This time last year the then Hollywoodbets Sharks coach John Plumtree was going cap in hand to the likes of the Airlink Pumas to look for reinforcements but that doesn’t look likely to be necessary this time around judging from the squad named for the new Vodacom URC season.
The Sharks kick off at home against the Ospreys on 26 September and they have named a 67-man squad for a competition likened to a marathon rather than a sprint. While they won’t have their Springboks available, due to them being in Perth that weekend for the one-off test against Australia, that may not hurt the Sharks as much as it did a year ago or before that.
Indeed, when it comes to first choice Boks, the Vodacom Bulls and the DHL Stormers have both surpassed the Sharks, which may be an indicator of a stated change of approach in the recruitment policy. Thomas du Toit, who is returning to Durban after a few successful seasons with the English club Bath, is the only marquee signing this time around.
In turn the Sharks have lost Boks from this last year, with Lukhanyo Am now playing in Japan, Aphelele Fassi heading there for a sabbatical, Grant Williams moving their on a long term contract and Siya Kolisi now back in Cape Town and contracted once more to the Stormers.
But that doesn’t mean the Sharks will be shorn of star quality, and with Bongi Mbonambi reportedly receiving a new lease on life in terms of motivation and the conditioning work he has put in, the Sharks could boast a formidable tight five of Ox Nche, Mbonambi, Du Toit, Eben Etzebeth and one of Jason Jenkins or Emile van Heerden.
Of course Sharks fans, not to mention the coaches, will be hoping Etzebeth, who hardly played last season due to suspension and then injury, will be able to replicate his Springbok form in a Sharks jersey.
At the back the Sharks have been strengthened, both in terms of ability and experience, by the arrival of Ivan van Zyl, who’s ability to impart his knowledge to the players around him makes him the perfect replacement for Williams. There is depth at scrumhalf, for Jaden Hendrikse is fit again and there’s also Ross Braude, recruited last year from the Pumas, and Bradley Davids, plus Ceano Everson.
The Sharks haven’t lured any big names to Durban at flyhalf - it will be recalled a few veteran international players were being mentioned at the back end of last season - but they do have the promise of Lions pivot Gianni Lombard crossing the Berg, in a manner of speaking, as Jordan Hendrikse did a few years ago.
According to coach JP Pietersen, Hendrikse is over his injury problems and was able to play in the final pre-season warmup game against the Lions, while the emergence of new Springbok Vusi Moyo has added some depth to the important playmaker position. It will be if there are injuries that there will be problems.
There are several youngsters joining Moyo in the squad, although one of them, Luan Giliomee, the sensational SA under-20 utility back, will only be with the Sharks until 31 December, after which he will link up with the Bulls.
Talking of linking up, Stormers centre/wing Suleiman Hartzenberg has arrived in Durban on loan, and it will be interesting to see if at the Sharks he can get more game time in his preferred position of outside centre. Hartzenberg is still a young player with plenty of promise so it will be interesting to see if the Sharks can help his development.
Talismanic leader Andre Esterhuizen will be back once his Bok duties are completed to take up inside centre, with competition for the right to partner him featuring Hartzenberg and Jurenzo Julius, while Ethan Hooker can play there or wing. Ma’a Nonu is there as a veteran mentor (at the age of 44) to the likes of another promising inside centre, Jaco Purchase. The last named had an impressive Currie Cup campaign.
If the Sharks have everyone fully fit and available they should have a star studded backline, with the likes of Zekhethelo Siyaya and Giliomee, plus possibly another new Bok in Jaco Williams, available to them when everyone is fit, with Makazole Mapimpi and Edwill van der Merwe providing the pace on the wings, along with players like Yaw Penxe, who brings some experience to the position.
After the opening game against the Ospreys the Sharks will host champions Leinster before heading to Cape Town for the first URC derby of the new season on 10 October.
Hollywoodbets Sharks VURC Squad: Albertus (Albie) Bester, Andre Esterhuizen, Bongi Mbonambi Bradley Davids, Cameron Dawson, Ceano Everson, Coetzee le Roux, Corne' Rahl, Darrien Landsberg, Deon Slabbert, Dian Heunis, Donavan Don, Eben Etzebeth, Eduan Swart, Edwill van der Merwe, Emile van Heerden, Emmanuel (Manu) Tshituka, Esethu Mnebelele, Ethan Bester, Ethan Hooker, Fezokuhle (Fez) Mbatha, Gianni Lombard, Hanro Jacobs, Hendre' Stassen, Ivan van Zyl, Jaco Williams, Jaden Hendrikse, Janco Purchase, Jannes Potgieter, Jason Jenkins, Johan Momsen, Jordan Hendrikse, Juan Loots, Jurenzo Julius, Khuthadzo (Khuthi) Rasivhaga, Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, Liam van Wyk, Litelihle (Lili) Bester, Luan Giliomee, Lyle Matthews, Ma'a Nonu, Makazole Mapimpi, Matt Romao, Matthew Fortuin, Murray Koster, Nemo Roelofse, Nick Hatton, Phatu Ganyane, Phepsi Buthelezi, Phikolomzi (PK) Sobahle, Rambo Kubheka, Ox Nche, Ross Braude, Simphiwe Matanzima, Simphiwe Ngobese, Siya Masuku, Stephan Lewies, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Thomas du Toit, Thomas Dyer, Tino Mavesere, Trevor Nyakane, Vincent Koch, Vincent Tshituka, Vusi Moyo, Yaw Penxe, Zekhethelo Siyaya.