Former Sharks coach Hugh Reece-Edwards believes the struggling Durban outfit needs greater depth and competition from players on the brink of Springbok selection if they are to turn their season around.

The Sharks suffered a shock defeat to Ulster in Durban on Saturday, leaving them rooted near the bottom of the URC table and still without a win after four rounds.

ALSO: Stonehouse heading to Sharks?

Despite boasting one of the most star-studded squads in the competition, Reece-Edwards told Independent Media Sport the Sharks lack the next tier of players capable of stepping up when their Boks are unavailable.

“You need that depth. It’s not just about numbers. If Eben Etzebeth is away, you want a player who’s a real stalwart stepping in, with a youngster learning from him,” Reece-Edwards said.

“We’ve got a number of Springboks, but who are the next guys who are going to become Springboks? Besides young Ethan Hooker, there aren’t many knocking on the door – and that’s really what you want.

Reece-Edwards argues that the Sharks’ recruitment should focus less on big names and more on players with Springbok potential.

“You know that the Springboks are going to be away for a number of fixtures, so that opens doors straight away. There’s also this restriction of 30 games a year, so we won’t be able to use all the players all the time, and obviously a number of them are going away again in November, so there are going to be gaps,” he explained.

AFRICA PICKS: Keo reflects on URC accumulator

He pointed to the Bulls as a model of smarter squad building.

“A classic example is bringing back a guy like Marcel Coetzee. There are players who’ve played a bit of Test rugby, gone overseas, done well, come back again and still really put their hand up for their team. That sort of player is invaluable,” Reece-Edwards said.

The Sharks could soon benefit from the return of Thomas du Toit from French club Bordeaux – a move that may signal a shift toward that model.

With John Plumtree’s men facing the winless Scarlets this weekend, Reece-Edwards said only a convincing performance will silence the critics.

“They’re under massive pressure now. Whoever they pick, it’s probably going to be the top side again. Even if they beat Scarlets, the sceptics will say they only beat the bottom side – so they’ve got to perform well this week, and again the following game.”

FULL STORY