Deysel replaces Coetzee on Sharks tour

Former Springbok hooker Chiliboy Ralapelle was named in the Cell C Sharks 31-man squad for their three week tour of New Zealand.

Ralapelle is joined by Dale Chadwick and Thomas du Toit as the only three players in the group to not have tasted Super Rugby action yet this year.

Last week director of rugby Gary Gold stressed that he wouldn’t travel without three hookers in his squad – which means Ralapelle should see some action on tour. If and when Ralapelle does play, it will be his first match in more than two years, having just completed a two-year doping ban.

The Sharks will face a character test in the next three weeks. They’ve now lost two matches on the trot – their latest being a 24-9 defeat to the Lions on Saturday.

To make matters worse, Springbok flank Marcell Coetzee had to leave the field with a bad knee injury. Coetzee went for scans last night and Gold said he was likely to face some time on the side-lines.

The 24-year-old was named in the touring squad but was replaced by Jean Deysel.

Luckily the Sharks have a wealth of depth in their loose forward stocks. What will be of greater concern is the Sharks inability to score against the Lions, who were vastly improved on defence compared to their loss to the Crusaders a week ago.

Gold stressed that his side is still lacking accuracy on attack.

“The game plan seemed to be okay but we need to execute better. We came out and showed intent to play and I’m proud of that. If we’d taken that opportunity in the first five minutes – who knows,” Gold said.

“I feel sometimes that we’re afraid to say we lost to a better team. I thought they played very well, they defended well – last week they leaked 43 points and this week they didn’t.

“They kept us out after we hit them with wave after wave of attack, some of the time in the wrong areas and that is always going to make it difficult.”

The Sharks face the Blues, Highlanders and the Chiefs on their three week tour.

Cell C Sharks touring squad:

Forwards: Tendai Mtawarira, Dale Chadwick, Coenie Oosthuizen, Lourens Adriaanse, Thomas du Toit, Franco Marais, Chiliboy Ralapelle, Kyle Cooper, Etienne Oosthuizen, Stephan Lewies, Hyron Andrews, Marcell Coetzee, Jean-Luc du Preez, Daniel du Preez, Philip van der Walt, Keegan Daniel.

Backs: Cobus Reinach, Michael Claassens, Joe Pietersen, Garth April, Lwazi Mvovo, JP Pietersen, Odwa Ndungane, Andre Esterhuizen, Paul Jordaan, Willie le Roux, S’bura Sithole.

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