Young Sharks' time has come

WITH national team call-ups and injuries, the Sharks begin the defence of their Currie Cup title against the Blue Bulls at Kings Park on Saturday with some big holes to fill.

Fortunately it's the same for all the leading contenders and in Durban, thanks to a productive academy and a healthy bank balance, the Sharks have been able to create depth to cover for these situations.

After such a long Super 15 campaign and the Tri-Nations and World Cup coming into sharp focus, the Currie Cup definitely feels like a forgotten tournament in a rugby-saturated market.

But it's the same each season before the grand old lady of tournaments gathers momentum and throws up new names that will go on to greater things in seasons to come. It's in that spirit that the Sharks are approaching the new season. Ditto the Blue Bulls, Western Province and Free State Cheetahs.

"Most of these (younger) guys have been in our system for two or three years and they'll get an opportunity now," said Sharks coach John Plumtree.

"The message has been that this is an exciting time for them, and an opportunity for them to prove themselves, not just as individuals but as a group."

At scrumhalf Cobus Reinach will have a chance in the absence of Charl McLeod, who is with the Boks, and the injured Conrad Hoffman. Prop Wiehan Herbst will also become a regular starter, while others such as hooker Craig Burden will move two places up the pecking order to cover for Springboks John Smit and Bismarck du Plessis.