Siya Kolisi helped steady Sharks' ship: Neil Powell on Sean Everitt's sacking

In a rather controversial and bizarre move, the Sharks tried to block media questions about the recent coaching changes at the franchise during director of rugby Neil Powell’s squad naming press conference on Thursday.

The Durban-based franchise this week sacked head coach Sean Everitt after more than a decade of service at Kings Park and had in the press conference seemed to hope to continue as if nothing had happened.

Powell faced the media for the first time ahead of the Sharks' United Rugby Championship (URC) clash against Ospreys at Kings Park on Friday (7.10pm) on the back of a shocking 35-0 drubbing to Cardiff at home.

The Sharks announced before the presser started that no questions related to Everitt’s departure should be asked saying they believed they explained everything in their media statement earlier in the week.

Everitt’s sacking does not come as a big surprise as the Sharks were probably the big underachievers in the URC last season. But refusing to answer questions about how the players are dealing with this and how the Sharks move forward was strange approach.

Seeing the virtual presser was getting heated, Powell intervened and agreed to answer some questions on the matter, admitting the heavy defeat to Cardiff, which led to Everitt being shown the exit door, was a huge disappointment.

“I can imagine a 35-0 to a Cardiff team was really painful,” Powell said.

“I think we also realised we were not good enough and there were consequences because of that.

“We are all part of those consequences. I’m utterly disappointed knowing we can be a lot better than we were on the weekend.

“Yes, it was a different week [after the sacking of Everitt] and I think a lot of words have been said within the week. But I think it’s now for us to go to the action of those words.”

Powell said the Sharks' big players such as Springbok captain and excellent leader Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth played a huge role in steadying the ship even though they were not part of the team that was whitewashed.

“We can speak as much as we like but we have to act on those words. In terms of that, a guy like Siya Kolisi was great for us this week, Eben was great for us this week.

“To have those Boks back was really good and almost refocused us again to make sure that we focused on the job at hand.”

Powell explained Kolisi was not considered for selection against Ospreys due to an unspecified injury.

He welcomed back his Boks and flyhalf Curwin Bosch from injury that saw him miss the six opening games of the season.

Young, highly-rated loose-forward Phendulani ‘Phepsi’ Buthelezi will captain the side.

Sharks Team: 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Marnus Potgieter, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Phendulani 'Phepsi' Buthelezi (captain), 7 Jeandre Labuschagne, 6 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler,  4 Vincent Tshituka, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.

Substitutes: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 James Venter, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Nevaldo Fleurs, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg.