The United Rugby Championship (URC) resumes on Friday as two matches take place, with Glasgow Warriors and Ulster hosting the Sharks and Cardiff in their respective fixtures.
Glasgow Warriors v Sharks
Oli Kebble, a Scotland international, was included in the matchday 23 to play the Sharks at Scotstoun on Friday night, marking his 100th appearance for Glasgow Warriors.
For their first trip to Glasgow since October 2021, the South African team is replacing a number of players, including the loosehead prop.
Nathan McBeth and Zander Fagerson are the props in an unchanged front five from the team that faced the Harlequins two weeks prior, while Johnny Matthews, the leading try-scorer for URC, packs down in the middle of the front row.
Having started on the team’s previous URC away trip against the Scarlets, Max Williamson and Scott Cummings are paired together in the engine room.
The only player who changed from the starting lineup that was used at the Twickenham Stoop is Henco Venter, who enters the game at openside and completes the back row alongside Matt Fagerson and Jack Dempsey.
George Horne and Tom Jordan continue as the half-backs behind the scrum; the former scored a spectacular team try against the Harlequins the previous play.
After recovering from an injury a fortnight ago, Sione Tuipulotu starts for the first time this year for URC, partnering Stafford McDowall in the centers for Friday’s match.
The sole alteration to the starting back line sees Kyle Rowe move to full-back in Glasgow colours for the first time, while captain Kyle Steyn completes a back three that includes Facundo Cordero on the flank.
Centurion-in-waiting Kebble is joined by Gregor Hiddleston and Lucio Sordoni as front-row cover, with the Warriors choosing to change forwards and backs six-two.
For the third straight game, Sintu Manjezi dons the number 19 shirt, with Ally Miller and Thomas Gordon occupying the back row in between.
The remaining replacements are Jamie Dobie and Ross Thompson, the latter of whom will play for Glasgow for the first time since the team’s victory over Benetton at the beginning of March.
In the meanwhile, the Sharks have chosen a thrilling squad to play Glasgow Warriors in the United Rugby Championship Round 14 on Friday night.
Many of the veterans who have been carrying an extremely heavy workload for the past month now have the chance to recuperate, or in this case, take on a reduced but still crucial role off the bench.
The team, which is led by former Springboks center Francois Venter, still has a wealth of experience despite the numerous changes. The players who have been given the task of sustaining the Sharks’ remarkable form and momentum over the past few weeks will undoubtedly find inspiration in the competition for spots that has been mentioned.
Boeta Chamberlain begins at full-back, Murray Koster joins him in the midfield, while the starting wings are Aphiwe Dyantyi and Eduan Keyter. Curwin Bosch and Grant Williams, the Springboks, enter the running side as the half-back combo.
Lappies Labuschagne and Tino Mavesere complete the back-row as the two flankers, while Nick Hatton starts at number eight in the forward lineup.
In the engine room, Dan Jooste packs it in at hooker, with Ntuthuko Mchunu and Hanru Jacobs serving as the starting props, while Gerbrandt Grobler and Corne Rahl get the go-ahead.
The teams
Glasgow: 15 Kyle Rowe, 14 Kyle Steyn (c), 13 Stafford McDowall, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Facundo Cordero, 10 Tom Jordan, 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Max Wiliamson, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Johnny Matthews, 1 Nathan McBeth
Replacements: 16 Gregor Hiddleston, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Lucio Sordoni, 19 Sintu Manjezi, 20 Ally Miller, 21 Thomas Gordon, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Ross Thompson
Sharks: 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Murray Koster, 12 Francois Venter (c), 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Nick Hatton, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Dan Jooste, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu
Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Khwezi Mona, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Emile van Heerden, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Ethan Hooker
Venue: Scotstoun
Kick-off: 19:35 GMT
Referee: Federico Vedovellli (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Sam Grove-White (Scotland), Rob McDowell (Scotland)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
