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According to an interview with Grant Bashford on the Sharks website, both Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis could come back into the Currie Cup selection frame as early as this weekend.
Adding to the selection conundrum caused by the release of Beast Mtawarira, Ryan Kankowski and Ruan Pienaar from the Boks squad, the return to fitness of Jean Deysel, as well as the possible availability of the Bok hooker and tighthead prop could see the Sharks suddenly able to field a virtual Super 14-strength side against the Cheetahs – a team they will be very keen to beat in this year’s Currie Cup.
But therein lies John Plumtree’s biggest challenge. The impressive deputies – Pat Cilliers, Craig Burden, Wiehahn Herbst, Keegan Daniel and the like – have played a huge role in ensuring that the Sharks occupy second position on the log. Will including a host of Bok stars, most of whom are likely to be whisked away again as soon as the Boks’ home Tri-Nations squad is named, not risk completely destroying any continuity and spirit in the side? That was exactly what happened last year, ironically ahead of the semi-final against exactly the same opposition. If there’s on thing the Cheetahs love, it’s taking to pieces a Sharks side full of big name (and big headed) superstars. Perhaps the trip to Bloemfontein is one better entrusted to the keen youngsters after all.
How do you resist the temptation to field an all-Bok front-row, though? Or a loose trio that compress the irrepressible Alberts, Deysel and Kankowski, in whatever combination seems best? These are the questions that John Plumtree will answer when he names his side tomorrow. Let’s just hope that we don’t end up regretting any short-term decisions made in the interests of winning one match.
Imagine Bissie has a few great games for the Sharks!! John Smit’s career might end sooner than we think!!
@wpw (Comment 1) : You could be right. As much as I like Smit, at the moment there are hordes of hookers who would add more value to a side than he does.
@wpw
That is a very good point, that would be scary, esp if they then decide to move John to prop!?
I’d be very tempeted to see the Boks front row playing especially agains a good Cheetah’s scrum. PdV will probaly want to see how Bismarck is looking as well. I recon all the loosies except maybe Rhodes can play a big role in the game if used properly
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 3) :
Yeah but can you show me one tight head who has actually scrummed well at test level??
Not one of CJ, BJ or Jannie have performed well since John moved back to hooker.
Man – how can you drop Herbst, Cilliers, Burden, Daniel, McLeod…? Just doesn’t seem fair.
Still, this is a powerful team.
1 Beast, 2 Bis, 3 Jannie, 4 Sykes, 5 Hargs, 6 Botes, 7 Alberts, 8 Kanko, 9 Charl, 10 Steve, 11 Lwazi, 12 Pat, 13 Stef, 14 JP, 15 Louis
16 Burden, 17 Cilliers, 18 Skeate, 19 Deysel, 20 Daniel, 21 Pienaar, 22 Ndungane
If we can’t take the Cheetahs with that outfit, then I simply give up
The big differance between returning Boks from last year and the curent situation is that none of the returning players except Kanko for 60 minutes has played much rugby recently and should all be hungry and keen to play some rugby and I don’t think it will be a negative.
@Pokkel (Comment 7) : well, let’s hope so anyway.
None of them are really first-choice current Boks either, so will be looking for good performances to convince PDivvy to include them in the Bulls-Stormers invitational side.
@robdylan (Comment 6) : other sites have been running a story along the lines of “bissie back soon . . . but not this week”
@robdylan (Comment 6) : Would you still start with Botes ahead of Daniel, even though Daniel has been on fire for the last few weeks?
@CS (Comment 10) : botes is more of a senior player as well as more of a flank than keegs
@war1 (Comment 9) : maybe his come back will be as sudden and unexpected as his withdrawal due to injury in S14… The latter was kept well wrapped until the last moments.
@CS (Comment 10) : Botes is more consistent and a hard-worker than Daniel. Daniel tends to disappear in tighter games and keeping it tight should be the order against Cheetahs, they are way better than Pumas.
@rekinek (Go Klose!) (Comment 12) : you make a very good point there, we will have to wait and see . . .
@rekinek (Go Klose!) (Comment 12) : that is my take too
GO SHARKS !!!
@robdylan (Comment 8) : yes what with beast not a starting bok anymore???
rob when do i get my next star?
@ruggabugga (Comment 18) : soon, young apprentice, soon
@robdylan (Comment 19) : Thanks dad!!!obi 1
@ruggabugga (Comment 17) : To be honest Guthro has been playing really great rugby this year. The Beast will have to earn his spot back.
@ruggabugga (Comment 18) : you have 755 points and need 1000 to et to the next star.
So that’s 245 more. At 5 points per comment, you need 49 more comments.
i must commentize to et to 1000(how do we track points?)@Pokkel (Comment 21) : has beast even been on the bench??his passport problems surely havent demorilised his game?
@ruggabugga (Comment 23) : he was named in the squad for the away leg but he was not in match 22 once – I’m not sure whether he even went. Maybe Rob has more infor on that one – wouldn’t mind knowing myself.
@ruggabugga (Comment 23) : you can see your own points total by clicking on the “User Statistics” link on the left.
@rekinek (Go Klose!) (Comment 24) : would be intresting because he is always a hit at the tank and welcomed with open arms,always entertaining at after game functions too
@rekinek (Go Klose!) (Comment 24) : he went on the tour, but never made the match 22.
What a waste
@robdylan (Comment 27) : sudden fall out of favour
guess bench warming when John had a stint at 1 did not help.
@robdylan (Comment 27) : doesnt make sence at all ,taking him over was surly not as injury cover to shrekro!!surly the plan was for him to feature sometime!
I’d still start with Pat, Burden and Daniel. These guys have played well and deserve their spots.
@rekinek (Go Klose!) (Comment 28) : well, no… it was the eligibility thing that scuppered him. Div HAD to pick Gurthro and he took his chances very well.
if Jannie and Beast are available, I’ll start with them. Pat on the bench and Herbst to sit out – he’s young and he’s done well, but he’s not Jannie just yet.
The loose forward combinations are very complex and a lot depends on whether Deysel is fit or not.
Assuming he doesn’t play, I would start with Botes, Alberts (7) and Kanko (8) with Keegan coming on for Kanko with half an hour to play.
Even if Deysel is fit, I would go with the same unit and add him on the bench as a fifth forward
@robdylan (Comment 31) : the news that he was elligible “again” ie. got citizenship broke out before the squad went away. I understand during inbound tour but not 3N.
@rekinek (Go Klose!) (Comment 33) : my point is that Gurthro played well enough while Beast was not eligible to warrant retaining his starting spot…
@robdylan (Comment 34) : but what about being on the bench.
@rekinek (Go Klose!) (Comment 35) : well, yes, but when picking your prop reserve, you want to make sure you always have specialist tight head cover in the team. Thinking is that a 3 can play 1 if required, but not usually the other way round.
so BJ, CJ and Jannie would all be superior bench options to Beast.
@Jarson (Comment 30) : Yip, have Beast and Bissie on the bench for the final 30 odd minutes
Start Skeate ahead of Hargreaves giving us some much needed grunt in the engine room.
Loosies – 6 Botes, 7/8 Alberts/Kanko With Deysel on the bench
My starting team for the Cheetahs
Cilliers Burden Jannie
Sykes Skeate
Botes Alberts Kanko
McLeod
Meyer Mvovo Lambie Terblanche JPP
Ludik
Bench: Beast Bismark Hargreaves Daniels Kockott Pienaar Strauss
1
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/CurrieCup/Sharks-welcome-back-Bismarck-20100728
This off News24 – Bashford reckons Bissie wont start…
Of well, gives us another chance to see Cooper on his bullocking runs!
@robdylan (Comment 36) : Rob, while I would never usually disagree with you
I think you have this just partially right. I really don’t think that one can expect a 3 to hold his own at 1 in international rugby. CJ has always been a 1 that can hold his own on the international stage at 3. Jannie has had some significant game time at Super 14 level at 1, even though he is a specialist 3. CJ would always be my bench prop, his ability to cover both sides and his agility make him a strong impact prop. I have never seen BJ play 1, and I expect he would get thoroughly stuffed if asked to play on that side in an international. One thing we learned over the past 18 months is that Smit is a much better option at 1 than 3 if he is to play prop. So my opinion is that Beast was not on the bench because we needed someone to cover 3, and Smit would be expected to cover 1 if needed. Remember Gurthro is the only player to play every minute of all three tests in the tri-nations. I don’t think PdV every planned to replace him unless injured, in which case, Smit would move to 1.
Where is The Great Hard Man Eddie Andrews when we need him??
@Mole (Comment 37) : That’s an excellent team, that’s how I would do it to, and if Deysel is ready also, then I’d remove kockett from the bench to ad room for him. Since Ruan can cover both 9 and 10.
@Mole (Comment 37) : I like it, except I’m not sure who the Daniels is. Is that John Daniels, the former Lions and Boland winger? He’s a bit old now, isn’t he?
Now tell me, how could Sportsbet have known about this before me? No wonder they have the sharks pinned as favourites away in Bloem.
I laughed at them for getting it all wrong.
Now I`m with my back to the wall again . . . . sigh.