The missing pieces of the jigsaw have started to fit into place at last for the Hollywoodbets Sharks as they leave for a crucial Vodacom United Rugby Championship tour that features Friday night’s round 15 game against Edinburgh followed by Ulster in Belfast a week later.
The Sharks will need to win both games if they are to be sure of keeping ahead of fifth placed Munster in the battle for a top four finish that will secure home ground advantage in the first playoff game. There was a big gap between the Sharks and the rest of the chasing pack two months ago but thanks to the Sharks’ loss to Leinster the last time they played in the URC that gap has been cut to just six points.
To that end Sharks coach John Plumtree will be delighted to finally have the most capped Springbok and double SA Rugby Player of the Year award winner Eben Etzebeth back in tow. Etzebeth has been out of rugby since the opening Investec Champions Cup game against Exter Chiefs in Durban on 8 December - in other words an absence of four months.
Etzebeth’s return was expected initially to be January but he struggled with concussion symptoms and that delayed his return to play date. He returned to training a few weeks ago and could have gone with the squad to Lyon for last week’s EPCR Challenge Cup round of 16 game but Plumtree decided getting Etzebeth to make his return to the Sharks team in France would be the wrong call.
STAYED BACK WITH FRONTLINE SQUAD
When Plumtree sent an understrength team to Lyon Etzebeth stayed behind with the frontline players to get ready for the important business of finishing the URC season with a flourish, with this tour being followed by two home games in May. Apparently the Bok behemoth has been training well and is hungry to play.
The same can be said for Aphelele Fassi, another frontline Bok who returns for the tour after being out for about three weeks longer than Etzebeth has been. Fassi has been training with the Sharks for the last month after recovering from the injury he sustained playing for the Sharks against the Stormers in Cape Town just after Christmas and is likely to take up position in his regular No 15 jersey against Edinburgh.
Fassi’s influence as an attacking force from the back is invaluable to the Sharks, as is Etzebeth’s obvious influence in the forward assault. With double World Cup winner Lukhanyo Am also returning to add to the midfield options, and another Bok in scrumhalf Grant Williams also making his return, the Sharks are starting to head back to full strength at just the right time as most positions are well covered and mostly filled with international players.
Hollywoodbets Sharks touring squad
Forwards: Bongi Mbonambi, Eben Etzebeth, Emile van Heerden, Ethan Bester, Fez Mbatha, Hanro Jacobs, James Venter, Jason Jenkins, Manu Tshituka, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Ox Nche, Phepsi Buthelezi, Ruan Dreyer, Siya Kolisi, Vincent Koch, Vincent Tshituka.
Backs: Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Bradley Davids, Ethan Hooker, Grant Williams, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Jurenzo Julius, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, Siya Masuku, Yaw Penxe.