Vodacom Bulls coach Jake White says the Sharks have put together an “incredible provincial side”.
Sharks coach John Plumtree named 15 Springboks in his match 23 for Friday night’s Vodacom URC clash in Edinburgh, with lock Eben Etzebeth, centre Lukhanyo Am and fullback Aphelele Fassi all returning from injury.
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“I think it’s one of the strongest provincial sides I’ve ever seen coming out of South Africa,” White said on Friday. “Can you show me how they can make it stronger? Because I don’t know who they can pick to make it stronger than that.
“The only thing I think that will be interesting to see is how [the returning players] will click based on the fact they haven’t played for a while.”
White said the Sharks would also have to deal with the artificial pitch at Hive Stadium.
“It’s a very different challenge when you play on 4G because South African teams don’t train and play as often on them as the Scottish teams do. Both Edinburgh and Glasgow have those pitches so their players are used to it.
“But if you look at that Sharks team – that is an incredible provincial side they’ve put together. I’m optimistic about where we are [on the log] but they’re only a couple of points behind us and if you look at who they have to play when coming back [to Durban] they’re also in a very good position.
“I will watch the game [in Edinburgh] with interest, even though it won’t really have an impact on us, because we will still have to beat sides like Munster and Glasgow to win this competition.
“And who knows, we might also have to beat that Sharks team, which is the strongest Sharks team I’ve seen in the last 15 years.”
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Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
