'Boeta is an all-round player'
SPOTLIGHT: Sharks head coach Sean Everitt is confident flyhalf Boeta Chamberlain will be able to stamp his authority in his team’s United Rugby Championship opener against Munster in Limerick on Saturday.
Chamberlain, 22, gets the No.10 jersey following the departure of Lionel Cronje, who was in Durban on a short-term loan for the Currie Cup.
Everitt has also decided to keep Curwin Bosch in the No.15 role for Saturday’s match.
“Boeta is an all-round player,” Everitt told reporters during an online media conference on Thursday.
“He has got a good skill set. He kicks well, he has good distribution and he is a good counter-attacker.
“We have been blooding Boeta slowly through some top games over the last 18 months. He had a start against the Hurricanes [in Super Rugby] where he played really well in the first 20 minutes of that game and then he had a really good Preparations Series.
“He had an excellent game against the Bulls at Kings Park in the rain, so we back his skill set.
“We have surrounded him with experienced players – one of the reasons why Ruan Pienaar is starting at No.9 is to take a bit of pressure off Boeta.
“He is certainly a guy for the future and a guy who on the day can turn the game.”
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sharks have revealed their team for their United Rugby Championship opener against Munster. #URC #MUNvSHA https://t.co/Fbsfhn0T8O
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‘He is massive for us’
Ruan Pienaar played for Irish side Ulster between 2010 and 2017 and his experience in the Northern Hemisphere will be vital for the Sharks on Saturday.
“The reason for Ruan’s selection is his experience,” Everitt explained.
“We are also playing a young No.10 in Boeta Chamberlain.
“Ruan is a leader in his own right and he certainly brings a lot of leadership to the team and the experience in these conditions against teams that we are playing against.
“He understands what needs to be done on the field to get results. He is massive for us; he has been great at training this week.
“It just shows you why he has had a career as long as he has with the preparation that he puts in as well as the quality of training he puts in on the pitch day in and day out.
“He is immense as far as selection goes.”
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