Resting Boks Complicates Sharks' Return To Full Strength

Sharks coach John Plumtree was like a kid on break-up day after his team had transformed humiliation in Bordeaux into a triumph in Cardiff.

That was over a week ago, and among the first words he said after the 42-22 win was I cant wait to get some bodies back but it wont be as simple as eliminating the 16-man injury list.

It has been confirmed that injured or not, the Sharks will rest all of their contracted Springboks over February.

Bok protocols dictate that the Boks must have eight weeks off over the course of the season, and it makes sense for the Sharks to knock off a block of four weeks over a month when they barely play.

The Sharks sole match over this period is the February 15 visit to the Bulls.