Eben Etzebeth starts with four other Springboks following 12-game ban as Connacht welcome back Ireland star
Sharks and Springboks star Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi.
Eben Etzebeth will make his first appearance since November as he packs down in the Sharks’ second-row for the Challenge Cup round of 16 clash against Connacht.
The most capped Springbok of all-time completed his 12-match ban for eye gouging Alex Mann during South Africa’s 73-0 victory over Wales, by missing the Durbanites’ win over Cardiff last weekend in the URC.
Etzebeth’s return
And head coach JP Pietersen has thrown him right back into the mix ahead of a challenging close to the season for the Sharks, who could seal Investec Champions Cup rugby for 2026/27 by winning the Challenge Cup or finishing in the URC top eight – they are currently ranked 10th.
Pietersen has made a host of changes from the team that defeated Cardiff with an eye on what lies ahead ahead and the current injury list.
The head coach has changed his entire front five for the match with loosehead Ox Nche, hooker Eduan Swart and tighthead Vincent Koch promoted to the starting XV after coming off the bench last time out. They will be supported by locks Etzebeth and Deon Slabbert while there are changes to the back-row too.
Tino Mavesere and Jannes Potgieter replace Phepsi Buthelezi and Vincent Tshituka on the flankers, the latter taking a spot on the bench. That means that Nick Hatton is the only forward who started last week that retains his jersey as the 23-year-old skippers the team at number eight.
Similarly, Makazole Mapimpi is the only back who retains his starting role on the left wing with Springbok Edwill van der Merwe named on the right flank while Hakeem Kunene takes over from the injured Luan Giliomee at full-back.
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Ross Braude and Jean Smith are the starting half-backs for the clash in Galway while Marnus Potgieter and Le Roux Malan are the starting centres, with Andre Esterhuizen rested and Ethan Hooker included on the bench.
Pietersen has selected a traditional 5-3 bench split with Ethan Bester, Lee-Marvin Mazibuko and Mawande Mdanda covering the front-row. Corne Rahl is again included among the replacements and is joined by Tshituka. Ceano Everson, Siya Masuku and Hooker are the replacement backs.
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Connacht team news
Meanwhile, Connacht head coach Stuart Lancaster has welcomed back Ireland international Cian Prendergast who captains the team from the number eight jersey.
He is joined by Josh Murphy and Shamus Hurley-Langton in the loose trio while Joe Joyce and Darragh Murray – who made his Test debut against Scotland in the Six Nations – are the starting locks. Billy Bohan and Sam Illo are the starting props with hooker Dave Heffernan.
After scoring off the bench last weekend, Matthew Devine is elevated to the starting scrum-half role with Josh Ioane at fly-half while Chay Mullins replaces Finn Treacy on the left wing, Sam Gilbert starts at full-back and Shane Jennings on the right. Bundee Aki and Cathal Forde continue at centre.
Lancaster has returned to a 5-3 split on the bench, which includes Dylan Tierney-Martin, Peter Dooley, Finlay Bealham, Niall Murray, Paul Boyle, Colm Reilly, Sean Naughton, and John Devine.
Connacht v Sharks teams
Connacht: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Shane Jennings, 13 Cathal Forde, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Chay Mullins, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Matthew Devine, 8 Cian Prendergast, 7 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 6 Josh Murphy, 5 Darragh Murray, 4 Joe Joyce, 3 Sam Illo, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Billy Bohan
Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Niall Murray, 20 Paul Boyle, 21 Colm Reilly, 22 Sean Naughton, 23 John Devine
Unavailable: Denis Buckley, Temi Lasisi, Oisín Dowling, Sean Jansen, Oisín McCormack, Caolin Blade, Hugh Gavin, David Hawkshaw, Byron Ralston, Mack Hansen, Finn Treacy, Harry West, Shayne Bolton.
Sharks: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Le Roux Malan, 12 Marnus Potgieter, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jean Smith, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Nick Hatton (c), 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 18 Mawande Mdandam, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Ethan Hooker
Sharks players not considered for selection due to injury: Aphelele Fassi, Bongi Mbonambi, Bryce Calvert, Coetzee le Roux, Emmanuel Tshituka, Francois Venter, Grant Williams, Jaco Williams, Jaden Hendrikse, Jurenzo Julius, Luan Giliomee, Marvin Orie, Matt Romao, Phepsi Buthelezi, Ruan Dreyer, Simphiwe Matanzima, Siya Kolisi, Thomas Dyer, Trevor Nyakane, Yaw Penxe
Kick-off: 20:00 BST
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Sco)
Assistant Referees: Ru Campbell (Sco), Rob McDowell (Sco)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Sco)
How to watch: Premier Sports / beIN SPORTS / SuperSport / FloRugby / epcrugby.tv
