Rogers, Mathias, Ball and Lousi back in the XV
Tom Rogers, Kemsley Mathias, Jake Ball and Sam Lousi all come back from injury and go straight into the starting line‑up following last weekend’s defeat to the Lions in Johannesburg.
Rogers resumes on the wing, with Blair Murray switching to full‑back. Joe Roberts partners skipper Johnny Williams in midfield, while Dane Blacker starts at scrum‑half in place of Archie Hughes. Sam Costelow continues at fly‑half.
In the pack, Mathias makes his first appearance of the season at loose‑head, joining hooker Marnus van der Merwe and tight‑head Archer Holz in the front row. Ball returns from head injury protocols to partner Harvey Cuckson in the second row, while Lousi is named at blindside flanker alongside openside Dan Davis and No. 8 Taine Plumtree.
Peel: “We have to be bold”
Head coach Dwayne Peel said the squad must continue to play with ambition despite a difficult start to the campaign.
“Obviously, we have been disappointed with results so far, but we can’t go into our shells in terms of how we want to play. We have to keep being bold and encourage the boys to go out and play,” he said.
“The Sharks are a dangerous team — you only have to look at their line‑up, 13 current Springboks, some of the best players in the world. The challenge for us is we need to be a collective, the boys have to fight for each other. What an opportunity and what a challenge for our guys.”
Scarlets team to face Hollywoodbets Sharks
Saturday, October 25 – Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban (15:00 UK time; Premier Sports)
Starting XV: 15 Blair Murray; 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Johnny Williams (capt), 11 Ellis Mee; 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Dane Blacker; 1 Kemsley Mathias, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 3 Archer Holz, 4 Jake Ball, 5 Harvey Cuckson, 6 Sam Lousi, 7 Dan Davis, 8 Taine Plumtree.
Replacements: 16 Kirby Myhill, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Alex Groves, 20 Jarrod Taylor, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Joe Hawkins, 23 Ioan Nicholas.
Unavailable (injury/illness): Max Douglas, Josh Macleod, Ryan Elias, Eddie James, Jac Price, Osian Williams, Will Evans, Dom Kossuth.
