Lambie out again: Now Sharks want to look at young Benhard

DURBAN: There is nothing but sympathy from Sharks backline coach Sean Everett when he describes the loss of flyhalf Pat Lambie for the fourth year in a row in the early stage of a Super Rugby season.

“It is something we have grown accustomed to, and that is simply acceptance that Pat has had a run of very bad luck, and nobody is more disappointed at this latest injury than Pat himself,” Everett said. “But we have to make a plan (against the Kings on Saturday), as we have done for a few years now, and this week, it means we want to have a look at an SA Under20 player from last year in Benhard Janse van Rensburg, pictured.

“We also have Inny Radebe from the Currie Cup last year and this time last year Garth April was doing a job for us, so we do have options, even if all three options are Under-21.”

Curwin Bosch, to make an understatement, made a decent fist of the flyhalf position in replacing Lambie last week, scoring 27 points, but he is going to be needed at fullback because of the groin injury side-lining Frenchman Clement Poitrenaud.

“Benhard had a very good year at Pukke in the Varsity Cup and then at the Leopards last year, and went on to make SA U20 and came to us last year but could not play in the Currie Cup because of a shoulder injury,” the backline coach said.

“Yes, we have injuries, but we had also planned to rest players this week, with no disrespect to the Kings.

“We have to rest contracted Boks, and this was the plan for this week, and it then takes us into a bye week to rest the guys again.”

Everett said that numerous planned changes to the side that beat the Waratahs last week had nothing to do with underestimating the Kings, and everything to do with trusting the greater Sharks squad and keeping the squad refreshed.

“We do not have an issue with who we play, everybody knows our game plan, it is about boxing clever to ensure we have the best possible squad to go through a very long season,” he said.

“The Kings are a team on the rise after a slow start.

“Flyhalf Lionel Cronje is playing good rugby, and last week the Stormers were in a battle for much of the game. We are certainly not underestimating them.”