YOUNG Sharks fullback Zekhethelo Siyaya is to make his URC debut.
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Sharks coach JP Pietersen says he has had no qualms about picking teenager Zekhethelo Siyaya at fullback for what amounts to a do-or-die United Rugby Championship match against the Ospreys on Saturday.
Debuts do not get much tougher than an 18-year-old playing at fullback under lights in front of a partisan Welsh crowd, and in a match that the team has to win to stay alive in a tournament.
The Sharks are missing fullbacks in the injured Aphelle Fassi, Luan Giliomee, Hakeem Kunene, and Jaco Williams.
“Siyaya is a local boytjie from Westville Boys High (about 15km from Kings Park), and he is thrilled to be here.
“He is very mature when you have a conversation with him, but very quiet. He has a solid head on his shoulders, and he knows what he wants. He looks incredibly comfortable in his position and gives good communication on the field.
"He understands the rugby detail, which is sometimes hard for a youngster to get quickly. It will be a test for him playing in Wales, but he is very mature, and we are excited to see what he can do.”
Pietersen added that another Westville product, Ethan Hooker, has taken Siyaya under his wing.
“It is beautiful that they have that (Westville) connection, and they are playing next to each other —one is at wing, the other at fullback; and one is a Springbok — Ethan has done it before and worked hard through the ranks to get to the top. Ethan has been giving Siyaya feedback and telling him to be positive and unafraid.”
Pietersen cleared up the non-participation in the match of Springbok skipper Siya Kolisi, who is with the squad in Wales but not in the match-23.
“Siya is here, it is his second week of full training after coming back from a calf injury. We are giving him some time,” Pietersen said before adding with a smile:
"He is not as young as he used to be, and it takes time to come back from a calf. It is a precaution that we are not playing him this week because he is at 80 percent, and we want him at 100 percent. Next week, he will be good to go (against Edinburgh).”
Pietersen said that the week off last week (the Sharks were not in the Challenge Cup playoffs) was put to good use.
“It was useful because we don’t have much time left — we have had a lot of injury disruptions, and we had to get a group that understood what we need to get out of this (two-match) tour; and we have to get the combinations right quickly for Saturday.
“The message to the guys has been clear: We understand the position we are in, and every game is a knock-out. It is a simple equation of nailing four wins from four matches to give ourselves a chance to make the top eight.”