, 19 Coetzee le Roux, 20 Jannes Potgieter, 21 Tiaan Fourie 22 Jean Smith, 23 Hakeem Kunene.
