Boks Edwill and Marvin bolster Sharks URC tour squad

Springboks Edwill van der Merwe and Marvin Orie will get their first taste of Vodacom United Rugby Championship rugby in the colours of the Hollywoodbets Sharks franchise as part of a 29-man squad that coach John Plumtree has selected for his team’s three-match overseas tour.

Orie, a URC winner with the DHL Stormers in 2022, has moved to Durban after a brief stint with the Vodacom Bulls in the Currie Cup following a few seasons in France. It is fortuitous that he has moved to the Sharks, as Plumtree has a problem in the second row as Jason Jenkins has now been listed in an injury list that already included Corne Rahl and Emile van Heerden.

Grobler did not have his contract extended, so the Sharks are short of experience at lock, at least while Eben Etzebeth is involved with the Boks in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.

Van der Merwe was in the Bok squad during the July international season and also played the opening Championship game against Australia before injury ruled him out. He has eased himself back into rugby by training with the Sharks and made his return to the field in the pre-season warmup game against the Stormers in George 10 days ago.

Apart from having several Boks missing, Plumtree also has a lengthy injury list, with fullback and flyhalf being particular areas of concern. Aphelele Fassi is out for some time with the leg injury sustained playing for the Boks in Wellington and while in his absence Jordan Hendrikse would have been a good replacement, the flyhalf/fullback is also out injured currently.

So is Siya Masuku, who made a good start to the season as he returned through a bit of Currie Cup rugby but got injured in the George game. Jean Smith, who happens to be the son of the coach of the first team the Sharks will play on tour, Franco Smith of Glasgow Warriors, is in the squad but it is understood that Jaden Hendrikse, normally a scrumhalf, might be used there at the Scotstoun on Friday night.

Smith did play well for the Sharks in their exciting Currie Cup win over the Boland Kavaliers towards the end of the Currie Cup season so there is some excitement about what he could do if given the opportunity, but experience is what is needed on a tough tour like the one the Sharks face. Apart from the Warriors, the Sharks also play against Leinster, with a game against the Dragons wedged in between.

Although the Dragons were at the foot of the URC log last season, Plumtree is wary of them.

“Teams like that often play well when they start off the season fresh,” warned the Sharks coach.

Among the other players aside from those already mentioned not considered because of injury are Junior Bok inside centre Albie Bester, young scrumhalf Bradley Davids, another lock in Coetzee le Roux, centre Diego Appolis, exciting young hooker Ethan Bester, who is out until December, tighthead prop Handro Jacobs, Junior Bok wing Jaco Williams, Jannes Potgieter and Bok prop Trevor Nyakane.

However, on the positive side of the balance sheet Bok World Cup winner Lukhanyo Am is back playing again, as is fellow centre Jurenzo Julius, who didn’t play in the pre-season but is back for the tour.

“The pre-season was a bit disjointed with injuries and players unavailable, as well as players involved in the Currie Cup campaign,” explained the coach on the eve of departure.

“However, over the last few weeks it’s been good to get everyone back in and start building towards this tour. So, there are some challenges.”

Looking ahead to their three-match tour and the first-round match against the 2024 champions, Plumtree admitted that his team has a big challenge lying ahead.

“Glasgow are obviously a tough side, a champion team two years ago and always tough to beat at home, so it’s going to be a massive challenge for the boys. Then finishing with Leinster, that’s going to be another big game, it’s Leinster after all.

“But we’re ready to go and looking forward to getting away and spending some time together. Vincent Tshituka is our captain, Lukhanyo is also there and Swys (Francois) Venter and

Jaden Hendrikse too, so we do have some good senior players and good leaders.”

Hollywoodbets Sharks tour squad:

Backs: Yaw Penxe, Ross Braude, Jean Smith, Phikolomzi Sobahle, Lukhanyo Am, Jurenzo Julius, Jaden Hendrikse, Hakeem Kunene, Francois Venter, Edwill van der Merwe, Christie Grobbelaar, Ceano Everson.

Forwards: Willem van den Hever, Vincent Tshituka (captain), Tino Mavesere, Simphiwe Matanzima, Ruan Dreyer, Phepsi Buthelezi, Nick Hatton, Mawande Madanda, Marvin Orie, Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, Fez Mbatha, Emmanuel Tshituka, Eduan Swart, Dian Bleuler, Cebo Dlamini, Cameron Dawson, Bathobele Hlekani.