Kolisi's 'new' No.6 role at the Sharks
REACTION: World Cup-winning Springbok captain Siyamthanda Kolisi will be required to play an ‘unfamiliar’ role at Kings Park on Friday.
Kolisi will still wear the No.6 on his jersey, but he is set to play a lot closer to the breakdown that he has done before.
Sharks coach Sean Everitt named his prized recruit as part of a much-changed team to face the Bulls in their final Preparations Series match in Durban.
He said the high-profile recruit had a “full week” of training last weekend and slotted in well this week.
“He [Kolisi] has come on really well,” the coach said, adding: “He deserves a start and opportunity to show us what he can do in the Black-&-White.”
Kolisi also wore the No.6 jersey at the Stormers, although he featured mostly in the wider channels – as opposed to the breakdown specialists that usually wears a No.6 jersey in South Africa.
However, at the Sharks, he will fulfil a different role at No.6
With Kolisi at No.6, Henco Venter at No.7 and Sikhumbuzo Notshe ate No.8, the Sharks have a very physical loose trio, but no out-and-out fetcher – or breakdown specialist.
“James Venter [the Sharks’ regular fetcher] is, unfortunately, out injured and Dylan Richardson [another option] is not well,” the coach explained the selection poser he faced.
“He [Kolisi] will be fulfilling a different type of No.6 role than what he did at Western Province.
“We are hoping that he can come through well and do a good job for us at No.6.”
Injuries also resulted in a few other changes to the plans.
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Regular flyhalf Curwin Bosch injured his thumb injury at training on Wednesday and Everitt is awaiting the results of scans.
The result is that Boeta Chamberlain will again start at flyhalf.
Another recent recruit, Anthony Volmink, will start at fullback – with regular No.15 Aphelele Fassi named on the bench.
Despite playing mostly on the wing for the Lions, before his move to Durban, Volmink was signed by the Sharks as a fullback.
“We also knew that he can fulfil a role on the wing and he has had two opportunities at wing,” Everitt said of Volmink’s selection.
“It is his turn to have a go at fullback.
“Aphelele Fassi played in the last four games in the Currie Cup and all three games in the preparation cup.
“Anthony Volmink would be his natural replacement, so he steps in to get some valuable game time at fullback,” the coach said, adding: “Very similar to Fassi, he [Volmink] is a natural left-footed kicker.
“It is going to be a nice opportunity for Anthony to get some game time in his preferred position.”
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