Sharks back into the thick of things
All of the national
franchises got the green light to return to contact training this week and the
Cell C Sharks were relishing being able to start final preparations for the
domestic competition that SA Rugby have in the pipeline.
“There were a couple of sore bodies yesterday after we started contact this week,” Everitt said. “We had a light session today (Friday) but it’s fantastic to be back out taking contact again even though we aren’t too sure about when we will be back playing again.
“We’ll phase it in and the players do need repetition and the longer we can have that on a fifteen versus fifteen basis at training the better prepared we will be when the competition does start.
“We’ve covered everything in our game model in our small groups now we need to use that in a fifteen v fifteen situation and then obviously get conditioned for contact.
With the start of the new competition still in the air, Everitt did mention a minimum amount of time that the team would need before they could return to play.
“I think that every coach would be satisfied with four weeks of contact training but I think we could get away with three.
“The sooner we get on the field the better for all of us and the spectators although it might be on their couches at home but we are certainly looking forward to getting back on the field.”
As was the case in New Zealand’s Super Rugby Aotearoa and Australia’s Super Rugby AU the quality of the rugby only improved over time and Everitt doesn’t expect our local competition to be any different.
“It will take a few weeks for the guys to hit their straps and I don’t expect we will see any games close to perfect in the first couple of weeks.
“But with the training that we are going to be doing, hopefully we can get it right sooner rather than later,” Everitt added.
The Cell C Sharks have been boosted over the last few weeks with a large portion of their current squad resigning with the franchise for at least the next two years which helps in growing the continuity of the squad going forward.
Talking about the two new players in the squad, Everitt is full of praise.
“Manie (Libbock) brings versatility in so far as he can play flyhalf, centre and fullback and fits right into the DNA of the side.
“Everyone knows Werner (Kok) and he brings a tremendous amount of energy. He is the hardest worker I’ve ever come across – he works as hard as Makazole Mapimpi.
“And with Mapimpi going to Japan for a few months Werner fills that role perfectly,” Everitt added.
