The Sharks are in the market for a world class prop, following the injury setback suffered by Springbok Tendai Mtawarira.

Rugby365

Mtawarira fractured an ankle in a freak training ground accident last Friday, ruling him out for at least three months.

Apart from breaking up the all-Springbok combination of Mtawarira, along with the Du Plessis brothers of Bismarck and Jannie, the men from Durban have also lost one of their biggest crowd favourites.

To add to their troubles veteran Eugene van Staden, who can play both sides of the scrum, has just signed a long-term deal with French club Biarritz. Van Staden, who was initially on loan to Biarritz as a medical joker during last year’s World Cup, got his break when the French club’s other South African front row forward, Eduard Coetzee. was forced to retire because of injury.

It has left the Sharks coach a bit thin in terms of experience.

“We’ll put feelers out there for cover,” Plumtree said in an interview on the Sharks’ website.

“He [Mtawarira] will probably be training in six weeks’ time [dependant on recovery and the type of training], and he’ll get fit quickly.

“We have a lot of confidence in some of the youngsters here, but we will probably need someone else to help out because we’ll have to tour without Beast [Mtawarira][.

“We’ll look to see what cover there is available, it isn’t easy to find a prop at this time.”

It appears Dale Chadwick has the inside lane to start in the front row alongside the Du Plessis brothers, following some impressive Currie Cup form last year, while Kyle Cooper – the young former Under-21 hooker who is being tried as a loosehead – could also come into the picture.

Wiehahn Herbst may start at tighthead, which will allow veteran Bok Jannie du Plessis to pack down at loosehead.

The Sharks, who have an internal trial this Friday, have a few other “niggling injuries”.

“We’re trying to get those boys right so we can have everyone available,” the Sharks coach said.

“There will be a few blokes who won’t play – Jannie du Plessis is getting married on Saturday, I’ll look after him and Bismarck du Plessis this week.

“Generally everyone will get their opportunity.

“Kyle Cooper is having a scope on his knee this week so we’ll bring in Monde Hadebe [Sharks Under 21 hooker in 2011] to share the hooking duties with Craig Burden.”

The game will, most likely, be played over four 20 minute chukkas to afford the coaching staff the opportunity of trialling different combinations.

“The teams will be evenly-matched, the way the squad is looking there are a lot of even matches. The way I see it, it could be a very competitive game.”