Beast makes a welcome return against the Eastern Province Kings
Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira runs with the ball during a Sharks training session at Mr Price King's Park on February 24, 2011 in Durban, South Africa. Photo by Gallo Images.
Good news for fans of Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira is the big front rower’s return to action, having been named to start at loosehead prop for The Sharks XV in their Vodacom Cup match against the EP Kings on Saturday.
Mr Price Kings Parkis set to explode into action as The Sharks XV get a big day under way against the EP Kings at 2.40pm, before The Sharks host their Vodacom Super Rugby opponents, the table-topping Chiefs in the main game at 5pm.
Sharks XV coach Sean Everitt has welcomed back a number of players to the fold and has enjoyed some continuity amongst the backs, with just one change to the backline, Fred Zeilinga is back at flyhalf in place of Gavin Hauptfliesch.
Amongst the forwards, plenty of firepower returns to duty with Jandre Marais back in the side after being away with The Sharks on tour; he will lead the team onto the field, while a completely new front row has been named, Nick Schonert and Kyle Cooper also returning from overseas duty, while Tendai Mtawarira is finally back in action following the ankle injury he sustained in the pre-season and which has seen him miss the past two or so months in recovery and rehab.
He uses this match to regain match fitness.
Last week’s loss, coming quite literally off the bounce of the ball going the way of the home side (a hack ahead should have seen the ball bounce harmlessly over the dead ball line, but instead hit the uprights, bounced into the chasing Boland player’s hands who scored the winner from that), will hopefully be erased this weekend as a tough EP Kings side will be shown due respect.
But for the home side, it’s all about playing to potential. If they do, a good result could be theirs.
The Sharks XV
15. Gouws Prinsloo, 14. S’bura Sithole, 13. Wandile Mjekevu, 12. Heimar Williams, 11. Rosko Specman, 10. Fred Zeilinga, 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Lubabalo Mtembu , 7. Brynard Stander, 6. Francois Kleinhans, 5. Peet Marais, 4. Jandre Marais (Captain), 3. Nick Schonert, 2. Kyle Cooper, 1. Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements:
16. Monde Hadebe, 17. Danie Mienie, 18. Brendan Groenewald, 19. Chris Cloete, 20. Hanco Venter, 21. Piet Lindeque, 22. Jaco van Tonder.
www.sharksrugby.co.za
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