The Sharks change one for the Final
- Photo by Anesh Debiky /Gallo
Hargreaves will provide second row back-up off the bench after missing the last few games with Jacques Botes making way.
Continuity in team selection is vital and for The Sharks being able to select an almost unchanged line-up provides them with momentum necessary for a big game – their biggest game of the season.
These two teams finished first and second, both won their home semi-finals and it is only fitting that the pair will contest the final.
Chasing back-to-back titles after winning in 2010, The Sharks have a team laden with internationals while the Lions last won in 1999 and with their team full of hungry youngsters, present formidable opposition. The Sharks have welcomed back seven Springboks from World Cup duty which has been a major boost, but also meant that squad depth was tested during the pool stages. Unlike the Lions.
“When we won the trophy last year, we were lucky enough to have the same team from start to finish over the course of the tournament, we had a cohesive unit,” explains coach John Plumtree.
“This year we’ve had a lot of challenges which the Lions haven’t. The challenge for us is that we have to gel as a team right from the first whistle, that’s something we’ve talked about. They have that in place already and that will be the challenge for us. They’ve been playing well with that group all year. They were able to lighten up against us when they played here recently, that performance meant nothing.
“I’m sure they’ve forgotten about that game, we have.”
The Sharks
15. Patrick Lambie
14. Odwa Ndungane
13. Stefan Terblanche
12. Marius Joubert
11. JP Pietersen
10. Frederic Michalak
9. Conrad Hoffmann
8. Ryan Kankowski
7. Willem Alberts
6. Keegan Daniel (Captain)
5. Ross Skeate
4. Jean Deysel
3. Jannie du Plessis
2. Bismarck du Plessis
1. Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira
Replacements
16. Craig Burden
17. Eugene van Staden
18. Alistair Hargreaves
19. Marcell Coetzee
20. Ross Cronje
21. Adrian Jacobs
22. Lwazi Mvovo
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