Sharks coach John Plumtree always shoots from the hip, so when he says his makeshift team can beat Leicester in a Champions Cup clash at Welford Road tonight (7.30pm kick-off), he means it – even if the ammunition to do the job is not stacking up.
The Tigers are third in the English Premiership. They are packed with current England internationals, including a world-class halfback partnership of Jack van Poortvliet and Springbok flyhalf Handré Pollard, not to mention fullback Freddie Steward.
At the same time, Plumtree is bereft of a raft of first-choice players.
A number of them were casualties of the physical battles in Durban over the last fortnight against the Stormers and Exeter.
In the Red Cross Station are Eben Etzebeth, Bongi Mbonambi, Gerbrandt Grobler, Vincent Koch, Grant Williams, James Venter, Ruan Dreyer, Vincent Tshituka, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, Fez Mbatha and Jurenzo Julius.
If you put that list of players in a starting team, they could beat most international sides.
But Plumtree has to do without them for this trip to England and hope that some will make it back for the big URC derbies against the Bulls and Stormers later this month.
Plumtree yesterday admitted that ideally he would want his best possible 23 to be ready for the huge Champions Cup match against Toulouse on January 11 at the Shark Tank and Bordeaux the following week.
That first game would feature Antoine Dupont and half the French national team.
The Sharks would never disrespect the Bulls and the Stormers, and indeed the United Rugby Championship, but everyone knows how seriously the French take the Champions Cup.
And those two games will be massive encounters in a competition the Sharks have unashamedly targeted as first prize.
But Plumtree can only do the best with what he has got, and Phepsi Buthelezi will skipper a much-changed Sharks squad against the Tigers.
Buthelezi will combine with Jeandré Labuschagne and Emmanuel Tshituka in a useful loose trio, while fellow Springbok Jason Jenkins links up with Emile van Heerden in the second row.
The front row includes loosehead prop Ntuthuko Mchunu alongside Scotland international Dylan Richardson and World Cup winner Trevor Nyakane.
In the backline, Bok scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse partners flyhalf Siya Masuku, as Jordan Hendrikse shifts from No 10 to fullback in place of Aphelele Fassi.
Yaw Penxe comes in for Mapimpi on the left wing. Veteran Francois Venter will combine in midfield with the exciting Ethan Hooker to complete the backline threat.
“This presents an exciting opportunity to expose some of our next generation of talent within the system to step up and showcase their abilities,” Plumtree said.
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“We are intentional in developing these young, skilled players, who have been an integral part of our set-up and fully understand our playing systems.
“The game will be an exciting challenge for them, and we have every confidence that they will rise to the occasion and make The Sharks family proud.”
Ethan Bester, Phatu Ganyane, Hanro Jacobs, Corné Rahl, Tinotenda Mavesere, Bradley Davids, Diego Appollis and Hakeem Kunene are poised to make an impact off the bench.
Sharks Team
15 Jordan Hendrikse 14 Eduan Keyter 13 Ethan Hooker 12 Francois Venter 11 Yaw Penxe 10 Siya Masuku 9 Jaden Hendrikse 8 Emmanuel Tshituka 7 Jeandré Labuschagne 6 Phepsi Buthelezi (captain) 5 Emile van Heerden 4 Jason Jenkins 3 Trevor Nyakane 2 Dylan Richardson 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Bench: 16 Ethan Bester 17 Phatu Ganyane 18 Hanro Jacobs 19 Corné Rahl 20 Tinotenda Mavesere 21 Bradley Davids 22 Diego Appollis 23 Hakeem Kunene.
Leicester: 15 Freddie Steward 14 Josh Bassett 13 Izaia Perese 12 Solomone Kata 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins 10 Handré Pollard 9 Jack van Poortvliet 8 Olly Cracknell 7 Tommy Reffell 6 Hanro Liebenberg 5 George Martin 4 Harry Wells 3 Joe Heyes 2 Julian Montoya (captain) 1 Nicky Smith.
Bench: 16 Charlie Clare 17 James Cronin 18 Dan Cole 19 Cameron Henderson 20 Emeka Ilione 21 Ben Youngs 22 Jamie Shillcock 23 Joe Woodward.