Sharks switch things up for Connacht clash

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Currie Cup head coach Joey Mongalo takes charge of a radically overhauled Sharks 23 to face Connacht in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship in Galway on Saturday.

Director of rugby Neil Powell has remained in Durban ahead of next week’s European Champions Cup rematch against Bordeaux.

Most of the players who have contributed heavily over the past month were left home, with the Springboks’ workload managed, and the lineup named to play this weekend shows the re-introduction of many youngsters set to make their URC debut on tour.

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Veteran lock Reniel Hugo will lead the team, with just flank Henco Venter, centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg and wing Marnus Potgieter retaining their places in the starting XV and a further six players who had roles in last week’s URC derby win against the Vodacom Bulls included.

Mongalo has been in the Sharks’ coaching set-up since June 2022, after his stint as Bulls defence coach, and receives the reins of the coastal outfit on the back of a November tour as part of the SA A backroom staff.

Connacht have four wins from 11 URC matches in 2022-23, while the Sharks have enjoyed a successful run of form and with two games in hand, will feel their six wins from nine matches has them in a strong position at the halfway stage of the campaign before the clash at the Galway Sportsgrounds.

Photo: @Springboks/Twitter

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Devin Hermanus