Sharks so spoilt for loosie choice it could become a snag

That could soon become a special blessing for the ambitious KwaZulu-Natalians as they juggle a uniquely large arsenal of loose forwards.

The area will look even more beefily stocked in a few months if reports that one of the premier players at the struggling Lions, dynamic flanker Vincent Tshituka, is on the brink of joining the coastal cause prove to be on the mark.

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The DRC-born 23-year-old, potentially with his peak levels still well ahead of him, would only crank up the already fierce competition for loosie berths at the Sharks through his restless general energy and no-nonsense carries and tackles.

More routinely employed in the blindside role in Johannesburg, he offers versatile possibilities in more of a fetching capacity as well, with his strength over the ball.

But if the Sharks do put pen to paper with Tshituka, their cup veritably “runneth over” for options among loose forwards.

A reminder of that, just as a first step, is to simply examine their respective loose trios for their last obligations in each of the URC (when they beat Benetton away the weekend before last) and Currie Cup (Friday night’s hard-earned triumph over the Pumas at Mbombela).

For the match in Italy, their starting loosies were Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and seasoned former Cheetahs favourite Henco Venter as the flankers, and Phepsi Buthelezi at No 8 - with fit-again athlete par excellence Sikhumbuzo Notshe the designated reserve in the department and getting a 25-minute gallop.

A few days later in the Lowveld, their domestic-level trio comprised James Venter as open-sider and skipper, the earthy, direct journeyman Thembelani Bholi at seven and the