Well, I guess most of you have picked up on these snippets, but let’s talk about them here anyway.
The first bit of superb news is that Johann Muller has broken his right forearm. He is confirmed as out for at least six weeks, but probably longer. Keegan Daniel is odds-on favourite to take on the mantle of captaincy of the Sharks and goodness knows where we’re going to find another lock to replace Muller.
The other bit of news is that the Sharks are still very much hot on the trail of Juan Michel Pablo Rodriguez Santos Dos Silva Hernandez and apparently the negotiations are at an advanced stage. Given that this is the nearest thing we’ve got to date to an actual confirmation from the Sharks camp that the deal is real, I think we can all safely assume that it will now go ahead.
The question is when.
More on these as they develop, fans!
***UPDATE***
Well, it seems I was wrong about one thing at least. Captain Keegan may just have blown his chance, having been carded yet again and Stefan Terblanche has emerged as the guy most likely to take over from Muller. Expect to see the veteran fullback lead the team out against Boland on Friday.
Since the Bok side has been announced, we now know which players we’ll have. The good news is that we keep Odwa Ndungane, Deon Carstens and Steven Sykes. The bad is that Jannie du Plessis will be gone, meaning that Wiehahn Herbst will have to make the step up a little sooner than planned. Albert van den Berg looks likely to partner Sykes in the second row with perennial favourite Nikolaii Blignaut coming onto the wood.
Speaking about Juan Carlos Antonio Banderas de Marco van Rensburg Hernandez, it appears we are just waiting for some work permit formalities to be finalised and that he’s expected to make his Sharks debut against the Bulls next weekend. Bienvenido a Durban, el mago!
The funny bit is that the elves at Wikipedia-ville seem to think that the JMH thing is a done deal.
rob, are there any half-decent locks lurking anywhere, we might be in big trouble if we don’t have a proper second row, imho without a good 2nd row, teams struggle big time
@war1 (Comment 2) : spot on! Can’t say I’m aware of any, though
@robdylan (Comment 3) :
Muller and Kirchner was/is in my FL squad, well my 1st FL is a disaster
@JarsonX (Insomniac) (Comment 5) : and mine
@robdylan (Comment 6) : ive already made 7 trades
@JarsonX (Insomniac) (Comment 7) : you realise you only have ten in total for the whole competition?
@JarsonX (Insomniac) (Comment 5) :
Only two trades left already.
@robdylan (Comment 8) : yes @KSA Shark © (Comment 9) : 3 left. I didnt quite understand the points system so i had about 40% of Boks in my squad, so obviously i scored badly, and thus had to trade some of them out. Come S14 2010, im sure i’ll do much better
@JarsonX (Insomniac) (Comment 10) :
If I look at the log it indicates you only have two left.
http://www.justrugby.net/fantasy-league/fantasy-league-log/
@JarsonX (Insomniac) (Comment 10) : though may come handy a bit later.
i am not sure whether to get excited about Hernandez – the ball still need to pass through Rory the hogger.
@rekinek (Comment 13) : where have u been lately? I…. We missed u
@rekinek (Comment 13) : good point… hey, how do you say “pass, you little troll” in Spanish?
Howdy ladies!!
@robdylan (Comment 15) :
@JarsonX (Insomniac) (Comment 14) :
@robdylan (Comment 15) : that may be the first line he learns in English
hopefully quickly
Anybody else think we could drag Shaun Sowerby back to Durban for a season or two? He’d add a bit of experience and leadership to the team and more balance to the back row.
What’s happening with Trevor Halstead’s reintroduction to the Sharks? Isn’t he up to the level required for Currie Cup?
According to Supersport, JMH might make his debut against the Bulls, it sounds like its only the work permit that needs to be sorted out
@JarsonX (Insomniac) (Comment 20) : there is also the possibility of another Shark getting a call to train with the Boks, no name is mentioned
@robdylan (Comment 15) : “Pase la pelota que usted arrastra”
@JarsonX (Insomniac) (Comment 20) : That is the best news I have heard all week!!!!!
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 23) : well that is still not an official confermation imo, if we see he in the match 22, i’ll believe it.
@JarsonX (Insomniac) (Comment 24) :
Quite right, these Sharks are really fond of this cloack and dagger! Just tell us damit!
Juan Michel Pablo Rodriguez Santos Dos Silva Hernandez
Say that ten times fast Robbo.
@klempie (Comment 26) : I did it again!!
@klempie (Comment 26) : I am sure its Juan Martin not Juan Michel
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 28) : I’m sure it was meant to be funny
good news, very good news i hope your sources are reliable
but i do trust rob, the lock pairing looks good for a game against boland, but against the bulletjies next weekend im not so sure
@MerckZ (Comment 19) : i agree, bring back sowerby, how possible that is, i dont know
@war1 (Comment 31) : I think the opportunity has passed… Sowers would have been a great buy a year ago, but he’s already a bit old now.
As for Halstead… eish guys. Let’s move forward, ok?
@war1 (Comment 30) : the source for the stuff below the update line is Mike Greenaway, based on an article here: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=18&art_id=vn20090714061004984C893973. You want more reliable than that?
@robdylan (Comment 33) : ok, i believe you now
@robdylan (Comment 32) : halstead was my favourite sharks player . . . in about 2001
so yeah, move on
@war1 (Comment 35) : exactly
@war1 (Comment 34) : you should always believe me
Morning All!!
Happy happy for Geraas.
I guess better Oupa than Keegan. TT will be over the moon
@JarsonX (Insomniac) (Comment 24) : let’s wait till running onto the field.
what is the official reason of having him, what about Len and little Cronje – are they no prospects at all?
@robdylan (Comment 37) : It sounds like Jannie has been called up to the Boks. How true is this Rob?
I guess PDV was impressed with his sterling performance on Saturday
@rekinek (Comment 39) : Official Reason – WE NEED TO WIN!!! Yeah but where is Len?
@rekinek (Comment 39) : that’s the thing about “developing young players”… it’s always the thing you do as a last resort if you have no other options. Hernandez papers over the cracks and makes the problem seem to go away… until we’re in exactly the same position next year.
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 40) : it is completely true, as per the official Bok squad announcement on this very site
@robdylan (Comment 43) : Oh dear, been sorting out queries haven’t surfed yet
Here I go, be back soon
off the topic – can I still pick my FL team or is it past some deadline?
@rekinek (Comment 45) : sure you can… it’s just too late to score points for the first round
@robdylan (Comment 46) :
cool.
i do not think i was in the winners contention any case so that’s not a worry.
already lost a lifeline in LMS – start developing some aggressive feelings towards men in orange.
@rekinek (Comment 47) :
A lot of us lost a lifeline…
@blackshark (Comment 48) : oh yeah….