Ken Borland

The Stormers are likely to attack the Sharks at scrum-time in their United Rugby Championship match at Kings Park on Saturday which is why, notwithstanding newly-crowned SA Rugby Player of the Year Siya Kolisi’s return at flank, having Bongi Mbonambi back at hooker is most welcome for coach Sean Everitt.

Springbok captain Kolisi replacing James Venter and the strong-scrummaging Mbonambi coming in for Kerron van Vuuren were the only changes to the Sharks team announced by Everitt on Thursday.

“The Stormers won four scrum penalties against the Bulls last weekend, so we are wary of that and we know they will bring heat to that set-piece,” Everitt said. “It’s about nullifying that for us, because those penalties can win games.

“The Stormers have a big and well-drilled pack and having Steven Kitshoff back brings added firepower and strong leadership for them.

“But Bongi will certainly strengthen our scrum. Kerron played very well last weekend and is unlucky to be relegated to the bench, but Bongi is the best in his position in the country,” Everitt said.

And with fellow Springboks Ox Nche and Thomas du Toit at loosehead and tighthead respectively, and an encouraging scrumming display against the Lions fresh in the memory banks, the Sharks can approach that crucial set-piece with some confidence.

The Stormers are currently South Africa’s highest-placed team in the URC standings, in 11^th position, with the Sharks two places back. Both teams will be eager to become possible tenants of the top-10 with victory.

Game-management will also be crucial in the heat and humidity of Durban and both teams have young No.10s who performed with aplomb last weekend in Boeta Chamberlain and former Sharks player Manie Libbok.

The Sharks are laden with eight Springboks, but their success has been just as much due to the performances of their ‘lesser’ stars, who have been busy as ants providing key aspects of the overall performance.

Blindside flank Jeandre Labuschagne is one of those stalwarts.

“Jeandre has been in some really good form the last two games, he’s had a high tackle count and completion rate,” Everitt said. “He’s very busy around the field, attending rucks and with his ball-carries.”

Sharks: Aphelele Fassi, Sbu Nkosi, Lukhanyo Am (c), Ben Tapuai, Makazole Mapimpi, Boeta Chamberlain, Grant Williams, Phepsi Buthelezi, Jeandre Labuschagne, Siya Kolisi, Hyron Andrews, Ruben van Heerden, Thomas du Toit (v/c), Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche. Replacements – Kerron van Vuuren, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Khutha Mchunu, Reniel Hugo, Henco Venter, Jaden Hendrikse, Tito Bonilla, Jeremy Ward.

South Africa have made it through to the quarterfinals of the U19 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies but are obviously going to have to be at their best to avoid elimination as they take on one of the most impressive teams in the competition in England, at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium at North Sound, Antigua, on Wednesday.

With Dewald Brevis stealing the limelight in the first couple of games, it was encouraging to see the other Junior Proteas batsmen start to come to the party in the win over Ireland, which was basically a knockout fixture.

Brevis still made 96, but there was a tremendous century by captain George van Heerden and some brilliant late hitting by all-rounders Mickey Copeland and Andile Simelane.

But South Africa are going to need to repeat a similar batting effort against a stronger England attack that is led by a potent left-arm paceman in Joshua Boyden, while leggie Rehan Ahmed will test their abilities against spin.

While the rampant Brevis is the leading run-scorer in the tournament so far with 265 in three innings, England captain Tom Prest has roared to 251 runs.

He generally bats No.3 for England and South Africa have two ferocious fast bowlers in Liam Alder and Matthew Boast, who will want to get Prest in against the swinging new ball.

England, of course, are able to throw some serious cash at their U19 programme, but what the South Africans lack in Rands, they have been making up for in enthusiasm.

But for those wanting to take a punt on the outcome, bookmakers have installed England as the 1.6-1 favourites.

But much depends on Brevis.

“What works for you, you must stick with that,” Brevis, a major Bangalore Royal Challengers fan because his two favourite players – AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli – play for them, said when asked how he would be approaching the knockout encounter.

The welcome return of Duanne Olivier and call-ups for Prenelan Subrayen, Sisanda Magala and Ryan Rickelton were the most exciting aspects of the Proteas squad announced on Tuesday for the Test series against India.

Olivier last played for South Africa in February 2019 in the shock Test series loss to Sri Lanka. He then became a Kolpak player, but with that drain on resources thankfully coming to an end, he has returned home and is the leading wicket-taker in four-day cricket this season, with 28 scalps at 11.14 for the log-leading Central Gauteng Lions.

The 29-year-old Olivier has taken 48 wickets in 10 Tests at an average of just 19.25. His inclusion means the Proteas could field a most inhospitable trio of mean and nasty fast bowlers, alongside Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada.

Subrayen is the leading off-spinner in the country and bowled the Dolphins to the four-day title last season with his match figures of 10/80 against the Titans. But India, who are yet to announce their Test squad, do not have many left-handers in the reckoning, so the 28-year-old’s selection can be considered something of a surprise.

Magala has played white-ball cricket for the Proteas, but has also been in fine form in the four-day series for the Lions with 15 wickets at 14.33. Another Lions star, Rickelton, has been named in a few national squads but has yet to earn a cap. Given that he is in fine form, having scored two centuries in three innings this season, his debut will surely come soon.

The regular crew are all there in an expanded 21-man squad due to Covid bubbles, with the most notable omission being Lutho Sipamla, who has taken 12 wickets this season for the Lions at 13.50.

While most of the starting XI will choose itself, coach Mark Boucher and the selectors will be gearing up for a tricky decision in terms of one batting spot.

While Elgar, Markram, Bavuma, Van der Dussen and De Kock are all sure of their spots, the other specialist batting spot is a toss-up between Keegan Petersen, Kyle Verreynne and Rickelton.

Petersen is the incumbent and, although he only scored 44 runs in three innings in the West Indies, they were tough batting conditions and he is averaging 50.20 for the KZN Dolphins this season.

While the fiery aggression of Olivier is a tantalising prospect, especially for SuperSport Park and the Wanderers, the selectors may want their third frontline seamer to offer something a bit different – either the control and seam movement of a Glenton Stuurman or the left-arm pace and bounce of the exciting Marco Jansen. Both have been in good form for the SA A team against India A.

Proteas squad: Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Sarel Erwee, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, Keegan Petersen, Kyle Verreynne, Ryan Rickelton, Quinton de Kock, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, George Linde, Prenelan Subrayen, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Duanne Olivier, Marco Jansen, Glenton Stuurman, Lungi Ngidi, Sisanda Magala, Beuran Hendricks.

Wayne Parnell is back in the Proteas fold for the first time in four years with the 32-year-old all-rounder saying on Thursday that his recall was most unexpected as his focus this summer has purely been on shepherding the young players in the Western Province team.

Parnell is the first former Kolpak player to be chosen for the national squad since the end of that talent-draining ruling in January 2020. It may just be for a three-match ODI series against the Netherlands from which several first-choice players are being rested, but given how well he has performed with both bat and ball for Western Province, Parnell could well add his name to the serious discussions over all-rounder spots.

“For me it’s been a crazy journey over the last couple of years,” Parnell said on Thursday. “I didn’t set out to come back and play for the Proteas, I was just trying to add value for Western Province, help the younger guys.

“I had no expectation, I didn’t think I would ever play for South Africa again. But I am still young enough and I can contribute. I’ve only spoken to Victor Mpitsang [convenor of selectors] about where I fit in and opportunities going forward.

“I still have to sit down with Mark Boucher [head coach] and understand what they’re thinking, but I cannot turn down my country. And if I play well then maybe I will play against India,” Parnell said.

The former SA U19 captain and leading wicket-taker at the 2008 U19 World Cup is one of South Africa’s great unfulfilled talents, despite playing six Tests, 65 ODIs and 40 T20s for the Proteas.

But he said on Thursday that he has been able to find more enjoyment in playing now and any past mismanagement lay in the past.

“I’m more experienced now and I know how to deal with different circumstances. I’ve been enjoying playing different roles and having more freedom. International cricket is different because there is a lot more competition for places.

“Now I look at the game completely differently and I feel comfortable with what I can bring to any team and I’m not worried about being better than the guy next to me.

“There were a lot of different factors to my career, but I don’t look back. Yes, a lot of things could have been done differently, but I don’t blame anyone. Maybe it will be better this time,” Parnell said.