Sharks finally enjoy some continuity
IT has been a rugby season like no other, with the Sharks the South African team most severely hit by Covid19, so you can understand why coach Sean Everitt says winning the Currie Cup tomorrow at Loftus Versfeld would be the “cherry on the top”.
“The challenges on and off the field, week-in, week-out, have been very tough, and this group of players would be deserving of the cherry on the top” said Everitt, who himself had the difficulty of coaching the team for a fortnight from the isolation of his bedroom.
Perhaps fittingly, the coach at last has the luxury of fielding the same match 23 for consecutive games when it matters most — at the very business end of an incredibly arduous season. The only change to the team that beat Western Province in the semi-final is at scrumhalf where Everitt has swapped in Jaden Hendrikse for Sanele Nohamba.
And according to Everitt, the team that will start against the Bulls is exactly the one that he had planned for the semi-final but Hendrikse fell sick in the week prior to the game.
“Jaden was supposed to start for us at Newlands but he had a stomach ailment that changed our minds,” said Everitt.
“Jaden is on top of his game at the moment, he is really in good form, while Sanele is the type of player who can bring energy off the bench. Jaden deserves his spot, he is also a big game player, and was not adjudged to be the best player at a Junior World Cup a few years ago for nothing.
“That does not mean that Sanele doesn’t have a big role to play. He and Jaden are different types of players, and Sanele brings tempo.
“In a final, the last 20 minutes might also be the most important time to be on the field — that is when you are either trying to close the game out or you are trying to catch up if you are losing.”
Everitt said that to finally have continuity in his squad made it easier to prepare. “It really is great to have the same group, it makes the planning so much easier and it was a big step forward for us when earlier this week every player returned a negative result in the Covid tests,” he said.
A notable continuation in the starting line-up is in the second row where JJ van der Mescht continues ahead of Hyron Andrews, who for so long was in partnership with Ruben van Heerden. The hefty Van der Mescht played a crucial role in stopping the WP rolling maul, and he will be called on to the same against the Bulls’ powerful maul.
“He really loves stopping mauls, he takes great pride in it.”
Sharks: Aphelele Fassi, Sbu Nkosi, Lukhanyo Am (captain), Marius Louw, Yaw Penxe, Curwin Bosch, Jaden Hendriks, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Henco Venter, Dylan Richardson, Ruben van Heerden, JJ van der Mescht, Thomas du Toit, Fez Mbatha, Ox Nche. Replacements: Dan Jooste, Mzamo Majola, Michael Kumbirai, Hyron Andrews, Thembelani Bholi, Sanele Nohamba, Jeremy Ward.