S’bu Nkosi and Coenie Oosthuizen will play off the bench for the Sharks in this Saturday’s clash against the Golden Lions in Durban.
Nkosi returns from an ankle injury sustained during the latter stages of Super Rugby, while Oosthuizen will make his long-awaited comeback from a serious knee injury suffered on the Boks’ 2017 end-of-year tour.
In addition to the availability of these two fit-again Springboks, the Sharks have also been boosted by the return of Thomas du Toit, who will start at tighthead prop.
Meanwhile, Ruben van Heerden, who recently signed from the Bulls, could earn his Sharks debut off the bench.
Sharks – 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Jeremy Ward, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Tyler Paul, 6 Luke Stringer, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Gideon Koegelenberg, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle (c), 1 Juan Schoeman.
Subs: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Ruben van Heerden, 19 Jacques Vermeulen, 20 Cameron Wright, 21 Sbu Nkosi, 22. Aphelele Fassi.
Subs: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Ruben van Heerden, 19 Jacques Vermeulen, 20 Cameron Wright, 21 Sbu Nkosi, 22. Aphelele Fassi.