Johann Muller back for the Sharks to play Lions
Johann Muller
The return of veteran Springbok lock Johann Muller is one of only a few changes Sharks Coach John Plumtree made to his team for the trip to Johannesburg, where they will face the lowly Lions on Saturday.
This Super 14 Round 10 encounter is Muller’s first since he fractured his finger against the Highlanders in Week Six.
The return of Muller to the starting XV means that Alistair Hargreaves drops down to the replacement bench, where he joins Wilhelm Steenkamp.
A injury to Ryan Kankowski (finger) and the injury-enforced absence of Keegan Daniel (shoulder) has necessitated a re-jig of the back row – with Willem Alberts shifting to No.8 against his former team. This means that Jean Deysel comes into the starting lineup, with Man of the Match against the Reds, Jacques Botes, completing the loose forward trio.
The formidable front row of captain John Smit, along with the Du Plessis brothers Bismarck and Jannie, remains intact – as does the entire backline.
The Sharks, should they hope to keep alive their faint hopes of play-off qualification, must win each of the remaining five games.
The Sharks: 15 Patrick Lambie, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Stefan Terblanche, 12 Riaan Swanepoel, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Johann Muller, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 John Smit (captain).
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Alistair Hargreaves, 20 Rory Kockott, 21 Andries Strauss, 22 Lwazi Mvovo.
Date: Saturday, April 17
Venue: Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT)
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Marius Jonker (South Africa), Phillip Bosch (South Africa)
TMO: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)
[Info from Rugby365]
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