Sharks latest | Bongi Mbonambi

South Africa’s hooker Bongi Mbonambi (L) celebrates after scoring a try during the international rugby union test match between France and South Africa at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on November 10, 2018. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)

Sharks latest | Bongi Mbonambi will bring some much-needed grunt to the Sharks forwards pack

Bongi Mbonambi has officially signed for the Sharks and will add some much-needed physicality and bulk to their forward pack.

Sharks latest | Bongi Mbonambi

South Africa’s hooker Bongi Mbonambi (L) celebrates after scoring a try during the international rugby union test match between France and South Africa at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on November 10, 2018. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)

Bongi Mbonambi has officially signed for the Sharks and will add some much-needed physicality and bulk to their forward pack.

The 30-year-old joins Springbok captain Siya Kolisi in Durban. Mbonambi is as physical as they get, a brute force of nature on both attack and defense.

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This will do the Sharks a world of good because their forwards have been found wanting in big games this season.

Especially, against the Bulls who bullied the Sharks big men into submission last time the two sides met.

The men from Pretoria won the match 43-9 after a brutal physical onslaught that saw the Sharks scrum dismantled and their forwards pack physically dominated.

The Sharks will look to correct this is their Pro14 Rainbow Cup decider agaisnt the Bulls in Durban this weekend. The signing of Mbonambi is directed and fixing this issue and bringing experience to the side.

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MBONAMBI’S PHYSICALITY AND EXPERIENCE WILL BE VITAL

The Springbok hooker will add some bulk to the Sharks forwards pack. Mbonambi is a tyrant on a defense and a player that gets in the face of his opposition with every carry.

The Bok hooker has 36 Test caps and was a key part of the side that won the 2019 Rugby World Cup. He replaced Malcolm Marx, starting every match thereafter.

This came as a surprise to many but he quickly validated his surprise selection with big performances against Japan (quarter-finals), Wales (semi-finals) and England in the final.

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Former Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus regards Mbonambi as a player who does the hard yards and wears out the defense.

Dylan Richardson and Fez Mbatha have promising futures ahead of them but do not carry the level of physicality or experience that Mbonambi brings. They have both shown promise but are not yet at his level. The Sharks will now have an all-Springbok front-row.

Mbonambi will add grunt and fight to the Sharks. He is a man that wears his heart on his sleeve, a gritty and physical player.