Sharks to wrestle Stormers for Fassi

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Director of rugby Neil Powell says the Sharks are desperate to retain the services of fullback Aphelele Fassi, who has been linked with a move to the DHL Stormers.

Western Province Rugby is reportedly making good progress trying to bring the versatile Fassi to Cape Town after his current contract with the Sharks expires in December.

The three-Test-capped Springbok, who is also able to play fullback and wing, would supplement several positions for the Stormers next season.

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The Sharks and Lions lock horns at Ellis Park this week and speaking during a team announcement on Thursday, Powell told reporters: “We are obviously negotiating and would like to hang onto Fassi if we can, and we’ll have those discussions with him away from the game, and when it’s appropriate.”

Meanwhile, Werner Kok, Vincent Tshituka and Dylan Richardson will make their comeback from injury when the Durbanites travel to Johannesburg on Saturday. Scrumhalf Grant Williams also returns to the starting XV.

All four are high-intensity players as Powell looks for his troops to set the pace against their hosts in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash on the Highveld.

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He added: “It’s great to see all those guys back and ready for this Lions game, and happy with the squad we managed to select. The other guy who is also back is Grant Williams, and that is also a massive positive for us as well.

“It’s going to be important for us to control the tempo of the game … and it’s not so much about us chasing the intensity and speeding up the game, but also to slow down the game.

“The game management is going to be crucial and hopefully we get it right, and it might even rain a little bit and experience some different conditions.”

Photo: Dan Sheridan/INPHO/Shutterstock/BackpagePix

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