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Sharks XV coach Sean Everitt has resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes to his winning starting team, despite having a host of returning Sharks players at his disposal this week.
An injury-enforced change sees “pollyfilla” frontrower Frik Venter replace Wiehahn Herbst at tighthead prop this week. Venter packed down on the loosehead side against WP, but regular number 1, Melusi Mthethwa has recovered from a bout of flu and will take his place alongside hooker Craig Burden. The rest of the pack is unchanged from last week, although Skipper Badenhorst, Justin Downey and Joe Snyman have been named on the bench at the expense of Sphe Mabaya, Nqubeko Zulu and Luvo Lusaseni respectively. All three players were in Australasia with the Sharks last week. The fourth forward replacement spot goes to young tighthead Pat Cilliers, finally fit again after yet another knee injury. Sabs Nhlapo makes way for Cilliers in the squad.
Amongst the backs, Charl McLeod’s elevation to the Sharks bench means a start for Neil de Bruyn, who will partner Len Olivier at flyhalf. Regular skipper Andries Strauss is back from injury and will start in the number 12 shirt, meaning a return to the bench for Andy Borgen. Ross Cronjé is named as the reserve scrumhalf, while his twin brother Guy is not so lucky – he is out of the 22 altogether this week.
The Sharks XV play Border in East London on Friday night.
Sharks XV:
15. Chris Jordaan
14. Carl Bezuidenhout
13. Ian Adendorff
12. Andries Strauss (capt)
11. Lwazi Mvovo
10. Len Olivier
9. Neil de Bruyn
8. Warren Whiteley
7. Michael Rhodes
6. Nick Claasen
5. Nolan Clarke
4. Jandre Marais
3. Frik Venter
2. Craig Burden
1. Barra Mthethwa
Replacements
16. Skipper Badenhorst
17. Pat Cilliers
18. Johan Snyman
19. Justin Downey
20. Ross Cronje
21. Andrew Borgen
22. Danie Dames
15 min
Border 0 – 0 Sharks XV
Bulldogs try!
Scored by none other than Solly Solly Tyibilika.
Solly Tyibilika TRY!!!!!!!!
Border get lucky to only give away a scrum at a tackle rather than getting a FK against them for going to ground.
At the Scrum The Sharks are surprised as they push Border off the ball and the scrum half is nowhere to gather the ball. Border scrumhalf picks it up and a second or 5 later solly scores.
23min
Bulldogs 5 – 0 Sharks XV
Go Bulldogs!
I FOUND YOU
It seems it is not only the Sharks, but also the Sharks XV, that win all their games and still look unimpressive
I cannot see why this side is undefeated from THIS performance. (maybe the 2nd half will be different)
and Owen Nkumane beats me to it “A bit of a pull there not much scrumming” as the Bullsdogs wheel a scrum and win the put in. Referee Philip Bosch oblivious to the fact.
Chris Jordaan Sells a Dummy and SCORES!!!!!!!!!!!! almost under the poles.
Conversion Over
Bulldogs 5 – 7 Sharks XV
36min
TMO pending for Bulldogs possible try
Cupido looks takes 20 looks at what is CERTAINLY NOT a try and eventually decides. “22m Drop out”
Sharks looking VERY good now.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 13) :
As i say that Strauss passes a forward pass that would even be forward in Grid iron
Olivier misses a PK.
HALF TIME
Bulldogs 5 – 7 Sharks XV
Chris Jordaan TRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After a Kick pass across field from LOCK Jandre Marais.
Well weighted kick by the big guy
ross Cronje is on and i am NOT impressed with his service thusfar.
His pases are wobbly not bullet like at ALL. But it is to be expected after not having played in so long.
Conversion missed
Bulldogs 0 – 0 Sharks XV
50min
Dude! i meant to ask what the deal with this Cronje kid is?Ive seen better passing from the ball boys!Horrible stuff from any player nevermind a 9.
@Claytie (Comment 19) :
I hope it is coz he has been on the bench for the last 4/5 weeks.
Bulldogs got 3 points while i was watching cricket.
Bulldogs 8 – 12 Sharks XV
54min
Bezuidenhout TRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sharks XV seem to have a player whose balls haven’t dropped yet.
He sounds like a hysterical girl calling for the ball. 
Conversion missed by Cronje.
Bulldogs 8 – 17 Sharks XV
56min
Cronje is all over. it was HIM screaming like that
Lwazi Mvovo TRY!!!!!!!!!!! BP
THIS looks more like an unbeaten side.
Carl and Lwazi – beauties!
I told Lwazi he needed to score a few
Conversion Over by Cronje
Bullsdogs 8 – 24 Sharks XV
58min
Johan Snyman on for SXV
Len’s not kicking so hot….
@robdylan (Comment 27) :
And as you say that he kicks an awesome pass across to Mvovo.
I want a full match report from you guys lucky enough to be watchig this
Downey penalised for breaking to early at the scrum to grab a loose ball.
S14 squad guys are a ittle rusty and over eager at stages. I still question having them in the S14 group and NOT using them.
@robdylan (Comment 29) :
Aren’t you watching. I thought you had it on.
Own LOs Lost
Sharks 4
Bulldogs 2
Cronje, Good clean ball at the ruck and goes himself rather than feed the line.
Whiteley TRY!!!!!!!!!!
Conversion Over
Bulldogs 8 – 31 Sharks XV
67min
Borgen on for Olivier
Adendorf TRY!!!!!!!!!!!
Cronje goes 3 from 4 as he succeeds with the conversion
Bulldogs 8 – 38 Sharks XV
71min
Uncontested scrums for some reason.
Frik Venter & Barra Mthethwa off injured.
Sharks down to 14 men as Mthetwa goes off injured and the bench has been cleared already.
FULL TIME
Bulldogs 8 – 38 Sharks XV
the kick was from the other lock nolan clark not marais- i think superior conditioning was the factor in the 2nd half- too big to fast too strong
@mc (Comment 42) :
Thanks mc.
Tell the lad he did a great Job, BTW.