Ahead of their opening Absa Currie Cup match against the Cavaliers on Friday, the Sharks team has unearthed some exciting new talent from the ranks of clubs in KwaZulu-Natal.
Coach Dick Muir said on Tuesday he was very bullish about the team after some hard preparatory work.
”We have been working very hard on our explosive power,” said Muir. ”That urgency running onto the ball, and our reaction time is very good right now. It was one of our problems in the Super 12, and we have worked very hard at our conditioning to deal with that.
”Our critics have had their say, but this Currie Cup season we’re prepared to do our talking on the field,” said Muir. ”With Ray’s [Mordt] assistance we have paid particular attention to our defensive lines and communication on the field.
”We’re in for a tough Currie Cup campaign but we’re up for the challenge,” he added.
One of the players who earned his debut in the famed black and white strip is 19-year-old product of the Sharks Academy, JP Pietersen, who will be starting at fullback. He is the nephew of former Sharks winger Christie Noble.
Another 19-year-old, Scott Spedding, will start on the bench as cover for flyhalf Herkie Kruger, after a good performance in the Sharks’ trials match.
Muir was adamant that he would cope well despite the loss of key players to injury. AJ Venter will be out for the rest of the year, while Craig Davidson’s hand injury will not keep him out of action for much longer. Hooker Skipper Badenhorst has a hamstring injury, making way for Free Stater Loutjie Louw to make his way into the squad.
The team for the opening Absa Currie Cup match against the Boland cavaliers:
J.P. Pietersen; Brett Hennessey, Adrian Jacobs, Grant Rees, Henno Mentz, Herkie Kruger, Bennie Nortje, Jaco Gouws, Nico Breedt, Warren Britz, Johann Muller (captain), Werner Cronje, BJ Botha, Loutjie Louw, Deon Carstens. Reserves Frik Venter, Danie Saayman, Claude Dry, Braam Immelman, Dave von Hoesslin, Scott Spedding, Gcobani Bobo. -Sapa