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Good news for Sharks fans and bad news for opposing Currie cup teams was that Tendai “the beast” Mtawarira was dropped from the Bok squad for the Tri Nations game against the All Blacks.
With the 29 man Bok squad being trimmed down to 24, Beast and BJ Botha were the players unlucky to miss the cut, the other players missing out were Jaque Fourie who is suspended anyway as well as the injured duo of Frans Steyn and Ryan Kankowski.
Here’s hoping Beast can show his form in the Currie Cup and earn himself a recall to the test team because we all know how passionate he is for the green and gold.
The 24 man Bok squad is as follows:
Backs: Gio Aplon, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Francois Hougaard, Butch James, Ricky Januarie, Zane Kirchner, Wynand Olivier, JP Pietersen, Morne Steyn.
Forwards: Schalk Burger, Jannie du Plessis, Francois Louw, Victor Matfield, Dewald Potgieter, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Danie Rossouw, John Smit (captain), Juan Smith, Pierre Spies, Gurthrö Steenkamp, CJ van der Linde, Flip van der Merwe.
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How long is Kanko out for??
Beast will only bolster an already strong front row we have!!
Prove them wrong Beast!!
Shame that for Beast but we will have him for the Province game
JdP will play TH and Steenkamp LH. CJ will probably be on the bench to cover both.
With some players out injured or not available for this game. This would be my team from the above.
15. Aplon
14. JPP
13. De Jongh
12. De Villiers
11. Habs
10. Butch
9. Hougaard
8. Burger
7. Juan
6. Dewald Potgieter
5. Matfield
4. Flip VdM
3. JdP
2. John (captain)
1. Steenkamp
3. JdP
@Puma (Comment 3) : mistake there. Put JdP twice….
go ricky, go ricky…
i just got a feeling Ricky will start this weekend… 
I lay the responsibility of this squarely at Stofile’s feet.
@Puma (Comment 3) :Not a bad team, but I wonder if the selectors have the balls to leave out Januarie, Steyn and Spies… I don’t think so?
The thing that worries me, is give or take one or two players… this is pretty much the core group that has played over the last few weeks, and the core group that will do duty in the World cup in less than a year’s time… what is this group of players going to do differently in 10 months time that is going to reverse the results of the last few weeks?
@CS (Comment 8) : To answer my own question… I guess one shouldn’t underestimate the impact a few key players can have on an entire team’s ability… so bring back Fourie DuPreez, Frans Steyn
and Bismark DuPlessis and suddenly this team takes on a new look… I hope 
@VanWilder (Comment 5) : THEN WE STAND NO CHANCE.
How long is Jacque Fourie out for?
When is Heinrich coming back?
@Puma (Comment 3) : Steyn in for Butch, Louw in for Potgieter, Rossouw in for v/d merwe and i guess you could have yourself the starting line-up, IF PdV drops Januarie…
anybody on the site joining me at the FNB stadium this weekend?
Anybody know something of Bissie? Is he with the Boks or with the Sharks?
@VanWilder (Comment 12) : I was going to until the abysmal tour Down Under.
@SharksRTB (Comment 13) : since he’s not named with the Boks, my assumption is he’s with the Sharks.
Ricky will start
15. Aplon
14. JPP
13. De Jongh
12. De Villiers
11. Habs
10. Steyn
9. Hougaard
8. Spies
7. Juan
6. Burger
5. Matfield
4. Danie
3. JdP
2. John (captain)
1. Steenkamp
16 Chilli
17 CJ
18 Potgieter/Louw
19 Spies
20 Ricky
21 Butch
22 Kirschner
@VanWilder (Comment 12) : I’ll be there
@SharksRTB (Comment 13) :
Bismarck was never in this new squad. He was only invited to the camp for some reason or another but he was named over and above the original 29 man squad.
@Charlie (Comment 16) :
And who will be on the Bench? Jannie Dup or Steenkamp?
@klempie (Comment 14) :
*cough* Fair weather supporter!! *cough cough*
@wpw (Comment 21) : 500 smackers to watch us get smacked? I’ve got better things to do with that kinda dough.
@klempie (Comment 22) :
Please refer to comment number 21.
@VanWilder (Comment 5) : I’m there
HeHeHe Sorry boks, but this is good news for us.
We`ve got a problem with Deysel, Adi and Kankow out now.
Anyone have any possible dates for us to look forward to?
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 24) : @Pokkel (Comment 18) : great!!! think its going to be a big one…
where in the stadium are u guys sitting?
@VanWilder (Comment 26) : I’m in row 111 ( I think…the tickets are with my boet in JHB) somewhere behind the posts.
if BJ has been dropped, is he still staying in KZN for the rest of the 3 games incase he is needed? if that is so, wonder if the sharks cant play him under a new name so that ulster dont get a sniff of it!! hahaha
My Bok team for the weekend would be.
15. Aplon
14. JPP
13. JdJ
12. JdV
11. Habs
10. Steyn
9. Hougaard
8. Potgieter
7. Juan
6. Flo
5. Matfield
4. Danie
3. Jannie
2. Smit
1. Guthro
16. Chilli
17. CJ
18. Flip vd Merwe
19. Schalk
20. January
21. Butch
22. Zane.
Start Hougaard against NZ? A 21 year old scrumhalf who hasn’t played at 9 for 2 seasons???
Step up Mr Januarie please…
@Big Fish (Comment 30) : I’d rather have an inexperienced 21yo scrumhalf than Garage Pie.
@CS (Comment 7) : Maybe they should have to guts to do that this week. We start with Ricky we doomed
I know Hougaard has not played much at this level but we have no choice those are our two scrummies selected. I say start with Hougaard.
@SharksRTB (Comment 13) : Bulls played really well with Flip during the S14. I would go with Flip at 4. M. Steyn just not the same player without FdP or Frans at the back. I would go with Butch. Louw has not impressed me much but maybe with Juan next to him he could play far better. So maybe Louw at 6 but remember how well Dewald played there for the E. Boks. I would go with Dewald at 6.
@klempie (Comment 31) : Me too
” Lifted” from rugby365. I thought he hit the nail ( on bok rugby`s coffin ) right on the head:
” . . . We have a new game plan called….ummmmmm…..”kick it all away total rugby”…..
We’ll run it when we’re in our 22…..and then once we get into their half….THEN we’ll kick the possession away……
The following positional changes will come into effect……
1. The Flea (Aplon) starts at fullback….and Carter rains bombs down on him all day long while Nonu, Smith and Rococoko run on him….
2. Olivier is retained at inside center…..
3. JdV is played out of position at outside center…..
4. Juan de Jongh is left on the bench….(and gets 8 minutes game time)
5. John Smit moves to loosehead prop sometime during the game…..or tighthead….or lock…..or center….
6. Morne Steyn…..still missing his puppet master does all that he’s done since Fourie’s injury……nothing…..and he does it well….
7. Ricky Ticky Vetkuk starts…….”
All rights reserved Gav CT.
Well beast sorry after all the work was done to get u a visa 2 play for SA now they drop u oh my
Well i got now hope for the SB they are going to get yet another pakslae
@chaz (Comment 36) : chaz, as of now, Gurthro Steenkamp has done nothing to deserve being dropped for Beast. CJ can play LH or TH so he is the clear bench choice for the Boks. BJ and Jannie fighting it out, Jannie in slightly better form, so he gets the nod at TH. So makes perfect sense for Beast and BJ to be dropped for this match.
@Pokkel (Comment 1) : I was wondering the same thing, doesn’t anyone have an answer. Rob?
It was only a twisted ankle wasn’t it?
I would love to have Kanko back!!!
I’m happy to have beast back with the Sharks, if they’re not going to use them, at least give them to a team that’s going to use them well.