Fassi fully focused on Sharks following surprise Springbok snub, but covets place back

Sharks fullback Aphelele Fassi admitted he coveted a place back into the Springbok setup but his focus was fully on his United Rugby Championship (URC) team for the time being.

Fassi fell out of favour with the Bok selectors following his only Test appearance this year, the 13-12 defeat to Wales in the second Test in Bloemfontein that also claimed Bulls captain Marcell Coetzee’s spot.

Fassi, who played at unfamiliar left wing that day in July, has been steadily trying to rebuild his confidence with the Durban franchise after being undoubtedly their most outstanding player in last season's URC.

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"Definitely," was Fassi's incisive reply to a question about whether he wanted to get back into head coach Jacques Nienaber's team.

"Anyone wants to be in that setup but my rugby focus is all with the Sharks family.

"I definitely want to do better things here at the Sharks, so all my focus is here.

"If that opportunity comes my way, it will be a credit to the [Sharks] coaching staff, myself and the team here."

Many were surprised that Fassi dropped completely from the national men's team, especially since Cheslin Kolbe suffered a jaw injury in the third Wales Test.

Later, Bulls wing Kurt-Lee Arendse copped a four-match suspension in the Rugby Championship, which necessitated 19-year-old Canan Moodie getting called up, who grabbed his opportunity with both hands.

The Boks made do with Jesse Kriel and even Lukhanyo Am at wing at stages, which made the Fassi dropping all the more curious.

Give direction

Fassi, who said he wanted to improve his game on a daily basis, also seemed unclear if there was a specific area of his game he was told to sharpen up.

"Every day when