This is getting rather predictable, isn’t it? Just one rotational change up front and the rest of the team is exactly the same!
John Smit will start at tighthead this week for the Sharks, with Jannie du Plessis joining Deon Carstens on the bench. It will be Smit’s first start for the Sharks in the number 3 jersey this year, so he’ll look to capitalise on the fact that he’s up against a greenhorn in 20-year-old Reds débutante Ben Daley.
The only other change to the match 22 sees a fit-again Al van den Berg back in the number 18 jersey. Big Al replaces Alistair Hargreaves, who has had to fly home after injuring his ankle against the Blues. The Sharks will be pleased to have their main try-poacher back in the mix – so hopefully we won’t see JP Pietersen at lock again this season.
The loose forwards and backline are exactly the same as well – Keegan Daniel will get a chance to build on a frankly superb outing against the Blues as he continues to prove that he is a valid starting option at this level of the game. The backline is unchanged for a record fifth week – my only hope is that we’ll be in a comfortable enough position on the hour mark that some of the youngsters on the bench could actually get some gametime.
The Sharks
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. John Smit 2. Bismarck du Plessis 1. Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: 16. Deon Carstens 17. Jannie du Plessis 18. Albert van den Berg 19. Skholiwe Ndlovu 20. Ross Cronje 21. Riaan Swanepoel 22. Luzuko Vulindlu
Agreed, the youngsters need to get some game time under their belts. Heaven help us if we do run into injuries and the bench warmers have had no game time at all!
have we seen jp at lock
i’m getting smarter with my FL and will only shuffle my team when all the sides are announced
@rekinek (Comment 2) : last few minutes against the Blues… Hargs went off injured and there were no forwards left on the bench.
Zuks came on at wing and JP went into the second row. By that stage, we already had uncontested scrums anyway
Go SHARKS!!!
@robdylan (Comment 4) : oops – haven’t noticed.
thanx
@wpw (Comment 5) : Is jy getik
@robdylan (Comment 4) : @rekinek (Comment 6) : JP played lock @ school level, so it was not unfimliar to him…
@Charlie (Comment 8) : charlie – have you nicked the only adi pick they have on sarugby.com
Go Sharks!
No complaints or concerns…just hoping we’ll dominate from the start and allow the bench to have more time on the field.
Say it with me Charlie…
“BLACK AND WHITE…
@Baldrick (Comment 1) : we have been saying that all week. where have you been? get with it.
look this game is an easy one for the sharks if they follow to rules. slow the game down so the reds can’t tire our defence. and chase high balls as the reds backs are prone to knock on under pressure.
sorry 2 rules.
Sharks have lost 4 out of 5 against the Reds in Aus.
Although in their last outing to Brisbane the Sharks scored 9 tries and 59 points.
@try time (Comment 12) : I see a forwards game on the cards… ala Waal Baartman
@Charlie (Comment 8) :
Well that explains his hands for a wing…
@try time (Comment 12) : Wiff KKK feeding off the rucks and mauls.
@blackshark (Comment 10) : NOTHING ELSE MATTERS !!!
Smittie up against an untested 20 year old.
Scrums are not going to be pretty!
Am watching the replay on SS1 now.
Can’t wait for the bulls game, that is up next.
Afternoon losers…
OK so who all are in the UK? I am flying over next Thursday for a week if anyone wants to meet up.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 21) : is this how you spent your “Saturdays”
i should do the same maybe then won’t miss jp at lock
@KSA Shark © (Comment 21) : Luke out for Puke getting tackled into touch by the yound van den Heever. It’s a great moment…
@robdylan (Comment 4) :
Didn’t know that!!!!!!!!!
Will look out for it now.
@klempie (Comment 24) :
I AM looking forward to that. Some guy sent me pics of LUKE getting the bird from the Loftus crowd.
@klempie (Comment 24) : but then the youngster ends up with shirt over his head – kinda spoils the moment
Marius tunes Muller and gives him a warning about PKs. Muller tunes “25minutes without ONE hey”
@KSA Shark © (Comment 21) : keep an out on how stefan plays. and let me know if i am overly harsh on his attacking skills.
@rahul (Comment 16) : damn right. we are superior there so we must use it.
the sharks must make all free kicks scrums. we need to tire their forwards out.
@rekinek (Comment 27) : Nah. I found that just added to the amusement. We must not forget he is a Bull no matter how young.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 28) : yeah that was listedas one of the quotes of the week.
@try time (Comment 29) :
As you say that Stefan chases a kick from Daniel after Roco knocked at our tryline.
I think Stefan did well.
Love the commentators “Might as well replace the TJ’s with cardboard cut outs”
@klempie (Comment 32) : so should we call it “2 birds with one shot”
@rekinek (Comment 35) : “birds” being the operative word.
Stefan just cocked up a try IMO with 2min to go.
Should have gone inside or dived earlier rather than get tackled into touch.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 34) : ja remember that, it was funny. my concern is more with what stefan does with ball he gets in the oppositions half. there are two stefans the own half stefan that is good and the opposition half stefan that is very poor.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 37) : see what i am saying he does that a lot. he kicks instead of passing. he passes to late. he doesn’t pass. it happens far to often for someone of his experience.
You buggers better win – My Lions tickets are on the line. I will never forgive you.
@try time (Comment 39) : Maybe he is just crap
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 41) :
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 41) : nah average. his defensive work is excellent, maybe he should be told that as soon as he gets attacking ball he must pass it to someone with a brain.
22 man 85 min rugby is going to be Plummo’s undoing (hopefully not)… the guy hasn’t a clue on man management for a S14 season!
Just keep playing Bismark (our highest tackler) into the ground…
And Rory…
Blind Freddy could see a number of our players were out on their feet… leading to silly points last week…
@KSA Shark © (Comment 37) :
Out on his feet… with no subs thanks to Plummo… like a few other Sharks…
@McLovin (Comment 14) :
This is the best Reds side in some time… don’t let the fact they are mostly kids fool you…
Next year they will be in the top half…
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 45) : Easy Bryce, don’t forget that Bismark didn’t play much in the first two games at all. He has basically only played two games of rugby so far this season, he is not due a rest. Rory on the other hand has played a lot of rugby so far this season, but so has the entire backline.
stefan is gonna be MOTM this weekend, and he is gonna score 2 tries and ruan, rory, kanko, bismarck and keegan the rest.
@jarsonx (Comment 51) : Try Time will be glad to hear that
@klempie (Comment 22) : Klempie…where are you going to be based?
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 49) : Agree with you there Bryce.
It’s a game we SHOULD win comfortably…but if there is any sign of overconfidence or arrogance, we will come short.
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 46) : rory didn’t play much CC so he should fine – at least for a while. I would be more about guys like Adi, JP, Ruan, Frans who also played at teh EYT.
@klempie (Comment 22) : yeah – where? London?
Hi Rob
Whats your take on the weekends games?
the backline is looking better with each game as they get to know each other. Continuity is vital… please, let’s not make any changes now
@Villie (Comment 53) : @robdylan (Comment 56) :
Hey dudes. I am in London over the weekend so maybe we can find a pub showing the game on Sat? Moving up to Northampton on Sunday.
@klempie (Comment 59) : Maybe discuss some South African politics…
@Ice (you can leave your hat on!) (Comment 57) : the Sharks will win and the Bulls won’t
Other than that, I don’t care
@klempie (Comment 60) : sure – we can do that face to face
@robdylan (Comment 61) :
@robdylan (Comment 62) :
@robdylan (Comment 62) :
@robdylan (Comment 62) : So you keen? Game kicks off at 8.30. You’re probs the best person to pick out a place.
Cheers peeps – se you all tomorrow at the game!
@Ice (you can leave your hat on!) (Comment 57) : are you fishing for clues on LMS
@rekinek (Comment 67) :
Geez!! its seems if I am not being accused of fishing for compliments, I am being accused of fishing for clues??
I should change my day job and become a fisherman!! Maybe catch a few Sharks in the process??
@Ice (you can leave your hat on!) (Comment 68) : wouldn’t it be just what they call “rewarding”
@rekinek (Comment 69) :
Youbetcha!!