The Sharks have released their side to travel to Bloemfontein and take on the Cheetahs this weekend.
There is a welcome return from injury to prop Deon Carstens, but still no sign of Jean Deysel, BJ Botha, Brad Barritt or Rory Kockott.
Carstens joins Skipper Badenhorst and Jannie du Plessis in an all-international front row that is sure to give the Bloem boys a hard time in the scrums. Johann Muller and Steven Sykes, back at lock, are a good combination in the second row and all-in-all, the tight five looks like a solid unit. Robbie Harris, Craig Burden and Albert van den Berg are all on the bench. Johann Muller will earn his fiftieth Currie Cup cap.
In the loose forwards, though, it’s a bit of a dog’s breakfast, with Nikolai Blignaut starting in the number 7 jersey. Nic Strauss has dropped out entirely, we can only assume through injury. Jacques Botes and Keegan Daniel will have their work cut out for them handling the dynamic Free State duo of Brüssow and Stoltz, while the Sharks, in Skholiwe Ndlovu, have an impact replacement who will look to counter any effect that Kabamba Floors has later on.
Frederic Michalak will start at flyhalf with Scott Mathie as his partner, while Andries Strauss and Waylon Murray are the centres. Young Chris Jordaan gets another start on the right wing, but there’s been a surprise recall for Henno Mentz on the left. After the great showing by Wes Bodmer in his début last week, I’m frankly astounded that the pedestrian Mentz has found his way back into the side, particularly given the talk that he failed to shine even at club level last weekend. Stefan Terblanche completes the backline, while Charl Macleod, Riaan Swanepoel and Monty Dumond are on the bench.
It’s going to be a long afternoon in Bloemfontein, Sharks fans.
15. Stefan Terblanche
14. Chris Jordaan
13. Waylon Murray
12. Andries Strauss
11. Henno Mentz
10. Frederic Michalak
9. Scott Mathie
8. Keegan Daniel
7. Nikolai Blignaut
6. Jacques Botes
5. Johann Muller ( Capt )
4. Steven Sykes
3. Jannie du Plessis
2. Skipper Badenhorst
1. Deon Carstens
Replacements
16. Craig Burden
17. Robbie Harris
18. Albert van den Berg
19. Skholiwe Ndlovu
20. Charl McLeod
21. Riaan Swanepoel
22. Monty Dumond
Nic is out ? That’s not good…hopefully Blignaut will work hard and work smart. Otherwise if the score looks decent at half time…we’ll still have a chance.
Go Sharks!
@blackshark (Comment 1) : It’s really just 7 and 11 that I’m worried about. The rest is not as bad as it could be.
guys – is it just me? i`m not happy with how the sharks are performing. on paper (even with the injuries etc) we should be playing alot better. i cant single out one brilliant game this year where everything we did was good (maybe the last 10 minutes of the Bulls super 14 game) i`m worried… am i overreacting?? – sounds like my wife…
It could be worse, at least there is some grut up front, Mentz may have been given one last opportunity to prove himself, it may depend on how hungry he is to cement his place.
The loose trio looks a bit wobbly , Blignaught is a small lock that has a bit of pace rather than a big flank.
Sharks may find this is going to require a herculean effort.
Defensively it looks okay,but no recognized place kicker is an obvious concern.
@VanWilder (Comment 3) : Chiefs game? But I agree with you
didnt freddy place kick for “Le Blue” once apon a time??
@VanWilder (Comment 6) : yeah – he’s ok… not consistent, is the problem. But then again, neither is Monty. I think we should let Strauss kick rather.
I must say the omission of Bodmer surprises me a great deal, and if they were wanting for Mentz to prove himself why not give him the chance against the Mighty elephants! And why do they keep on starting with Mathie. Charl is a wily little character reminds me of Rory? Deysel still has one week left before even being able to be considered, maybe next match Vs Lions off the bench.
“It’s going to be a long afternoon in Bloemfontein, Sharks fans.” – dont want to be negative, but i agree…
@VanWilder (Comment 9) : Maybe its a blessing in disguise, whenever the Sharks are written off they tend to come up with a magnificent win, remember the Blues game and the Chiefs game? I am just trying to keep positive
@robdylan (Comment 7) : I suppose if the Sharks can manage to score 4 or more tries all under the posts any one may be able to convert them
@Sharksmad (Comment 8) : Bodmer looked like a good prospect, he did however seem to be heavily strapped.. perhaps he is carrying an injury and the brainstrust ( obviously excluding RS) do not want to expose him to the bigger sides just yet. Still hope that Henno can get some of his form back, it has been a while and his confidence must be pretty low.
Deysel,what little I have seen of him, impressed me as a probable great for the future. Hope he can beat the injury train.
@Ragged (Comment 11) : God loves an optimist
@Ragged (Comment 12) : I hope you are right, I really enjoyed Bodmer’s game last week! Extremely happy that Deon and Freddie are back though its not all doom and gloom.
I think we need to give credit where it’s due… the forwards were much better last week; the tight five looked strong, the lineouts were good. Johann played well – hell, even Skipper had his best game in ages. I am worried that Blignaut isn’t quick enough at 7, but it’s not like Strauss is lightning-fast either.
@Ragged (Comment 11) : If only that was the case but after Montys effort last weekend we know there is no simple conversion for us till Rocket returns.
Just a shot in the Dark, maybe Rob can help, what about Chris Jordaan can he kick?
@blackshark (Comment 17) : I forgot about that one… hell yes and it was not like he had a lot to do on the wing after Freddy had come on.I was not overly impressed with young Monty , same sort of player he was in the past, nothing outstanding, more is the pity that youngsters like Chris Mickelwood have taken the Euro route.
Ok…I am glad I had not picked my SB picks….I was going to pick Sharks…but with this team I think I am going to have to go with Cheetahs…
The Sharks tight 5 are going to have to lift their game and put in extra to make up for the extra bulk and physicality in the Cheetahs loose trio…
Backs don’t look too bad…Freddie might just get the backline off to score a few tries…
But upfront it is going to be very tough…
Even if you bring on the bench…the replacements are even lighter than the players starting…
…..further to 20….
And barring Botes…the Sharks forwards wont even outpace the Cheetahs…
At least for the Sharks they have 14 points in top spot…and if they manage to squeeze a bonus point out of the game they can end with 15 points and still stay ahead of WP and the Cheetahs…
@Sharksmad (Comment 18) : I have no idea…
@blackshark (Comment 17) :
But is Freddie not a good goal kicker!??!
another keo gem:
“Andries Strauss starts in midfield but his brother Nic, misses out on selection after limping off last week and is replaced by Nikolai Blignaut.”
@Hmmm (Comment 24) : on a good day…
@robdylan (Comment 25) :
LoL
And Nic is the only Strauss that is not related!??!
@robdylan (Comment 26) :
Oh…I thought he kicked for Frans often in tests!??!
@robdylan (Comment 2) :
Your getting soft – does this now mean that Skipper is a face book buddy.
@Salmonoid (Comment 29) : no – maybe you’re right. Still, he did ok against the Valke and he scrums well
@Hmmm (Comment 28) :
Hmmm, it’s spelt “FRANCE”.
Michalak can place kick, but like Rob said he can be quite inconsistent -borderline awful. That is why the likes of Elissalde & Yachvili kick ahead of him, the former even at club level.
Mind you, no-one could have butchered a kick splat bang in front of the posts like the poor man’s Monty did last Friday….
He has a very awkward kicking style too – let me guess, Bashford is also the place-kicking coach
?
As for Mentz’s recall, I assume it is for injury, cause Mentz had a shocker in the club game last weekend. Out-paced consistently & a few missed tackles (that he actually attempted)… I’m afraid that he’s never been quite the same player again after those fractures..
@Salmonoid (Comment 29) : you a friend of MM’s?
@Le Requinny (Comment 31) : few are… Andre Snyman, anyone?
Hey – I’m surprised Dolfie hasn’t got him back yet…
@robdylan (Comment 33) :
Shuddup, you may give the Iron-Gloved one an idea…. re-incarnating the Andre Snyman / Danie van Schalkwyk centre combo…
SHUDDER!!!!
@Le Requinny (Comment 34) : and remember, it was Dolfie who picked Jorrie Muller for the Boks…
@robdylan (Comment 25) : ECR also announced Nic Strauss as Andries’ brother, are they not? They look alike except one is huge and the other one half his size
Yahoo – The weekend is here with 2 big games to look forward to.
See on Superbru – Trinations, the Boks are right up there.
Amaizing what 1 or 2 weeks can do ? So close – and the momentum could have been with the AB’s, and the SB picks in favour of OZ.
Sharks & Bokke.
@robdylan (Comment 30) :
He has actually been quite good in the CC so far.
@robdylan (Comment 32) :
MM ? – Morne Morkel or MM from SR. On both accounts no.
@Le Requinny (Comment 31) :
Not in Afrikaans it is not…
Yeh but I still would have played Riaan ahead of Mentz…
@VanWilder (Comment 3) :
You guys destroyed the Chiefs and had a very good second half against the Cheetahs in the S14….
But other than that you are very correct….
@Hmmm (Comment 40) : what’s wrong with Bodmer?
@robdylan (Comment 42) :
I thought he is injured?
I was talking about this game!
If he is not injured I cannot understand the selection!??!
@robdylan (Comment 42) : Nothing so far. I hope he’s injured (Well I don’t really
– but I hope that’s the reason Henno is in the team)
@Hmmm (Comment 43) : And Henno will play magnificently and score 3 brilliant tries just to SHUT US UP!!! (Please!)
@blackshark (Comment 44) : I chatted to Wes… apparently Plum opted to go with Henno because he has more experience…
more experience of dropping the ball and missing tackles, if you ask me! Anyway, I’m not the coach… grumble
@robdylan (Comment 46) : Experience ? Henno better have a good game or…
@blackshark (Comment 47) : well, he IS in my Fantasy League squad…
@robdylan (Comment 48) :
God must REALLY love you…
@blackshark (Comment 49) : oh, He does
@blackshark (Comment 45) :
He is in my FL team…so I wont mind…
@robdylan (Comment 46) :
Well I donno about that?