Viljoen gets pivotal role at Sharks
The booming boot of Riaan Viljoen could become even more of a menace to the Sharks' rivals.
Sharks mentor John Plumtree, who will take a mid-season break from coaching, revealed that Viljoen will be used as flyhalf during this year's Currie Cup competition.
The Sharks, beaten finalists in 2011, start their campaign when they tackle Western Province at Newlands on Saturday.
However, they will be without Springbok Patrick Lambie and French international Frederic Michalak, who returned France after the completion of the Super Rugby campaign.
It leaves the Sharks thin in the No.10 channel.
Although Viljoen occasionally played flyhalf for Griquas, before his move to Durban this year, he was mainly used at fullback.
Plumtree feels that the 29-year-old, a 2009 Springbok tourist with over 100 first class matches (for the Falcons and Griquas) as well as 36 Super Rugby caps (Cheetahs and Sharks), could be the ideal stand-in for Lambie.
Fellow Bok veteran Meyer Bosman will also get a run at flyhalf.
"Riaan Viljoen can play No.10 comfortably, so we're happy to give him an opportunity there," Plumtree said.
"Meyer Bosman can play there too, so that's the starting point at flyhalf and we're happy to give both an opportunity.
"It will be interesting to see how they play in this campaign in that position."
Plumtree admitted the absence of 10 Springbok, as well as the departure of Michalak (to France) and Ryan Kankowski (to Japan) will test his team's depth.
"We will be tested at times in certain positions, loose forward especially," Plumtree said, adding: "We will have to dip into the Under-21s.
"Francois Kleinhans played for us in the Currie Cup last year and players like him will be used.
"Your resources get stretched. However, if you look at Marcell Coetzee - he came on in the Currie Cup last year and is now a Springbok.
"You get some nice surprises and who knows, there might be another one.
"[The injured] Pieter-Steph du Toit will come back into the reckoning in Round Two, it will be good for his further development.
"Cobus Reinach will get an opportunity at No.9, and I'd like to see what he can do at this level."
The coach added that a number of players should continue to develop from where they left off last year and others will get an opportunity.
"If the team gels quickly and we have some success, the confidence will grow and we've seen that in the past with the Sharks when they've had a number of individuals out.
"Certainly this year is the most of any year, and with the Springbok players remaining together during the series, we won't get players released back which is new. In the past we've had fringe players come back to play Currie Cup, but that's not happening this year."
Plumtree added that there are a number of young players he expects to make the step up and press for higher honours.
"Peet Marais at lock, Monde Hadebe has an opportunity this week.
"S'bura Sithole had a few runs last year and I'm looking forward to see what Gouws Prinsloo can do at fullback. Tera [Lubabalo Mtembu] at eighthman also.
"These guys have flirted on the fringes of our squad over the past couple of years and now they get an opportunity to play some regular rugby, so it will be good to see how they step up."