New flyhalf recruit Steve Meyer is set to get his first bit of game-time for the Sharks when the Durban franchise comes up against the Stormers in a pre-season friendly in Cape Town on Friday night.
The 25-year-old former Kearsney College pupil left the Sharks to join up with Perpignan in 2006, but has returned on a two-year deal with the coastal franchise.
Meyer is sure to get some match practice under the belt during Friday’s final friendly of the Neo Africa Tri-Series which also included the Western Force, but it will be Monty Dumond who once again starts in the No. 10 jersey.
The Sharks starting team from Tuesday night’s loss against the Force has been completely reshuffled as they look to give those that were on the bench a shot at getting onto the Newlands pitch from the word go.
Young Pat Lambie comes in for the experienced Stefan Terblanche at fullback, while Springboks JP Pietersen and Odwa Ndungane will man the wings.
Waylon Murray retains his spot at outside centre with Adi Jacobs still battling with injury, but he will be joined by Andries Strauss in the midfield. Dumond and Kockott remain as the 9-10 combination.
Jean Deysel is the only loose-forward who will start once again in the back row, but he is joined by Keegan Daniel and Willem Alberts, with the latter getting his first Sharks start despite the Lions’ insistence that he should not be turning out for the coastal franchise.
In a new-look second row and front row, locks Johann Muller and another new recruit Gerhard Mostert will start, while Jannie du Plessis gets a rare go at loosehead prop alongside brother Bismarck and captain John Smit. — Sapa