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The injuries to Alistair Hargreaves and Albert van den Berg in recent weeks have shined a huge spotlight on the one area of real weakness in the current Sharks squad: the second row.
Despite some initial fears, the Sharks have done very well with the four locks at their disposal this year, with Muller the captain and anchor in the number 5 jersey. Hargreaves, van den Berg and Steven Sykes have all taken turns in both the number 4 and number 18 jersey, with the latter really starting to find good form of late. Muller and Sykes are a pretty good combination and are both hard grafters in the tight. Sykes hasn’t shown much prowess in the lineout to date, but with Muller, Ryan Kankowski and (surprisingly) Keegan Daniel coming to the fore as lineout exponents of note, this hasn’t been a problem.
With neither Hargreaves, nor van den Berg available to fill the lock replacement spot, the Sharks are in a bit of a pickle and may well have no option but to pick the 1.94m Nikolai Blignaut as lock cover. Big Nik has never really looked the part at Currie Cup level, though and is in all honesty a little too small to be really at home in the second row.
Other options are a little thin on the ground, particularly considering that Joe Snyman is currently in New Zealand, earning rave reviews with Hawke’s Bay. At 2m and 114kg, Snyman seems just the sort of player the Sharks need yet has bafflingly never managed to crack the senior squad, despite being part of the system for 3 years. Snyman has seemingly been sent to New Zealand to get some much-needed senior rugby experience and will be back in Durban in time for Super 14. If he doesn’t crack the squad, though, he may well be lost to the Sharks, according to what I’ve been told. It’s a real pity he’s not around at the moment, because one feels he may just miss his big chance.
Pampoen van Jaarsveldt and Nolan Clarke are presumably still floating around the KZN Club scene and could presumably be called in to sit on the bench, but my money would be on Mike Rhodes, if indeed a youngster is to be handed a spot in the squad. Rhodes is bigger than either of the guys currently playing lock for the under 21s and since he is a regular loose forward these days, has better pace and hands.
I guess the safe money would be on Blignaut, but if I were making the call, Rhodes is the man I’d entrust with the vacant spot.
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uhm rob i remember telling you a few times this is where i believe out big weakness is
lol remember telling pluym that and he said nope no probs there
Big George Earl ( his father played for Natal in the early 70’s)is currently the captain of the WP u21 side he is currently studying at Stellenbosh.This likeable ex Westville old boy and Natal Craven week lock may well want to return to his “home” and his family.Sharks will be well advised to keep tabs on him.
@Ragged (Comment 2) :
He is shorther than all our current locks but he is a Dbn boy so bring him home I say.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 3) : how big is he?
rob isnt deysel like 6ft7 ??
@robdylan (Comment 4) : He was made when meat was cheap! I am 194 cm and weigh 120kg and even as a 17 year old he made me feel small, I would say he is close to 2 m and must be at least 115 kg ( he does not have the beer belly that I have cultivated)
@sharks_lover (Comment 5) : nah – Deysel is 1.9m… far too short for lock.
@robdylan (Comment 4) :
Full Name George
Surname Earle
Height 196cm
Weight 108kg
Birth Date 9 January 1987
Birth City Durban
Marital Status Single
Favourite Film Men of Honour
Favourite Music David Grey
Favourite Food Pasta
Primary School Gelofte
Secondary School Westville Boys High
Tertiary Education UNISA
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) :
don’t know how accurate the SARU stats are though
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) : Mike Rhodes is 1.97m and 115kg. BIG piece of meat
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) : I think he has grown since then, and he is definetly at Maties. As I say i am 1.94 myself and I certainly had to look up to him and that was when he was in matric. I knew him and as father well. George played first team for Westville for 2 years, as my son was in the same team as George I never missed a game. George had all the attributes of good lock even as a 16 year old, I have seen him playing in the WP u21 games and he ceratinly is not small, just seems to lack a bit in pace, but certainly not commitment. Rudolph will do well to put him on his Xmas shopping list!
@Ragged (Comment 11) : that reminds me… need to think of my Christmas present for Rudi…
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) :
That big at 20???
Westvillle boy – at least we know he has class then.
@Big Fish (Norman Jordaan is a LEGEND) (Comment 13) : Class “A”?
@robdylan (Comment 14) :
@Big Fish (Norman Jordaan is a LEGEND) (Comment 15) : tee hee.
So you gonna go back to being Big Fish anytime soon?
@robdylan (Comment 16) :
Forgot about that.
I will make it so later today.
@Big Fish (Norman Jordaan is a LEGEND) (Comment 17) :
Why later?? Because you are bores and in a meeting and playing with your cellphone??
@Big Fish (Norman Jordaan is a LEGEND) (Comment 17) :
You mean the recent comments list will look normal again?
@Big Fish (Norman Jordaan is a LEGEND) (Comment 17) : decided to change mine for a bit as well
BTW, it was confirmed today that Big Nik is on standby
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 21) :
Blignaut?
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 22) : yup