Steyn and Lambie return for Sharks

The Sharks have been given a boost for their push towards the Super Rugby finals as Frans Steyn and Patrick Lambie have both returned to training.

The Durban based Sharks will return to Super Rugby next weekend with a match against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein and then they fly to Cape Town to play the Stormers in their final regular season match.

The Sharks have already won the South African Conference and are assured of a place in the play off and they have two matches left to try and secure the top spot and with it home advantage in the play offs.

Sharks Director of Rugby Jake White says that the players who were not involved in the Springbok Tests had a mixed mixed programme over the June break, alternating rest with gym work and field training to balance the needs to break from the game, without losing strength and fitness.

“One of the decisions we made as a coaching staff was that we weren’t going to push the players too hard during the June break,” Director of Rugby Jake White said on the Sharks site.

“They had an eight match block, a tour towards the end of that block, the Boks are away, so to keep bashing the same guys over and over doesn’t make sense.”

“It’s been a good refresher for us and although we’re not in an ideal position with our Boks away, at least it gives us time now to start getting our game plans and game strategies right for the next couple of weeks.”

White said that despite the toll that the Super Rugby season puts on the players bodies the Sharks are in a good place.

“Frans Steyn has had two weeks off, time to chill out a bit,” White confirmed.

“Looking at the stats, he’s played the second-most amount of rugby for us this year – behind Lwazi Mvovo – and I needed him to have some time off, which he has and he joined us along with the squad when they all assembled here on Monday morning. He’s all ready to go.”

Lambie missed the last nine Sharks matches and is working with the medical staff in order to return to action as soon as possible.

“Pat is also training with us, he has a few things to get right medically, there will be a few tests undertaken to see what he can do and what he can’t do, and once he can tick all those boxes then he’ll be ready to go. “

“It all looks positive though, it looks like he’s on track for 10 days’ time.”

In other words, he could turn out for the Cheetahs’ game.

“The challenge for us it to get the balance right between giving ourselves a fair crack at getting a home semi, but at the same time, making sure that if we don’t get a home semi, our players are all fit and available for the play-offs.”