Sharks forced to swap three for Toulouse showdown

Sharks boss Neil Powell has made three injury-enforced changes his team’s match-day squad to face Toulouse in the Champions Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.

The Sharks hammered Munster 50-33 in the Champions Cup Round of 16 playoff at Kings Park last Saturday to book a quarter-final showdown with Toulouse in France this week.

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But that handsome victory came at a cost, as the Sharks will now be without Eben Etzebeth, Jaden Hendrikse and Emile van Heerden, who were all injured in the clash against Munster.

Hyron Andrews replaces injured Springbok Etzebeth at lock, while Grant Williams comes in for fellow Bok Hendrikse at scrumhalf, and loose forward Jeandre Labuschagne takes over from Van Heerden on the bench.

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AM SAYS THEY’RE PREPARED FOR TOULOUSE CHALLENGE

Sharks centre Lukhanyo Am admitted that the team are all set after the huge Munster clash, and he expects nothing different this week against the French giants.

“The bodies were a bit sore after the Munster game, that was a really physical game, close to test match demands,” he said. “One or two wins gets your momentum going and right now we’re in a good space. We’re going to France to go play rugby.”

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On the challenge of facing Toulouse at Stade Mayol, the Springbok midfielder added: “The French sides have a similar style of play to us, with a focus on the set-piece and forward-dominance with a backline that’s not afraid to move the ball around.

“It’s almost like-for-like and going to Toulouse, they’re a big side in France with home ground advantage which is going to be a challenge for us, but it’s something we’ve prepared for.

“As South African teams, we like the physical and confrontational side of things and if you bring that against a side like Toulouse’s big pack, it will give us confidence in the game.

“We just need to minimise the penalties and make sure our discipline is good so we don’t give them opportunities to get into our 22, I think that will give us a fair chance.”

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SHARKS TEAM FOR CHAMPIONS CUP PLAYOFF

Sharks — 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Hyron Andrews, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Jeandre Labuschagne, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Ben Tapuai, 23 Thaakir Abrahams.

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