This is not an April Fool’s joke. Trevor Halstead will be at inside center for the Sharks XV this weekend when they take on Eastern Province!
In what is essentially a pretty meaningless game, Sean Everitt has opted to make wholesale changes to the team, with the aim of testing out some new combinations. Ross Cronjé starts at scrumhalf, with his brother Guy named in the number 10 shirt, thus reuniting the combination that performed so well for the Sharks at under-19 level in 2008. Halstead, back in Durban after playing for Irish club Munster for a few years, has decided to turn his back on early retirement and will partner Andries Strauss in the centres. The latter will operate in the number 13 jersey this week.
With Chris Jordaan earmarked for a call-up to the Sharks squad to replace the injured JP Pietersen, Danie Dames will start at fullback. Lwazi Mvovo and Carl Bezuidenhout are the only backline players picked in the same positions as they were last week.
It’s all change up-front as well. Sphe Mabaya and Sabs Nhlapo start at tight and loosehead prop respectively, with Craig Burden retained at hooker. Joe Snyman and Justin Downey are promoted to the starting XV from the bench, with Nick Claasen and Nqubeko Zulu providing cover in the back and second rows respectively. Missing out entirely this week are Barra Mthethwa (who I believe is injured), Frik Venter, Jandre Marais and Andrew Borgen.
Sharks XV
15. Danie Dames
14. Carl Bezuidenhout
13. Andries Strauss (capt)
12. Trevor Halstead
11. Lwazi Mvovo
10. Guy Cronje
9. Ross Cronje
8. Warren Whiteley
7. Michael Rhodes
6. Justin Downey
5. Nolan Clarke
4. Johan Snyman
3. Sphephelo Mayaba
2. Craig Burden
1. Sabelo Nhlapo
Replacements
16. Skipper Badenhorst
17. Pat Cilliers
18. Nqubeku Zulu
19. Nick Claasen
20. Neil de Bruin
21. Ian Adendorff
22. Len Olivier
I am a little stunned…
Also wondering what the long-term plan is here, though… I mean Adendorff’s been playing really well. Also, Strauss is no quick enough for 13.
Carthorse of note.
This has got to be a joke.
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 2) :
He was, but was a monster on the charge and a demon on defence – one of the few good okes we had under Putt.
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 2) : them’s fightin’ words…
@Big Fish (Comment 3) : it actually isn’t a joke
KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK
That is more unbelievable than me being a Sharks supporter!
Its like saying Faffa Knoetze is going to run out for the Stormers!
I hear Francois Bonthuis is keen to grab the stormers 9 jersey.
you WP okes just never got the Trev thing. I remember how I used to get into fights on Keo for standing up for him
@Morné (Comment 7) :
The man is younger than some of the Stormers Stalwarts.
Full Name Trevor Michael
Surname Halstead
Height 186cm
Weight 105kg
Birth Date 17 June 1976
Birth City Margate
Primary School Margate
Secondary School Kearsney College
Tertiary Education Natal Technicon
@Morné (Comment 7) :
Full Name Francois
Nick Name Faffa
Surname Knoetze
Height 168cm
Weight 77kg
Birth Date 18 January 1963
Ok…this is a big surprise…
Hello All!
Trevor was one of my favourites…a true Natal Boy through & through…scored some great tries..from nothing!
Halstead was a poor mans De Wet Barry… Decent player but not test quality… One of the many reasons why the Sharks took so many years to win the CC again… Too many average players like Trevor
@wpw (Comment 14) : was waiting for you to say exactly that
I knew it too…looks like we have to take that Sharks membership card back.
@blackshark (Comment 16) : i never actually mailed it out. Knew this would happen
Why move Strauss…
And who is in the EP team?
@Morné (Comment 7) :
Or like Wylie Human…
@robdylan (Comment 15) : @blackshark (Comment 16) : @robdylan (Comment 17) :
Ag come on guys!!!
Me = Stirrer deluxe!!!
@wpw (Comment 14) : At 32 (the same age co-incidentally), Dick Muir was playing for WP when he earned his Bok debut. Funny how you had to have played for WP before you got recognised.
@Baldrick (Comment 21) :
I see there’s loads of WP haters on this site.
@wpw (Comment 22) : What did you expect on Sharksworld
@wpw (Comment 22) : Well, there is no home for WeePee supporters like Sharksworld, so when you guys talk cra@p, you can’t cry foul when someone takes you up on it!
Anyway, current log positions (Super 14 AND Vodacom Cup) give us Sharkies bragging rights.
Oh, and a number of victories over the Stormers/WP add to that sense of delight that we take.
Remember, the wheel turns. We were kak a few years ago and the butt of all jokes. Now it’s our turn to enjoy success!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 11) : Didn’t we watch Halstead playing 15 years ago?
@Baldrick (Comment 24) :
Enjoy it while it lasts bru…
@wpw (Comment 26) : I am, I am. Although I don’t expect to be the butt of WP supporters jokes for some time yet!
@Rahul (Comment 25) : must have been schoolboy rugby, then… he was still at Kearsney in 94… would have been in Matric.
F*ck! Trevs back! Probably not going to happen but the last 2 who came back from the Mud Isles surprised all of us…Stefan and Percy?
At 32 he’s hardly a candidate for a wheel chair. The two oldest guys in the S14 are AJ Venter and Monty. We make em good and then WP buy them.
@billy (Comment 29) : tell you what, I’d feel very happy seeing Trev in Sharks 12 while we wait for Ruan to get fixed…
Not that Swannie has done anything to disappoint, though.
@billy (Comment 29) :
Sucks that I won’t be in town for the game for the 2nd week in a row…
…would’ve loved to see this curtain-raiser.
I bet the stadium will be filled with WP scouts checking Trev out.
@robdylan (Comment 31) :
:cough: :cough: …not a chance…
Swannie is doing okay…and he’s probably more in sync with the rest of the backs than ol Trev.
@robdylan (Comment 28) : I’m sure he started playing for Sharks just before I left Durbs. When was his dayboo?
@blackshark (Comment 32) : clever.
Ok, off to the Smoke again. Later guys
@Claytie (Comment 8) :
Good to see the Cronje Twins and Joe get a run.
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 36) : who the hell is Francois Bonthuys?
@robdylan (Comment 38) :
That’s what I wanna know as well…
Francois Bontluis was a WP scrummy on his day. Comes from Bellville if I remember correct.