Botham returns as Cardiff shuffle pack for Sharks

Wales flanker James Botham returns to the Cardiff side for Friday's United Rugby Championship (URC) game against Sharks in Durban (1700 GMT).

Botham is back on regional duty having impressed during the Six Nations and is one of eight changes to the Cardiff team beaten heavily by Bulls last weekend.

Another Wales squad member, prop Kieron Assiratti, is back in the starting XV having begun on the bench against Bulls, while veteran back row Taulupe Faletau makes a first start since New Year's Day having returned from a calf injury last time out.

Corey Domachowski and Rory Thornton – who is in for the injured George Nott – also return in the pack.

Johan Mulder is back at scrum-half, with Ioan Lloyd taking over from Cameron Winnett at full-back and Iwan Stephens replaces Jacob Beetham on the wing after he failed a head injury assessment in Pretoria.

Cardiff, who have won on their past two visits to Kings Park, are fifth in the URC table while Sharks are 11th, though the South African side are in good form.

Sharks thumped Munster 45-0 last weekend and are unbeaten in their past six matches against Welsh sides.

Cardiff, meanwhile, endured their first pointless URC match of the season as they were overpowered by fellow play-off hopefuls Bulls.

Sharks: Giliomee; Penxe, Hooker, Esterhuizen (capt), Mapimpi; Hendrikse, Davids; Ganyane, Mbatha, Jacobs, Jenkins, van Heerden, Buthelezi, Tshituka, Hatton.

Replacements: Swart, Nche, Koch, Rahl, Potgieter, Hendrikse/Braude, Smith, Malan.

Cardiff: I Lloyd; Stephens, Millard, B Thomas, Grady; Sheedy, Mulder; Domachowski, Belcher (capt), Assiratti, McNally, Thornton, Botham, D Thomas, Faletau.

Replacements: D Hughes, Southworth, Sebastian, Lawrence, Basham, Bevan, Jennings, Evans.

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)

Assistants: Morne Ferreira & Jonathan Lottering (SARU)

TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)