AFTER weeks of resistance Sharks coach Jake White has succumbed to the pressure and selected Frans Steyn at flyhalf ahead of rookie Tim Swiel.
The Sharks face the Rebels in Melbourne this morning, where the home side has won six of their last seven matches.
Following a biceps injury to Pat Lambie and a hamstring strain to Fred Zeilinga, the plan was to blood England-born flyhalf Swiel into the pivot position. But things have not worked exactly as planned.
In the past couple of weeks the 20-year-old looked like the Sharks’ version of Stormers flyhalf Kurt Coleman, who struggled when thrust into the deep after a string of injuries hampered the Cape side in 2011.
Swiel’s goal-kicking aim wasn’t pinpoint and it affected his confidence. He couldn’t spring the backline back to life and his command of the significantly senior players was tenuous at best.
To be fair to the Taunton-born youngster, Swiel didn’t have a proper induction into the big time. He played a few Currie Cup games last year and joined a Sharks side that was settled on their first-choice flyhalf and hadn’t made provision to use their third-choice pivot.
White seemed fully behind the youngster remaining in the crucial position despite a dicey run-on Super Rugby debut against the Cheetahs two weeks ago, which the Sharks won in an ugly manner.
“I am really happy with Tim,” White said in the week leading up to the Highlanders game.
“He showed that he is going to be a danger with the ball in hand and he’s really quick. The more he plays there and the more he plays with Steyn the better he will get.
“This tournament is not for soft guys but you have to have faith in the guys coming through the ranks.”
And even in the face of criticism about Swiel’s ability to handle the pressure of leading the Super Rugby table-toppers, White stuck to his guns.
“It is hard for a young number 10 to play when the team isn’t getting front-foot ball,” he said last week.
“Steyn summed it up when he said he could take over all the responsibilities but, akin to when he was Swiel’s age, Steyn got confidence from the seniors in the team entrusting him with some responsibility.”
But then the 34-18 defeat to the Highlanders at home rocked the cruise ship and the Sharks suddenly had to steer away from an approaching iceberg.
A comfortable six-point lead at the top was chopped to one last week after the Brumbies beat the Chiefs in Canberra.
And with a Brumbies vs Sharks showdown looming next weekend, White needs this win more than he needs to nurse Swiel’s feelings.
“We want to bounce back. It doesn’t matter who it is and it is not particularly the Rebels we’re targeting,” said White.
“We want to get our tour off to a good start and take momentum through the tour and in order to do that we need to get a win in the first game.”
Swiel has dropped out of the match 23, with Zeilinga slotting into the reserves’ bench, as does scrumhalf Cobus Reinach. With Jean Deysel and Ryan Kankowski back in the loose-forwards, Willem Alberts shifts back into the second row.
White looks to Steynless steel
The Sharks face the Rebels in Melbourne this morning, where the home side has won six of their last seven matches.
Following a biceps injury to Pat Lambie and a hamstring strain to Fred Zeilinga, the plan was to blood England-born flyhalf Swiel into the pivot position. But things have not worked exactly as planned.
In the past couple of weeks the 20-year-old looked like the Sharks’ version of Stormers flyhalf Kurt Coleman, who struggled when thrust into the deep after a string of injuries hampered the Cape side in 2011.
Swiel’s goal-kicking aim wasn’t pinpoint and it affected his confidence. He couldn’t spring the backline back to life and his command of the significantly senior players was tenuous at best.
To be fair to the Taunton-born youngster, Swiel didn’t have a proper induction into the big time. He played a few Currie Cup games last year and joined a Sharks side that was settled on their first-choice flyhalf and hadn’t made provision to use their third-choice pivot.
White seemed fully behind the youngster remaining in the crucial position despite a dicey run-on Super Rugby debut against the Cheetahs two weeks ago, which the Sharks won in an ugly manner.
“I am really happy with Tim,” White said in the week leading up to the Highlanders game.
“He showed that he is going to be a danger with the ball in hand and he’s really quick. The more he plays there and the more he plays with Steyn the better he will get.
“This tournament is not for soft guys but you have to have faith in the guys coming through the ranks.”
And even in the face of criticism about Swiel’s ability to handle the pressure of leading the Super Rugby table-toppers, White stuck to his guns.
“It is hard for a young number 10 to play when the team isn’t getting front-foot ball,” he said last week.
“Steyn summed it up when he said he could take over all the responsibilities but, akin to when he was Swiel’s age, Steyn got confidence from the seniors in the team entrusting him with some responsibility.”
But then the 34-18 defeat to the Highlanders at home rocked the cruise ship and the Sharks suddenly had to steer away from an approaching iceberg.
A comfortable six-point lead at the top was chopped to one last week after the Brumbies beat the Chiefs in Canberra.
And with a Brumbies vs Sharks showdown looming next weekend, White needs this win more than he needs to nurse Swiel’s feelings.
“We want to bounce back. It doesn’t matter who it is and it is not particularly the Rebels we’re targeting,” said White.
“We want to get our tour off to a good start and take momentum through the tour and in order to do that we need to get a win in the first game.”
Swiel has dropped out of the match 23, with Zeilinga slotting into the reserves’ bench, as does scrumhalf Cobus Reinach. With Jean Deysel and Ryan Kankowski back in the loose-forwards, Willem Alberts shifts back into the second row.
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