Mediamec The Sharks have travelled to Manchester with a squad largely made up of up-and-coming youngsters for their Champions Cup clash against Sale Sharks, and the selection speaks volumes. For many of these players, the fixture represents a golden opportunity to force their way past senior figures who have struggled to deliver consistent performances this season.
Among all positions, flyhalf remains the most pressing concern. The Sharks are desperate for a commanding number 10 who can “grab the game by the scruff of the neck” and inject direction and creativity into a backline that has looked increasingly listless.
To be blunt, the Sharks’ attack has stagnated for some time. There has been little evidence of growth or evolution, with much of the offensive burden resting on the return of André Esterhuizen and his ability to bash the ball up the middle. While Esterhuizen excels in this role, it cannot be the sum total of a team’s attacking blueprint.
If the Sharks are to truly evolve under head coach JP Pietersen, changes appear necessary both in the attacking department and at flyhalf. It is difficult to imagine Pietersen himself enjoying life on the left wing in the current system. During his own rise at the Sharks in the late 2000s, coaches like Dick Muir, alongside flyhalf Butch James, ensured that the wings were regularly brought into play.
Pietersen also benefited from playing alongside French maestro Frédéric Michalak, who enjoyed two impressive spells in Durban. One can’t help but wonder what a player of Michalak’s vision and creativity could do with the current crop of talent, including Esterhuizen, Ethan Hooker, Aphelele Fassi, Edwill van der Merwe, Makazole Mapimpi, and Jurenzo Julius.
In last week’s defeat to the Lions in Durban, Jordan Hendrikse started at flyhalf. Much has been expected of the two-Test Springbok since his move from the Lions in 2024. To his credit, Hendrikse has endured a frustrating run with injuries and has also been shifted to fullback — a position where the Sharks lack depth, particularly given Fassi’s recurring injury problems.
When Hendrikse has featured at flyhalf, he has yet to ignite the backline, though he may simply be “a frustrated player waiting for an inspirational plan.” His struggles off the tee, however, proved costly, with poor goal-kicking playing a decisive role in the loss to the Lions.
There is still hope that the 24-year-old can flourish under Pietersen, who is himself new to the head coaching role and was thrust into the job mid-season. Expecting instant transformation may be unrealistic.
This weekend’s clash against Sale, however, opens the door for other contenders. Hendrikse has not made the trip, leaving Siya Masuku and Jean Smith as the primary flyhalf options, with Junior Springbok Vusi Moyo also in the broader mix.
Masuku enjoyed an outstanding spell in 2024 after joining the Sharks from the Cheetahs. He was instrumental in their Challenge Cup triumph and earned Player of the Match honours in the final against Gloucester. Injuries and inconsistent form have since halted his momentum, but there remains a sense that “there is more to come” if he can string together meaningful game time.
Smith, the son of Glasgow Warriors coach Franco Smith and a former Junior Springbok himself, finished the 2025 Currie Cup strongly under Pietersen’s guidance. A United Rugby Championship opportunity feels overdue and Saturday may be the perfect moment.
Pietersen will be urging his youthful squad to deliver a performance in Manchester that places serious pressure on the senior players left behind in Durban. Within this group, no jersey is more up for grabs than the number 10.
