Ken Borland

Sharks coach Sean Everitt highlighted the wonderful form shown last weekend by scrumhalf Sanele Nohamba and prop Ox Nche in the Springbok Showdown and said he was looking forward to them playing big roles in their Super Rugby Unlocked opener against the Lions at Kings Park in Durban on Friday night.

We look at their strengths and three other key areas of the Sharks challenge:

Sanele Nohamba

The young scrumhalf had a marvellous game for the triumphant Green team at Newlands, showing a pleasing range to his game with his tactical kicking being astute, his service crisp and his ability to spark attack also on point. The Lions will be wondering how to deal with him and not allow him to dominate from the base.

“Sanele was a shining light last weekend and I was extremely happy for him. The whole experience would have been really good for him but it’s also beneficial for us – I’m sure he really learnt a lot in that week and he brought that confidence back to us. He’s quick around the field and certainly understands the game. He conducts the traffic at the back and I’m really excited about the growth he’s shown in the last 12 months, he really knows and understands his roles and responsibilities now,” Everitt said.

Ox Nche

Loosehead prop Ox Nche gave an eye-opening display at Newlands as he anchored the Green scrum in an impressive display. He successfully dismantled former Springbok tighthead Ruan Dreyer, which helped negate the massive influence of Steven Kitshoff on the loosehead side for Gold. When Carlu Sadie replaced Dreyer, he gave Nche more pause for thought.

Dreyer also struggled against Kitshoff on SuperFan Saturday and the Lions have rewarded Sadie’s better form by giving him the starting tighthead berth. It will be a mouthwatering battle between Nche and Sadie, with Thomas du Toit providing solid support in the Sharks’ No.3 jersey.

“Their great form really started early on in Super Rugby. We had a few issues at the start of the year in our scrum and there were plenty of critics. But since then the scrum has gone from strength to strength. I thought they stood up well against the Bulls two weeks ago and Ox and Thomas carried that through to last weekend’s Green and Gold game. Ox getting one over Dreyer of the Lions last weekend will add some spice to Friday night and it will be an interesting battle,” Everitt said.

JP Pietersen & Werner Kok

The Sharks have had terrible luck in the wing position with Makazole Mapimpi leaving for Japan and both Sbu Nkosi and Madosh Tambwe being injured. Yaw Penje, another to impress at Newlands last weekend, has been hastily signed up on a short-term deal, but in the meantime the 34-year-old Pietersen and Sevens Springbok Kok, who has played just 20 games of senior XV-a-side rugby in his career, will have to man the fort against the Lions out wide.

But there’s probably not a trick in the book that Pietersen, a veteran of 70 Tests, does not know, and Kok was impressive when he played on the wing for the Sharks on SuperFan Saturday, bringing plenty of work-rate and physicality.

Manie Libbok

The 23-year-old is an interesting addition to the Sharks’ line-up and will make his competitive debut for them at fullback on Friday night. Considered one of the premier talents in South African junior rugby midway through last decade, Libbok’s career did not really kick on at the Bulls. Getting an early chance to start because of Aphelele Fassi’s long-term injury, Libbok will certainly add pace, verve and incisiveness to the Sharks attack, plus he is another strong kicking option from the back.

Lukhanyo Am

Burger Odendaal’s move to Ellis Park seems to have led to a change in approach by the Lions, who have chosen a sledgehammer midfield pairing in Dan Kriel and Odendaal shifting from his usual inside centre position to No.13. Strong ball-carrying rather than tempo and expansiveness could be the Lions’ focus, especially with Willem Alberts playing at lock.

There’s going to be a fascinating clash of styles though between Sharks captain Am and Odendaal; Am will have to deal with the very direct, power-based attack of Odendaal, while the World Cup winner will be looking to use his cunning, skill and pace to elude Odendaal’s defence.