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Sharks make 11 changes to their XV for historic Lions rematch

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Cell C Sharks have made eleven changes to their starting XV for Saturday’s second match inside a week versus the Lions. The Durban-based franchise were defeated 54-7 in Johannesburg on Wednesday but they will now hope to go better in their quickly arranged second clash with Warren Gatland’s tourists in Pretoria.        

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Skipper and No8 Phepsi Buthelezi is the only forward from the midweek game who has been asked to start again, with scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse and wingers Thaakir Abrahams and Werner Kok the three repeat selections in the backline although Kok will start on this occasion at outside centre.

The Sharks were asked to take on the Lions for the second time this week after the tourists’ scheduled match versus the Bulls was postponed due to a virus outbreak in Jake White’s squad.   

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RugbyPass Fanzone on whether the Lions tour will be cancelled

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RugbyPass Fanzone on whether the Lions tour will be cancelled

Sharks boss Sean Everitt said: “We need to show patience, we can’t force the passes or put kicks through. We need to hold on to the ball for an extra phase because somewhere along the line, the wall can break. We didn’t show enough patience with the ball on attack against the Lions (on Wednesday) and we need to back ourselves to hold it through several phases, even more.”

Asked if it was fair for the Sharks to be asked to play against Gatland’s squad twice in four days, Lions MD Ben Calveley said: “They are the only side in the country that are able to make the really strict protocols that exist. That is because they have already been living in a bubble. 

“In terms of playing that number of games in a short period of time, that applies to us as well doesn’t it? We were already scheduled to play a fixture on Saturday, albeit against the Bulls originally. I can’t comment specifically on the Sharks situation but what I can say is certainly from our side we have absolutely fantastic medical and strength and conditioning teams in place here who work extremely closely with the coaches.

“If there were any doubts from a player welfare standpoint, the game wouldn’t be happening. I am sure that is also the case with the Sharks but I am not as close to their camp as I am with the Lions camp. 

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CELL C SHARKS (vs Lions, Saturday)
1. Ntuthuko Mchunu
2. Kerron van Vuuren
3. Wiehahn Herbst
4. Le Roux Roets
5. Reniel Hugo
6. Dylan Richardson
7. Mpilo Gumede
8. Phepsi Buthelezi (c)
9. Jaden Hendrikse
10. Lionel Cronje
11. Thaakir Abrahams
12. Murray Koster
13. Werner Kok
14. Marnus Potgieter
15. Anthony Volmink

Replacements
16. Dan Jooste
17. Mzamo Majola
18. Khutha Mchunu
19. Thembelani Bholi
20. Jeandre Labushagne
21. Cameron Wright
22. Boeta Chamberlain
23. Jeremy Ward
24. Lourens Adriaanse
25. Rynhardt Jonker
26. Curwin Bosch

 

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AM 39 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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