Esterhuizen, Venter To Start For Sharks Against Leinster In Durban Urc Clash

Blockbuster centre Andre Esterhuizen will start his first game in three months when the Sharks host log leaders Leinster in a United Rugby Championship match in Durban on Saturday.

Esterhuizen last week played off the bench in the Sharks cliffhanger defeat of Zebre at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, and it was his sweeping pass out to wing Ethan Hooker that made the match-winning try.

Hooker began that game at centre but moved out to the wing when Esterhuizen came on.

Hooker remains on the wing for the Leinster game and in the other backline change, Yaw Penxe moves from right wing to fullback where he replaces injured Henry Immelman.

Coach John Plumtree has kept changes to a minimum. In the forwards, James Venter starts in place of rested Phepsi Buthelezi, and there is a welcome return on the bench for Manu Tshituka.