The Sharks will reintegrate their Springbok players for their home United Rugby Championship (URC) match against the Glasgow Warriors on October 15, so Sean Everitt’s overseas squad will be responsible for defeating the Dragons in Newport on Saturday night and then Leinster in Dublin the following week.
Everitt stated from Newport, after naming his team for the Dragons, that his wealth of Boks will have this week off following the conclusion of the Rugby Championship, and will then report for training the following week at Hollywoodbets Kings Park under the coaches who remained, Joey Mongalo and Etienne Fynn.
Siya Kolisi, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche, Eben Etzebeth, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, and Jaden Hendrikse, all Boks from the recently concluded Championship, will provide a significant boost when the team returns from their tour.
Our Sharks will face the Dragons on Saturday.
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September 29, 2022 — The Sharks (@SharksRugby)
They will only be available for two matches before departing for their European tour in November, but what an impact they can have against the Warriors and the top Irish team, Ulster, a week later.
Everitt stated Thursday that Joey and Etienne will bring the Boks up to speed on the preseason practices. “We must integrate a large number of Boks into our ranks because we have a large number of them.
The coach continued, “They are quality players, and we respect their need for a little recuperation, therefore we did not want to hurry them over to the tour squad.” “Had we been at home (at the conclusion of the Rugby Championship), things may have been different, so for the time being we will only call up one or two of them if we sustain injuries on tour.”
The Sharks have already had an injury setback after fiery lock Gerbrandt Grobler picked up a bicep injury in a freak accident in training on Tuesday, and he has returned home. Grobler had been a stand-out performer in the last URC before picking up a serious leg injury and has only just made his comeback, in last week’s defeat of Zebre.
Everitt stated, “Justin Basson (the signing from the Cheetahs) replaces Gerbrandt.” “He played well off the bench last week against Zebre and adds physicality and weight to the second row. He is a good defender, especially in the maul.”
In April, the Sharks defeated the Dragons by 50 points in Durban, but Everitt cautions that the Rodney Parade will be a different story.
Everitt stated, “They are now a different team with a different coach and different home conditions.” “We played them in Durban while the weather was hot and muggy. We saw from their victory against Munster last week that they take pride in collisions and relish tough play, so we must be prepared for that.”
Aphelele Fassi, 14, Werner Kok, 13, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 12, Ben Tapuai, 11, Thaakir Abrahams, 10, Boeta Chamberlain, 9, Grant Williams, 8, Phepsi Buthelezi, 7, Dylan Richardson, 6, James Venter, 5, Reniel Hugo, 4, Justin Basson, 3, Thomas du Toit (captain), 2, Kerron van Vuuren, and 1, Ntuthuko M 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Marnus Potgieter, and 23 Anthony Volmink represent replacements.