Super 14 fever hits Debben

With pre-season preparations and even warm-up games now underway, Super 14 fever is once again taking hold of the rugby fraternity ahead of the opening round of fixtures in mid-February.

Sport24

In Durban, the Sharks have been involved in training since early January, with the full squad throwing themselves back into action.

The majority of their Springbok players were given December off to rest and recuperate and the beginning of the year has provided them with the opportunity to get back into top shape and continue rehabilitation for a variety of niggles.

Although a number of injury woes have been reported, it would seem the only major casualty is that of Argentinian flyhalf Juan Martin Hernandez, who has been ruled out of the Super 14 with a back injury.

Flyhalf

The absence of Hernandez has left the Sharks in search of a replacement flyhalf, with Ruan Pienaar or Monty Dumond reportedly set to fill the void as a short-term solution.

Pienaar, though, is still recovering from a knee operation, similarly to new recruit Louis Ludik, who is in a race against time to be fit for the Sharks’ opening match against the Chiefs on February 13.

Ludik, who can play at fullback, wing or even centre, has joined the Durban team from the Lions, along with fellow team-mates from Johannesburg, No 8 Willem Alberts and lock Gerhard Mostert.

All three have been in Durban since late last year and have started to settle in, with Ludik undergoing intensive rehab as he looks to overcome the nasty knee injury sustained against the British and Irish Lions.

Besides the three Lions recruits, the Sharks have also welcomed former Natal great Hugh Reece-Edwards into their midst, with the former player and coach re-joining the team as a backline assistant.

Reece-Edwards endured a disastrous brief spell as head coach of the Sharks in 2000, but after a recent stint coaching Westville Boys High, has returned to the Shark Tank to work alongside former team-mate John Plumtree.

Last week, the Sharks got stuck into a five-day training camp in the midlands, and at the end of the month will play two pre-season games against the Western Force and Stormers.