Sharks face Ospreys without four key Boks, but coach Plumtree remains optimistic

Sharks coach John Plumtree is without Springboks Ox Nche, Lukhanyo Am, Jordan Hendrikse and Grant Williams for tonight’s United Rugby Championship clash with the Ospreys in Durban (7pm kickoff), but the good news is they that they are expected back soon.

The Sharks host the Scarlets next week, and if they win these two home games against the touring Welsh sides, they will bank a home quarter-final, possibly against local rivals, the Stormers.

Before the playoffs there is the second Springbok alignment camp of the year, and Plumtree feels this should provide a gap for his injured Boks to recover for the quarter-finals.

Scrumhalf Williams is nursing a neck complaint, flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse has a sore back, centre Am has a knee issue, and loosehead prop Nche has the flu.

The biggest concern is over the dynamic Williams. He has been playing with a minor injury for some time, and Plumtree says the Sharks are hopeful that rest will make him available for the quarter-finals.

“The niggle has been bothering Grant for several weeks now, so we just want to give him the best possible chance to recover,” said Plumtree.

“Grant doesn’t just have the playoffs for us coming up, he potentially also has a big international calendar to get through after that.”

Outside centre Am is yet another South African casualty of the dreaded artificial surfaces that is the home ‘turf’ of many of the UK teams.

Am hurt his knee in Belfast in the defeat of Ulster.

“Lukhanyo has a little bit of swelling on the knee, probably from playing on the 5G pitches, and then the flight back wouldn’t have helped that,” Plumtree said.

“Lukhanyo has had that treated this week, with fluid drained from the problem area, but we are hoping he will be available for next week’s game against the Scarlets.

“He will be ready for the quarter-final and whatever comes immediately after the Scarlets game (the national camp).”

Flyhalf Hendrikse was, in any case, under pressure for his position after indifferent showings in Edinburgh and Belfast, and it has probably worked out for the best that Siya Masuku has an opportunity against the Ospreys.

“Jordan has a back injury that affected his training this week, and we chose to rest him,” Plumtree said.

Plumtree said that Nche could have started at a push, but the decision was made to give him time to recover from a slight illness.

Plumtree said there was zero chance of his team underestimating the 11th-placed Ospreys, who are gunning for a place in the playoffs.

Plumtree has not forgotten that the Ospreys beat the Sharks in their last fixture, in London last  November.

“We started this week with a kind of scene-setter of what to expect, and we showed what the Ospreys have done,” he said.

“It was noticeable that some of the players sat forward in their seats.

“The Ospreys have beaten some top teams this season, and with a bit of luck, they could also have been hovering around the top four (on the URC log).”

Sharks Team

15 Aphelele Fassi 14 Ethan Hooker 13 Jurenzo Julius 12 André Esterhuizen 11 Makazole Mapimpi 10 Siya Masuku 9 Jaden Hendrikse 8 Siya Kolisi 7 Vincent Tshituka 6 James Venter 5 Jason Jenkins, 4 Eben Etzebeth (captain) 3 Vincent Koch 2 Bongi Mbonambi 1 Dian Bleuler.

Bench: 16 Fez Mbatha 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu 18 Hanro Jacobs 19 Emmanuel Tshituka 20 Phepsi Buthelezi 21 Bradley Davids 22 Francois Venter 23 Yaw Penxe.