Tapuai in midfield as Sharks make minor changes for Zebre clash

Sharks coach Sean Everitt has tweaked his line-up for Saturday's United Rugby Championship clash against Italian side Zebre in Durban.

The Sharks' 37-20 home victory over the Scarlets ensured that they finished last weekend's round of fixtures in sixth position on the log and this weekend offers them the opportunity of further entrenchment in the top half of the table.

Everitt has made two changes to his backline, with Grant Williams replacing Jaden Hendrikse at scrumhalf and Ben Tapuai coming in for Jeremy Ward at outside centre.

In the pack, there is just one change with Ntuthuko Mchunu given a start in place of the injured Ox Nche.

The Italians are winless in the URC after 10 straight losses, but Everitt has warned not to underestimate them.

"Like any international competition, no team can be taken lightly. In this competition, no-one can be taken lightly, we saw that when the Scarlets put 35 points over Glasgow who are in the top three of the competition.

"Zebre are an unpredictable side that kick the ball really well, and although they haven't done that well on the log, they gave the Bulls a good go for the first 40 minutes before the Bulls' power game dominated them.

"But our focus is on our own performance at the moment, taking it week by week and we know that we need to get better and put in a better performance as a whole for 80 minutes," Everitt said.

Saturday's clash at Kings Park kicks off at 18:30.

15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Ben Tapuai, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Reniel hugo, 4 Gerbrandt Grobler, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu 

Substitutes: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Khwezi Mona, 18 Khutha