Sharks ready for bruisers from the north
It was business as usual for the Sharks on Tuesday afternoon.
After a video session conducted by assistant coach Theo van Rensburg, the personnel who will face the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup semifinal at Absa Stadium on Saturday were soon unveiled.
And the seamless manner in which Justin Swart, John Smit and Eduard Coetzee - the three changes to the side which started last Saturday's 78-7 rout of Griquas - blended into the team suggests that coach Kevin Putt is succeeding in his call for cool heads to prevail in the build-up to a game against the bruisers from the north. The trio are likely replacements for Stefan Terblanche, Lukas van Biljon and Ollie le Roux.
Bulls' flank Johan Wassermann's promise that the visitors would again bully the Sharks raised fears that referee Mark Lawrence would have his hands full in policing the antics of a side big on grunt but low on guile.
Wassermann has yet to express any remorse following his WWF-style dumping of Deon Kayser in the 17-all draw at Loftus the last time the sides met.
Though his comments were later repudiated by Bulls' coach Heyneke Meyer, they provide a clear statement of the Bulls' intent.
Not even the expected televised announcement on Tuesday night that skipper Mark Andrews would end his decade-long Sharks career at the conclusion of this season's Currie Cup before venturing overseas for one season of English club rugby next year, could deflect the focus away from the task at hand.
Putt was still holding out hope that Terblanche, who left the field with a hamstring problem immediately after crossing for his fourth touchdown early in the second half of the Griquas' match, might still force his way back into contention.
But the harsh reality points to a recall for Swart, who was once considered classy enough to play for the Springboks under coach Nick Mallett at the beginning of his Bok revival in 1997, only for injury to sideline him.
Fullback Ricardo Loubscher (jaw) and centre Andre Snyman (cramps), the others over whom there was much concern, both played a full part in yesterday's workout and pronounced themselves ready for action.
Likely team:
Ricardo Loubscher
Deon Kayser
Andre Snyman
Rudi Keil
Justin Swart
Butch James
Ryan Walker
Brad Macleod-Henderson
Shaun Sowerby
Warren Britz
Mark Andrews (captain)
Albert van den Berg
Deon Carstens
John Smit
Eduard Coetzee