A host of big names return to the Sharks side to face Gloucester in the Prem Rugby Cup on Friday night as Alex Sanderson makes 10 changes following the home defeat to Bath in the previous pool stage game.
With the return of the Gallagher Prem just a month away, Skipper Ernst van Rhyn returns to lead the side while Raffi Quirke and Rob du Preez are back at half-back for the trip to Kingsholm (live on TNT Sports, KO 7.45pm).
The Sharks DoR has made two changes to his front row, with only hooker Nathan Jibulu remaining from Bath game. He’ll start between loosehead Si McIntyre and tighthead James Harper.
Ben Bamber and Hyron Andrews start in the second row while Van Rhyn teams up with Sam Dugdale and Jacques Vermeulen in the back row.
Quirke and Du Preez form the half-back combination and they’ll have Rekeiti Ma’asi-White and Joe Bedlow outside them in the centres.
Alex Wills, Arron Reed and Luke James make up an experienced back three.
Tadgh McElroy is the replacement hooker and he’s joined on the bench by academy props Ralph McEachran and Tye Raymont. Ethan Caine and Reuben Logan are the rest of the forwards on the bench.
Dom Hanson, Tom Curtis and Tom O’Flaherty make up the rest of the replacements.
Starting XV:
15. Luke James, 14. Arron Reed, 13. Joe Bedlow, 12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11. Alex Wills, 10. Rob du Preez, 9. Raffi Quirke; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Nathan Jibulu, 3. James Harper, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Hyron Andrews, 6. Ernst van Rhyn ©, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Jacques Verrmeulen.
Replacements:
16. Tadgh McElroy, 17. Ralph McEachran, 18. Tye Raymont, 19. Reuben Logan, 20. Ethan Caine, 21. Dom Hanson, 22. Tom Curtis, 23. Tom O’Flaherty.
