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Eben Etzebeth returns to Sharks XV after surgery

Eben Etzebeth back with the Sharks in Durban

Eben Etzebeth is set to play his first game in over two months when he starts against Ulster at Kings Park on Saturday in the United Rugby Championship.

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The double World Cup winning lock last played in January in a 20-18 South African derby loss to the Lions, with Sharks head coach John Plumtree confirming in February that he had undergone surgery for a knee injury.

Speaking ahead of his comeback, the recently crowned SA Rugby player of the year said this is the strongest team the Sharks have put out this season.

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Nigel Owens about the state of South African refereeing

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      Nigel Owens about the state of South African refereeing

      “We haven’t had a good season so far and no excuses, we need to take a hard look at ourselves as individuals and as a collective,” he said.

      “Somehow we haven’t been executing our plans and that’s disappointing, but we’ll be looking to rectify that over the remainder of the season and make the last part of it a successful one.

      Fixture
      United Rugby Championship
      Sharks
      22 - 12
      Full-time
      Ulster
      All Stats and Data

      “We’re looking to end strong, there’s always a sense of pride when we wear the Hollywoodbets Sharks jersey and win games and that motivates the guys to not give up, but to make it difficult for the teams coming to Durban.

      “As a collective, this was probably the strongest 23 we could have picked for this game so far this season and it’s a big boost having guys like [himself and] Bongi and Vincent Koch back.”

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      The Sharks sit at the bottom of the URC table with only one win this season. While they remain in the Challenge Cup, their hopes of achieving anything in the league this campaign are already over.

      However, the Springbok said the aim now is to build confidence ahead of next season, and that will come by upping the physicality. If ever a team wants to up their physicality, Etzebeth is probably the best player on Earth to call upon.

      “We as a Sharks team must get our confidence right for next season and finish this season on a high. Hopefully we can produce a great performance on Saturday.

      “We need to step up in the physicality department, we haven’t had a great set-piece this year and we as South Africans love that battle, but I just feel at the moment we’re letting ourselves down and letting the supporters down with what we’ve produced.

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      “The plan is to be a lot more physical on the field this weekend.”

      Sharks XV
      1. Ntuthuko Mchunu
      2. Bongi Mbonambi
      3. Hanro Jacobs
      4. Eben Etzebeth
      5. Gerbrandt Grobler
      6. Phepsi Buthelezi
      7. Vincent Tshituka
      8. George Cronje
      9. Jaden Hendrikse
      10. Siya Masuku
      11. Makazole Mapimpi
      12. Ethan Hooker
      13. Lukhanyo Am (C)
      14. Eduan Keyter
      15. Aphelele Fassi

      Replacements
      16. Kerron van Vuuren
      17. Ox Nche
      18. Vincent Koch
      19. Corne Rahl
      20. Jeandre Labuschagne
      21. Cameron Wright
      22. Curwin Bosch
      23. Francois Venter

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      JW 1 hour ago
      How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

      One of the real-world spin-offs of Rassie’s selection policy was glossed over in the statement ‘it discriminates against backs; our game is for all shapes and sizes’. The truth is exactly the opposite.

      I think you misconstrue his point for this story.

      The biggest differential between the size of the forwards and the size of the backs is France at +29kg per man in favour of the forwards.

      This is exactly his point that you’re agreeing with, ALL the fowards are big (hence the discrepancy).


      You didn’t really make a good point yourself. A Data Analysts recently came in with an article about Super Rugby and was the first to correctly use Median instead of Mean as the basis of his prognosis. That’s what this article is missing. French forwards in their own would also have the widest margin of variance, with big and small forwards. French rugby, and their packs are frequently misidentified as large (again in just a recent article last week), when they actually have quite the tradition for athletic forwards as well.


      Back back to the real issue you have tried to highlight, much like League went, the game now is moving all forwards towards the same size and shape. The topic of all sizes and shapes is not for the 75’s and the 140’s to get representation, it is that 90 to 110 range where everyone should probably be for the best rugby. Hell the most popular form of rugby now in NZ is the u85’s I think, and you have everyone in it, short f/r, bean pole locks, explosive 2nd5’s. I think there’s some allowance but everyone else would be between that 80 to 85 range I reckon.


      I think it goes back to Grant Batty. Really enjoyed the explosion of all the little guys in Super Rugby this year as well, some of the best to watch. I’m not enjoying the discussion that stand out fowards in the competition like Du’Plessis Kirifi or Ioane Moananu are too small (read short) for International rugby forwards, so thank you very much Nick but you can kindly decease (FRO) with suggesting you can only be a forward if you’re 120kgs.

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