The first pictures of the Sharks back in training for the year have cropped up and one or two interesting things can be gleaned from them.
It appears as though young loose forward Francois Kleinhans has been called up from the Vodacom Cup squad to train with the Super Rugby side and if the photo is anything to go by, he’s clearly getting properly stuck in, which would explain the bleeding lip! Jean Deysel and Willem Alberts are both still on the sidelines – training as part of the rehab group and not taking any contact.
Meanwhile, the lines seem to be somewhat crossed regarding the length of Conrad Hoffmann’s rehab. The scrumhalf goes under the knife today to repair a torn pectoral muscle and has confirmed on Twitter that he’s facing a lay-off of around 10 weeks, considerably less than the 6 months we reported yesterday. It’s still nowhere near the 4 weeks that John Plumtree seems to be expecting, though, quoted on the Sharks website as expecting Hoffmann back ahead of the first game.
Plumtree, in the same interview, seems to confirm that the Sharks will look to their internal systems when depth is required. He told Michael Marnewick that “we’ll see an introduction of young players as well during the campaign which is positive going forward. I think we’re in good shape but it’s a long competition isn’t it? If you lose two or three guys to injury, especially if it’s in the same position, then suddenly you can come under pressure. But the under-21s did well last year and our Vodacom Cup side is full of promising youngsters as well so we’ll also able to draw from them.”
Sharks training pictures can be found on the official BackPageSport.com Facebook page and remember all images are copyrighted and may not be used without permission.
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Most of the guys are in good condition. You’d expect a little more physique from meyer bosman, marius joubert and riaan viljoen. But Lambie and Sithole in particular are looking in fantastic shape.
It seems like the guys are really training hard. JPP and Ross Skeate alluded to it on there facebook pages. I’m looking forward to SupeRugby 2012.
2012 is the Sanzarian year of the Shark 😛
@CapeShark (Comment 1) : Where do you see lambie and viljoen pics? I don’t see them among the 2012 pics…
o nevermind, found them
Just saw that Ruan Pienaar has signed a two year extension to his Ulster contract.
@war1 (Comment 6) : 🙁
@rekinek (Comment 7) : I feel the same.
@rekinek (Comment 7) :
You must become an Ulster Supporter now , I know you already visit one of their suppport sites ..As for Ruan he probably signed the deal due to his wife and a baby soon to come , though I ,m afraid he burried his chances for playing for the Boks… 😥
@war1 (Comment 8) : I feel that since Ruan left, Rockott lost his form and then left, Charl did not not find his 2010 form and Hoffman keeps getting injured we really do not have quality scrumhalves.
@tedanica (Comment 9) : you stalking me 😯
of course.. feels like Sharks bis