Sharks back young flyhalf Chamberlain for Currie Cup debut
20-year-old flyhalf Boeta Chamberlain will make his Currie Cup debut against the Lions this Sunday.
Chamberlain comes into the Sharks starting lineup for Springbok Curwin Bosch, who has been ruled out of action with a back injury. It’s unclear how long Bosch will be side-lined for.
The rest of the backline remains settled from Saturday’s last gasp win over the Cheetahs. Man of the match Sanele Nohamba retains his place at scrumhalf after his impressive performance in his first start last week.
The lone change to the Sharks pack sees John-Hubert Meyer move into the starting XV at tighthead prop. He replaces Springbok front-rower Coenie Oosthuizen, who picked up a knee injury last week.
Dylan Richardson is in line to make his Currie Cup debut off the bench at hooker as cover for Kerron van Vuuren. Leolin Zas also takes a spot on the reserves list after Marius Louw picked up an MCL strain on his left knee.
Everitt, Ward get behind debutant
All eyes will be on Chamberlain this weekend as the Sharks battle for a spot in the Currie Cup semi-finals. The Durban outfit is currently fifth on the log with two fixtures left before the knockout phase of the competition.
The stakes couldn’t be higher for the young debutant but Sharks coach Sean Everitt and co-captain Jeremy Ward are backing the flyhalf to step up to the plate.
Everitt knows what he’s got in Chamberlain, having coached the flyhalf during the Sharks U19 successful Currie Cup campaign as well as the Supersport Rugby Challenge.
“It is exciting for Boeta. He’s come from Paarl Boys High where he showed talent early in high school career before a couple of injuries in grade 11 and 12. We brought him here to the Sharks for the potential he’d shown in his younger years and he had a great season for the U19s last year,” Everitt said.
“He played Supersport Challenge at flyhalf and fullback and excelled there. He’s been playing really well for the under 21s so he deserves that call-up.”
Sharks centre and co-captain Jeremy Ward will be operating next to Chamberlain on Sunday and believes the flyhalf is ready for the step up.
“At the moment he’s just excited and he is deserving of this opportunity. He’s worked with Sanele for a while and that will give him some confidence. Then he has myself and JP outside him, we’ll be in his ear all game,” Ward said.
“We just want him to play his natural game, express himself the way he has throughout the under 21 season and in the Supersport Rugby Challenge, that is what got him here. If he does that, he will excel in Joburg on Sunday.”
Log jam not adding pressure
The Sharks breathed fresh life into their campaign with a try at the death securing victory over the Cheetahs. It was a vital result for their playoff hopes. When asked if the team was feeling the heat of the log jam, Ward said that his teammates are trying to focus on building on their performances week after week.
“That win last week really boosted the morale in the squad. We’re excited and the word that is standing out is that we’re looking to grow and Sunday is another opportunity to do that,” Ward said.
A win over the Lions will help the Sharks’ bid to move into the top four of the competition ahead of the final round of action next week.
In order to do that, Everitt says nothing short of an 80 minute performance will suffice.
“The Lions are a young team that is full of energy and they play an exciting brand of rugby. We know what’s coming. They’re not a team that enjoys lineouts so they don’t kick the ball out, they prefer to back their defence and get turnovers,” Everitt said.
“We also know that they’re a team that doesn’t go away. They’ve had three wins which have been in the last minutes of the game. We’re under no illusions about what they’re about but our fitness and tempo of rugby that we’ve played is also proof that we can last until the death.”
The Sharks meet the Lions at Ellis Park on Sunday. Kickoff is at 14h00.
Sharks team (15-1): Aphelele Fassi, Kobus van Wyk, JP Pietersen, Jeremy Ward (C), Lwazi Mvovo, Boeta Chamberlain*, Sanele Nohamba, Tera Mtembu (C), Jacques Vermeuelen, Phepsi Buthelezi, Hyron Andrews, Ruben van Heerden, John-Hubert Meyer, Kerron van Vuuren, Mzamo Majola.
Replacements: Dylan Richardson*, Juan Schoeman, Khutha Mchunu, Gideon Koegelenberg, Evan Roos, Cameron Wright, Rhyno Smith, Leolin Zas.