The Sharks have made rotational and injury-enforced changes ahead of Super Rugby clash against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Saturday.
Flank Jean-Luc du Preez has a MCL (knee) niggle and will be returning home. Tyler Paul takes his place in the starting line-up with Luke Stringer named on the bench. The other change on the bench is centre Jeremy Ward who replaces Kobus van Wyk.
Eighthman Daniel du Preez who achieved the milestone of 50 caps against the Hurricanes last week said: “It’s been a huge honour playing for this team, I’ve made some great friends over the past few years.”
Without a home ground advantage, the pressure is on for the @CellC Sharks in their Vodacom @SuperRugby game against the @JaguaresARG. 🏉 #Oursharks need to dig deep to pull off a victory in Buenos Aires. 🏟 #JAGvSHA #OurSharksForever🦈 pic.twitter.com/5GRSqJ6ygG
— The Sharks (@TheSharksZA) June 6, 2019
He acknowledges that there are areas of the game that cost his team last weekend in which they lost 30-17 to the Kiwi outfit, and they will seek to rectify their mistakes.
“We made a few crucial errors against the Hurricanes and they put us under pressure defensively. We didn’t make our first-time tackles and didn’t keep the ball when we needed to so we couldn’t build pressure.”
The first-round match against the Jaguares in Durban kicked off a very good run of form for the Argentinean side. The Jaguares thumped the Sharks 51-17 on that occasion.
WAITING: Agustin Creevy and his Jaguares team await the Sharks in Buenos Aires. Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
“I definitely don’t think we pitched up on that day, once again didn’t look after the ball, didn’t build any scoreboard pressure and they gave us a big hiding. This Saturday we expect a massive battle, akin to test match rugby and we’re looking forward to it.
“They have a few dangerous players, both in the forwards and the backs, they live off mistakes, so we know we have to look after the ball this week.”
Du Preez was in the Sharks team that won in Argentina two years ago, and knows what it’s going to take to achieve a similar result.
STARTING: Curwin Bosch will start in the No.15 jersey for the Sharks against the Jaguares. Photo: Joel Carrett/EPA.
“It’s very tough conditions to play in, the crowd are very passionate and it’s the closest we’ll get to playing a test match in this competition so we’re looking forward to the battle.
"It is a difficult challenge, they would have taken a lot of confidence from their three out of four wins on tour, so we’ll have to be up for the challenge.”
Sharks team:
15. Curwin Bosch, 14. Sbu Nkosi, 13. Lukhanyo Am, 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 10. Robert du Preez, 9. Louis Schreuder ( captain), 8. Daniel du Preez, 7. Tyler Paul, 6. Jacques Vermeulen, 5. Ruan Botha, 4. Hyron Andrews, 3. Coenie Oosthuizen, 2. Kerron van Vuuren, 1. Mzamo Majola.
Replacements:
16. Craig Burden, 17. Juan Schoeman, 18. Thomas du Toit, 19. Ruben van Heerden, 20. Luke Stringer, 21. Zee Mkhabele, 22. Jeremy Ward, 23. Aphelele Fassi.
African News Agency