The Sharks face the unpleasant prospect or travelling to Johannesburg this weekend without a recognised goal-kicker, as both Rory Kockott and Juan Hernández look unlikely to make the trip.
Hernández injured his ankle some 20 minutes into the Leopards game last week and is unlikely to be risked this week, while Kockott is still feeling the effects of a shoulder injury sustained against the Cheetahs ten days ago. While Charl McLeod is a more than capable replacement at scrumhalf, his likely flyhalf partner, Guy Cronjé, has shown some alarming inconsistency with the boot since coming into the side. Monty Dumond will come back into the 22 this week, though and he will at least provide a more reliable goal-kicking option on the bench. Who can ever forget that 55m monster against the Cheetahs?
There is some good news as well, with Deon Carstens on the mend and looking odds-on to play some part against the Lions. Odwa Ndungane is fit again and he and Ryan Kankowski will both be allowed one final Sharks fling before joining the Bok tour to the Antipodes, which departs next Monday.
The Sharks will need to win well in Joburg to keep up the pressure on runaway leaders Griquas, facing a second successive tricky home fixture against the Blue Bulls. Should the Sharks win and Griquas lose, first place on the table will be up for grabs when the table-topping sides meet in Durban next weekend. It’s a pretty ironic turn of events that the Sharks management are wrapping players like Hernández in cotton wool for a home match against Griquas – seeing that game as far more crucial than an away fixture to the Lions!
this is going to be an interesting game. The Lions have quite the pack – as always.
Our backs will kill theirs, though.
My possible sharks team for this comming weekend,
And taking into account media speculation that jannie odwa and kanko will be available for the Sharks.
15 Stefan
14 Odwa
13 Murray
12 swannie
11 Mvovo
10 Guy/Monty for kicking if Rory cant play
09 Rory/McCleod
08 Ryan
07 Deysel
06 Botes
05 Albert
04 Sykes
03 Jannie
02 Skipper
01 Carstens
16 Burden
17 Cilliers
18 Rhodes
19 Daniel
20 McCleod / Ross Cronje
21 Monty / Guy Cronje
22 Strauss / Vulindlu
@robdylan (Comment 1) : our backs will kill theres ??
shit bro lol me thinks thats exactly where we in trouble
Looking at the possible team i think would would , and one takes out the 3 boks?? that even ore will weaken us big time
sorry add to that rory and carstens maybe dont pass fitness test later in the week
The Lions battled to beat Boland. I will be very disappointed if the Sharks lose this one.
if no boks or injured players back this could be the team
15 stefan
14 jordaan
13 murray / strauss
12 swannie
11 mvovo
10 guy / monty
09 mccleod
08 daniel
07 deysel
06 botes
05 albert
04 sykes
03 herbst
02 skipper
01 cilliers
16 burden
17 who knows ?????
18 rhodes / blignaut
19 downey
20 strauss/murray
21 ross
22 monty
ok reserve prop for sharks would then be dale chadwick
I would definately play Monty over Guy. Monty proved he can do the job when he played against the bulls. Mcloed is a solid replacement for kockett. Mcloed and rory r similar players, rory just adds that goal kicking option. Hope all our players are fit for the start of the second half of the tournament.
Voldy reckons Walter Venter has swine flu.
Let Guy play ahead of Monty…so what if he misses one or two kicks… he looks like a better player in the other aspects…
If we start rating players on place-kicking – we shouldn’t complain when the tries dry up…
Rob, Last week you wrote that Gerhard Mostert was signing with the Sharks. I have been surfing today nothing better to do, so went on keo
and here, a blogger has stated that Mostert has announced his signing with the Sharks, I cannot find anything to corroborate this do you know whether Mostert has signed or not?
@wpw (Comment 9) :
Can’t believe the bloggers are joking about it.
Am I the only one who takes this illness seriously?
@blackshark (Comment 12) : More people die from ‘normal’ flu each year.
@blackshark (Comment 12) : Hiyas BS , how ya been??
I thought i had it the past week as i been flat with a bad flu , but seems to have gone now .
so hell no it aint funny ,
@McLovin (Comment 13) : I heard that around 200 people a week die during winter in SA due to ‘normal’ flu.
@blackshark (Comment 12) : I’m carefull, but I’m not going to change my life because of it.
@blackshark (Comment 12) : To be honest I wasn’t taking it very seriously either, that is until it started hitting the schools and now it has made me aware! Apparently Venter is trainig with the Squad (if keo is to be believed) if he did have swine flu how negligent can a Union be? If I were the Sharks I would insist on confirmation that he did not have Swine flue and if he did he should not be allow to play for at least another week (convalescence) What if he infects one ofour players? Like Stefan or Albert VD Bergh, who have small children at home, the risk is just too high!
@McLovin (Comment 13) :
True – but I’m sure I’ve won the battle over the normal flu a couple of times…this just seems like a bit too much.
I’m more concerned about the little ones and the older generation…
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 11) : there has been no official confirmation from the Sharks (I have asked) but that’s not really surprising since they never confirm anything.
It has been reported on both SupaRugby and Rugby365.
Next step is to ask the player to confirm. Not sure if he will, though.
@robdylan (Comment 18) : Thank you Rob.
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 19) : I’ll let you know if he replies
If he is training the chances are good that he has no flu at all. Firstly he wouldnt feel up to it and secondly no coach would want him infecting the other players with any form of the flu.
Apparently 10 000 people die in SA pa due to normal flu.
@wpw (Comment 9) :
He had swine flu, was out for 2 weeks but started training with the team again this week
@walter van Lions World (Comment 22) : beeld this morning said he has Mexican flu
MOrning All!!
Just want to say Congratulations ti Milissa on the birth of their son – Charlton!!! May he bring you lots of joy especially when he plays for the Sharks one day!!
I speak to his dad almost daily, it was swine flu. He lost 3kgs, and picked up the virus when he gave some of the under 21′s a lift after a training session. 3 of the under 21′s are confirmed swine flu cases as well.
@walter van Lions World (Comment 25) :
Just heard it on the news…
@willa (Comment 23) :
Mexican Flu is Swine Flu…
Why is Beeld online still the same as yesterday????
@Prof. Ice Babe(Thunder Horse) (Comment 24) :
Wonderful news. Congrats Milissa and family.
Speaking of flu.
Miss Beatrice,
The church organist, was in her eighties
And had never been married. She was
admired for her sweetness
And kindness to all.
One afternoon the pastor
Came to call on her and she showed him
into her quaint sitting room.
She invited him to have a seat while
she prepared tea.
As he sat facing her old Hammond
organ,
The young minister
Noticed a cute glass
bowl Sitting on top of it.
The bowl was filled
With water, and in the
water
Floated, of all things, a
condom!
When she returned
With tea and
scones,
They began to chat.
The pastor tried to stifle his
curiosity
About the bowl of water and its
strange floater, but soon it got the better of him and he could no longer
resist.
‘Miss Beatrice’, he said,
‘I wonder if you would tell me about
this?’
Pointing to the bowl.
‘Oh, yes,’ she replied, ‘Isn’t it
wonderful?
I was walking through
The Park a few months ago
And I found this little package on the
ground.
The directions said
To place it on the organ,
Keep it wet and that it would prevent
the spread of disease. Do you know I haven’t had the flu all winter.
@Prof. Ice Babe(Thunder Horse) (Comment 28) : Beeld has a website???
@Salmonoid (Comment 29) :
Remember Teacher from Sharksrugby? They also had a little one !
Seems the Sharks supporters kept themselves busy when there was not much rugby on..
@robdylan (Comment 31) :
tsk tsk…jchaaa!!
@Prof. Ice Babe(Thunder Horse) (Comment 32) : Fertile people , these Sharks bloggers are.
@willa (Comment 23) : For some reason the SA media seem to refer to swine flu as ‘mexican’ flu.
Bit confusing..
@McLovin (Comment 35) : :biting tongue:
@Rahul (Comment 36) : Let it out. Don’t bottle it up.