Eben back as Hatton leads mix and match Sharks against Connacht

As anticipated, Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth will make his eagerly awaited return to the playing field after a three month suspension when the Hollywoodbets Sharks visit Galway on Friday night for their round of 16 EPCR Challenge Cup clash.

The most capped South African test player of all time has been out since the Disciplinary Hearing that followed the eye gouging incident towards the end of the Boks’ final game of 2025 that grabbed the headlines after the 73-0 win over Wales and led to a lengthy suspension.

Etzebeth will bring much needed experience to the pack, which also has two more Springboks in the form of Ox Nche and Vincent Koch in it, but as expected it is a far from full strength team that has a bit of a mix and match look to the selection. No 8 Nick Hatton will lead a side that inclues two other Boks in wings Edwill van der Merwe and Makazole Mapimpi, but there are few other regular first choice players in the team.

Among the players missing are regular captain Andre Esterhuizen, but his regular centre partner Ethan Hooker is on the bench and brings the number of Boks in the match day 23 to seven if you add in Vincent Tshituka, who is also part of the bench.

Jean Smith and Ross Braude form a new halfback pairing while Marnus Potgieter and Le-Roux Malan are the starting centres. Hakeem Kunene is back at fullback, Tino Mavesere will play openside flank with Jannes Potgieter on the blindside. Deon Slabbert is Etzebeth’s second row partner with Eduard Swart as the starting hooker.

Although far from a full strength team, which may be an indication that the Sharks are focussing mainly on making up the current seven points they lag behind the Vodacom URC top eight as their route to qualification for next year’s Champions Cup, it is more a mix and match selection than a second string team. It is strong enough on paper to be given a chance against a Connacht side that has been in good form recently but is not unbeatable.

The home side meanwhile have a smattering of Ireland internationals in their unit, including the British and Irish Lions inside centre Bundee Aki as well as the captain and No 8 Cian Prendergast.

Teams for Galway

Connacht: Sam Gilbert, Shane Jennings, Cathal Forde, Bundee Aki, Chay Mullins, Josh Ioane, Matthew Devine, Cian Prendergast (captain), Shamus Hurley-Langton, Josh Murphy, Darragh Murray, Joe Joyce, Sam Illo, Dave Heffereman, Billy Bohan. Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Peter Dooley, Finlay Bealham, Niall Murray, Paul Boyle, Colm Reilly, Sean Naughton, John Devine

Hollywoodbets Sharks: Hakeem Kunene, Edwill van der Merwe, Le-Roux Malan, Marnus Potgieter, Makazole Mapimpi, Jean Smith, Ross Braude, Nick Hatton (captain), Jannes Potgieter, Tino Mavesere, Deon Slabbert, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Eduard Swart, Ox Nche. Replacements: Ethan Bester, Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, Mawande Mdanda, Corne Rahl, Vincent Tshituka, Ceano Everson, Siya Masuku, Ethan Hooker.