Sharks’ Chiliboy nears return

This weekend’s clash against the Lions serves as a farewell party before the Sharks embark on a three match tour of New Zealand. While the team hasn’t had to contend with many injuries, players that have been side-lined during the first five weeks of Super Rugby will begin to filter back into the team.

The most noteworthy of these is former Springbok hooker Chiliboy Ralepele. The 29-year-old has finally served out a two year ban for doping, but is only eligible to play again next week, when the Sharks depart on tour.

Sharks director of rugby Gary Gold considered giving Ralepelle some game time in the Currie Cup, which kicks-off this weekend, but the danger of injuries on tour means Ralepelle is likely to join the squad in New Zealand.

“It’s a consideration to take him on tour with us because you need three hookers. Unfortunately he isn’t allowed to play this weekend. That’s the dilemma; we leave for tour on Sunday so there wasn’t an opportunity for him to play,” Gold explained.

“He’s available to tour and play next weekend and I’m very nervous about not going on tour with three hookers. I’ve been bitten with that before, on a Friday morning in Auckland and somebody pulls out in a specialist position - it becomes very difficult.”

Jean Deysel also misses out on the action this weekend. Although Gold confirmed Deysel is fit and ready to play, Keegan Daniel was preferred on the bench having played recently. Philip van der Walt was the only casualty after the Crusaders game and misses out through injury.

“Deysie has walked a long road. It was a very difficult year for him both on and off the field. He’s come on in leaps and bounds and he is now a very serious contender. We didn’t want to risk him training with the Currie Cup squad until we finally knew what was going to happen with Philip, but he’s very close.

“But again from a cohesion and continuity point of view, I want it to be difficult for guys to get into the team if the guys that are there are playing well.”

While Deysel and Daniel vie for spots in the team, a few more players will join the battle for selection in the coming weeks.

According to Gold, Tera Mtembu, Jacques Potgieter and Khaya Majola will return from injury in the coming weeks. Francois Kleynhans won’t be far from finishing his rehabilitation either – making the loose forward stocks swell.

Meanwhile Pat Lambie has been training with the team.

“He’s doing everything other than taking contact at the moment. For that kind of an injury, it’s literally about taking the time to let the ligaments heal. He’s right now, but it’s just too early from an injury point of view.”

 Despite what looks like an extended injury list, Gold has been lucky to have chosen a relatively stable team for the first five weeks of Super Rugby. In contrast to 2015, it has been an absolute blessing.

“There is nothing worse in the game, no bigger coach-killer, than injuries. There is almost nothing in rugby as underestimated by the man in the street as having a squad that is ravaged by injuries," Gold said.

"That is why I giggle a bit because I’m starting to take stick about why I haven’t rotated the squad and why aren’t other people getting an opportunity. But when we have injuries everyone is up in arms saying how difficult it is to manage a squad.

“Consistency and cohesion is critical in sport. We’ve had a five week period and now a break but we are going to have to rotate towards the end of the tour. That’s because of the nightmare schedule of flying back from NZ, playing here, going to Argentina then coming back and then playing the Kings. That is going to be a logistical challenge that will need to be managed very well.

“It is important to keep the cohesion, but at some stage we’ll pick up an injury or two and we’ll also do some rotation.”

The Sharks host the Lions at Growthpoint Kings Park on Saturday - 17h05 kickoff.

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