Willem Alberts. Image © sharksrugby.co.za

23 February 2010 (12:03) - Sharks coach John Plumtree has named his side to take on the Crusaders on Friday (8.35am kick-off, South African time) in the first of five tour matches.

The team left Durban on Saturday afternoon and arrived at their final destination in Christchurch just before midnight on Sunday. With a short turnabout from the last home match to Friday’s game, the team has been finalised early with minimal changes, the backline remaining unchanged while the composition of the loose-forward trio sees Willem Alberts come in to start his first match with Jean Deysel playing off the bench.

Stalwart Johann Muller is back after missing last week’s game to a knock he took in the opening game against the Chiefs while captain John Smit is back at tighthead with Bismarck du Plessis coming in at hooker.

Wilhelm Steenkamp and Andy Goode are both named on the bench as is Riaan Swanepoel who missed the first two games of the season but is now ready for action.

As always, tussles between these two teams are hugely competitive and both sides will look to delivering good performances, the Crusaders especially after their shock loss to the Reds last week.

Sharks Starting Lineup

15. Stefan Terblanche
14. Odwa Ndungane
13. Waylon Murray
12. Adrian Jacobs
11. JP Pietersen
10. Ruan Pienaar
9. Rory Kockott
8. Ryan Kankowski
7. Willem Alberts
6. Jacques Botes
5. Johann Muller
4. Steven Sykes
3. John Smit (Capt)
2. Bismarck du Plessis
1. Tendai Mtawarira

Reserves
16. Deon Carstens
17. Jannie du Plessis
18. Wilhelm Steenkamp
19. Jean Deysel
20. Keegan Daniel
21. Andrew Goode
22. Riaan Swanepoel