Frans Steyn back home but no Lambie or Alberts for Sharks

Jul 4 • National, Super Rugby, Super Rugby News • 3270 Views • Comments Off on Frans Steyn back home but no Lambie or Alberts for Sharks

Frederic Michalak. Photo by Bruce Taylor /Rugby15.

Sharks coach John Plumtree has announced his side to face the Vodacom Bulls in the penultimate match of the Super Rugby round-robin stages.

The Sharks will have to do without two of their most influential Springboks with fullback Pat Lambie and loose forward Willem Alberts both ruled out due to injury. Both players picked up injuries during the Boks’ series victory over England in June. Neither player recovered sufficiently.

Good news is that Frans Steyn is back at Mr Price Kingspark and will partner with Tim Whitehead in the midfield. Steyn returns to the Sharks after a couple of seasons with French Top 14 club Racing Metro.

In another change, Pieter-Steph du Toit gets his first start in the back row after winning the Junior World Championship with the BabyBoks. Du Toit has made four appearances off the bench so far but an injury to Steven Sykes sees him partner with Anton Bresler from the first blow of the whistle.

Keegan Daniel will yet again captain the side while France’s Frederic Michalak returns from national duty to partner with Charl Mcleod. The front-row is an all Springbok one with Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis and Jannie du Plessis looking to stop a young and powerful Bulls pack in their tracks.

On the wings are two more Springboks with speedsters JP Pietersen and Lwazi Mvovo picked to do the finishing.

SHARKS:

1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. Jannie du Plessis
4. Anton Bresler
5. Pieter-Steph du Toit
6. Keegan Daniel (Captain)
7. Marcell Coetzee
8. Ryan Kankowski
9. Charl McLeod
10. Frederic Michalak
11. Lwazi Mvovo
12. Francois Steyn
13. Tim Whitehead
14. JP Pietersen
15. Louis Ludik

Replacements:
16. Craig Burden
17. Wiehahn Herbst
18. Jandre Marais
19. Jean Deysel
20. Cobus Reinach
21. Meyer Bosman
22. Odwa Ndungane