Watch | He’s back! Makazole Mapimpi spotted at Sharks training
Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok wing Makazole Mapimpi has returned to training with the Sharks Rainbow Cup side, according to pictures published by the union this afternoon.
Late last week Mapimpi was spotted at the airport in Japan as he prepared for his departure from the “Land of the Rising Sun”.
Mapimpi was on a loan agreement with the Japanese top-flight side NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes, who he made an instant impact for in a try-scoring debut. He then led the side to a playoff place before, where they unfortunately narrowly lost out 33-29 to Toyota Verblitz which then subsequently facilitated his Sharks return.
Watch as Mapimpi reflects on his time in Japan. Video via Sharks Rugby:
What will please the Sharks fans the most is that chance are high of Mapimpi hitting the ground running having left the Japanese shores with four tries in six games, in a campaign affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. That will make his sighting at the union training session an even more welcome one after witnessing their side take a 43-9 drubbing to the Bulls at Loftus last week Saturday.
Sharks fans will be hoping Mapimpi can hit the ground running
If the images released by the union are anything to go by, the former Cheetahs star looks to be in peak physical form and could be in contention to slot straight into coach Sean Everitt’s 23-man matchday squad for this weekend’s clash against the Stormers at Kings Park. That is expected to be a tough call, however, as another former Southern Kings flyer winger Yaw Penxe has been building his momentum every week, and has proven to be a steady presence on the left-wing in Mapimpi’s absence.
His momentum could prove crucial to the Springboks
What Mapimpi would have over his fellow Eastern Cape-born Sharks teammate though, is the ability to find the try line on a regular basis. More so, for Springbok supporters the imminent arrival of the British & Irish Lions is an even bigger incentive to get Mapimpi on to the field of play immediately, as the Springboks need as many individuals with momentum as possible, having not played as a team since late 2019.
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Pictures courtesy of the Sharks Rugby Facbebook page:
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