John Plumtree has named his side to take on the Blues in Auckland on Saturday.
As expected Keegan Daniel is named in the number 7 jersey and will have a huge pair of boots to fill as he aims to counter the loss of Jean Deysel to a knee injury. Daniel, who turns 24 today, will look to repeat his antics against the same team last year, when he scored two tries within the opening half hour of the game.
In a rotational change to the front row, Beast Mtawarira starts at loosehead prop this week, with Deon Carstens joining Bok skipper John Smit on the bench. Skholiwe “Jumbo” Ndlovu comes into the 22 as loose forward cover.
The backline is completely unchanged for the fourth week in a row. Now that’s not something you would have seen in the Dick Muir era!
Sharks 22
15. Stefan Terblanche
14. Odwa Ndungane
13. Adrian Jacobs
12. Francois Steyn
11. JP Pietersen
10. Ruan Pienaar
9. Rory Kockott
8. Ryan Kankowski
7. Keegan Daniel
6. Jacques Botes
5. Johann Muller (Captain)
4. Steven Sykes
3. Jannie du Plessis
2. Bismarck du Plessis
1. Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements:
16. John Smit
17. Deon Carstens
18. Alistair Hargreaves
19. Skholiwe Ndlovu
20. Ross Cronje
21. Riaan Swanepoel
22. Luzuko Vulindlu
“Sharks opt for ultra-light back row ”
Who are the lightweights?
Go BEEEEEAAAAASSSSTTTTTT!!!!
@rahul (Comment 1) :
I think Rob is referring to Keegan Daniel…
No downey,hmmm,dont feel to save with the bench,just hope there is no injuries!
@wpw (Comment 3) : I meant the fact that in Botes, Daniel and Jumbo, we have 3 sub-100kg loose forwards in the 22. Seems unbalanced
Correct me if I am wrong (I probably am) but didn’t Botes, Daniels and Kanko play in most of the 07 campaign? I know we had AJ there but we definitely didn’t have Deysel yet…
I think it’s the weakest Sharks Bench I have seen in awhile. Other than Smit and Carstens, how many Super 14 games have the other 5 played?
@deanoelsch (Comment 6) : between them they have about 5 caps.
Hargs 3
Cronje 1
Zuks 1
@robdylan (Comment 7) : Swannie and Skollie both uncapped at S14 level
@robdylan (Comment 8) : Awesome depth.
@robdylan (Comment 5) :
Skollie is the lighter than all 22 Blues including the half-backs… in fact Keegan is not far behind…
I am not too concerned about depth.
If it wasn’t for Dickie blooding untried youngsters like JPP, Waylon, Francois, Daniel, Beast and Kanko 3 years ago, we wouldnt have achieved what we have to date.
If you are good enough, you are old/ experienced enough.
@deanoelsch (Comment 6) : we used the Botes-Daniel-Kanko combo to great effect against the Blues and Bulls last year. The combo started to lose impact the further we got into the season, though, particularly as teams started to get a grip on the new laws. Hang on – let me find an article I wrote last year
@Big Fish (Comment 11) : I have no doubt that every single guy in that 22 is good enough to play Super 14 rugby
anybody knows when waylon is back
Now that’s not something you would have seen in the Dick Muir era!
There is something else we saw in the Muir era which we have not seen ever in the history of the Super competition.
An SA team ending top of the log and getting a home final!
Bench looks thin – again…
Go look at this: http://www.sharksworld.co.za/2008/02/29/pace-is-the-new-black/
Not all of it turned out to be 100% accurate, in hindsight
@rekinek (Comment 14) : I would imagine next week
@Morné (Comment 15) : Plum doesn’t believe in a bench
@Morné (Comment 15) : true – but there is this saying “you are as good as your last game” and I think that’s what’s happening to Dick. not saying right or wrong – just in this case – a reality.
on the bench – only in the backs department but they will probably not get to play at all
wonder how long plum can play with the same set of backs. I would imagine that at round 5 or 6 you must start giving them a break
@Morné (Comment 15) :
Lets not play hard and fast with the facts Morne.
As I recall, you were one of those who said that the Sharks should pretty much aim for AT LEAST a top of the log finish bearing in mind that we had a very favourable draw.
The implication was that the draw contributed to the home final – lets not forget that. We have already seen something under Plumtree that we didnt under Dickie – a CC Medal.
And believe me, the bench looked even thinner in 2006/7 – if we dont blood some youngsters now, we will fall behind.
Of the 3, Swanepoel is probably the least proven – with 2 away wins already, I reckon we can afford to blood them now.
@Big Fish (Comment 20) :
Cape Town, Bloem, Pretoria, Joburg… should not be seen as away games… well definitely not two of them…
As for ‘blooding’ the youngsters… it’s a case of there is no depth to speak of…
@Big Fish (Comment 20) : I had a quick chat with Swannie this morning. Man, but is he ever itching to get onto the field.
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 21) : still it is easier for Bulls to win in PT than for any other team or Stormers in CT (or at least should
even valke got to win at home sometimes
@Big Fish (Comment 20) :
Oh so if it wasn’t for the things (blooding youngsters) in the ‘Dick’ era Plumtree would have been screwed now?
And do you now finally concede you did not deserve to win the Super 14 since you are so proud of the CC medal?
And if you recall me saying the Sharks should aim for top of the table finish in 2007 you are mistaken, given their recent history prior to 2006/7 I would never have punted them for honours like that.
@Morné (Comment 25) : Morne, you’re also the guy wot thinks Bismarck is an average hooker, so we take what you say with a more than liberal sprinkling of salt.
Lol… it was so hot in Brisbane… that some players dropped 7kgs in the 80mins (they just said on The Rugby Club)… and the dof Cheetah’s medical staff thought Juan was concussed… it was severe heat stroke having to spend the night on a drip according to the Aus Doctors…
@Baldrick (Comment 26) :
If you cannot differentiate my sarcastic comments from my opinions then I believe you will fail to understand most of what I say.
Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.
I unfortunately am like a fish in a barrel, easy to bait. Dumb people like me are easily fooled when people call a player like Bismarck “average” – because we believe the person saying that is a fool himself.
That Blackadder chap could be pretty sarcastic, and witty too.
@Morné (Comment 24) :
On the wrong track here mate – I am not saying that Dickie was a poor coach – he did great things for the Sharks, and was intergral to us getting here from the gutter of 2005.
However, he also made some mistakes, and in my opinon, we needed a head coach like Plumtree to take the individual talent and make a team capable of winning on more than just talent alone.
Furthermore, we didnt win the 2007 S14 – I think we were unlucky, but “deserve” implies divine right or something, and that is not part of my world view.
My apologies if my memory is false – however I think few would argue that we had a great draw that year; the point still stands.
@Baldrick (Comment 29) :
Like anything in life an rugby, one has to view things in context, and if you followed the thread where it was said, I believe you will start seeing the context of the conversation as a whole and not just the statement in isolation.
@Big Fish (Comment 31) :
I know you are not, I just think you guys are not giving Dick enough credit for what he has accomplished at the Sharks all because another coach now brought you a CC medal.
Every coach makes mistakes.
@Salmonoid (Comment 30) :
And that is called ‘irony’
@willa (Comment 4) : no problems with the bench. so don’t stress. stress more about waking up in time.
@deanoelsch (Comment 6) : you’re wrong, aj started most the time.
@robdylan (Comment 5) : you stress too much, the new high paced game seems to suit the speedsters more.
@deanoelsch (Comment 6) : http://www.sharksrugby.co.za/default.asp?Id=15365&des=content&cl=yes
@rekinek (Comment 19) : i think a lot of the bench backs will get a start next week.
@Morné (Comment 32) :
I think that you will find that most of us credit Dickie with nurturing the current crop of Sharks Young Lions.
After all, he pretty much picked JPP, Beast, Kanko and Waylon from relative obscurity. Even Brad had been shunned by the SA U19′s when Dickie picked him. The only no-brainer was Frans Steyn – who had been noted as a future Bok for years.
I agree with you that all coaches make mistakes, but i think you might be making a mistake from the other end – being reluctant to acknowledge that even good coaches make mistakes and can be unfinished products – and here I think of Dick, PDV and Rassie.
A few good decisions or seasons doesn’t mean that other limitations are irrelevant.
In my opinion Dick needed Plumtree, and PDV needs another pragmatist – not “ideas-men” like Dick and Gold. Its a similar philosophy to what you will find in business, projects etc – diversity in a team is very necessary, lest one world-view become too dominant.
Also, give Plumtree ctredit – he had to work helluva hard to win that CC, and he won it against full-strength sides, despite significant manpower losses to the Boks through the season.
@Big Fish (Comment 39) :
Quick – give me your opinion on the games this weekend…I need to make pics..
Cheetahs will lose – make that your LMS pick.
Bulls should win.
Lions will lose if they are playing.
Cant recall the rest – back in 10 minutes.
@try time (Comment 34) : No problem waking up in time…my 2 year old never wakes later than 5:30 am
@Ice (you can leave your hat on!) (Comment 40) :
Chiefs – Force to close to call
Cheetah’s will lose
Stormers will lose
Sharks will win ( that’s my hart talking )
Saders should beat the Highlanders
Waratsh’s should beat the Reds
@Big Fish (Comment 41) :
Thanks…for the rest I maar went with eeny meeny miny mo!
@Pokkel (Comment 43) :
Okay – that is how my eeny meeny miny mo worked out!
@Ice (you can leave your hat on!) (Comment 45) : and what’s your call on the Chiefs vs Force game then
@try time (Comment 38) : are we playing cheetahs
Chiefs by 6..
@Ice (you can leave your hat on!) (Comment 48) : Good girl…I got Chiefs by 5
@Big Fish (Comment 41) : fortunately they have a bye
@Pokkel (Comment 49) :
@try time (Comment 35) : I thought so. For a second I had thought AJ had played lock most of the season but that was Muller/Albert at 4/5. I recall AJ having a mare of a season though.
I am going for Chiefs. I think after last week they want to win SOOOOO BADLY! Force don’t seem to power their way to victory but the Chiefs were pretty physical last week.
Here is a great example of Analysis paralysis. Watch them lose by 30
@try time (Comment 37) : Epi Taine – EPIC FAIL
@Pokkel (Comment 42) : tell me about it, my two year old has woken me up the last two days twice b4 5am and it takes an hour to get him to sleep at night. so i feel your pain.
@rekinek (Comment 47) : close, the reds.
@deanoelsch (Comment 52) : @deanoelsch (Comment 54) : aj was poor, but not as bad as epi. that guy wasted a lot of our money.
I have picked the Highlanders!!
@Pokkel (Comment 43) : stormers to win (thats my hate speaking)
@try time (Comment 57) : we at least got a lot of good mileage out of AJ
@robdylan (Comment 58) : same here. crusaders aren’t showing the character of old. highlanders have had some unlucky finishes.
@robdylan (Comment 60) : true, he did well up to 2007. one of the few 2nd hand players we got results from. remember the shockers we bought like snyman, tony brown, spooner, epi.
Oh my hat Robbo… Bank of England cut you guys down to 0.5% ROTFLMAO… bring out the printing presses… you’re better off storing you moolah under the mattress…
actually thinking about old players, remember when john smit first started his career there was a guy who rivalled him. Lukas von biljon. They both looked brilliant, lukas left the sharks and john stayed. well look who is the bok hooker and captain. wonder what ever happened to the guy.
@try time (Comment 62) : NATHAN SPOONER!!!!!
And remember the other useless tosser that came with him, John Welbourne?
@Pokkel (Comment 42) : @try time (Comment 55) :
You men!! Rather be lost than ask for directions….I got help and after 2 nights I put my 20 month old in her bed and leave the room at sleep time (we are in her 2nd week of “training” now and she has pneumonia and is very ill, but she is stciking to Mom’s new sleep rules)…Kids tend to rule and manipulate parents – you need to be in control…if you want help, ask Rob for my e-mail address – I can send you some information (which I bought) but are more than willing to share with you as I know how it feels!! otherwise go to sleepandsettle.com.au
@robdylan (Comment 65) : no he must have been bad if i have wiped him from my memory.
@Ice (you can leave your hat on!) (Comment 66) : i thought drugging babies was illegal.
@Ice (you can leave your hat on!) (Comment 66) : my son has a nasty habit of getting upset and vomiting all over his room. trust me taking an hour out of the evening is better than cleaning the sheets and carpet.
@try time (Comment 55) : The shit thing is that you get used to waking up at that time. Last weekend my baby was with the in-laws for one night (it’s a very rare break) and I still woke up at bloody 5:15
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 63) : yeah… it’s getting forking ridiculous. We’re heading for Zim$ territory here.
@Pokkel (Comment 70) : ha ha, my son slept in til 9h30 after a late night on saturday, and same as you i was up at 5.
@robdylan (Comment 71) : yeah my question is how are the uk and us governments going to pay back the loans they have taken to save their economies? the uk has repelled centuries of invasions from european countries. could the easiest way to conquer the uk be what has been done? buy out their businesses and soon the government. england will soon belong to europe.
@try time (Comment 68) :
I had the terror tantrums of note combined with vomiting and then taking over my bed etc etc….its worth the read and and attempt – believe me!
@Ice (you can leave your hat on!) (Comment 74) : cool i’ll give it a read. anything to bring sanity back.
@try time (Comment 75) :
I have send it to Rob to forward to you…
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 63) :
UK and Japan are really up sh1t street with regard to Monetary Policy impotence.
@try time (Comment 73) :
Take a look at owenership of US assets and you will see the same.
@try time (Comment 75) : it has been forwarded to your hotmail.
@Big Fish (Comment 77) : I am going to start wiping my a$$ with pound notes… more cost effective
@robdylan (Comment 79) :
I am sure you will be fine – you weren’t one of the fools who indulged themselves in credit and bought properties willy-nilly.
I guess you just wanna watch your bank closely.
@robdylan (Comment 79) :
Send them to me, preferably before wiping.
@Salmonoid (Comment 81) : the postage would outweigh the face value
Ill arrange with the SAA flight crew to collect.
@Baldrick (Comment 29) : Only when you are on the recieveing end, Sarcasm is by far the most superior form of humour purely for its subtleties
No can that, chances are good they will be followed, dont want to do that to you. Ill have settle for Zim Dollars.