NAMIBIAN centre Johan Deysel will make his full debut for the Sharks in the Super Rugby competition when they take on the Sunwolves at Singapore’s National Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Deysel, who scored a memorable try for Namibia against the All Blacks at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, has twice played for the Sharks off the bench this year, but has now been called up to their starting line-up for the first time.
Last weekend he represented the Sharks XV in the Supersport Challenge when they beat his previous team the Leopards 32-5.
Deysel is one of several replacements in the Sharks team following a spate of recent injuries.
He comes in for the former South African u20 captain Jeremy Ward who broke his nose in the Sharks’ shock 35-32 defeat to the Southern Kings last weekend.
Other Sharks players who will miss the match due to injury include their fly half and captain Patrick Lambie, scrum half Michael Claassens and fullback Rhyno Smith.
Deysel will partner Lukhanyo Am at centre, with Garth April taking over at fly half and Cobus Reinach at scrum half, while Lwazi Mvoyo moves from the wing to fullback.
Other Namibians who will be in action in Super Rugby matches this weekend include Aranos Coetzee of the Cheetahs and Chrysander Botha of the Southern Kings.
Coetzee starts at prop for the Cheetahs who face a tough encounter against the defending champions, the Hurricanes, in Wellington on Saturday morning.
Another Namibian, hooker Torsten van Jaarsveld has been named amongst the Cheetahs’ substitutes and could possibly also get a run-on in the second half.
Chrysander Botha returns to the Kings side and takes over at fullback from Masixole Banda for their match against the Sunwolves.
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