Sharks’ Steyn set to line up at No 10 as Bok Lambie is rested

THE MANNER in which the Sharks cope with the enforced absence of their Springboks this week is going to reveal a lot about the depth, character and adaptability of the Durban side as they head into this Saturday’s tricky Super Rugby encounter against the Western Force at King’s Park.

Besides the loss of their skipper Bismarck du Plessis as a result of a four-week suspension for foul play, Marcell Coetzee, Pat Lambie and Cobus Reinach are all set to be rested as per Saru’s player management policy.

Add to this the absence of the injured Pieter-Steph du Toit, and suddenly the Sharks find themselves without a host of influential players for this weekend’s battle.

The policy on resting Bok players has made life difficult for the Sharks, a side that has the biggest Bok contingent, while they also didn’t have the benefit of an early bye.

In the absence of young flyhalf Lambie, who has marshalled the Sharks’ backline with aplomb this season, Frans Steyn will shift to 10, with talented Andre Esterhuizen likely to come in at inside centre.

Factor in Conrad Hoffmann’s expected elevation to start at scrumhalf in place of Cobus Reinach, and the Sharks will have to adjust to some significant changes to their 9-10-12 combination.

However, with Steyn, Esterhuizen and JP Pietersen all set to line up alongside each other, the Sharks will boast some real physical firepower in that department.

The loose-trio will also have to be reshuffled in the absence of Coetzee, while the front row will see Kyle Cooper coming in for Du Plessis, with Jannie du Plessis also in some doubt for the match as the result of a shoulder injury.