Whitehead debuts as Jordan continues at fullback for Sharks

Jordan Hendrikse will continue at fullback for the Hollywoodbets Sharks when the Durbanites play Connacht in a sixth round Vodacom URC match in Galway on Saturday night.

When he arrived at the Sharks from the Lions, Hendrikse had just played his first game for the Springboks - as a starting flyhalf against Wales in London. However, he played fullback for the Sharks in their game against the Scarlets just before the international break, with Siya Masuku at flyhalf.

Masuku is now injured so the Sharks, instead of going for the pivot who was rated as fourth best in the country by Bok coach Rassie Erasmus last year, have opted instead to select Griquas No 10 George Whitehead.

Whitehead’s selection continues the merry-go-round of Sharks flyhalves this season and when you look at the rotation in that position it is easy to see it as a possible reason why the Sharks are struggling to get their attacking game going.

This will be Whitehead’s debut for the Sharks but he is not a newcomer to this level of rugby as he did play flyhalf for the Stormers in Super Rugby many years ago when Robbie Fleck was in charge at the Cape franchise.

He came across as a bit of a journeyman then but he was the star of Griquas’ historic win in the recent Carling Currie Cup final against the Lions, and proved his ability to handle pressure clutch kicks when he kicked the winning last gasp penalty that gave his team victory.

In addition to Whitehead, another Sharks debutant is Junior Bok flanker Matt Ramao, who was one of several young players who impressed for the Sharks XV in the Currie Cup season. Backline replacement Le Roux Malan is another debutant in this crucial game for the Sharks.

Having beaten Scarlets last time out, a victory at the difficult venue in Galway will be a second successive victory and present a further climb up the log, but defeat will leave the Sharks still low on confidence and in a desperate plight in their primary competition when the URC resumes after the first two rounds of the Investec Champions Cup with a tough derby against the Bulls.

Although the Sharks will be without their top Springboks, Edwill van der Merwe is playing on the wing while Grant Williams was released following last week’s win over Ireland and will take up a role on the bench. His pace could come in handy if the game is close or the Sharks are chasing the game when he comes onto the field.

There are also some pleasing returns from injury for this clash, with Jason Jenkins, capped for the Boks in 2018, returning to the second row, where he will partner fellow Bok Marvin Orie. Hanro Jacobs, a highly promising tighthead, will play his first game of the season after missing the early part because of injury.

Another lock, Emile van Heerden, is also back from injury and will play off the bench. The son of former Western Province captain and Bok flank Fritz will be desperately hoping to get through his stint on the field without mishap as he has had some rotten luck with injury recently.

If you factor in the Bok experience of the two Hendrikse brothers, with the forgotten scrumhalf Jaden wearing the No 9 this week, Jenkins, Francois Venter, Makazole Mapimpi, skipper Vincent Tshituka plus Van der Merwe, the Sharks do have the personnel to put in a strong performance even without the stars that are missing such as Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, who are both in Cardiff with the Boks, and the injured Ox Nche.

Hollywoodbets Sharks team: Jordan Hendrikse, Edwill van der Merwe, Jurenzo Julius, Francois Venter, Makazole Mapimpi, George Whitehead, Jaden Hendrikse, Emmanuel Tshituka, Vincent Tshituka (captain), Matt Ramao, Marvin Orie, Jason Jenkins, Hanro Jacobs, Fez Mbatha, Phatu Ganyane. Replacements: Eduan swart, Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, Mawande Madanda, Emile van Heerden, Phepsi Buthelezi, Grant Williams, Le Roux Malan, Hakeem Kunene.