Schreuder settling in at Sharks

The 27-year-old joined the Sharks at the beginning of the Currie Cup from the Kings – having enjoyed somewhat of a fairy-tale season in Port Elizabeth. Doomed but undetered by the looming chop from Super Rugby, the Eastern Cape outfit managed six wins during the season, more than both the Bulls and the Cheetahs.

Schreuder was among a number of more high profile players destined to join other Unions after Super Rugby – before the Top 14 came calling for the Cheetahs and Kings.

The scrumhalf’s movements may have been different had the option been on the table but after seven rounds of Currie Cup action, the Sharks are sitting pretty at the top of the log and Schreuder is also emerging on top of the scrumhalf pecking order in Durban.

The experienced campaigner says the last year has done wonders for a career that was somewhat stifled at Western Province.

“No one expected the Kings to fire like we did and there wasn’t a lot of pressure or expectation. It was a bunch of guys that really felt for each other and that worked in the end. It was a refreshing six months for my career; we made some amazing memories,” Schreuder said.

“The Pro14 would have been nice but it’s a totally different team now – things just didn’t work out that way. I’m happy to be at the Sharks, it’s a class outfit. It's a young group with a few experienced guys – but mainly young okes that want to play and want to build their own style and culture.”

Another factor in Schreuder’s move to Durban was the departure of Cobus Reinach. The Sharks and Springbok scrumhalf’s Test career was somewhat scuppered by his omission from the 2015 World Cup squad and the 27-year-old joined Northampton Saints at the conclusion of the Super Rugby season.

Schreuder says it opened a door in Durban.

“Cobus is a class player and he has many Springbok caps. For me, it was about getting an opportunity and a regular place – that’s what worked for me at the Kings. But obviously that was in the back of my mind,” he said.

The past year has been a resurgent one for Schreuder – a far cry to the last couple of years in Cape Town where he seemed to fall out of favour and form. The more game time he got, the more confident Schreuder became.

“I was at Province, I played and then I didn’t play and then I sat for a while and I stagnated a bit. I needed to move, to play the way I know I can play so that was the best time for me to leave – I should have left a bit earlier to be honest.”

With a new lease on life in Durban, the Sharks scrumhalf wasn’t entertaining any premonitions of Currie Cup glory with so much rugby left to play. The experienced half back said the next fortnight would be the real litmus test for the Sharks.

“It’s a bit early to talk about finals because there are still six rounds to go. We’ve got two very tough games with the Pumas and Griquas, we have to be realistic about that. We have to keep fighting, this weekend was a good win but it wasn’t perfect, we’re far from where we want to be – we should take it game for game and week by week,” Schreuder said.

The Sharks meet the Pumas in Nelspruit on Friday afternoon – kickoff is at 17h00.