Makazole Mapimpi Sharks

Makazole Mapimpi will start for the Sharks. Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images

United Rugby Championship: Sharks dish out lesson to Lions

Sharks vs Lions LIVE Scores: Track the action from Kings Park where another United Rugby Championship derby plays out.

Makazole Mapimpi Sharks

Makazole Mapimpi will start for the Sharks. Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images

Sharks vs Lions LIVE Scores.

The Sharks will look to build on their emphatic victory against the Dragons last week when they host the Lions at Kings Park, and they will be expecting a big battle after the Joburgers’ impressive resurgence in the last few weeks in which they registered four consecutive victories.

Sharks vs Lions LIVE Scores

The Sharks have only lost of their home matches this year, but they will be wary of the fact that the Lions will have the extra motivation of possibly jumping into the top 10 on the log and reducing the gap between themselves and the Durbanites on the table if they register a victory, and Cardiff defeats the 10th placed Scarlets.

Fueling the visitors’ motivation, a victory would see them become the first South African opponent to defeat the Sharks at home this season (the Stormers drew in Durban in January), while a win would also mark their first win at the KwaZulu-Natal venue dating back to 2017.

Jannie du Plessis Sharks vs Lions URC
The Lions will look to make it five in a row when they face the Sharks in Durban on Saturday in the United Rugby Championship (URC). Photo: SA Rugby website

Sharks head coach Sean Everitt once more had the good fortune to retain pretty much the same side that defeated the Dragons 51-3 in Durban last weekend with a couple of rotational changes thrown in to keep everyone fresh and hungry.

Lock Reniel Hugo returns to the starting line-up with Le Roux Roets shifting to the bench, while Springbok captain Siya Kolisi (flank) returns in place of James Venter, and the final change to the pack sees Henco Venter (flank) coming in for Jeandre Labushagne, who will feature off the bench later in the game. Thomas du Toit retains the captaincy.

“Last week’s win over the Dragons was a really good platform for us to build on and now it’s about us building momentum,” explained Everitt. “The log is really important at the moment and a win this week will be big for us because the other two local franchises are also playing each other and we’re fighting in the SA Shield competition.”

The Johannesburg-based side named a match-23 which features experienced scrummager Jannie du Plessis, who will face his former franchise for the return leg of the tournament.

“I think it will be a forward dominated battle, particularly when it comes to scrums and mauls,” said Lions forwards and lineout coach Albert van den Berg. “Their kicking game is also quite a powerful weapon, so that’s an element we’ve prepared for in our sessions this week. If we can counter those aspects successfully, we feel we’re in with a shout come Saturday.”