Jake White has stuck with the team that beat the Bulls for their match against the Hurricanes at Kings Park on Saturday.
The Sharks will start as favourites against a side that is starting their campaign with a South African tour. White, though, thinks that could suit the visitors.
'Touring early is either very good or very bad,' said White. You can either get some points away from home then take those points back home, and some sides have proved that it works for them, or you miss out.
'The Hurricanes have asked Sanzar for this because for the last couple of years they have been playing in South Africa first up. They want to tour early. So as much as is read into the fact that they’ve had to tour early, it’s probably one of their requests, because you’re allowed certain requests to Sanzar. I’m sure they want to get their tour done and dusted early on.
'Obviously, mentally, they like to tour early and as much as we think it’s a bonus [them coming here early], maybe it’s what they want.'
Sharks – 15 SP Marais, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis (c), 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Dale Chadwick, 18 Lourens Adriaanse,19 Stephan Lewies, 20 Jean Deysel, 21 Charl McLeod, 22 Heimar Williams, 23 S’bura Sithole.
Photo: Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix
