Sharks face Lambie poser
This is the question that needs answering this week, as the Durban-based franchise return from a three-match tour of New Zealand – which yielded one win and two defeats – with the high-flying Hurricanes awaiting them for an encounter at Kings Park on Saturday.
The decision that Director of Rugby Gary Gold must make is whether to start with Lambie against a physical and hard-running Hurricanes team or play him off the bench.
The Sharks – with a win over the defending champion Highlanders sandwiched between losses to the Blues and Chiefs – will have noted with interest how the Hurricanes' abrasive approach unsettled the Lions last week.
Lambie, appointed captain before his AC (shoulder joint) injury in the pre-season outing against Toulon, will certainly bring much-needed stability and experience in the flyhalf channel, but young Garth April has been a breath of fresh air in a Sharks team that has looked devoid of attacking options without Lambie in the early stages of the competition.
However, the next two matches – against the Hurricanes in Durban this week and the Jaguares away next week – will be crucial to the Sharks' prospects of staying in touch with the Lions in the Africa Two conference.
The Lions head the conference (and the automatic entry into the play-offs that goes along with it) on 27 points after nine matches.
The Sharks have 22 points after the same number of matches.
Lambie has been 'taking contact' in training with the Currie Cup team the last few weeks, but Gold may want to 'ease' him back into matches.
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