Super Rugby 2020 fixtures: Highlanders vs Sharks – live score, result, teams and prediction
The Sharks seek to build on a 23-15 home win over the Bulls as they visit the Highlanders at the Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Last year saw the Highlanders finish fourth out of five teams in the New Zealand Conference and the 2015 champions will demand better of themselves in 2020.
The Sharks themselves have room for improvement, but one name on everybody’s lips at the moment is Sanele Nohamba.
The scrumhalf came off the bench to score the winning try against the Bulls and will be hoping to have a big impact once more.
Lwazi Mvovo gave Nohamba glowing praise back in August, saying: “Talent can only take a youngster so far. Those who go further have the right attitude and an openness to learning, and Sanele has that,” as quoted by IOL.
The clash with the Highlanders will be the first of four on the Sharks’ tour of Australasia. Next up, they face the Hurricanes, before travelling to Australia to play the Rebels and the Reds.
Team news:
The Sharks have handed Madosh Tambwe his first start in place of the injured S’bu Nkosi. That aside, they have picked the same team that beat the Bulls.
Captain Lukhanyo Am earns his 50th Sharks cap from outside centre with Craig Burden in line for a half-century should he come off the bench.
Nohamba remains amongst the subs despite his impressive game against the Bulls, but this does not necessarily mean he cannot have a similar impact this time out.
The Highlanders do not boast a star-studded side, although they do have experienced All Black scrumhalf Aaron Smith in their starting XV. James Lentjes captains the team in the no7 jersey.
Highlanders XV: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Tima Fainga’anuku, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Josh Ioane, 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Mitch Hunt, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Marino Mikaele Tu’u, 7 James Lentjes (c), 6 Dillon Hunt, 5 Josh Dickson, 4 Pari Pari Parkinson, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Ayden Johnstone
Highlanders bench: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19 Jesse Parete, 20 Shannon Frizell, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Michael Collins, 23 Teariki Ben-Nicholas
Sharks XV: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Lukhanyo Am (c), 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Tyler Paul, 6 James Venter, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Ox Nche
Sharks bench: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 Le Roux Roets, 20 Henco Venter, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Jeremy Ward
Kick-off time: 7 February, 08:05
Prediction: Highlanders to by 11 points.
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