Warren Whiteley says the Sharks can’t wait to unleash the “explosive power” of Rohan Janse van Rensburg back in SA rugby.
Janse van Rensburg, who played only one Test for the Springboks in 2016, will join the Durbanites on a three-year deal from the Sale Sharks in England.
The 27-year-old first made his mark at the Lions with Whiteley, who is now an assistant coach at the Sharks.
At 1.83m and 109kg, Janse van Rensburg offers the Sharks the kind of muscle in midfield they have been missing since Andre Esterhuizen left the team for England.
“I played with Rohan for a while and he is a fantastic player. It’s great to see his development and the good rugby he plays,” the 23-capped former Bok skipper told Netwerk24.
“We are very excited to have him here and we look forward to the impact he will make here. He is athletic and has a lot of explosive power. It will be nice to see him in South African rugby again.
“You want him [Janse van Rensburg] to have the ball in his hand as much as possible. He pulls defenders and it usually takes more than one to pull him flat because he is so powerful.”
Whiteley is also excited about overseas-based SA players like Janse van Rensburg, who scored 23 tries in 73 appearances for Sale, returning home after stints abroad.
“We have seen how some of our [South African] players who play there have developed and it is fantastic. Of course, it’s great to have them back,” he said.
“Personally, I think it’s about opportunities, I do not think it’s good or bad.
“It is always a pity to lose young players if they go overseas. But we must also remember that each player’s situation is unique. What’s nice is that a lot of those players are coming back to South Africa.”
