Sharks sent to water to learn how to surf!

NO, NOT THOSE KIND OF SHARK!

THESE KINDS OF SHARK, SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY SHARKS!

The battle-weary Sharks took to the surf on Monday to ease their aching bones in a fun morning session, and cancelled their scheduled evening practice so that they could further recuperate from the taxing victory over the Blues.

Fitness trainer Mark Steele took his charges to the beach to learn how to surf, and the Sharks will regroup on Tuesday to begin training in earnest for Saturday's match against the Lions.

While there are a number of players nursing injuries, the good news is that key players in A J Venter and Ruan Pienaar have recovered from the injuries that kept them out of last week's match.

Even better news is that Tonga rugby World Cup star Epi Taione will join the Sharks next week.

Taione, one of five finalists for the World Cup Player of the Tournament award, will be playing his last match for his Japanese club, Sanyo Wild Knights, in their season-ending cup final on Saturday.

The agreement with Taione was that he would join the Sharks as soon as his club was knocked out of the competition, and the prolonged success of the Wild Knights was good news for them but bad news for the Sharks.

Coach Dick Muir said that the match against the Lions was "absolutely crucial" for the Sharks.

"They are extremely dangerous, more so because they have not won as much as they would have liked," Muir said.

"This is a very important week for us. We are starting slowly out of necessity because of the heavy contact the players took in the match at the weekend, but, come Saturday, we will be fully prepared and focused on beating the Lions."

The Sharks have a bye next week and then host the Reds before heading Down Under on their five-match overseas tour.