Am starts, Kolisi benches as Buthelezi captains Sharks for Lions visit

Neil Powell made numerous changes to his Sharks team as Lukhanyo Am starts at No 13 and Siya Kolisi drops to the reserves in a team led by Phendulani "Phepsi" Buthelezi for the Lions visit to Kings Park on Friday.

It’s Am’s first start for the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship (URC) since suffering a knee injury while on Springbok duty, after coming off the bench against Bordeaux in the Champions Cup last weekend.

Regular captain Am, however, did not collect the URC arm band right away, with Powell preferring Sharks prodigy Buthelezi to lead the team come 17:00 kick-off in Durban.

Other changes include inside centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg for Ben Tapuai in midfield, Vincent Tshituka filling in for Eben Etzebeth at No 4, while Jeandre Labuschagne takes his No 7 jersey.

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Scrumhalf Grant Williams and lock Hyron Andrews also make starts as Dan Jooste comes into the hooking position ahead of Bongi Mbonambi, who drops out completely.

Thomas du Toit swaps the tighthead for loosehead in the front row, making way for former Lions No 3 Carlu Sadie to scrum against his former teammates.

The Sharks are unbeaten in three matches since suffering a 35-0 home defeat to Cardiff, brushing aside the Ospreys in their last URC encounter before beating Harlequins and Bordeaux in the Champions Cup.

Teams:

Sharks

15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi (captain), 7 Jeandre Labuschagne, 6 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Vincent Tshituka, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Dan Jooste, 1 Thomas du Toit

Substitutes: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Dian Bleuler,