The Sharks team to face the Blue Bulls in the semi final in Durban has been announced and there is some good news about doubtful starters for Sharks fans.
In the forwards, Willem Alberts will take up his place at blindside flank with Steven Sykes and Keegan Daniel also recalled to the starting lineup. A special mention needs to go to Anton Bresler who is the lock on the bench.
Among the backs, JP Pietersen is back at wing with Lambie moving to flyhalf and Charl McLeod starting at scrumhalf.
The unfortunate guys on the bench are Jacques Botes and Odwa Ndungame who have both played very well the last few weeks and will look to bring something to the team off the bench.
The team is as follows:
The Sharks:
15. Louis Ludik
14. JP Pietersen
13. Stefan Terblanche (Captain)
12. Andries Strauss
11. Lwazi Mvovo
10. Patrick Lambie
9. Charl McLeod
8. Ryan Kankowski
7. Willem Alberts
6. Keegan Daniel
5. Alistair Hargreaves
4. Steven Sykes
3. Jannie du Plessis
2. Bismarck du Plessis
1.Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements
16. Craig Burden
17. Eugene van Staden
18. Anton Bresler
19. Jacques Botes
20. Rory Kockott
21. Andre Pretorius
22. Odwa Ndungane
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Don’t be surprised if things change a bit on Sat…
Don’t think we are going with a 4-3 split against the Bulls. Expect Mostert or Rhodes to be sitting in tracksuit and Odwa to be in his suit I reckon.
No Adi in the 22???
Where`s Adi?
botes should also be in there…
No adi and Mostert??????!!!!!!! I think we need to have this line up confirmed by a player or two. I really like Bresler, but i would definately choose Mossie against The Bulls in a knockout. No Adi?? Really Crazy??? Maybe weather influenced selction or Plum is playing some serious mind games.??
@Morné (Comment 2) : Adi, Mostert, Rhodes could all be surprises that Plum has up his sleeve…
Odwa on the bench? What is he going to bring to the game? If the Sharks are down he won’t add anything. Adi though…
1990
hehehe I`m quietly confident Plum followed my advice . . .
Look for a completely different line up Saturday afternoon!
Hey I got a star. Took me long enough . . .
Bresler is definitely playing and he will be great.
1990
Would’ve started with Eugene, and definately ADI on the bench!!!!
9 boks in 22.
7 starting, 2 on bench… how many has the bulls got?
I don’t care how many the bulls have, we are better! Botes should count as a bok in any case, he’s more than good enough.
@PTAShark (Comment 14) : I like your attitude, mr!
How is plum going to substitute a 12/13 if need be? Going to make a lot of positional swithces from the 60th minute me thinks….
@butchboy (Comment 16) : I know Bresler… he’s not going to let us down. I think match fitness might be an issue with both Mostert and Adi.
Bulls are going to be carrying unfit players in their squad and Plumtree is going to make DAMN sure his guys can outlast them.
@PTAShark (Comment 14) : Totally agree, the bulls boks didn’t play like Boks this year, and it’s just names…Botes, Daniel, Sykes, Alberts etc can play for the boks and wont let them down for a second!
We have proven how good we are this year, and I am convinced that we will win on Saturday!
@butchboy (Comment 16) : Anton just asked me for your address…. should I give it to him?
ja sure rob, you can give it to him and tell him he must bring the currie cup with him after we won it
you have a point there rob. surely we must stick to the guys that are fit and have served us well during the currie cup.
@butchboy (Comment 21) : LOL! Nice one, sir…
you guys know Plum doesn’t sommer back youngsters…. he’s seen something worth backing in Bresler, though… picked him ahead of not only Mostert, but Rhodes as well. I back the coach here – he knows what he’s doing.
@robdylan (Comment 10) : Yup, you are right he will be great. Go Sharks!!!!
@robdylan (Comment 10) : If weather some how improves i have a feeling Adi might slot in at 22. We will see what happens. Why didn’t bresler play more games earlier, he is a good impact player.
@AlienArmy (Comment 19) : Your pic is really freaky…u support borderbulldogs?
I’m surprised that Adi was not included but I suspect that Plum might shift Lambie to 12 and bring AP in later on. That is if the game is tight.
to say i am disappointed is an understatement. this is a playoff and plum is playing ball carriers and no cleaners. what is he thinking? as we have seen all season and stats have shown, ryan and keegan don’t do enough work at breakdown. there is no point in having ball carriers if there is no-one clearing out ball for them to use.
otherwise this team can do the business. but it all depends on how well they protect the ball they get.
@Sportbilly (Comment 1) : agree ..
@try time (Comment 29) : the ballcarriers are going to be cleaning all those wannabe bulls tacklers infront of them ..they `re gonna fight for thatr every step forward ..and forward ..and forward ..and forward ..and “trytime” !!!!!!!!!!!!
@bergshark (Comment 32) : i hope you are right.
@Sportbilly (Comment 6) : jip ..
Bresler has more bulk than Rhodes . . .
Good Call then.
@JJR (Comment 27) : Haha, nha…never before has a dog that is playing with a ball looked that mean!
would have preferred it to be a shark but it’s difficult getting photo’s of them in that position 
@AlienArmy (Comment 36) : Not really, the problem is to survival rate of the photographer straight after the picture was taken.
@try time (Comment 33) : you better believe it !!! come kick-off ,there gonna be 22 guys who are gonna fight and fight till victory is announced at the blow of the final whistle !!! you dont wanna be caught wearing a blue jersey on the field come 2:30 …. SHAAAAAAAAAAAAAARKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s a good team…but agree would like to see Adi on the bench, he made an impact against Wee Pee when he came on.
Discipline is going to be crucial because Morne Steyn will punish you. Here’s hoping that Bissie doesn’t give away penalties like he did on Sat because we can’t afford to!
@Original Pierre (Comment 35) : dont worry about the kgs on their bones … every shark is gonna outweigh those bulls in HEART !!!!!
@butchboy (Comment 21) : great comment ,butchie
Good team Plum, I see we are going for the tried and tested.
I’m pumped and glad that we are playing the Bulls this Saturday, we will beat the Bulls, they won’t be able to keep up with our pace. The Bulls are vulnerable without Fourie Du Preez and Guthro (the one player in the Springbok pack that put in good performance week in week out). GO SHARKS!!!
Whatever the outcomes, we are going to be treated to two cracking games of rugger on Saturday.
Go Shaaaaarks! Go Vrystaaaaat!
oh and i have just seen jp is in the team. why? odwa has far more rugby brains. this could also backfire. jp has a tendency to stand around doing nothing. he never impressed with the boks and wasn’t great during the super 14. odwa looks for work and gets stuck in.
will the sharks that were involved in in bok camps be as hungry as the players that sweated blood for their team the last three months to get the sharks into a home semi? i guess we have to see saturday.
and only other worry is having both du plessis brothers on together. both get penalised a lot. hopefully they can prove me wrong.
This game is very evenly poised… if we don’t kick the ball out it’ll take Victor out of the game, and it won’t give the Bulls a platform for their driving mall.
And then they’re screwed… Blue Balls on a stick
Hoe do you’ll think the substitutes are going to be applied?
I just saw on sharksrugby that a whole bunch of players have signed for the Sharks for the next few years. Keegs, Kanko, Beast and JPP.
@lostfish (Comment 49) : excellent news and a great boost ahead of the semi!
@robdylan (Comment 50) : Sure is, a whole bunch of junior players have commited too.
@lostfish (Comment 49) : @robdylan (Comment 50) :
You guys are going to dominate SA Rugby for the next few years, mark my words.
Beast
JP
Keegs
Kanko
Ludik
Lambie
Alberts
and then there’s a few new signings:
Hoffman
Bosman
JL Potgieter
@lostfish (Comment 51) : there are a few names that are not there, of course… I’m told that some of them are still negotiating, so are not definitely lost.
@robdylan (Comment 53) : Lets hope so, we have a really good mix at the moment and some fantastic young talent. We just need to back the young guys to come through and make sure they don’t go elsewhere due to lack of game time.
@lostfish (Comment 49) : @robdylan (Comment 53) : names missing : riaan swanepoel , rory kockott ..
@robdylan (Comment 53) : but there is also one name that is there : lionel mapoe .. verster is gonna be “mal” again
@bergshark (Comment 55) : Names that are there Lionel Mapoe
@robdylan (Comment 53) : @lostfish (Comment 54) : any news on some of those u.21 loosies ? .. guess a player like boom prinsloo has a contract at the cheetahs (would like to see him invited to a greater sharks squad for superrugby training )..
@bergshark (Comment 56) : Snap
@bergshark (Comment 58) : they’re not gonna list the guys that still have junior contracts for next year… I’m sure a fair few fall into that category. Would hate to think that Jaco Otto might go anywhere else.
Swannie is still talking to the Sharks, I’m sure. Mike Rhodes, well… Kockott we know is unhappy. And Dries has signed for the Cheetahs
@Greg (Comment 57) : Lionel Mapoe has a valid Sharks contract.
Only problem is, it isn’t his only valid contract
@Greg (Comment 59) :
@wpw (Comment 52) : Hopefully we can add Whitehead to that list!
Sharks need backup at centre. WP have too many options. Whitehead would seriously consider an offer right about now . ..
@robdylan (Comment 61) :
@Original Pierre (Comment 63) :
good name to add !! 
@robdylan (Comment 61) : Yeah, for all we know he may have contracts at Lions, bulls and wp as well.
@robdylan (Comment 60) : agree on jaco otto ..he might step-up straight into the senior team at some stage next season .. little worried now with the way you make it sound as if mike rhodes might be leaving .. but where ? dawie theron said griquas are getting some more players for next season .. will mike rhodes consider a move to kimberley for gametime? .. do think there are quite a few unions looking at him .. the lions
??
@Greg (Comment 66) :
but luckily mapoe has stated he wants to play at the sharks 
.. just hope the next judge is not a cheetahs fan 
@Original Pierre (Comment 63) : another name missing from that list is the “70 kg jonah lomu” aka mark richards
..please tell me mark richards is only turning 21 next season !!!
@bergshark (Comment 67) :I really rate him and we will need him for S15 so he can give Wolla and Big Vic a chance to rest. Though with the surname of Rhodes he wouldn’t be out of place in an England side!!!!!!!!
Hell I hope not
@robdylan (Comment 60) : i wish that the the sharks website >> mr marnewick ,hope you reading this
>> , would put the names of all contracted sharks players ( senior , junior , court case(s) pending 
)up on the website .. perhaps broaden the scope of player profiles on the website ..and increase the bio to include contract info ( signed on ,expires on ) .. please .. 
@Fattmann (Comment 70) : ENGLAND !!!
.. not another brad barritt 
@bergshark (Comment 56) : Maybe that was a typo.
@bergshark (Comment 69) : Isn`t he the guy who`s going to the Pumas next year?
@Original Pierre (Comment 74) : Hope Not
@Fattmann (Comment 70) : when is deysel expected to start training (running) with the team ? ..think we will need rhodes from the start of the comp ..don`t wanna rush deysel back into the team ..he is just so valable to the team ..if the name of jean deysel was mentioned on the teamsheet for this weekend ,then i would have really thought we`re gonna take the bulls(the alberts /deysel combo with bissie in the mix: who wants to face that now?not even the bulls) ..he was immense carrying the ball in the 2008 final ..he was immense in the s14 game @loftus this year ..and the following weekend vs the stormers .. he is a freak !!!!!
@lostfish (Comment 73) : guess the sharks are saying to the cheetahs : you didnt value lionel mapoe ,we do .. (just waiting for an unbiased judge to find in favour of the player ,that`s all )
@Original Pierre (Comment 74) :
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Original Pierre (Comment 74) : oh well, if it is true ..then all the best to him
!!!
@bergshark (Comment 69) : Mark is still under 21 next season.
@bergshark (Comment 76) : and ripping the rugby ball from the opposition
@bergshark (Comment 79) : Sorry I stand corrected. That was Jordaan!
@robdylan (Comment 80) : so he will stay at the sharks ,then ? hope jimmy stonehouse hasnt lured him away from the shark tank with the promise of “gametime’ ..
@bergshark (Comment 76) : from what i understand he is looking to be back in action by game 3 of the S15
@Original Pierre (Comment 82) : sjoooooooe !!!! what a relief
.. chris jordaan ??
@Fattmann (Comment 84) : friend of mine saw him last week his is still limping and using crutch to get around Generally this kind of injury takes about 6 months to heal and about 2 months for the brain to trust the knee again
@Fattmann (Comment 84) : great news (for the sharks
.. spare a thought for the poor fh of the opponents in the sharks third game 
)
@Fattmann (Comment 86) : rob should line-up an interview with jean deysel
With the weather like this, do you think that the gameplan of the Sharks should change?
@Original Pierre (Comment 74) : no, that’s Chris Jordaan
@Mocho (Comment 89) :keep the gameplan as is( gameplan is beating the bulls
)
@bergshark (Comment 88) : funny you should mention that… just smsed him a few minutes ago. Let’s see what comes back.
@robdylan (Comment 90) : he has dropped out of favour ..good move if you `re looking for gametime on a bigger stage to exhibit your skills to a greater audience
HAha, no but seriously, the weather states 83% chance of precipitation on Saturday.
@bergshark (Comment 91) : HAha, no but seriously, the weather states 83% chance of precipitation on Saturday.
@robdylan (Comment 92) : great work
.. hope jean obliges all his fans on sharksworld with an interview 
.. holding thumbs ,rob !!
@Mocho (Comment 95) : reckon it is gonna be won in the ball-carrying dept (think this is what plum also alluded to in the interview i read on supersport).. we need to beat them at their own game (the physicallity part of it ).. dont think “sweeping backline moves was ever in the gameplan ..gonna be direct !!
What do you guys think of Craig Joubert in the final?
Good team just wish we had Deysel with Alberts for this game against the Bulls.
Wonder where is Adi?
@Puma (Comment 99) :
Yes. Where IS Adi?
Pupa Stef has offered to serve Gareth Cliff coffee in the studio wearing a bulls shirt if the Sharks lose.
Nice to see him confident
GO SHARKS!!!