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Durban - The Sharks go into Saturday’s Currie Cup final with some injury concerns, but as they prepare to take on Western Province at Newlands, they will be doing so with a number of players who were doubtful.
According to Sharks website editor Michael Marnewick, hooker Kyle Cooper picked up a slight knock to his shoulder against the Free State Cheetahs, but Sharks doctor Alan Kourie confirmed that he will be fine for the final along with Springbok flank Willem Alberts who took a knock in the final Rugby Championship Test clash with the All Blacks.
He missed last week’s match but has now been ruled fit to play again and is ready for selection.
Up front, Tendai Mtawarira had to be replaced at the last minute ahead of the Currie Cup semi-final clash with Free State on the weekend, but he too has recovered and has been made available for selection.
Final assessments on the availability of the Bok pair of Jannie du Plessis and Jean Deysel will undertaken on Tuesday.
"It was difficult for Dale Chadwick and Wiehahn Herbst on the weekend, they came in late after the withdrawal of the two Springbok props (Jannie du Plessis and Beast Mtawarira), but they really performed admirably," Sharks backline coach Sean Everitt explained after training.
"Dale was very good at scrum-time and he worked hard around the field.
"It was exciting for them.
"And if either of both have to start this weekend, we wouldn’t be worried about playing them."
Commenting on the semi-final victory over Free State at Kings Park, he pointed to the ten points contributed by Pat Lambie before half-time as a crucial game-changing impact from the flyhalf that turned the momentum in the Sharks favour.
"I thought the guys did well to turn around the scoreboard in the last 10 minutes of the first half.
"That was also due to getting ball on the front foot so Pat was able to dominate and he scored a great try and the penalty at the end also came from really good play.
"They kicked off to us and we got all the way into their 22 and won the penalty, so we were pleased with that and I think that was the turning point in the game."
According to Sharks website editor Michael Marnewick, hooker Kyle Cooper picked up a slight knock to his shoulder against the Free State Cheetahs, but Sharks doctor Alan Kourie confirmed that he will be fine for the final along with Springbok flank Willem Alberts who took a knock in the final Rugby Championship Test clash with the All Blacks.
He missed last week’s match but has now been ruled fit to play again and is ready for selection.
Up front, Tendai Mtawarira had to be replaced at the last minute ahead of the Currie Cup semi-final clash with Free State on the weekend, but he too has recovered and has been made available for selection.
Final assessments on the availability of the Bok pair of Jannie du Plessis and Jean Deysel will undertaken on Tuesday.
"It was difficult for Dale Chadwick and Wiehahn Herbst on the weekend, they came in late after the withdrawal of the two Springbok props (Jannie du Plessis and Beast Mtawarira), but they really performed admirably," Sharks backline coach Sean Everitt explained after training.
"Dale was very good at scrum-time and he worked hard around the field.
"It was exciting for them.
"And if either of both have to start this weekend, we wouldn’t be worried about playing them."
Commenting on the semi-final victory over Free State at Kings Park, he pointed to the ten points contributed by Pat Lambie before half-time as a crucial game-changing impact from the flyhalf that turned the momentum in the Sharks favour.
"I thought the guys did well to turn around the scoreboard in the last 10 minutes of the first half.
"That was also due to getting ball on the front foot so Pat was able to dominate and he scored a great try and the penalty at the end also came from really good play.
"They kicked off to us and we got all the way into their 22 and won the penalty, so we were pleased with that and I think that was the turning point in the game."
