Sharks are banking on a star-studded bench

The selection of Springboks Beast Mtawarira, Daniel du Preez and Curwin Bosch on the bench are the obvious talking points as the Sharks complete their prep for their Super Rugby opener against the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday.

While coach Robert du Preez said the benching of prop Mtawarira and loose forward Du Preez had more to do with their lack of game time in the weeks leading up to the new season, and Bosch was always expected to play second fiddle to Robert du Preez Jr at flyhalf after the stellar display the coach’s son produced in the Currie Cup final, there is no doubt the Sharks will be fielding a bench full of high-impact players to match the high-tempo rugby the Lions usually produce in the final quarter at altitude.

The manic energy replacement hooker Akker van der Merwe can bring off the bench is well-known to Ellis Park fans, while Hyron Andrews is also a mobile lock.

“Beast had an extended onemonth break after the Springbok tour and only joined us after we came back from the game against Racing. He looks really good but we want to bring him back slowly and he’ll probably play 30 minutes. It’s the same with Dan, who’s had a bit of a groin niggle” coach Du Preez said.

“We also want to reward those guys who’ve played well in the warm-ups, but there were some very tough decisions. We are blessed to have so much depth. Kobus van Wyk is on the bench because he covers 13 and wing, while we want to give Akker a go off the bench.”

While some players are thawing out amongst the replacements, wing Makazole Mapimpi and flyhalf Du Preez have been thrown straight into the starting line-up on their Super Rugby debuts for the Sharks.

Much has been written about the changes at the Lions, but coach Du Preez isn’t biting.

“We’re not really interested in what they want to do, it will be more of the same I’m sure. You should ask Swys de Bruin,” Du Preez said after being asked what he expects from the Lions.

Sharks: Lwazi Mvovo, Sbu Nkosi, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi, Robert du Preez, Cameron Wright, Keegan Daniel, Jacques Vermeulen, Phillip van der Walt, Stephan Lewies, Ruan Botha (c), Thomas du Toit, Franco Marais, Juan Schoeman. Bench: Akker van der Merwe, John-Hubert Meyer, Beast Mtawarira, Hyron Andrews, Dan du Preez, Michael Claassens, Curwin Bosch, Kobus van Wyk.

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