Three fringe players have been called up to do duty for the Sharks in the Neo Africa Tri-Series in Cape Town next week, as part of a strong 27-man squad. Anton Bresler, Mark Richards and Dan Ojiambo will all have their chance to impress the coaching staff as injury has necessitated the withdrawal of a few of the Super Rugby squad.
As Sharksworld reported a few days ago, SWD Eagles loose forward Jacques Engelbrecht will join up with the team on a trial basis and should be in line for some game time, as the attrition rate amongst the loose forwards is high.
Regular squad members not to make the trip are Keegan Daniel, who has been struggling with a back injury, Jean Deysel (still out after knee surgery), Steven Sykes (calf) and Luzuko Vulindlu (knee). The two last-mentioned players sustained their injuries in Tuesday’s warmup game against the Sharks XV, although we are lead to believe that neither injury is serious enough to threaten their availability for the opening game.
Bresler, who was a surprise pick on the bench for the Currie Cup knockouts last year, ahead of Gerhard Mostert and Mike Rhodes, comes in to replace Sykes, while Ojiambo and Engelbrecht should occupy the spots vacated by the twins, Deysel and Daniel. Richards, who was unlucky to miss out on SA Sevens selection for Wellington and LA will join up with the squad to provide cover in the outside backs – his ability to cover wing, fullback and even outside centre making him a capable replacement for the unlucky Vulindlu.
Lwazi Mvovo has been included, despite concerns over a knock to his knee, while Bismarck du Plessis and Alistair Hargreaves seem to have recovered from niggling injuries as well.
Here is the 27-man squad named by the Sharks:
Forwards: Beast Mtawarira, John Smit, Eugene van Staden, Jannie du Plessis, Craig Burden, Bismarck du Plessis, Anton Bresler, Alistair Hargreaves, Ross Skeate, Gerhard Mostert, Jacques Botes, Willem Alberts, Ryan Kankowski, Daniel Ojiambo
Backs: Charl McLeod, Conrad Hoffman, Pat Lambie, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Meyer Bosman, Riaan Swanepoel, Adi Jacobs, Stefan Terblanche, JP Pietersen, Mark Richards, Odwa Ndungane, Lwazi Mvovo, Louis Ludik
Good to see the boys getting game time..
Everyone does need game time even our bokke so I’m glad everyone went..
Go Sharks!
Dan is the Man!
Ojiambo…that’s the Nigerian dude right?
Wish these games were on the telly
The Bulls v Southern Kings is 
GO SHARKS !!!
@klempie (Comment 3) : no – he’s Kenyan. 1.96m, 110kg and runs the 100 in under 11s
@robdylan (Comment 6) : and he even has two surnames
The big problem with Kenyan sportsmen is that they have absolutely no stamina at all. None whatsoever.
We really need a sarcastic smiley. Preferably one that looks a little like Ricky Gervais.
@war1 (Comment 7) : yes… using the other one is a great way to tell when someone is borrowing from your site… take note, SaRugby.com. Makes you look a little silly when you call him by both names in the same article.
@beet (Comment 8) : now that you mention it, what the hell is up with a motherf*kin huge Kenyan sprinter? Talk about breaking the mould!
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 4) : there is conspiracy out there
@robdylan (Comment 9) : looks like the official site has it as Adongo. and it looks like it is an official release. So I decided to check and it looks like his name is actually Daniel Ojiambo Adongo. So Adongo is probably the right name to call him.
Here is a link to an article done on him. http://allafrica.com/stories/201003290538.html
good read.
If you add jean deysel, steven sykes and keegan daniel to the list you probably have the squad that will be submitted as the super rugby squad. and looking at it, it is an impressive squad.
i don’t see “vleis” erasmus’ name here, has he been drafted for the sharks xv this year? or is the contract not finalised yet? I suppose we have enough loose forward depth at the moment.
@try time (Comment 15) : sorry “vleis” engelbrecht.
maybe he has two names too.
i am pleased though that the sharks have moved daniel from wing into the pack where he can get to use his size more. a 110kg winger is useful, but wasted if the ball never gets to him.
@try time (Comment 12) : I’ve called him Ojiambo for so long that it’s kind of stuck. We’re hoping for an interview with him, in which case we will clear it all up.
@try time (Comment 15) : Engelbrecht is just on trial. There is, as yet, no formal arrangement. I don’t even know if he’ll play, but I hope he does.
@war1 (Comment 7) :
And now also 2, or even 3 nationalities.
@robdylan (Comment 18) : yeah daniel sounds like a good find. and seems to be quite good, if they are taking him from a winger into being a loosie. will be good to see him in action. i wonder what he is like defensively, as he could be a good centre as we are thinner in that position.
oh i thought vleis was in for good. i suppose it is only fair he goes through the system like everyone else. so he probably will play a bit in the sharks xv until he has proved his worth then move into the currie cup team (unless the sharks get some serious injuries)
@try time (Comment 20) : my info is that Daniel was moved to loosie cos it was felt his ball skills weren’t up to scratch for wing or centre. But that could also just be talk.
I reckon Vleis is being looked at for the Super Rugby squad straight away, otherwise they would have given him to Everitt.
Mr price Kingspark . . . Sounds weird
At least we got a sponsor that’s What counts, and Mr price will always do well in this volitle world economy.
@robdylan (Comment 21) : lol. that doesn’t say much for ryan deysel alberts or botes handling skills. so why wasn’t christie noble moved to eigthman?
oh so he might be a surprise inclusion into the squad. will just have to wait and see. the sharks squad still looks good, so any new players are going to battle to break through.we will probably get see a lot more of them during the cc.
Some injury concerns but no real surprise here.
Looking forward to Tuesday night!
@try time (Comment 24) : depth at last! Depth at last! Thank God almighty, we have depth at last!
@Mocho (Comment 23) :
at least they left Kings Park
and it is reassuring to think that there is a sponsor throwing so much weight behind the team (and none other – read vodacom).
thinking about poor cheetahs.
@rekinek (Comment 27) : Poor poor Cheetahs. I can see Juan Smith becoming the CEO there after he retires and leading from the front like he always does. How much does MR Price earn from sponsoring the Sharks?
@Mocho (Comment 28) : i’m not sure you can really talk about earning. Surely it’s a great exposure and advertisement but whether you can say it translates onto X rand.
@robdylan (Comment 26) : i wouldn’t go as far as calling streauli god. but credit must be given to john plumtree, sponsors and management who seem to finally all be on the same page. may this be a start of a great decade of rugby in durban.