A number of Springbok players will feature in the match, including Siya Kolisi.
A Springbok-laden Sharks team, which will see André Esterhuizen leading the side and Aphelele Fassi back in action after a lengthy injury layoff, will run out against Saracens in a Champions Cup match at Kings Park in Durban on Saturday.
The match will be the 100th for the Sharks for Esterhuizen, who’ll lead the side at inside centre with Springbok rookie Ethan Hooker next to him in the midfield.
Fassi, who missed a big chunk of the Bok season because of an ankle injury, will be back in the No 15 jersey against the English side.
Bok stars
The other Boks who’ll be in the mix are Edwill van der Merwe, Makazole Mapimpi, Grant Williams, Phepsi Buthelezi, Vincent Tshituka, Siya Kolisi, Jason Jenkins and Bongi Mbonambi. There are also three Boks on the Sharks’ bench, namely Marvin Orie, Jaden Hendrikse and Jordan Hendrikse.
New Sharks boss JP Pietersen, who’s interim coach following the stepping down of John Plumtree, has opted to utilise Griquas loan player George Whitehead at flyhalf, with Jordan Hendrikse playing off the bench. There is no place for Siya Masuku in the side.
A young Sharks team lost 56-19 to Toulouse in France last weekend, while Saracens beat Clermont 47-10 in London.
Sharks: Aphelele Fassi, Edwill van der Merwe, Ethan Hooker, André Esterhuizen (capt), Makazole Mapimpi, George Whitehead, Grant Williams, Phepsi Buthelezi, Vincent Tshituka, Siya Kolisi, Emile van Heerden, Jason Jenkins, Hanro Jacobs, Bongi Mbonambi, Phatu Ganyane. Bench: Eduan Swart, Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, Mawande Mdanda, Marvin Orie, Matt Romao, Nick Hatton, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse.
