Former Lions players could give Sharks edge in showdown at The Tank

The number of former Lions players in the Sharks team promises to add extra spice to the United Rugby Championship derby at Kings Park in Durban on Saturday and could offer the home team extra insight into how the Lions operate.

Springbok winger Edwill van der Merwe was the latest in a long list of Lions stars to quit the highveld for the coastal climes of Durban. He followed in the footsteps of Vincent Tshituka, his younger brother Manu, Jordan Hendrikse and injured prop Ruan Dreyer.   

The news that SA under-20 flank sensation Batho Hlekani has finally completed his move to the Lions from the Sharks, and will immediately be available for selection, adds an interesting sub-plot to the rivalry between the two SA teams. The powerful forward was the subject of a protracted tug-of-war between the two unions. 

Hlekani has joined Junior Bok teammate Haashim Pead at Ellis Park, but is unlikely to feature straight away as he adjusts to the Lions’ systems.

JP Pietersen’s Sharks side is chasing a third win while Ivan van Rooyen’s charges are hoping to bounce back from three defeats on the trot. 

Vincent Tshituka admitted earlier this week that the reunion with their former team was always a highlight of the rugby calendar.

“This week, there has been a nice buzz as we tune into an SA derby,” the loose forward said. “It is always a big one against the Lions; they tend to believe they can beat the Sharks. It is always a spectacle, so we expect nothing less than that on Saturday. We feel confident and ready, and are looking forward to the game because the players are excited about turning the season around.”

Saturday’s URC Round 9 clash at Kings Park will kick off at 3.30pm.