Pat Lambie will start at fyhalf for the Sharks for the first time since March as director of rugby Jake White made several changes to his team ahead of Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby semifinal against the Crusaders in Christchurch.
Lambie made his return off the bench last week against the Highlanders, but he last played in the starting team when he tore a bicep against the Bulls in the first loss of the season at Loftus four months ago.
Paul Jordaan, who started at inside centre against the Highlanders last week, moves to outside centre and JP Pietersen gets to play on the wing. S’bura Sithole is dropped out of the starting team onto the bench to make space for Pietersen.
Stephan Lewies returns at No 5 lock after missing the Highlanders play-off match because of injury while Anton Bresler is out with a rib injury and this means that Willem Alberts shifts from flank to lock.
Jean Deysel is rewarded for his outstanding performance as a replacement against the Highlanders with a starting place on the blindside flank.
Cell C Sharks team: 15.SP Marais, 14.JP Pietersen, 13.Paul Jordaan, 12.Frans Steyn, 11.Lwazi Mvovo, 10.Pat Lambie, 9.Cobus Reinach, 8.Ryan Kankowski, 7.Jean Deysel, 6.Marcell Coetzee, 5.Stephan Lewies, 4.Willem Alberts, 3.Jannie du Plessis, 2.Bismarck du Plessis (captain), 1.Thomas du Toit.
Replacements: 16.Kyle Cooper, 17.Dale Chadwick, 18.Lourens Adriaanse, 19.Etienne Oosthuizen, 20.Tera Mtembu, 21.Charl McLeod, 22.S’bura Sithole, 23.Tonderai Chavhanga.
