Sharks bank on Pieter-Steph pedigree
The return from injury of Pieter-Steph du Toit could not have been more timeous for the Sharks.
The 21-year-old lock forward, who comes with huge wraps from the national coach, will be a central figure when the Durban outfit travel to their bogey city, Kimberley, to put their Currie Cup campaign back on track against Griquas on Saturday.
Du Toit, a Springbok training squad member, has returned to full fitness after a chest injury robbed him of a chance to feature in the mid-year Tests against Italy, Scotland and Samoa.
His return, to make his first start in this year's Currie Cup campaign, comes in the wake of the shoulder injury that has ruled out Springbok veteran Marco Wentzel – who appears to be set for several months on the sidelines.
Sharks backline coach Sean Everitt joined the chorus heaping praise on the former South African Under-20 star.
Bok coach Heyneke Meyer earlier this year did not hide his admiration for Du Toit – who started as a front-of-the-line-out jumper, but has been converted to a No.5 lock.
And Everitt feels all the praise is justified for a player that shows no signs of buckling under the huge load of expectations.
"Pieter-Steph is a huge talent and will add a lot of value to the team," Everitt told this website in an interview ahead of their trip to Kimberley.
"He brings a lot of energy, being a youngster and we all know what pedigree he is from.
"It will be a good test for Pieter-Steph, who has been training with us for three weeks," the Sharks mentor said, adding that he does not feel the lock would have a problem making the step up from the training ground to the battlefield of Kimberley.
"He had a good Super Rugby season as well and I think he will fit in nicely."
A member of the South African Under-20 squad that won the IRB Junior World Champs in 2012, Du Toit certainly has a very bright future ahead of him.
His versatility is underlined by the fact that he has played representative rugby both at lock and flank.
Everitt also spoke of the injury that has ruled out the 34-year-old Wentzel – saying that Du Toit's return "dovetailed" quite nicely with the unfortunate loss of Wentzel.
"So, we are not too badly affected by that [injury]," Everitt said, adding: "As far as the squad is concerned, everybody has had a chance to prove themselves and they have all done well.
"We are very happy with the squad that we have to select from at the moment."
Everitt is happy that they have the right blend of youth and experience – with pivotal positions like scrumhalf and flyhalf perfect examples of an old hand busy guiding a rising youngster, Butch James and Fred Zeilinga, as well as Charl McLeod and Cobus Reinach.
"We feel that we have the balance right," the backline coach said, adding: "As well as those mentioned already, we have Tim Whitehead and Heimar Williams [in midfield] and then obviously Marco Wentzel helping Pieter-Steph du Toit [at lock].
"Similarly we have Rayno Gerber and Wiehahn Herbst [tighthead props], as well as Dale Chadwick and Danie Mienie [on the loosehead side of the scrum].
"The team as a whole is really well-balanced.
"At the same time they are also a happy bunch.
"Although they are competing for positions amongst each other, they are actually enjoying that challenge as well."
By Jan de Koning
