Sharks coach gives update on injured Springboks

INTERVIEW: Sharks coach Sean Everitt hopes to have two key Springboks back in the fold in the not too distant future.

Everitt, after naming his team for the United Rugby Championship Round 15 outing against the Dragons at Kings Park on Friday, also gave an update on absent Springboks Aphelele Fassi and Sibusiso Nkosi.

The two Bok flyers were among the most conspicuous names missing from the matchday selection.

Fassi rolled his ankle during the team’s 38-6 victory over Zebre on March 19.

“Unfortunately for Aphelele [Fassi] it doesn’t look like he will be available for the next couple of weeks,” Everitt told a media briefing on Wednesday.

“We are hoping for a quick recovery,” he added.

Fassi, 24, played both his Tests for the Boks last year – against Georgia in July and Argentina in a Rugby Championship match in August.

Nkosi, who last featured for the Sharks in February, has already started training again.

“Sbu [Nkosi] has health issues, that are being treated,” the coach said – adding that he was not able to disclose the nature of the illness.

“He is on his way to recovery.

“Sbu started training on an individual programme at the Sharks.

“He should be joining team training from [this coming] Monday.”

Nkosi, 26, played the last of his 16 Tests against New Zealand in a Rugby Championship match in October last year.

The Sharks, coming off a 5-21 loss to Edinburgh last week, host the Dragons at Kings Park on Friday.

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