Eben Etzebeth will captain a strong Sharks team as they face Gloucester in Friday night’s EPCR Challenge Cup Final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Sharks head coach John Plumtree has retained the squad that triumphed over Clermont in the semi-final, despite injuries to key players Jaden Hendrikse and Lukhanyo Am, which have ruled the Springbok duo out of the game.
Eben Etzebeth to Lead Sharks
In the only changes to the starting XV, Gerbrandt Grobler replaces Emile van Heerden at lock, and Francois Venter steps into the inside centre position, with Ethan Hooker taking over from Lukhanyo Am.
Dylan Richardson and Eduan Keyter, both of whom impressed in the last match against Cardiff, have earned their places in the matchday 23.
The season has built up to this climactic finale, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the EPCR Challenge Cup.
“The mood in the camp is pretty good, everyone is focused,” said Sharks loosehead prop Ox Nche, who will be playing his 50th international competition game for the Sharks. “It’s a big game for us all, everyone is in tune and excited; we just want to give it our all.”
Nche emphasized the importance of staying focused and not being overwhelmed by the occasion, highlighting the crucial role of the senior, experienced members of the team.
“Keeping players calm and everyone focused on what they need to do and how they can help the team; that’s our biggest task at the moment.”
A Huge Final
Nche likened the significance of this game to that of a Rugby World Cup Final.
“This is a serious game; it means a lot to us. It’s something we haven’t achieved as a union, and it’s going to be a big challenge for us.
“We’re approaching it with the same intensity because we could be the first South African team to win a European title.
“It would be an amazing reward if we did it!”
