Sharks VS Stormers Venue: Kings Park Stadium, Durban
Sharks VS Stormers Date: Saturday, November 30
BetXchange Sharks VS Stormers Odds:
History
The coastal South African derby has extra significance this week as the Sharks and Stormers want to return to the URC playoff places.
The Sharks sit ninth on the log in this young season, while the Stormers are 13th. This will be a game where teams are missing their ‘Boks, with this being the first round of URC action since the back end of October.
The Sharks have three wins and two losses from their five games, for 15 points, and they are just one point out of the finals spots. The Stormers have two wins, three losses, and a couple of bonus points to sit on ten total points.
The log is tight, other than Leinster running away at the top with 29 points after six games, with nine points covering third through 14th.
Sharks
Sharks head coach John Plumtree has wasted no time throwing his internationals back into the mix. The rotation policy of the ‘Boks under Rassie Erasmus means that Plumtree can go strong here, with props Ox Nche and Vincent Koch coming straight into the front row. Other South African internationals back in the fold include national captain Siya Kolisi, halfback brothers Jordan and Jaden Hendrikse, and try-scoring sensation Makazole Mapimpi.
Jaden Hendrikse starts at nine, Jordan is named on the bench, and Siya Masuku starts in the crucial pivot position. This is a strong team, the strongest that Pumtree could name, suggesting he knows how vital a win is to kickstart the season as we head towards the festive period.
Stormers
The Stormers have named Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at fly-half, with the Springboks’ pivot of the future having recovered from a knee injury he suffered for the international side earlier this year. This will be the first appearance of the season for Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and it comes at an ideal time with the pivot having been able to work to recover over the international break.
Big Dave Ewers forms one-third of an imposing back row alongside Ben-Jason Dixon and No. 8 Marcel Theunissen, with internationals Warrick Gelant (15) and Herschel Jantjies (9) taking their spots in the backline alongside centers Ruhan Nel and captain Dan du Plessis. Marine Libbok is an integral part of the Stormers puzzle who will be entering this one from the bench.
Best Bets
A win here for the Sharks would complete a trio of back-to-back-to-back victories against former URC winners after taking down Glasgow Warriors and Munster in their last two games before the international break.
The Sharks will be missing Eben Etzebeth, and Plumtree continues playing Kolisi at the back of the scrum. Expect him to shine there.
This is a game that makes it hard to see the Stomers win. The Sharks have too much power in their pack, so I expect them to win and cover the handicap with room to spare. If the Sharks win by lee than 10 points I would be shocked, so look at them at 97/100 to win by more than 10.5 points as an alternate handicap bet.
