Injury crisis prevents Sharks from naming their bench

The Cell C Sharks have experienced a bit of an injury crisis this week that has prevented them from naming their bench for Saturday’s deciding Rainbow Cup SA fixture against the Vodacom Bulls in Durban.

The Sharks won without several of their star players when they went to Johannesburg last week to play the Emirates Lions and while some of the first-choice players have returned for this game, the team to play the Bulls looks much more a mix and match combination than a full-strength Sharks team.

Sharks coach Sean Everitt still wants to use some of them if he is able to, with late fitness tests on several players pending before Saturday’s game kicks off. He read out an extensive list of players who were touch and go to be ready in time for the game. But he added that none of them were certainties to be ready.

The uncertainty means that the Sharks might still be forced by circumstances into making use of their Springbok props Thomas du Toit and Ox Nche.

When the Cell C Sharks and Vodacom Bulls meet in Saturday’s last round of the Rainbow Cup SA competition, the teams will be battling it out in an unofficial final.

Full team: https://t.co/7fSu0VK8T6 #OurSharksForever #SHAvBUL #RainbowCupSA pic.twitter.com/cE5CyxmhYQ

— The Sharks (@TheSharksZA) June 10, 2021

“Thomas and Ox were left out of the team because of the Bok resting protocols but depending on what happens with some of our other injured front-row players that we are waiting on, we may be force to use one or both of them,” said Everitt.

The Sharks’ injury situation does have a silver lining for some players, with Anthony Volmink, who was excellent at fullback last week against the Lions, being rewarded for his good form by being selected as a starting wing in the absence of Sbu Nkosi and Yaw Penxe.

Young No8 Phepsi Buthelezi also gets a chance to continue where he left off last week by playing off the back of the scrum in a game which the Sharks have to win with a bonus point, while at the same time denying the Bulls a bonus point, if they want to play in the Rainbow Cup final against Benetton in Treviso on Saturday week.

Kutha Mchunu, recently asked to return to the Sharks after he had initially gone to the Cheetahs on loan, gets to start this week. He is part of a young front-row that also includes loosehead prop Kwezi Mona and hooker Kerron van Vuuren.

First choice players who do return to the starting team after being rested because of the Bok protocols last week include fullback Aphelele Fassi, skipper Lukhanyo Am and flyhalf Curwin Bosch.

Everitt said his team would be going all out for what they need to secure a place on the plane to Italy on Monday night for the following week’s final against Benetton, who have now definitely topped the log in the European Rainbow Cup conference because of the four points they picked up when the Ospreys forfeited their final game against the Italian team because of a Covid outbreak.

“The guys want to win the competition, that’s why you play, and we are also very eager to get some silverware after losing out narrowly in last year’s Currie Cup final against the Bulls,” said the Sharks coach.

“We have had some difficulties around injury but the guys have worked really hard this week and you can see the hunger, which is always good. The players who played last week made a big statement and it has had a big impact on the confidence and motivation of the entire squad.

“It is quite a challenge to have to get a bonus point win against the Bulls, but we have done well against them in Durban in the past. What is important is that we don’t get reckless and start the game with a focus on the four try bonus point. I have said to the guys that they need to win the game first. Once they have done that then we can focus on chasing a bonus point.”

Everitt said he had watched quite a bit of Benetton play in the overseas competition and said he would go to Italy knowing what to expect from the Sharks’ opponents if they do get past the Bulls.

Cell C Sharks team: Aphelele Fassi, Anthony Volmink, Lukhanyo Am (captain), Makazole Mapimpi, Curwin Bosch, Jaden Hendrikse, Phepsi Buthelezi, Thembelani Bholi, Siya Kolisi, Hyron Andrews, JJ van der Mescht, Khutha Mchunu, Kerron van Vuuren, Khwezi Mona. Replacements: To be confirmed.