Cape Town - Sharks Director of Rugby Jake White welcomed Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer's decision not to engage Frans Steyn in any training sessions at the Bok camp earlier this week.
The Sharks had requested that the load on Steyn's knee be limited during the camp as he is suffering from chronic knee dysfunction.
Despite the obvious injury, Steyn was controversially still picked at flyhalf for the Sharks' Super Rugby clash against the Stormers at Kings Park this Saturday.
In Thursday's Cape Times, White gave his reasons for picking Steyn.
The coach said Steyn needs to be managed on a Monday and Tuesday in order to be able to play for the Sharks at the weekend.
White said this tactic (of resting Steyn every Monday and Tuesday) may not be acceptable at Springbok level and that Meyer may not pick him if he can't train on Mondays and Tuesdays.
He also said Steyn is in the right frame of mind to once again push through the pain barrier this weekend.
Steyn has started in all 13 Super Rugby matches the Sharks have played this year and played almost every minute of every game.
Kick-off for Saturday's game at Kings Park is scheduled for 19:10.
The final Springbok squad will be named shortly thereafter. It remains to be seen if Steyn will be fit to be included in Meyer's final squad.
Teams:
Sharks:
15. SP Marais, 14. JP Pietersen, 13. S’bura Sithole, 12. Paul Jordaan, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Francois Steyn, 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Willem Alberts, 7. Tera Mtembu, 6. Marcell Coetzee, 5. Stephan Lewies, 4. Etienne Oosthuizen, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Bismarck du Plessis (captain), 1. Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Dale Chadwick, 18. Lourens Adriaanse, 19. Ryan Kankowski, 20. Keegan Daniel, 21. Charl McLeod, 22. Tim Swiel, 23. Heimar Williams
Stormers:
15. Jaco Taute, 14. Cheslin Kolbe, 13. Juan de Jongh, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Sailosi Tagicakibau, 10. Kurt Coleman, 9. Nic Groom, 8. Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7. Siya Kolisi, 6. Nizaam Carr, 5. Ruan Botha, 4. Michael Rhodes, 3. Pat Cilliers, 2. Deon Fourie, 1. Alistair Vermaak
Substitutes: 16. Stephan Coetzee, 17. Sti Sithole, 18. Martin Dreyer, 19. Jean Kleyn, 20. Manuel Carizza, 21. Dylon Frylinck, 22. Demetri Catrakilis, 23. Peter Grant
The Sharks had requested that the load on Steyn's knee be limited during the camp as he is suffering from chronic knee dysfunction.
Despite the obvious injury, Steyn was controversially still picked at flyhalf for the Sharks' Super Rugby clash against the Stormers at Kings Park this Saturday.
In Thursday's Cape Times, White gave his reasons for picking Steyn.
The coach said Steyn needs to be managed on a Monday and Tuesday in order to be able to play for the Sharks at the weekend.
White said this tactic (of resting Steyn every Monday and Tuesday) may not be acceptable at Springbok level and that Meyer may not pick him if he can't train on Mondays and Tuesdays.
He also said Steyn is in the right frame of mind to once again push through the pain barrier this weekend.
Steyn has started in all 13 Super Rugby matches the Sharks have played this year and played almost every minute of every game.
Kick-off for Saturday's game at Kings Park is scheduled for 19:10.
The final Springbok squad will be named shortly thereafter. It remains to be seen if Steyn will be fit to be included in Meyer's final squad.
Teams:
Sharks:
15. SP Marais, 14. JP Pietersen, 13. S’bura Sithole, 12. Paul Jordaan, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Francois Steyn, 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Willem Alberts, 7. Tera Mtembu, 6. Marcell Coetzee, 5. Stephan Lewies, 4. Etienne Oosthuizen, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Bismarck du Plessis (captain), 1. Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Dale Chadwick, 18. Lourens Adriaanse, 19. Ryan Kankowski, 20. Keegan Daniel, 21. Charl McLeod, 22. Tim Swiel, 23. Heimar Williams
Stormers:
15. Jaco Taute, 14. Cheslin Kolbe, 13. Juan de Jongh, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Sailosi Tagicakibau, 10. Kurt Coleman, 9. Nic Groom, 8. Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7. Siya Kolisi, 6. Nizaam Carr, 5. Ruan Botha, 4. Michael Rhodes, 3. Pat Cilliers, 2. Deon Fourie, 1. Alistair Vermaak
Substitutes: 16. Stephan Coetzee, 17. Sti Sithole, 18. Martin Dreyer, 19. Jean Kleyn, 20. Manuel Carizza, 21. Dylon Frylinck, 22. Demetri Catrakilis, 23. Peter Grant