Cronje's 'important role' in Durban
SPOTLIGHT: Sharks head coach Sean Everitt says flyhalf Lionel Cronje has an important role in helping develop the next generation of stars in Durban.
After playing off the bench in the Sharks’ last two matches, the 32-year-old will now be wearing the No.10 jersey for the match against the Bulls in Durban on Friday.
Cronje arrived in Durban on a short-term deal from Japanese club Toyota Verblitz ahead of this season’s Currie Cup.
“Lionel has come to the Sharks short term. He certainly adds a lot of experience to a young backline,” said Everitt.
“Our scrumhalves are very young and we also have some young centres. When I talk about young centres, I am talking about Rynhardt Jonker and Murray Koster.
“We got a young Thaakir Abrahams on the one wing and we also had Marnus Potgieter on the other wing and they are very young and inexperienced players and Lionel helps them a lot.
“He gives them confidence and the experience they gain from playing with Lionel certainly helps us as a team.
“He plays an important role in our group and he might not necessarily play all the games, but he is certainly an integral part in the development of our youngsters coming through.”
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach Sean Everitt has revealed his team to face the Bulls on Friday. #CurrieCup #SHAvBUL https://t.co/2d29FNPSz5
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With Cronje in the No.10 jersey, Everitt has moved Curwin Bosch to the No.15 jersey for Friday’s match.
“We are just looking at different options. With Aphelele Fassi going to the Boks it has left us a bit thin in that position [fullback].
“Obviously, Manie [Libbok] has covered that position pretty well and Anthony Volmink has done a good job up until now.
“We are looking at combinations. With the way we want to play with a two-sided attack, it’s nice to have players at fullback who can play at No.10 and we can see in the latter stages of the game [against Griquas] Curwin fitted in quite well.
“It is a combination we are looking at and if it works well then it might be something that we continue with,” the coach explained.
