- After securing Springbok captain Siya Kolisi from Western Province, the Sharks could next look to strengthen their tight five.
- The Currie Cup final defeat to the Bulls showed glaring weaknesses at hooker, a position that will rank high in terms of concern.
- Sharks CEO Eduard Coetzee said they won’t stray from their promise to back youth but there could be some more reinforcements added.
After securing possibly the biggest trans-union transfer of this millennium, Springbok captain Siya Kolisi from Western Province, the Sharks could next look to strengthen their tight five.
As it stands, the Sharks have two dynamic props, World Cup winner Thomas du Toit and Ox Nche, who have been supported by second rowers Ruben van Heerden and Hyron Andrews.
Strong as they might be in those areas, much of the other positions are filled by developing talents such as hookers Fezokuhle Mbatha and Daniel Jooste, as well as young lock JJ van der Mescht.
The lack of experience in the tight five told whenever Du Toit went down with injury or if the team was hampered by a Covid outbreak, especially in the December part of the Currie Cup.
The Currie Cup final defeat to the Bulls also showed glaring weaknesses at hooker, which is a position that will rank high in terms of concern.
"After every competition we look at our shortcomings, especially now that we are going to Europe," said CEO Eduard Coetzee.
"We are aware that we need to bolster our tight five. We saw that our depth got exposed in the Currie Cup.
"When first-choice front rowers weren’t there it was problematic. Our No 4 enforcer was a 21-year-old (JJ van der Mescht).
"We are aware of those things. It's a difficult position to be in because we have to [juggle] backing JJ van der Mescht and bringing someone else in.
"We won’t go off our course but we will strengthen some positions. Going into Europe, you need a dominant tight five."
Up north, the Bulls juggernaut is growing more legs and arms by the minute.
After coercing old boys Arno Botha, Travis Ismaiel, Morne Steyn and Marcel van der Merwe last year, Jake White could add Springboks Johan Goosen, Marcell Coetzee and Francois Hougaard by the time the Rainbow Cup kicks off.
While Kolisi’s move to Durban will rein the Bulls from pulling away from the rest of the pack, the Sharks will need to bulk up their experience to challenge the reigning Super Rugby Unlocked and Currie Cup champions in this year’s competitions.
But Coetzee said the Sharks wouldn’t stray from the promise they made to back youngsters such as scrumhalf Jaden Hendrickse, flank Phepsi Buthelezi and loose-forward Dylan Richardson, who have graduated from their structures.
"There’s two different game plans between us and the Bulls," said Coetzee.
"We’ll bring in the right players at the right time but we are not going to overhaul our squad.
"We know that Jaden Hendrickse is a year away from being at his best but when he gets there he will be better than anything we can buy.
"Are you going to give him that opportunity to grow or are you going to stunt and risk losing him?
"We have unbelievable youngsters like Phepsi Buthelezi and Dylan Richardson and, once Siya comes in, the discussion is one of integrity and honesty.
"If you’ve built some trust into a relationship, those players know we’ll never lie to them. I’ve got an agreement that the day I lie to you, you must walk away and never look at me again.
"But until that day, you’ve got to trust me. That’s how we manage relationships within our squad.
"Siya coming in won’t freak the other seven contracted loosies out. The norm for a squad is nine loose-forwards.
"Then the healthy competitions will bring the best out of everyone."