Currie Cup-winning Griquas flyhalf George Whitehead will start for the Sharks against Connacht in Galway on Saturday.
The Vodacom URC resumes this weekend, and the Sharks have turned to one of the Currie Cup’s most experienced campaigners to steer them through tricky Irish conditions.
Whitehead – who famously slotted the injury-time penalty that won Griquas this year’s Currie Cup final – has been drafted straight into the No 10 jersey for his Sharks debut.
While the Durban-based side are still without most of their Springboks due to the Test against Wales, they do have the services of winger Edwill van der Merwe and scrumhalf Grant Williams, who’s on the bench.
The Sharks are currently 13th on the URC log having won their first match of the season last time out against the Scarlets.
TSHITUKA: Sharks pulling together
SHARKS – 15 Jordan Hendrikse, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Emmanuel Tshituka, 7 Vincent Tshituka (c), 6 Matt Romao, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Phatu Ganyane.
Bench: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Emile van Heerden, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Le Roux Malan, 23 Hakeem Kunene.
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
The post Sharks back Griquas hero appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.