Bok boost for Sharks as Sbu Nkosi, Coenie Oosthuizen return from injury

CAPE TOWN – Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus may still be celebrating the epic win over the All Blacks, but he knows that his team have a lot of hard work ahead to be consistent and get ready for the World Cup.

And part of that journey is building enough depth and getting players ready to handle those pressure situations, like the one at the Westpac Stadium where the Boks defended for their lives in those frantic closing minutes.

And one of the potential problem areas at the moment is the back-three, where it remains unclear as to whether Willie le Roux will be released by his English club Wasps for the next two Rugby Championship matches against Australia and New Zealand.

In addition, Makazole Mapimpi is battling with a knee problem, which saw Jesse Kriel shift to wing in a makeshift capacity for the All Black Test.

So, Erasmus would do well to have a look at the Sharks and Lions Currie Cup clash this weekend, as the match marks the return of Sbu Nkosi from an ankle injury.

Nkosi was the first-choice right wing in the June series against England, and will make his way back to the field from the bench at Kings Park on Saturday.

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It's almost go time baby 👑

A post shared by Sbu Nkosi(@sbu_nkosi14) on Sep 12, 2018 at 10:11am PDT

Another almost forgotten man of SA rugby, Curwin Bosch, is at fullback for the Sharks, and he would want to produce a big game against Lions opposite number Andries Coetzee, who is another Bok discard with a point to prove in Durban.

Erasmus will be glad to see Coenie Oosthuizen in the mix too, with the tighthead prop coming back from a long-term knee injury.

Oosthuizen will play off the bench, with Thomas du Toit keen to show what he can do at No 3 to aid his Bok cause.

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Im finally back on the field this upcoming weekend. Thanks for all the support the past 10 months and a special thanks to my amazing wife @christi_oosthuizen who has been there through it all, I love you and little baba so much.

A post shared by Coenie Oosthuizen(@coenie_oosthuizen) on Sep 18, 2018 at 8:53am PDT

Sharks Team

15 Curwin Bosch 14 Kobus van Wyk 13 Jeremy Ward 12 Marius Louw 11 Lwazi Mvovo 10 Robert du Preez 9 Louis Schreuder 8 Daniel du Preez 7 Tyler Paul 6 Luke Stringer 5 Hyron Andrews 4 Gideon Koegelenberg 3 Thomas du Toit 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle (captain) 1 Juan Schoeman.

Bench: 16 Armand van der Merwe 17 Coenie Oosthuizen 18 Ruben van Heerden 19 Jacques Vermeulen 20 Cameron Wright 21 Sbu Nkosi 22 Aphelele Fassi.

@ashfakmohamed