Etzebeth wants Sharks to have a go against Munster in URC quarter-final, Jordan Hendrikse recovers at flyhalf

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6 days ago

Jordan Hendrikse Fit-again Jordan Hendrikse is set to start at flyhalf for the Sharks against Munster. Photo: STEVE HAAG SPORTS
Image: STEVE HAAG SPORTS
After the Sharks' dour 12-3 defeat of the Scarlets a fortnight ago, there was a chance they might have had to call veteran Lionel Cronje out of semi-retirement for Saturday's United Rugby Championship quarter-final against Munster – but the flyhalf injury crisis has lifted.
Jordan Hendrikse has been running in the position at training this week, and while Siya Masuku is still struggling with the hamstring problem picked up against the Welsh team, one fit flyhalf is better than none.
Unfortunately, it does not appear that Grant Williams will make the Munster party as he continues to nurse a neck injury.
This is a pity, because he is the catalyst the Sharks have been missing to get their attack going.
They need someone to push the detonator on the ample firepower they have at the back, but, so far, nobody has taken on that role.
If it can't be Williams on Saturday, another of their Boks has to take the responsibility.
While the Sharks are short on flyhalf cover, Aphelele Fassi has shown he can do a job in the position, and it might be a good idea to bring the exciting Springbok fullback closer to the ball.
The Sharks have been grinding out important wins – they are on a four-match roll – but captain Eben Etzebeth echoed André Esterhuizen's words of earlier this week when he said: 'We are not aiming for it to be tight against Munster... we want to play.
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'Last season, we lost the tight matches and finished 14th on the log,' he added.
'This season we've won them, and that's the difference. A couple of points, and you have a home quarter-final.
'We're used to playing those tight games, but hopefully we don't have to make it too tight any more.
'We are feeling confident,' Etzebeth continued. 'This is the highest the Sharks have ever finished in the URC, with only Leinster and the Bulls above us.
'We have a home quarter-final, and we know if we win it, we will stay in South Africa for a semi-final, whether it's at the Shark Tank (against Edinburgh) or at the Bulls.
'Munster are a quality side, though, and it's probably going to come down to discipline on the day or who's got the better goal-kicker.'
The Springbok legend said that the Sharks' big defeat of Munster last October in Durban, which effectively ended Graham Rountree's tenure as coach, is irrelevant.
'That game feels like it was a long time ago,' Etzebeth said of the 41-24 result.
'A week is a long time in rugby, and that game was over half a year ago, so it will be a completely new game.
'The knockouts are the most important part of the season. When they arrive, what happens before that doesn't matter.
'Right until the last week of the URC, we didn't know who we'd be playing.
'For a long time, we thought we'd be playing the Stormers. However, Glasgow lost a few games, and so we are now playing Munster.
'We know they are a quality side, and we know they have a history of playing well in knockout games.
'We are very aware of that; they are at their best in knockout games, even away from home.
'But we are not looking too much into past results.'