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Coach John Plumtree has been forced to name a Sharks side littered with brackets as a number of key players are still in doubt for Friday’s away encounter against the Cheetahs.
The good news is the return of a pair of Springboks, with Ryan Kankowski released to the Sharks to get some gametime, and Waylon Murray finally fit again after ongoing knee problems. The former replaces Keegan Daniel at number 8, while the latter will play off the bench.
Rory Kockott, after a truly MARATHON disciplinary hearing, has been cleared of any wrong-doing and will start in the number 9 jersey, with Charl McLeod as his understudy. Ross Cronjé’s little brother Guy returns from a one-match suspension and will start in the number ten jersey, with his older brother sitting out this week. Odwa Ndungane will need to pass a late fitness test – if he fails, his place on the right wing will go to Zuks Vulindlu.
In the front row, it’s all quite confusing, with Deon Carstens also doubtful at this stage. Should he play, he’ll be at loosehead, with Pat Cilliers at tighthead and Wiehahn Herbst on the bench. If Carstens is ruled out, though, Cilliers will move over to loosehead, with Herbst starting in the number 3 jersey and young Dale Chadwick coming into the 22 for the first time. Replacement lock Mike Rohdes is also in doubt and his place on the bench will go to Niko Blignaut if he fails to recover in time.
Justin Downey and Len Olivier both miss out this week, with Monty Dumond covering flyhalf off the bench and Keegan Daniel down as loose forward reserve. Vulindlu also looks set to miss out altogether should Ndungane be passed fit to play.
Sharks 22
1) Deon Carstens/Pat Cilliers
2) Craig Burden
3) Pat Cilliers/Wiehahn Herbst
4) Steven Sykes
5) Albert van den Berg
6) Jacques Botes
7) Jean Deysel
8) Ryan Kankowski
9) Rory Kockott
10) Guy Cronjé
11) Lwazi Mvovo
12) Riaan Swanepoel
13) Andries Strauss
14) Odwa Ndungane/Luzuko Vulindlu
15) Stefan Terblanche (capt)
Reserves:
16) Skipper Badenhorst
17) Wiehahn Herbst/Dale Chadwick (*)
18) Michael Rhodes/Nikolai Blignaut
19) Keegan Daniel
20) Charl McLeod
21) Monty Dumond
22) Waylon Murray
(*) Denotes Currie Cup début for the Sharks.
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I’ll just wait and see who runs on
@Pokkel (Comment 1) : best approach, really
To be honest we cant afford not to have Carstens the weekend, that will hurt us bad
also i hope they stop this petty witch hunt against rory
no problem if he plays dirty but shit, they seem to be out to get him no matter what
@sharks_lover (Comment 4) :
Ja – just now he joins JP-san in Japan..
@sharks_lover (Comment 3) : we’re up against it all right
@Prof. Ice (Thunder Horse) (Comment 5) :
feel sorry for keegan sitting on the bench as its been botes showing bad form the last few weeks
@sharks_lover (Comment 8) :
I actually think they just looking for something to justify such a small oke flatting a huge hulk!! LOL!
@Prof. Ice (Thunder Horse) (Comment 10) : have you heard what was NOnu’s answer to who is the most annoying SA player
@rekinek (Comment 13) :
@Prof. Ice (Thunder Horse) (Comment 14) : in the interviews they were showing before the test.
Ma’a Nonu answered: I can’t remember his name. the halfback from the Sharks.
who need to be a bok – RORY is famous.
This is going to be a difficult game, but i think we can take them
@war1 (Comment 16) :
I am sceptical – too many vital changes..
@rekinek (Comment 15) : nice
@Prof. Ice (Thunder Horse) (Comment 17) : well – we don’t know yet that Odwa and Deon are out…
@Prof. Ice (Thunder Horse) (Comment 17) : plus the bloem hoodoo- but without juan and brussouw cheetahs are rolling down. They need to stop at some point and I am afraid of it happening against the sharks – I dare even say they have a mental edge. Eishh
@robdylan (Comment 19) : @rekinek (Comment 20) :
I was actually meaning the ‘Bok” game..
@Prof. Ice (Thunder Horse) (Comment 21) :
“too many vital changes..” – uhmmm
I am sceptical about that one too. I reckon Abs will get better and the boks were pretty ordinary – the fairy did not have a good game and if does not improve without him steyn is gonna struggle.
not like ruan who is used to unpredictable half back
@rekinek (Comment 15) : That’s too beautiful.
oddie and deon both cleared to play
Showsports is showing ony one CC game tonight
But it is the Cheetahs v Sharks Game.
What a way to end the weekend.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 25) : oh thanks heavens! Welcome back. It’s the only CC game being televised this weekend!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 25) : hey hey ksa. nice to see you.
i will be pissed off if this b sharks team beats cheetahs and our a team couldn’t in the s14. it will show the daftness of our coaches.
@try time (superrugby’s kryptonite is SANZAR) (Comment 28) : i’m never pissed off when we win
@robdylan (Comment 29) : i get pissed off when we lose games that are on a plate, then when it isn’t as vital we beat the team. it shows poor team commitment and focus. but i’ll give plum a little lee way as he is has just started his second year as head coach. ludicrous took the 2nd year in his third stint to get a result. lets hope plum can do what ludicrous did with a similar draw that the bulls had this year in the s14.
I’m always nervous when the Sharks play the Cheetah’s. And the Cheetah’s really need to win to have a chance in the CC. Here’s hoping I’m wrong. Go Sharks
@robdylan (Comment 26) :
Oh???? In SA as well?????
At least they know which game will be the quality one.
@try time (superrugby’s kryptonite is SANZAR) (Comment 30) : with the squad that’s being assembled in Durban, we surely MUST be in a good position to win it next year
@KSA Shark © (Comment 32) : let’s just hope the right bloody team wins!
@Pokkel (Comment 31) :
Hey! Praat jy nou nooit weer met my nie??