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Sharks' new backline prospect Aphelele Fassi set to make his Super Rugby debut

Aphelele Fassi of the Cell C Sharks tackles Courtnall Skosan of the Emirates Lions during the Super Rugby #SuperHeroSunday match at Cape Town Stadium on February 03, 2019.
Aphelele Fassi of the Cell C Sharks tackles Courtnall Skosan of the Emirates Lions during the Super Rugby #SuperHeroSunday match at Cape Town Stadium on February 03, 2019.
Image: Anton Geyser

The Sharks' new and exciting backline prospect Aphelele Fassi will be making his Super Rugby debut when he starts at fullback against the Sunwolves on Saturday.

Fassi‚ who made a serious impact for the Sharks in their successful Currie Cup campaign last year‚ was always going to get game time this season because of the compressed nature of the tournament in a World Cup year.

However‚ Curwin Bosch's shoulder knock sustained over the weekend meant that the 21-year-old has jumped the queue even though the former was slated to start at 10 before his injury.

He's good enough to play at Super Rugby level and his presence only helps to increase the Sharks' already burgeoning back three stocks.

Fassi is the only player in the Sharks backline who has not been capped by the Springboks with the likes of Lukhanyo Am‚ Makazole Mapimpi‚ S'bu Nkosi and Andre Esterhuizen all back in the reckoning.

Louis Schreuder will be captaining the side from scrumhalf.

Bosch's absence means that Robert du Preez will start at flyhalf while the forwards have a familiar look to them.

They're packing an all Springbok front row with Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira‚ Akker van der Merwe and Coenie Oosthuizen all starting while Hyron Andrews and Ruan Botha start at lock.

The loose-forward complement is completed by Jacques Vermeulen‚ Tyler Paul and Daniel du Preez.

It's on the bench where there's a proper injection of youth with Kerron van Vuuren (hooker)‚ Khuthazani Mchunu (prop) and Phendulani Buthelezi (loose-forward) all set to make their Super Rugby bows from the bench.

Teams:

Sunwolves: TBA

Sharks:

15 Aphelele Fassi‚ 14 Sibusiso Nkosi‚ 13 Lukhanyo Am‚ 12 Andre Esterhuizen‚ 11 Makazole Mapimpi‚ 10 Robert du Preez‚ 9 Louis Schreuder (captain)‚ 8 Daniel du Preez‚ 7 Tyler Paul‚ 6 Jacques Vermeulen‚ 5 Ruan Botha‚ 4 Hyron Andrews‚ 3 Coenie Oosthuizen‚ 2 Armand van der Merwe‚ 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Replacements:

16 Kerron van Vuuren‚ 17 Juan Schoeman‚ 18 Khutha Mchunu‚ 19 Gideon Koegelenberg‚ 20 Phendulani Buthelezi‚ 21 Cameron Wright‚ 22 Rhyno Smith‚ 23 Jeremy Ward.

Referee: Nic Berry

Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen‚ AJ Jacobs

TMO: Minoru Fuji

Full Super Rugby Fixtures:

FEBRUARY 15

Chiefs v Highlanders‚ FMG Stadium - 8.35am

15 – Brumbies v Rebels‚ GIO Stadium - 10.45am 16 – Blues v Crusaders‚ Eden Park - 8.35am

16 – Waratahs v Hurricanes‚ Brookvale Oval - 10.45am

16 - Sunwolves v Sharks‚ Singapore National Stadium - 12.55pm

16 – Bulls v Stormers‚ Loftus Versfeld – 5.15pm

16 - Jaguares v Lions‚ Estadio Jose Amalfiltani - 11.40pm 22 – Highlanders v Reds‚ Forsyth Barr Stadium - 8.35am 23 – Sunwolves v Waratahs‚ Chichibunomiya Stadium – 6.15am

23 – Crusaders v Hurricanes‚ AMI Stadium – 8.35am

23 – Brumbies v Chiefs‚ GIO Stadium – 10.45am

23 – Sharks v Blues‚ Kings Park‚ 3.05pm

23 – Stormers v Lions‚ Newlands‚ 5.15pm

23 - Jaguares v Bulls‚ Estadio Jose Amalfiltani - 11.40pm MARCH 1 - Hurricanes v Brumbies‚ Central Energy Trust Arena – 8.35am

1 – Rebels v Highlanders‚ AAMI Park – 10.45am

2 – Chiefs v Sunwolves‚ FMG Stadium – 8.35am

2 – Reds v Crusaders‚ Suncorp Stadium – 10.45am

2 – Lions v Bulls‚ Ellis Park‚ 3.05pm

2 - Stormers v Sharks‚ Newlands‚ 5.15pm 8 – Hurricanes v Highlanders‚ Westpac Stadium – 8.35am

8 – Rebels v Brumbies‚ AAMI Park – 10.45am 9 – Crusaders v Chiefs‚ AMI Stadium – 6.15am

9 – Blues v Sunwolves‚ QBE Stadium – 8.35am

9 – Waratahs v Reds‚ Sydney Cricket Ground – 10.45am

9 - Lions v Jaguares‚ Ellis Park‚ 3.05pm

9 - Bulls v Sharks‚ Loftus Versfeld‚ 5.15pm 15 – Chiefs v Hurricanes‚ FMG Stadium – 8.35am

15 – Brumbies v Waratahs‚ GIO Stadium - 10.45am

15 - Stormers v Jaguares‚ Newlands‚ 7.10pm 16 – Sunwolves v Reds‚ Chichibunomiya Stadium – 6.15am

16 – Crusaders v Highlanders‚ Forsyth Barr Stadium – 8.35am

16 – Lions v Rebels‚ Ellis Park‚ 3pm 22 – Blues v Highlanders‚ Eden Park – 8.35am 23 – Hurricanes v Stormers‚ Westpac Stadium – 8.35am

23 – Waratahs v Crusaders‚ Sydney Cricket Ground – 10.45am

23 – Sunwolves v Lions‚ Singapore National Stadium – 12.55pm

23 – Bulls v Chiefs‚ Loftus Versfeld - 3pm

23 – Sharks v Rebels‚ Kings Park – 5.15pm 29 – Hurricanes v Crusaders‚ Westpac Stadium – 8.35am

29 – Waratahs v Sunwolves‚ Newcastle International Sports Centre – 10.45am 30 – Blues v Stormers‚ Eden Park - 8.35am

30 – Reds v Rebels‚ Suncorp Stadium – 10.45am

30 – Sharks v Bulls‚ Kings Park – 3.05pm

30 – Jaguares v Chiefs‚ Estadio Jose Amalfiltani – 11.40pm APRIL 5 – Highlanders v Hurricanes‚ Forsyth Barr Stadium – 8.35am

5 - Reds v Stormers‚ Suncorp Stadium - 11am

5 - Lions v Sharks‚ Ellis Park - 7.10pm 6 – Crusaders v Brumbies‚ AMI Stadium – 6.15am

6 – Blues v Waratahs‚ Eden Park – 8.35am

6 – Rebels v Sunwolves‚ AAMI Park – 10.45

6 – Bulls v Jaguares‚ Loftus Versfeld‚ 3pm

12 – Crusaders v Highlanders‚ AMI Stadium – 9.35am

12 – Rebels v Stormers‚ AAMI Park - 11.45am 13 – Chiefs v Blues‚ FMG Stadium – 9.35am

13 - Brumbies v Lions‚ GIO Stadium - 11.45

13 – Sharks v Jaguares‚ Kings Park - 3.05pm

13 – Bulls v Reds‚ Loftus Versfeld – 5.15pm 19 – Chiefs v Lions‚ FMG Stadium - 9.35am

19 – Sunwolves v Hurricanes‚ Chichibunomiya Stadium - 12pm

19 - Sharks v Reds‚ Kings Park - 3.05pm 20 – Highlanders v Blues‚ Forsyth Barr Stadium – 9.35am

20 – Waratahs v Rebels‚ Sydney Cricket Ground - 11.45am

20 - Stormers v Brumbies‚ Newlands - 3.05pm 26 - Crusaders v Lions‚ AMI Stadium‚ 9.35am

26 – Sunwolves v Highlanders‚ Chichibunomiya Stadium – 12pm 27 – Hurricanes v Chiefs‚ Westpac Stadium – 9.35am

27 – Waratahs v Sharks‚ Western Sydney Stadium - 11.45am

27 - Stormers v Bulls‚ Newlands - 3.05pm MAY 3 - Crusaders v Sharks‚ AMI Stadium - 9.35am

3 – Reds v Sunwolves‚ Suncorp Stadium – 11.45am 4 – Hurricanes v Rebels‚ Westpac Stadium – 7.15am

4 – Highlanders v Chiefs‚ Forsyth Barr Stadium – 9.35am

4 – Brumbies v Blues‚ GIO Stadium – 11.45am

4 - Bulls v Waratahs‚ Loftus Versfeld - 3.05pm

4 - Jaguares v Stormers‚ Estadio Jose Amalfiltani‚ 9.40pm 10 – Blues v Hurricanes‚ Eden Park – 9.35am

10 – Reds v Rebels‚ AAMI Park – 11.45am

10 - Bulls v Crusaders‚ Loftus Versfeld - 7.10pm 11 – Highlanders v Jaguares‚ Forsyth Barr Stadium – 9.35am

11 - Chiefs v Sharks‚ FMG Stadium - 9.35am

11 - Lions v Waratahs‚ Ellis Park – 3.05pm 12 – Brumbies v Sunwolves‚ GIO Stadium – 8.05am 17 – Hurricanes v Jaguares‚ Westpac Stadium – 9.35am

17 - Rebels v Bulls‚ AAMI Stadium‚ 11.45am 18 – Blues v Chiefs‚ Eden Park – 9.35am

18 – Reds v Waratahs‚ Suncorp Stadium – 11.45am

18 – Lions v Highlanders‚ Ellis Park‚ 3.05pm

18 - Stormers v Crusaders‚ Newlands‚ 5.15pm 24 – Chiefs v Reds‚ FMG Stadium – 9.35am

24 – Brumbies v Bulls‚ GIO Stadium‚ 11.45am

25 – Sunwolves v Rebels‚ Chichibunomiya Stadium – 7.15am

25 – Crusaders v Blues‚ AMI Stadium – 9.35am

25 – Waratahs v Jaguares‚ Western Sydney Stadium – 11.45am

25 - Stormers v Highlanders‚ Newlands‚ 3.05pm

25 - Sharks v Lions‚ Kings Park‚ 5.15pm 31 – Blues v Bulls‚ Eden Park‚ 9.35am

31 – Rebels v Waratahs‚ AAMI Stadium – 11.45am JUNE 1 – Sunwolves v Brumbies‚ Chichibunomiya Stadium – 7.15am

1 – Crusaders v Chiefs‚ ANZ National Stadium‚ Suva‚ Fiji – 9.35am

1 – Reds v Jaguares‚ Suncorp Stadium – 11.45am

1 – Sharks v Hurricanes‚ Kings Park - 3.05pm

1 – Lions v Stormers‚ Ellis Park - 5.15pm 7 – Highlanders v Bulls‚ Forsyth Barr Stadium - 9.35am 7 – Reds v Blues – Suncorp Stadium - 11.45am 8 – Crusaders v Rebels‚ AMI Stadium – 9.35am

8 – Waratahs v Brumbies‚ Western Sydney Oval – 11.45am

8 – Lions v Hurricanes‚ Ellis Park - 3.05pm

8 – Stormers v Sunwolves‚ Newlands - 5.15pm

8 – Jaguares v Sharks‚ Estadio Jose Amalfiltani – 9.40pm 14 – Highlanders v Waratahs‚ Rugby Park Stadium – 9.35am

14 – Rebels v Chiefs‚ AAMI Park – 11.45am 15 – Jaguares v Sunwolves‚ Estadio Jose Amalfiltani – 00.10am

15 – Hurricanes v Blues‚ Westpac Stadium – 9.35am

15 – Brumbies v Reds‚ GIO Stadium – 11.45am

15 - Stormers v Sharks‚ Newlands - 3.05pm

15 – Bulls v Lions‚ Loftus Versfeld - 5.15pm 21/22 – Quarter-finals

29 – Semi-finals July

6 - FINAL

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