Former Springbok midfielder Rohan Janse van Rensburg will make his debut for the Cell C Sharks when they kick off their Vodacom United Rugby Championship campaign on Friday in Parma, Italy against Zebre.
The Italian side surprised in round one by almost beating powerhouse Irish side Leinster, going down 33-29 after a late fightback and have signed a number of South African players to bolster their ranks as they look to make inroads in the tournament and do better than their one victory last season.
Coach Sean Everitt said he was looking forward to seeing Janse van Rensburg, who joined the side from Sale Sharks in the off-season and said he had been a “revelation” since joining the Durban side.
“He has settled in well, he brings a lot of leadership qualities to the group and has a strong voice in the team meetings. He is more experienced in these conditions and on this trip he will benefit us with his knowledge and aid in the system of developing some of the youngsters in the team. We are really happy with what he has brought thus far,” Everitt said.
“He has been a revelation since joining us, and we are fortunate with some Springboks out to have an experienced centre to play alongside Boeta Chamberlain.”
Chamberlain will start in the 10 jersey after injuries to Curwin Bosch and Lionel Cronje ruled them out of the tour and the team drafted in veteran Fred Zeilinga to be on the bench.
“We never would have betted on having two flyhalves injured at the start of the season,” Everitt lamented, “But that is the nature of rugby and Boeta now has to step up to the plate and take his opportunity.
“He did admirably on the European tour last year and has performed well in the pre-season friendlies so we have the fullest confidence in him.”
Thomas du Toit will captain the side with Janse van Rensburg partnering with Ben Tapuai in the midfield while at flank the Sharks have gone for two fetchers in Dylan Richardson and James Venter with Phepsi Buthelezi at eight.
“I think Dyland and James have been involved in this capacity a number of times before, we played them together in the Currie Cup with a lot of success. They both get through a helluva lot of work and were the form loose forwards in training and the pre-season games. Dylan is known as a fetcher but he is also a strong ball carrier and I’m excited to see the difference they can bring to the team,” Everitt added.
While the Sharks started poorly last year in the inaugural competition they know now what they will face abroad and are looking forward to an improved start, even though they are wary of Zebre after their opening round performance against Leinster.
“We’re happy to make amends from our start last year, all the South African teams struggled but we’re coming in with a bit more experience, we know what’s coming our way as far as the opposition is concerned. It’s not like last year when we were going into the unknown.”
“Zebre will be a tough nut to crack at home,” he adds. “They put on a good performance against Leinster last weekend and I don’t think anyone would have believed the game would be so close; they were pretty unfortunate not to get the result.
“We’re under no illusions as to what we’re facing on Friday night and we know this competition is unforgiving as some of the teams found out in the first weekend’s action.”
Cell C Sharks: Aphelele Fassi, Werner Kok, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Ben Tapuai, Thaakir Abrahams; Boeta Chamberlain, Grant Williams, Phepsi Buthelezi, Dylan Richardson, James Venter, Reniel Hugo, Gerbrandt Grobler, Thomas du Toit (captain), Kerron van Vuuren, Nthuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: Dan Jooste, Dian Bleuler, Carlu Sadie, Justin Basson, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Cameron Wright, Fred Zeilinga, Marnus Potgieter.