Sharks running on empty tank

A spate of injuries have forced the Sharks to select a hooker as replacement loose forward against the Hurricanes.

Ken Borland

South African rugby has many quality loose forwards but, it seems, the Sharks’ reserves are empty.

They announced a hooker as their reserve flank for the Super Rugby match against the Hurricanes in Wellington tomorrow.

In a sign of shambolic selection, the Sharks went on tour with just two specialist hookers. When scrumhalf Cobus Reinach fractured his hand, Kyle Cooper, a hooker, replaced him.

Cooper will be on the bench in the reserve loose forward’s No 20 jersey because the talismanic Willem Alberts is injured or being rested – and the Sharks have given no indication what’s wrong with him.

Etienne Oosthuizen, Renaldo Bothma and Marcell Coetzee, the only other backrow forwards on tour, are in the starting XV.

Bismarck du Plessis is the starting hooker, backed up by Franco Marais.

In the meantime, Khaya Majola, a specialist flank who made five Currie Cup appearances for the Sharks last year and is a former SA Under-20 cap, plays Vodacom Cup rugby.

After the Sharks lost 48-15 to the Highlanders last weekend, coach Gary Gold has made five changes and three positional switches for the game against runaway competition leaders Hurricanes.

Francois Steyn returns from suspension at inside centre, Lionel Cronje comes in at flyhalf and Stefan Ungerer replaces Reinach at scrumhalf.

Bothma and tighthead prop Jannie du Plessis return to the pack, while Gold has shuffled his backs. Lwazi Mvovo will be at fullback, Odwa Ndungane on the right wing and S’bura Sithole at left wing.