Sharks need to rebuild
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With just one match left in a disappointing season, Sharks coach Gary Gold knows that they have to rebuild.
Having claimed their sixth win of the season against the Rebels on Friday, Gold's team will finish the season when they face the Stormers at Kings Park in the final round after their bye next week.
That match could well be the last Super Rugby game the likes of Willem Alberts, Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis play for the Sharks, with the Springbok trio reportedly set to head overseas after the World Cup.
However, Gold believes that their departure will provide opportunities for others and said that it could be the dawn of a new era of Sharks rugby.
"Unfortunately players leave, that is how life goes and it means new opportunities.
"Perhaps it is the dawn of the new era, we might have a tough couple of months ahead before we start winning trophies, but if the players show how much they want to play for the jersey then we will be alright," he said.
Gold was impressed with his team's effort against the Rebels, considering that they were without the likes of Alberts who is still battling an injured ankle and fellow Bok Ryan Kankowski due to injury.
"It was a fantastic performance in the first half, with how we dominated territory. Our game management was outstanding from the halfbacks but we did not finish off our chances.
"I had hoped we had turned the corner in terms of character overseas and it was very important that even though we are out of competition it mattered a lot.
"It was a tough week off the field with injures. Losing Willem [Alberts] and Ryan [Kankowski], to see Khaya [Majola] come in and take his opportunity was heart-warming and I am very happy for him," he said.
Gold said that although it has been a tough first season in charge, he is not willing to make excuses.
"I had dark hair when we started this campaign, not so now. It is important that you guys don’t hear excuses from me. every team has injuries, some years you have few, others many, it is how the game goes.
"The game is getting tougher, faster, stronger, the toughest in the world. It is very difficult when you get setbacks but it is not an excuse for where we are, it is a contributing factor but not an excuse," he explained.
Though the injury woes have made things tough, Gold said that it has uncovered some promising young players on whom they can rebuild the team.
"Through the injures, guys have put their hands up. Andre Esterhuizen is playing great rugby, Etienne [Oosthuizen] and Heimar [Williams] showed they can play at this level and Khaya [Majola] also, while Sbura [Sithole] is one of the best wings in the competition at the moment," he said.
Gold is hopeful that Alberts and Kankowski, who is battling a knee injury, will be fit to face the Stormers in the final match of the season in a fortnight.
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