The good news for the Sharks is that combative lock Gerbrandt Grobler will make his long-awaited comeback from injury against Lyon on Sunday in the Challenge Cup. However, the bad news is that Springboks Eben Etzebeth and Aphelele Fassi will not make the trip to France.
Etzebeth last played on 7 December when the Sharks beat the Exeter Chiefs in Durban. The Bok legend suffered a serious concussion but was cleared to play a few weeks ago, only to strain a hamstring at the Springbok alignment camp in Cape Town.
It is understood that he is now fit to play, but coach John Plumtree said last week that he was unsure whether it would be wise for Etzebeth to make his comeback in a fierce encounter against a hostile Lyon side.
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Plumtree said the same applied to Fassi, who has not played since injuring his ankle in Cape Town against the Stormers on 28 December last year.
The Sharks are desperate to perform well in the United Rugby Championship (URC) after a miserable campaign last year and struggles in the first two editions.
Plumtree knows that if the Sharks are to progress deep into the URC play-offs, he needs the likes of Etzebeth and Fassi to feature in their four remaining league games and beyond. Playing them in France after four- and three-month layoffs, respectively, might be tempting fate.
The pair are set to travel with the Sharks for their two URC games in the north of the UK later this month, against Edinburgh and Ulster. The Sharks return from Lyon on Monday and have a bye week before heading to Scotland.
Grobler has been sidelined for six months due to a foot injury. The 33-year-old veteran is the first-choice to partner Etzebeth in the Sharks’ second row, and when the two play together, they provide the team with serious firepower and leadership.
Grobler is well-travelled and an invaluable team member due to his experience with the Stormers, Racing 92, Munster, Gloucester, and Stade Français.
Plumtree’s ideal tight five for the business end of the URC would consist of Grobler, Etzebeth, Ox Nché, Bongi Mbonambi, and Vincent Koch, with a loose trio of Siya Kolisi (at No 8) alongside flanks Vincent Tshituka and Phepsi Buthelezi.
The pack that faces Lyon is likely to be far from that combination, but Plumtree is keeping his fingers crossed that he will have a full-strength squad for the remainder of the URC.
The backline for Sunday’s Challenge Cup clash could also see some key changes. Siya Masuku made his comeback from injury in last week’s disappointing loss to Leinster at the Shark Tank, and it would be no surprise if he starts at fly-half, with Jordan Hendrikse reverting to full-back for Yaw Penxe.
The latter struggled at 15 against the Irish and, to be fair to him, he is more of a winger but had to play there due to the unavailability of Fassi, the injury to Henry Immelman, and the need for Hendrikse to play 10 as Masuku was returning off the bench after his layoff.