Beast is back at the Shark Tank against the Highlanders
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The Sharks frontrow in training with the Springboks at the 2011 IRB World Cup. Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira to the right. Photo by Gallo Images /Getty Images.
Crowd-favourite, loosehead prop Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira, will make his much-awaiting return to The Sharks when he fronts up for Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby match against the Highlanders at Mr Price KINGS PARK.
Beast has had a lengthy spell out of the game after an ankle injury sustained during the pre-season build-up to the tournament, and after two games for The Sharks XV, is now fit and available for The Sharks.
Despite picking a vastly experienced Sharks side, coach John Plumtree warns that the Highlanders bring plenty of experience and aggression to the table themselves.
“We must make sure we kick accurately and our contestable kicking is accurate so we can get under those high balls because the Highlanders are more than just a counter-attacking side, they’re aggressive upfront and they have lots of experience.
“They’re a well-balanced side with heaps of X-factor. They have players who have been around for a long time and that’s one of the reasons why they’re doing well –they’re an experienced side – Jamie Joseph has assembled a good team.”
The Sharks side named also features a few other changes. John Plumtree will – together with the medical staff – make a late call on Jannie du Plessis who took a knock in the Chiefs game, and he will certainly play a role, whether in the starting line-up or off the bench, with Wiehahn Herbst set to share the tighthead duties.
Marcell Coetzee is back in the starting line-up after playing off the bench against the Chiefs and he will partner Keegan Daniel and Jacques Botes who starts his second game in succession.
Among the backs, The Sharks coach has made an interesting selection, the hugely-exciting Paul Jordaan (pictured) named at outside centre after featuring in the first three games of the tournament off the bench. This means a rotational change with JP Pietersen shifted to wing and Louis Ludik moving to fullback.
Plumtree has gone with a 5-2 split on the bench, with Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jean Deysel and a returning Ryan Kankowski all providing cover in the second and back row, with Frederic Michalak and Meyer Bosman the backline replacements.
The Sharks team is as follows:
1. Tendai Mtawarira, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 3. Jannie du Plessis / Wiehahn Herbst, 4. Steven Sykes, 5. Anton Bresler, 6. Jacques Botes, 7. Marcell Coetzee, 8. Keegan Daniel ( Captain ), 9. Charl McLeod, 10. Patrick Lambie, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 12. Tim Whitehead, 13. Paul Jordaan, 14. JP Pietersen, 15. Louis Ludik.
Replacements:
16. Craig Burden, 17. Wiehahn Herbst / Jannie du Plessis, 18. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 19. Jean Deysel, 20. Ryan Kankowski, 21. Frederic Michalak, 22. Meyer Bosman.
www.sharksrugby.co.za
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