Bok boost for Sharks' final push
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The Sharks have resumed training without the services of their Springboks for the final two rounds of Super Rugby, bar two notable exceptions.
Returning to the Sharks' fold this week are injured flyhalf Pat Lambie and estranged Springbok, Frans Steyn.
Lambie has missed the Sharks last nine games after sustaining an arm injury which has subsequently kept him out of Springbok contention.
The Sharks pivot received good news in that he may be back sooner than expected and could feature against the Cheetahs in two weeks time.
“Pat [Lambie] is training with us, he has a few things to get right medically, there will be a few tests undertaken to see what he can do and what he can’t do, and once he can tick all those boxes then he’ll be ready to go," said Sharks coach Jake White of his star playmaker.
"It all looks positive though, it looks like he’s on track for 10 days’ time.”
Speaking of his other star performer, White has stressed the necessity of giving Steyn a break and in doing so has also alluded to the heavy workload his returning Boks would have been through.
“Frans Steyn has had two weeks off, time to chill out a bit,” White confirmed.
“Looking at the stats, he’s played the second-most amount of rugby for us this year – behind Lwazi Mvovo – and I needed him to have some time off, which he has.
"He joined us along with the squad when they all assembled here on Monday.
"He’s all ready to go.”
White moved on to discuss the implications of a four-match series on his international players and the stresses it brings for his franchise.
“There are some decisions to make; [regarding the returning Springboks] one is whether we go hammer and tongs and play the guys who have carried a heavy workload," the coach said.
"That comes with a risk, because if you don’t qualify for a home semifinal, then you end up having overplayed some players going into the final stages of the competition.
"And if you don’t play your strongest team you create a perception, and I want to stress that it is a perception, that your weaker team is not good enough to win, which is not fair on the players.
“So the challenge for us it to get the balance right between giving ourselves a fair crack at getting a home semifinal, but at the same time, making sure that if we don’t get a home semifinal, our players are all fit and available for the play-offs.”
The Durban-based team take on the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein before travelling to the Cape to finish off the pool stages against the Stormers.
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