Penxe gives Sharks an injection of depth at fullback, Fassi out for at least another month

• The Sharks face the Bulls on Saturday with former Kings fullback Yaw Penxe included on the bench.
• Penxe provides the Sharks with a timely injection of depth at position with Aphelele Fassi injured.
• Fassi is recovering from shoulder surgery and is not expected to return before December.

Sharks coach Sean Everitt confirmed Thursday that the highly rated fullback Perfect Fassi He will remain outcast due to injury until “around December,” depending on his rehabilitation.

The 22-year-old continues to recover from shoulder surgery as he stood out for the Sharks earlier in the year in the opening rounds of Super Rugby before the tournament was called off in March.

Fassi, with his raw pacing and ability to spot a gap, had been involved in some brilliant attempts by the Sharks and had been involved in the Springbok conversation before the coronavirus pandemic and injury hit.

But, with Fassi out, a pair of canny Sharks signings have ensured that they can face the combined Super Rugby Unlocked / Currie Cup season with quality depth at position.

Former Bulls midfielder Manie Libbok is Everitt’s current starting fullback and has shown flashes of real promise in the limited time the Sharks have had together on the field since the restart.

The cap on the bench comes in the form of another exciting young man with former Kings sprinter Yaw Penxe, now a shark who completed his move to Durban.

The 23-year-old has been one of the Kings standouts throughout their often challenging journey in PRO 14.

In what was almost always a losing cause, Penxe stood out and it is no coincidence that he was selected to be a part of the Springbok Green v Springbok Gold test match in Newlands a few weeks ago.

“Yaw is a very dangerous rugby player, whether he’s a winger or winger,” Everitt told the media on Thursday.

“He’s a strong runner, he’s very abrasive, he has good feet and he’s fast.

“He had a really good game for the green team at Newlands a couple of weeks ago and he’s certainly been in shape for the Kings for the last 18 months.

“We are very happy to have him. He is a good boy, he learns fast and that is why we have brought him to Matchday 23 as fast as we have.”

The Sharks took a break last weekend and fought hard for a 19-17 win over the Lions in Durban in the first week.

At the top of the Super Rugby combined record before the tournament was halted earlier in the year, Everitt’s charges looked like a real threat on the attack and particularly on the counter with players like Fassi, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi and Sikhumbuzo. Notshe combining sometimes in breath. -so fashionable.

But after spending so much time out of the park, Everitt acknowledges that rediscovering that ball-in-hand lethal touch could take some time.

“Sometimes the pace takes time,” said the coach.

“Unfortunately with us we have had a start and stop season. We had a Super Fan day, then a goodbye with the Green and Gold game, then we went back to the Lions and then another goodbye.

“That was timely for us as it helped us recover the players from injuries. We take it with a smile, but it doesn’t help much for continuity.”

The start of Saturday is at 19:00.