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Cape Town - The Sharks may have lost scrumhalf Cobus Reinach to a broken hand, but they are boosted by the fact that World Cup-winning Springbok Frans Steyn is once again available for selection.
The 27-year-old has now served his five-week suspension for a tip tackle on Chiefs flyhalf Aaron Cruden back in March, and could slot straight back into Director of Rugby Gary Gold’s starting line-up for this Saturday’s clash away to the Hurricanes.
With Patrick Lambie still recovering from a neck injury and Fred Zeilinga having not impressed in recent weeks, many are expecting Gold to throw Steyn in at flyhalf.
The Sharks boss could not confirm this on Tuesday, but did say that having a player of Steyn’s quality available again was a major boost to his side’s chances.
"He (Steyn) is available for us this weekend and it’s wonderful to have a guy like Frans back.
"Jannie [Du Plessis] is also back which makes a difference for us, although we’ve lost Cobus who has returned home," said Gold.
"It’s cruel how sport is – when things are bad they’re particularly bad.
"We’ve had an injury crisis but it is an opportunity for young guys to step up to the plate.
"We have some big challenges ahead but other teams have also been in this position before and came out stronger.
"So it’s exciting to have guys like Frans, Jannie and Renaldo [Bothma] back and it’s important that we focus on the positives."
The Sharks will be firm outsiders against the Hurricanes, and Gold knows this.
"The Hurricanes would be silly to even remotely take the foot off the gas and they’re going to play a team low on confidence, whose form has been particularly poor and they’re going to see that as blood in the water," said Gold.
Kick-off on Saturday is at 09:35 (SA time).
