Rugby: Rugby likely for top Springboks

Patrick Lambie. File photo / NZME.

Frontline Springboks could enjoy up to five weeks rest from Super Rugby this year, according to Patrick Lambie, the Sharks pivot who ended 2014 in possession of the Bok No 10 jersey.

The 24-year-old is in head-to-head combat with Bulls five-eighths Handre Pollard for pole position at the Rugby World Cup in England in September, and will be the Sharks' backline captain on Sunday in the Super Rugby opener against the Cheetahs in Durban.

"Saru has spoken to the contracted Boks and we are aware of the fact that we will get between one and three weeks additional rest to the two regulation bye weekends," said Lambie, who has already amassed 40 test caps for his country. "But Saru have also spoken to the unions and given them the prerogative as to when to rest us," he added.

"We know the breaks are coming but not when - I guess it is the decision of each franchise coach as to when to rest his Boks in terms of how his squad is looking and who is the opposition in front of him."

The Sharks have daily training sessions between 11am and 1pm, a time in Durban when those of able mind are fleeing to an air-conditioned environment, never mind entertaining the prospect of exercise.

The old saying is that only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday African sun.

"There is method to the madness," a sweaty Lambie said after yesterday's team session ended in 36C discomfort. "It is tough training in the heat and humidity, but it is an advantage knowing no other team will be training in these conditions.

"It gives us an advantage over the Cheetahs in that we are better accustomed to handling the slippery ball. It definitely won't be as hot as this at 5pm on Saturday, at least we hope not!

"The idea is also to have a serious midday session and then be free to put our feet up in the afternoon or to have the opportunity to do something with the rest of the day if we want to," Lambie added.

Lambie said he relished the chance to start the season with fellow Springbok Cobus Reinach, who could well be his halfback partner at the World Cup should the two of them stay injury free and continue their good form of the 2014 end-of-season tour.

"We hope we are going to have the opportunity to mature as a partnership," Lambie said.

"I think Cobus is a fantastic player, he had a great year in 2014. I am looking forward to playing with him and hopefully we can both go from strength to strength as a combination."

Meanwhile, Sharks forward coach Brad Macleod-Henderson has called Marcell Coetzee the best openside flanker in the world. The 23-year-old who ended last year in rich form for the Boks and hit the ground running last week with a sensational performance for the Sharks against European champions Toulon.

"I think Marcell is probably the world's best in his position," Macleod-Henderson said; lofty but very much warranted praise of a player in the same position as All Blacks captain Richie McCaw.

"Not only is Marcell a devastating threat at the breakdown, he's also a fantastic ball-carrier," the coach said.

"He had an unbelievable season last year and was probably a bit unlucky to be pipped by Duane Vermeulen as SA Rugby Player of the Year.

"He got off to a cracking start to the season against Toulon with a brilliant performance; he's firing on all cylinders.

"He has a brilliant work ethic, he's always looking for work and it shows in his performance. He's still young and will grow and improve even further and we look forward to watching that happen."

- Independent News, SA