‘New kids on the block’ show they’re courageous
THE STORMERS win over the Rebels was a surprise in more ways than one. Not only did Robbie Fleck’s team run in five tries – they had dotted down only 11 times previously in the entire competition – but it was achieved with a group of Super Rugby rookies.
But with senior Boks Pieter-steph du Toit and captain Siya Kolisi back in the frame for selection this week, Fleck is left with the old age of conundrum of should be changing a winning team.
There is great concern that SA rugby is set to lose stalwarts to the financial rewards of foreign shores after the World Cup, but these youngsters have shown the talent pipeline remains as strong as ever.
Here we take a closer look at exactly who are these young men burning it up.
The former Paarl Gymnasium prodigy has come through the youth ranks at Western Province, having firstly captained the WP Craven Week team before going on to lead the SA Schools team in 2016 and also the Junior Boks.
Standing 1.91m in his socks and tipping the scales at 104kg, Van Rhyn bears a striking resemblance to Pieter-steph du Toit, who he idolises.
At 24, Van Dyk is the oldest of the newbies and has tasted Super Rugby action before. However, he certainly came of age on tour, putting in a solid shift after Pieter-steph du Toit returned home to be at the birth of his son.
Fleck enjoys having Van Dyk in his loose-trio mix because “he doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty” and “is an honest, hard-working player”.
Another former SA Schools and Junior Bok captain, Moerat (pictured) has struggled to cement a place in the Stormers line-up since leaving the rugby nursery of Paarl Boys’ High purely due to the riches the Stormers possess at lock forward.
However, after Eben Etzebeth, JD Schickerling and Chris van Zyl all returned home midway through the Australasian tour, Moerat certainly put in a solid shift against the Rebels to prove that when fullyfit he can mix it with the best.
Stepping into the shoes of Eben Etzebeth is always a big task, and initially the 21-year-old struggled with the expectation.
But as the tour progressed, Wiese grew in stature and was exceptional in the win over the Rebels. Can play in both positions in the second row, while he can also cover lock. THE Sharks by their own admission are in “obsession mode” when it comes to tomorrow’s Super Rugby match against the Reds. They are desperate to bounce back from the hiding they received from the Jaguares and strong leadership is required. Mike Greenaway looks at four Sharks who need to lead the way.
SBU NKOSI
This is a big game for the incumbent Springbok right wing. He has been dogged by injury this season and from the sidelines has seen Sharks teammate Makazole Mapimpi dazzle in his place.
“Mapimps” is having a rotational break this weekend at the fortuitous time that Nkosi is returning from injury. The latter will want to impress from a national point of view but he will also know that his positive, aggressive style of play rubs off on his teammates. The Sharks need him to be at his robust best.
KOBUS VAN WYK
The former Stormers and Bordeaux player comes into the side at outside centre for resting Bok Lukhanyo Am. Van Wyk is thus filling big boots because Am has been a standout Sharks player this year.
But the 27-year-old Van Wyk is an exceptional player in his own right and is vastly underrated in South Africa. He has been injured this season and as a wing/centre he is also in a position where the Sharks have very good depth.
But he now has a great chance to shine and his cavalier approach to the game suits his team in its current circumstances.
DAN DU PREEZ
The No 8 was one of the better Sharks players against the Jaguares and this time when he charges from the back of the scrum he needs to have more support.
The 23-year-old has played SA Schools, SA Under-20, four times for the Boks and has 40 Super Rugby caps for the Sharks. So while he is young he already has considerable experience and is a player that commands respect from his peers.
Du Preez is vital to the Sharks’ starter movements and is also a very strong finisher, especially when he is in bulldozer distance from the tryline.
COENIE OOSTHUIZEN
“Shrek” is one of the characters in the Sharks team. Jovial and colourful off the pitch he is No More Nice Guy on it, and the Sharks need plenty of that menace tomorrow.
The beefy Oosthuizen is another Sharks player who is on the fringes of World Cup selection and he will be doing both himself and the Sharks a favour if he has a barnstorming performance against the Reds after being rested last week, along with fellow front-rower Tendai Mtawarira.
Oosthuizen and Mtawarira led from the front at Ellis Park. They need to do so again.