United Rugby Championship: Siya Kolisi on the bench as Sharks make five changes for Dragons clash

Round 15 of the United Rugby Championship season kicks off with two games on Friday as the Sharks host the Dragons before Glasgow Warriors face Zebre Parma.

The Sharks have made five changes to last week’s side, four of those in the pack, for the clash against the Dragons.

In the second-row, Le Roux Roets gets a start in Reniel Hugo’s place while there is an all-new back row comprising James Venter for Siya Kolisi, Jeandre Labuschagne for Henco Venter and Phepsi Buthelezi coming in for Sikhumbuzo Notshe.

Jaden Hendrikse replacing Grant Williams is the only change to a back-line retained almost intact to provide stability and build continuity.

With Kolisi playing off the bench, tighthead prop Thomas du Toit is handed the captaincy.

For the Dragons, Josh Lewis will hit a half century of appearances when they tackle the Sharks on Friday.

Lewis is named at fly-half for the Round 14 fixture at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban as boss Dean Ryan makes nine changes to the starting line-up.

Scrum-half Rhodri Williams joins Lewis at half back while the back-line also sees call-ups for wing Jordan Olowofela and full-back Ioan Davies.

Wales international trio Ross Moriarty, Will Rowlands and Leon Brown all return in the pack.

Prop Greg Bateman and lock Joe Davies are also included and set to make their first appearances on the South African tour.

Wales back-row Taine Basham is named among the replacements, where there are all returns for Fiji international front-row Mesake Doge and scrum-half Lewis Jones.

15 Anthony Volmink, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Ben Tapuai, 12 Jeremy Ward, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Jeandre Labushagne, 6 James Venter, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Le Roux Roets, 3 Thomas