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The Sharks will welcome the availability of some returning Springboks for their Currie Cup opener this weekend, while youngster Guy Cronje will be at flyhalf in the absence of Ruan Pienaar, Frans Steyn and Juan Martin Hernandez.
Rugby 365 reports that the return of five of the Sharks current Springboks will be a welcome boost to the Sharks, who have a tricky opening fixture in Cape Town. Ryan Kankowski, Deon Carstens, Odwa Ndungane as well as lock pairing Johann Muller and Steven Sykes return from Springbok duty, and should be fresh to take on Province as they all played limited roles in the victorious Lions tour.
John Plumtree has expressed his delight at having the experience of the Springboks to call upon against a Western Province side that will closely resemble a Stormers team, but admits that there are no new developments on Hernandez’s arrival.
The Sharks mentor will be hoping that Hernandez will be able to make his debut in the black and white strip sooner rather than later, as he will be without the services of Springbok backs Frans Steyn and Ruan Pienaar, who remain unavailable alongside John Smit, Tendai Mtawarira, Adi Jacobs, JP Pietersen and Bismarck Du Plessis.
In Hernandez, Pienaar and Steyn, the Sharks have three the most exciting and talented play makers in the world game and their absence leaves a big hole at flyhalf, which is likely to be filled by last year’s Sharks Under-19 flyhalf, Guy Cronje.
It seems likely that Cronje will wear the No.10 jersey on Saturday, after the youngster impressed against the Pumas in last Friday night’s compulsory friendly.
Plumtree certainly thinks that the youngster has what it takes to step up, saying:
“I was very happy with Guy’s performance against the Pumas,
“A lot of things about that position come naturally for him and he understands time and space, he’s going to be excellent in time. It will certainly be a baptism of fire for him in Cape Town, but we’ll put him in and see how he goes.”
The Sharks will also have prop Jannie Du Plessis and centre Riaan Swanepoel available after the pair recovered from niggles which kept the out of the Pumas game, while veteran fullback Stefan Terblanche will return after being rested for the friendly.
However, Waylon Murray (knee), Alistair Hargreaves and Skholiwe Ndlovu (both ankle) will miss out on a trip to Cape Town due to injury.
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How long has Murray been injured now?
@McLovin (Comment 2) : Yeh! It’s been ages since my favourite Sharks centre played.
@klempie (Comment 3) : Surely you joking….Waylon ‘Crabman’ Murray
@McLovin (Comment 2) : since about 1982
Ok- the Hernandez thing is VERY promising…awoooooo!
@Pokkel (Comment 4) : at his best, he was very good. Before he learned the Province sidestep
@robdylan (Comment 7) :
We all know he learned it from the Original Goose stepper!!
Campese anyone??
Go Sharkies!!
So is this article then the confirmation that we have been waiting for on hernandez, or is there an article that i have missed somehwere?
Well ladies and gents , and Rob
Here is the team i think will be chosen
15 Stefan
14 Odwa
13 Strauss
12 Swanepoel
11 Vulindlu
10 G Cronje
09 Rory
08 Ryan
07 Deysel
06 Botes
05 Muller
04 Sykes
03 Jannie
02 Burden
01 Carstens
16 Skipper
17 Cilliers
18 Oom Albert
19 Keegan
20 Downey/jordaan
21 Lambie
22 McCleod
It would’nt surprise me to see someone else like Jordaan at fullback or lambie with Stefan moving to outside center, but i feel they will stick to the old school
@sharks_lover (Comment 11) : If I’m not mistaken, Plum has made Keegan captain of the CC team this year in the absence of JS and the limited availability of Muller. So I think Keegan will/have to start.
I can’t believe you guys still have Skipper on your books.
He is to the Sharks what Gus Theron was to WP.
@JustPlainSHARK (Comment 12) : i think you’re right that Keegan is the captain-elect, but I’m sure Muller will still captain when available
@wpw (Comment 13) : however bad old Skip may be, he’s always been a better hooker than Schalk Brits!
@robdylan (Comment 15) :
Dude, you know I don’t like Schalk but now you really is pushing it!!
@wpw (Comment 16) : Note, I said ‘hooker’, not ‘rugby player’
@robdylan (Comment 17) :
Exactly!!
No way Skipper can play flank, center and hooker and do so in the same game!!
@wpw (Comment 13) : Or he is to the Sharks what Kees Lensing was to the Sharks.
Mornin ya’ll, can someone approve my pic please
note the Bull fans swimming in the back ground he he he!
I see you most people didn’t make full use of the new comments section on SB…
@blackshark (Comment 21) :
How did YOU get there?
@blackshark (Comment 22) : huh?
@robdylan (Comment 23) :
I see most people didn’t make full use of the new comments section on SB…
You know…the one that let’s you justify your picks…
@blackshark (Comment 24) : oh right… what a waste of time, not so?