Former Bok captain questions Sharks' midfield decisions
SPOTLIGHT: Former Springbok captain and centre Jean de Villiers says the midfield is a big problem area for the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship.
The Sharks have not been playing to their full potential in the URC with several inconsistent performances plaguing their campaign.
The backline is an area of concern, especially after they let their captain Lukhanyo Am head to Japan to play for the Kobe Steelers in early March.
De Villiers also believes the Sharks have never really found a true replacement for Andre Esterhuizen, who joined Harlequins in 2020.
“It’s been a big loss for the Sharks – Andre Esterhuizen has been fantastic for Quins.
“Having lost him and having lost Lukhanyo Am now to Kobe for a couple of months, they are lacking in the midfield.
“I didn’t totally understand the signing of Ben Tapuai and it seems that they are not getting the combination right in the midfield.
“With Lukhanyo and [Aphelele] Fassi out [injured] they are not able to fire.
“I think it has impacted Makazole Mapimpi quite a bit as well. It is as if when Lukhanyo is there, he and Mapimpi are just on the same wavelength and things work when they are there and they are missing that X-factor at the moment.”
‘He has been unbelievable’
Meanwhile, former Scotland international Jim Hamilton wondered if a player like Esterhuizen will return to South Africa as other Boks have done.
“I can’t believe what a signing he [Esterhuizen] has been [for Harlequins].
“As the URC grows and the European aspect opens, would someone like Andre Esterhuizen go back to South Africa to the Sharks, Stormers or the Lions.
“If they are a team competing to win the URC and also competing to win the European trophy and the whole talk of South Africa coming to the Six Nations, would it make sense for these players to go back?
“I see Eben Etzebeth is heading to the Sharks and we are seeing some of the other Springboks playing in the URC.
“He [Esterhuizen] has been unbelievable.”
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