Experienced Springbok centre Lukhanyo Am has recovered from his injury and was included in a 28-man Hollywoodbets Sharks squad that flew out to France on Monday night.
The Sharks face Bordeaux Begles in their final Investec Champions Cup pool match at Stade Chaban-Delmas on Sunday before moving across the English Channel to play Cardiff in a Vodacom United Rugby Championship fixture the following Saturday. Coach John Plumtree has called up 16 forwards and 12 backs for the mini tour.
Am is back in the selection mix for the first time since he was injured at the beginning of last month and will provide a much-needed addition of experience to a backline that is still missing several players and has lost another star player for this tour in the form of Jordan Hendrikse.
The Bok flyhalf, who was overall the most impressive back in last weekend’s loss to Toulouse even though he did make a few errors, has been listed among three Boks that are new injuries and will miss the trip. The others are tighthead prop Vincent Koch and wing Makazole Mapimpi. All three failed HIA tests during the Toulouse clash.
Also still out is the influential figure of Eben Etzebeth, who hasn’t played since the first Champions Cup match against the Exeter Chiefs at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in early December. Etzebeth has been sorely missed, although in his absence the likes of the highly promising Corne Rahl are gaining valuable experience.
Etzebeth would be needed though if the Sharks are to stand much chance of winning away against the red-hot Bordeaux team who top Pool 1, one point ahead of Toulouse.
Although a losing bonus point will be enough to secure the Sharks their advance to the round of 16, or a loss by a manageable score that doesn’t cancel out their superior points differential to other contending teams, they will want to win to give them a chance of playing their first knock-out game at home.
MISSING ETZEBETH
Etzebeth is a talismanic figure in the Sharks setup and the Durban team does appear to be a different animal when he is present, so his continued absence is a big blow to the team that went into the Champions Cup as the South African team rated the most likely to succeed because of the number of marquee players they have on their books.
Bok captain Siya Kolisi will lead the Sharks on tour and apart from Am he also has double World Cup winning hooker Bongi Mbonambi as a lieutenant, but the Sharks are also still missing Andre Esterhuizen and
Aphelele Fassi, two capable and influential international players at the back.
On the positive side of the balance sheet, there is a welcome return from injury for flanker James Venter, which means the Sharks should be able to put their best back row, featuring Venter at openside flank, Vincent Tshituka at blindside and Kolisi playing off the back of the scrum at No8, onto the field.
The absence of Hendrikse can be offset by selecting Siya Masuku, who was not in the match day squad at all against Toulouse but did fly out with the group on Monday, at flyhalf.
Am at centre alongside Hooker with Masuku playing on their inside will still give the Sharks backs a steady look, although Plumtree could opt to play Francois Venter at inside centre alongside Am with Hooker on the wing, where he has done well for the Sharks this season.
Another returnee from injury who flew to France on Monday was Bok tighthead prop Trevor Nyakane, with his presence helping offset the loss of Koch.
SQUAD:
Backs: Bradley Davids, Eduan Keyter, Ethan Hooker, Francois Venter, Grant Williams, Hakeem Kunene, Jaden Hendrikse, Jurenzo Julius, Lithelihle Bester, Lukhanyo Am, Siya Masuku, Yaw Penxe.
Forwards: Bongi Mbonambi, Corne Rahl, Dylan Richardson, Ethan Bester, Hanro Jacobs, James Venter, Jason Jenkins, Lappies Labuschagne, Manu Tshituka, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Ox Nche, Phepsi Buthelezi, Ruan Dreyer, Siya Kolisi, Trevor Nyakane, Vincent Tshituka.