Flank is not a new position for Sharks' Gerbrandt

Cell C Sharks coach Sean Everitt has explained what seemed a surprise selection of lock Gerbrandt Grobler on the flank for Saturday’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash with the Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun by saying it was a role he always intended for the new recruit.

Grobler played a couple of games for the Sharks at lock in the Currie Cup and also played the Sharks’ first game in the URC against his former team Munster in Limerick last weekend in the second row. It was as a lock we were accustomed to see him play when he played domestic and age-group rugby at Western Province earlier in his career.

However, the well travelled and now experienced forward is no stranger to the No7 jersey worn by the blindside flank (in South Africa).

“We we recruited Gerbrandt it was to fulfil a role in dual positions,” explained Everitt during the team announcement press conference on Thursday.

“He has played a lot at blindside as well as at lock. In fact we see him as a player who can fill three different positions, because as well as No7 flank he can also play both No4 and No5 lock. Having him on the flank will give us an extra dimension in the lineout, which we will need against Glasgow as they have the Scotland international lock Richie Gray playing for them.”

Everitt added that selecting Grobler on the flank meant he could also both add to the lineout options and increase the team's physicality by reintroducing Ruben van Heerden to the starting team.

"Ruben and Hyron Andrews were our starting locks in Super Rugby last year and they did well for us. I though Ruben did really well in his cameo appearance off the bench against Munster last week," said the coach.

"Considering he had been out for so long he brought a lot to our game and we feel he is ready to start and can bring an extra edge to our physical game as well as obviously increase our lineout options."

'EVERYTHING PRETTY MUCH THE SAME'

From Grobler’s perspective, the switch of position is not one that changes much of his outlook towards the game.

“It’s just really about wearing a different number on my back. Obviously in the scrum it will be a bit different, but at the lineout it will be pretty much the same as what I have been doing and in other areas of the game it will also be pretty much the same,” said Grobler.

“I have played a lot as a blindside flank at my overseas clubs. That has been particularly the case in the past year. Before that I was always a lock. But they are similar positions so the transition wasn’t a difficult one to make. The bottom line remains the same regardless of where you slot down or what number you have on your back - you have to just work as hard as you can.”

Grobler spent four seasons playing overseas, and is one of the few players in the Sharks team for Saturday that has both prior experience of playing in what was the PRO14 before it morphed into the URC and on the 4G artificial pitch at Scotstoun Stadium.

“I first played against Glasgow on their home ground when I was playing for my first overseas club, the French team Racing 92. I then played there a couple of times for Munster,” he recalled.

“In all I have played there four times. My first memory of the ground is that you do feel quite far away from the crowd, because there is an athletic track around the pitch. You feel particularly far away when you are on the one side of the field. But it is not a bad place to go. Like most European venues there is a good vibe and the crowd makes a lot of noise, but is at the same time respectful.

“You’d have noticed that when we were kicking at posts against Munster in Limerick last week everyone was very quiet. That is the way it is over there. And when you play good rugby, even though you are the opposition team, the crowd appreciates it and shows its appreciation. When it comes to the 4G pitch, you somehow feel lighter and feel like you run faster on it.”

Grobler added that from past experience, his new team could expect a tough challenge against Glasgow.

“They are a really good team and have a lot international players. It is almost like you are playing against the Scotland team.”