sharks vs bulls

Cape Town-180618 Springbok Sikhumbuzo Notshe at training session at Cape Town Stadium ahead of their game against England on saturday .photograph:Phando Jikelo/African News Agency/ANA

Super Rugby: Three Sharks debutants named in starting team against Bulls

Springbok loose forward Sikhumbuzo Notshe is among the three Sharks debutant that will start against the Bulls on Friday.

sharks vs bulls

Cape Town-180618 Springbok Sikhumbuzo Notshe at training session at Cape Town Stadium ahead of their game against England on saturday .photograph:Phando Jikelo/African News Agency/ANA

Sharks coach Sean Everitt has named new signings Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Ox Nche and James Venter in the starting line-up ahead of Friday’s Super Rugby opener against the Bulls.

The men from Durban finished in the quarterfinals of the southern hemisphere’s premier franchise competition, and begin the 2020 campaign at home.

First Sharks starts for trio

They go into it with three players making their first appearance in a Sharksk jumper, including Springbok loose forward Notshe, who starts in the number 8 jersey, having moved from the Stormers in the offseason.

Bolstering the front row is former Cheetahs prop Nche, who packs up alongside Kerron van Vuuren and World Cup-winning Bok prop Thomas du Toit, while Venter makes his first senior appearance for the Sharks, having played his youth rugby in Durban before moving to the Lions.

The team is captained by Springbok centre Lukhanyo Am, who forms part of a star-studded backline consisting of six international, with promising fullback Aphelele Fassi the only one yet to be capped.

Bosch has eyes on the prize

Hoping to stake permanent claim to the number 10 jersey is 22-year-old Curwin Bosch, who spent much of the last two seasons competing with fellow Bok, Robert du Preez Jnr for a spot at flyhalf.

Bosch sees this as an opportunity to further cement his spot in the team.

 “For me to grow in confidence at 10, I need game time there, that’s how a player gets better and I’m really looking forward to it,” he told the official Sharks website.

Curwin Bosch

The youngster, however, faces the daunting task of coming up against an experienced head in Bulls stalwart, Morne Steyn, who returns to Super Rugby after a stint in Europe.

“Morne brings a lot of experience to his side, they’ve lost quite a few players overseas and because he’s such a good kicker, we know our discipline and game management need to be really sharp this weekend,” he said of his opposite number.

“But we’re going into this weekend’s game with a plan and if we stick to it, the result will take care of itself.”

Curwin Bosch

Kick-off is at 17:15 (SAST).

Sharks team vs Bulls 

Backs: 15. Aphelele Fassi, 14. Sbu Nkosi, 13. Lukhanyo Am (c), 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 10. Curwin Bosch, 9. Louis Schreuder

Forwards: 8. Sikumbuzo Notshe, 7. Tyler Paul, 6. James Venter, 5. Hyron Andrews, 4. Ruben van Heerden, 3. Thomas du Toit, 2. Kerron van Vuuren, 1. Ox Nche.

Replacements: 16. Craig Burden, 17. Juan Schoeman, 18. John-Hubert Meyer, 19. Le Roux Roets, 20. Henco Venter, 21. Sanele Nohamba, 22. Boeta Chamberlain, 23. Jeremy Ward.