Four uncapped Sharks for Super Rugby tour

The Durban outfit named both a narrowed down touring squad as well as their wider 45-man Super Rugby squad on Thursday, as the 27-man group prepares to leave for Brisbane on Saturday.

The touring group features a number of exciting new recruits mixed with some familiar faces - while a couple of senior players weren't included for the two week tour of Australia.

Coach Rob du Preez opted for a forward heavy squad - perhaps anticipating a physical onslaught from the Reds and the Brumbies in the opening rounds of the competition. 16 forwards and 11 backs will travel, with four uncapped Super Rugby players in the mix.

Stephan Coetzee, Jean Droste, Sbu Nkosi and Jacques Vermeulen are all yet to taste Super Rugby action.

Meanwhile the likes of former Blitzbok S'bura Sithole, former Springbok wing Odwa Ndungane and Springbok flank Jean Deysel will stay in Durban.

Having used two preseason hit-outs to gauge his squad, Du Preez admitted that it was tough selecting a 27-man touring group, with so many options to choose from.

“It was very hard because initially the question was whether we should take 15 forwards and 12 backs or 16 forwards and 11 backs. A lot of guys have done so well in the preseason and it’s always hard to leave guys behind but I’m sure they will get an opportunity down the line,” Du Preez said after naming his squad.

The likes of Ndungane and Sithole may feel hard done by their omission from the squad, but Du Preez was adamant that Sbu Nkosi’s form in training and the preseason hit-outs put him higher on the pecking order going into Super Rugby.

“Look, Sbu has worked incredibly hard. We know what we have in S’bura, he is a very experienced guy but I think at this stage Sbu is just one step ahead of him. It’s a long season and we haven’t played our first game yet, so I’m sure we will see S’bura in the mix going forward.”

Sharks skipper Pat Lambie is the only flyhalf in the squad going down under while scrumhalves Cobus Reinach and Michael Claassens bring plenty of experience to the backline. The likes of Jeremy Ward, Kobus van Wyk and Lukhanyo Am deserve their spots in the touring group as well – providing plenty of cover in all positions.

“We were debating whether to take a second flyhalf at this stage, the options were Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Garth April and Inny Radebe. I want them to get more game time because there is very little between the three of them. At this stage we’re happy with Pat and Curwin Bosch will provide cover at flyhalf.”

The experienced French international Clement Poitrenaud also cracked the nod for the Sharks tour while the bulldozing Andre Esterhuizen will look to continue his growth as a blockbusting inside centre.

With Keegan Daniel on the sidelines with a broken arm for the next three months, Tera Mtembu is likely to start at eighthman for the opening rounds of Super Rugby. Daniel’s injury also makes way for the new recruit from Western Province, Vermeulen, to potentially make his Super Rugby debut.

“Jacques is a guy with an incredible work ethic; he is very talented, he played SA U20. He’s a youngster that can cover us in all three positions, 6, 7 and 8. We’re fortunate to have a guy with that ability in our setup. Tera has been with the Sharks a long time, he’s playing really good rugby. It’s always a pity to lose players to injury but these guys are very capable,” the coach said.

While a long trip to the East Coast of Australia will be taxing, the Sharks will take some comfort in the fact that conditions will be similar to Durban for their Super Rugby opener against the Reds. Brisbane has been experiencing some scorching weather but that shouldn’t shock the Sharks players, who have toiled in the sun for the past two months.

“The Reds played against the Rebels in a friendly game on Tuesday and we’ve taken a look at that game. They played in Brisbane and I believe it was very hot; the temperature was close to 40 degrees. I think it will be very much the same as it is here in Durban with the humidity,” Du Preez said.

Aside from the weather, the Sharks will have to nullify a dangerous-looking Reds pack, which features some of the Wallabies best forwards.

“They have assembled a really good squad. Stephen Moore, the Australian captain is with them, they’ve got George Smith, Scott Higginbotham and some really good backs. They certainly will be a different proposition this time around,” Du Preez said.

The Sharks also enter unchartered waters with a first-ever tour right at the start of the Super Rugby competition. For a player like Franco Marais, who looks to be the first choice hooker at the Sharks, the prospect of getting the tour out of the way early is a positive.

“I’ve spoke to a few players and it’s excellent for the Union to get the tour behind us first, because it is quite a level-playing field at the beginning of the season. I think the fact that we’re playing away won’t have a big effect on us because we haven’t travelled yet, we’re fresh and eager to go,” Marais said.

“For the rest of the squad missing out on the tour, it’s not ideal for them but I must say their attitude has been excellent. They’ve be training with us for the last two days and you don’t see any lips hanging. It’s really good to be starting with a tour considering the young side we have.”

While the rugby world still seems to be in awe of New Zealand rugby, Lambie wasn’t entertaining talk of the Australian sides being less of a challenge compared to the all-New Zealand draw last year.

“It will be interesting to see how this side of the draw works. We’re looking forward to playing some of the Australian sides having not played them last year. The rumours are that this is the easier side of the draw but we will wait and see,” the skipper said.

“I think this is one of the toughest competitions in the world, just the longevity of it makes it extremely challenging. You add the travel to that and there aren’t really any easy games any more. We’re not taking it lightly at all, we’re excited about the draw we have and we want to take full advantage and take it a week at a time.”

The Sharks face the Reds next Friday, February 24. Kickoff is at 11h00.

Sharks touring squad:

Forwards: Chiliboy Ralepelle, Coenie Oosthuizen, Etienne Oosthuizen, Franco Marais, Jacques Vermeulen, Jean Droste, Jean-Luc du Preez, Juan Schoeman, Lourens Adriaanse, Philip van der Walt, Ruan Botha, Stephan Coetzee, Stephan Lewies, Tendai Mtawarira, Tera Mtembu, Thomas du Toit.

Backs: Andre Esterhuizen, Clement Poitrenaud, Cobus Reinach, Curwin Bosch, Jeremy Ward, Kobus van Wyk, Lukhanyo Am, Lwazi Mvovo, Michael Claassens, Pat Lambie (captain), Sbu Nkosi.

Sharks Super Rugby squad:

Forwards: Beast Mtawarira, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Coenie Oosthuizen, Daniel du Preez, Etienne Oosthuizen, Franco Marais, Francois Kleinhans, Hyron Andrews, Jacques Vermeulen, Jean Deysel, Jean Droste, Jean-Luc du Preez, John-Hubert Meyer, Juan Schoeman, Keegan Daniel, Khaya Majola, Lourens Adriaanse, Philip van der Walt, Ruan Botha, Stephan Coetzee, Stephan Lewies, Tera Mtembu, Thomas du Toit.

Backs: Andre Esterhuizen, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Clement Poitrenaud, Cobus Reinach, Curwin Bosch, Garth April, Hanco Venter, Inny Radebe, Jeremy Ward, Johan Deysel, Kobus van Wyk, Lukhanyo Am, Lwazi Mvovo, Marius Louw, Michael Claassens, Odwa Ndungane, Pat Lambie (captain), Rhyno Smith, Rowan Gouws, S’bura Sithole, Sbu Nkosi, Tristan Blewett.