Well, it seems that the Sharks have got very good at keeping secrets, even from me! Jean Deysel will make his long-awaited return to rugby tomorrow night as he’s named to play for the Sharks XV against Griquas in Kimberley.
Sean Everitt has made a number of changes to the side that beat the Griffons last week, with Francois Kleinhans also available after completing his tour with the SA Under 20 side. Kleinhans joins Deysel in a hugely impressive loose trio featuring Marcell Coetzee as its third member. In the only other change to the pack, Kyle Cooper comes in at hooker for the injured Craig Burden.
The backline is unchanged, with Riaan Swanepoel again adding steel and experience at inside centre and Mark Richards on the right wing. A five-man forwards bench sees both Lambert Groenewald and Dan Adongo named amongst the subs, while Piet Lindeque is the unlucky man to miss out this week. Monde Hadebe comes back in as the reserve hooker.
The Sharks XV
15. Kobus de Kock
14. Mark Richards
13. Jerome Pretorius
12. Riaan Swanepoel
11. Rosco Specman
10. Guy Cronje
9. Ross Cronje (Capt)
8. Marcell Coetzee
7. Jean Deysel
6. Francois Kleinhans
5. Ross Skeate
4. Anton Bresler
3. Wiehahn Herbst
2. Kyle Cooper
1. Dale Chadwick
Replacements
16. Monde Hadebe
17. Sabelo Nhlapo
18. Jandre Marais
19. Lambert Groenewald
20. Daniel Adongo
21. Cobus Reinach
22. Heimar Williams
What is Specman like? Does he have mega gas?
This is brilliant news!
Fantastic news!!
There are so many diehard Deysel fans at Sharksworld that this news is bound to be cause for a party all on its own.
This should be a really good game. Is it on TV?
With Alberts playing so well, I have totally forgotten we had this monster recovering… lol
Blikskottel…what a pack!!!! Feel sorry for griquas
DEYSEL!!!!!FRIKKIN AWESOME; back for Superugby next week i hope. Anyone be able to go have a look at how Deysel does 2morrow?
Good news.
I wish we had Deysel back for Saturdays game. What superb game he and Alberts had last year against Stormers. Heck would frighten most teams….hehe.
Pity he wasn’t back in time for Stormers this weekend…could you imagine Deysel and Alberts in tandem
There would be a few flattened Stormers afterwards!!!
@Villie (Comment 1) : Believe it or not Specman is probably shorter and lighter than Mark Richards, so with those kind of dimensions ground and aerial defense are always going to be a cause for concern. Going forward he has decent speed and like most short guys he’s quick off the mark. His hairstyles are what usually catches supporters attention.
Glad I could make some people happy
@beet (Comment 4) :
I checked, the only game showed is the Cheetahs one..
@beet (Comment 10) : LOL
Yay!! About time we have deysel back! Hope he can play for THE SHARKS next week!
@beet (Comment 10) : Cheers. Thanks for the info. Will hopefully be able to post a lot of insight into the Sharks XV players when I’m back in Durban for good.
I’m so happy Heimar is hanging in there. Hopefully he’ll get a chance to show what he’s worth and seriously influence JJR’s next up and coming article.
@beet (Comment 16) :
Will be on the look out…he has not convinced me yet; but he def. has some fans.
Gavin Rich reported earlier this week on Supersport that Riaan Swanepoel might be back in the Super XV team…
Great news!! Welcome back Deysel, wishing you the best.
@Charlie (Comment 18) : he also reckoned JLP had hurt his finger, not his calf
@robdylan (Comment 20) :
@robdylan (Comment 20) : Wonder who’s his sauce ?
Wow! What’e team, – would have backed them giving the stormers a good run for their money….. So much talent GO SHARKIES!!!!!
“Well, it seems that the Sharks have got very good at keeping secrets, even from me!”
OK, what did you say in the press conference on Sunday? Or who did you piss off?
Wish this game was televised.
Is Lindeque missing out or could he maybe, maybe be training with the superrugby side?
looking forward to seeing Skeato and Dysel back in the super rugby mix!!!! Bring it on like donkey kong
Lindeque Injured? Cos, i don’t get why Specman would be chosen over him…does not really make too much sense to me.
Whoohoo! Get them Deysel…
yey
though I must be honest I got excited that he would punch the Stormers immediately but I guess it is better to ease the guy into it.
I was suprised to see swanies name, thought he’d be the guy on the bench if jlp is’nt fit
@franshark (Comment 31) : Maybe JLP is ready to go then. JLP 10, MB 12 and Stef 13 with Adi on the bench?
@Viking (Comment 32) : must be, gee are they taking their time with the team announcement or what?
I hear there’s a possibility that john is playing hooker with bissi on the bench…
@franshark (Comment 34) :
what about the strongest team possible against the log leaders?
This is a VERY good Sharks XV team….
Plummo scared to name the team ?
deysel is the biggest showpony ever…watch he’s going play 3 games and breakdown again, mr glass…
@rekinek (Comment 35) : I hope so
i@robdylan (Comment 11) :who wi ll deysel replace? He is a 7 flank…but moving Alberts to 8 is hampering his world cup chances and if he manages himself he should insist on being a 7 spesialist…the next logicle step is moving deysel to 8…but what to do with Kanko, who’s form is improving every game(maybe move kanko to 6…but we need a fetcher in this game? One more option is moving deysel to lock…this may prove to be a very good move…what to do????
Playing Deysel at 6, Alberts at 7 and Kanko at 8 worked absolutely wonderful for us last year. I don’t know if you guys have noticed before but Deysel is very good at stealing the ball at the breakdown. In one game I counted like 3 steals that he did. So that would be my back row, with Daniel on the bench.
@BoerSeun (Comment 40) : What a conundrum to have! It kind of gives you a warm feeling inside…
Hey Plum!!! Did you forget what day it is? Where is our team sheet? People are waiting anxiously.
PDivvy is talking so much sh*t right now!!! Especially about John Smit and playing prop or hooker…he talking as if he is a conditioning coach; but he does not know any of that stuff…i tried to be positive bout this oke; but Bliksem P divvy needs some insane good assistant coaches to cover up for the crap that comes out of his mouth. He needs to go do some coaching course or something, cause it sounds like he is just a random oke that has come and said i am springbok coach…he is a joke.
@BoerSeun (Comment 40) : Kanko is an 8, and should never be asked to play flank again. Alberts can cover 8 and is superb at 7. He is going to need to be rested some time soon, he has played a lot of rugby already this season. Deysel’s return came at a very good time, when he is ready for Super Rugby, Alberts is going to be in dire needs of a rest. Expect to see Deysel playing 7 for at least two games with Alberts on the bench. Kanko is also going to need a rest, so either Keegan or Alberts can cover 8. Of course the 6 Deysel, 7 Alberts and 8 Kanko combination is also a superb one. I hope that Plum starts to rest some players soon, he has essentially picked the same team for almost all the matches so far this season. We have 6 top quality loosies, we should take advantage of that and make sure our players are well rested. Same thing with our front row, Bissie needs a rest, and John needs game time at Hooker.
@Viking (Comment 43) :
1.Beast
2.Bissie
3.Jannie
4.Sykes
5.Ali
6.Keegs
7.Alberts
8.Kanko
9.Mcloed
10.JLP
11.JPP
12.Bosman
13Stef (c)
14.Odwa
15.Ludik
16.John
17.Van S
18.Mossie
19 botes
20 hoffmaN
21.ADI
22.mvovo
@JJR (Comment 46) : Both Bissie and Stef needs a rest. Would love to see John at 2 and captain, with Adi starting at 13. Stef has been very poor the past two games.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 47) : that is the official lineup
Got it about 15 min ago.
@JJR (Comment 48) : I’m sure it is, I just don’t like the fact that Plum has not been utilizing his depth and resting some players. It will be very bad if players like Alberts and Bissie are tuckered out at the end of the season, unable to give their best to the Sharks and the Boks.
Smit is a better scrummaging hooker and better in lineouts than Bissie, who would have much more impact than Smit coming off the bench. That is why I would start with Smit and Bissie on the bench.
Ah well, I’m not getting paid to do this, and Plum is.
I understand playing Beast over an out of form Smit, but then why would you not play Adi over an out of form Stef? Keegan or Ali can handle the captaincy if needed.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 49) : Will be very surprised if Bissie starts next week. I think smitty will go 2 as you say. Also think we will rotate a lot more after this game. Deysel should be on bench next week and hopefully Alberts will just play around 50 min. Also Lions are not too physical. I am pretty Sure the management are doing their jobs well and managing Alberts well during the week; and as we know with Deysel back he (Alberts) can refresh again; and then after Bye we can see them both working together and smashing our opposition to pieces.
@JJR (Comment 46) : I like it. Looks like a solid team to take on the Stormers. Sorry that John had to drop to the bench. Very glad tro see JLP get another start at 10.
@JJR (Comment 53) : Problem is he will make lots of changes for Lions game, and I don’t like that. I would rather he made a change here and there in each game, resting players than making wholesale changes for the Lions. I have a feeling that is going to come back and bite us in the arse. Hard!
@Dancing Bear (Comment 45) : Always not a bad idea to play Alberts off the bench for last 30 minutes. We all saw what a supersub he can be on the end of year tour last year.
@Viking (Comment 56) : I have to be honest, yes he is a very good impact player, but more importantly he needs the rest, and so does Bissie. I don’t like the idea of making 3 or 4 changes in the pack for the Lions match, would rather have 1 or 2 for the Stormers match and 1 or 2 for the Lions match.
O how I wish Lambie coudve taken on the Stormers, just so that he could make Grant his personal boot-licker. But that will have to wait until we play them on Newlands
We don’t need to really worry too much about players getting tired or whatever…Mark Steele has made our squad one of the fittest ever and the management know how and when to give players rest. If they can’t do a contact session during the week, just send them to the GYM!!!!
@Dancing Bear (Comment 52) : I believe that Stef’s defensive coordination will be very important in the game. He is the guys that will have to keep an eye on the centres of the Stormer’s and coordinate the Sjarks backline defense real time.
@JJR (Comment 59) : It is not just training JJR, it is time on the pitch playing in a match that gets our boys knackered. I don’t care how fit they are, they need to be rested. This is an incredibly long season.
@KingRiaan (Comment 58) :
@Viking (Comment 60) : I suppose, but Stef has been falling off of tackles of late. Also think that Bosman is very good defensively and would rather have a 12 dictate defensive play than a 13.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 63) : I’m glad SOMEONE agrees with me that Bosman has been doing well on D
@robdylan (Comment 64) : Once one understands that the 12 usually ends up tackling the 13 (in most cases), there is no doubt his defense is excellent. I think he had two attempts on SBW and missed one, and didn’t miss another tackle. Could be wrong though.
@robdylan (Comment 64) : But then again, I also think that Odders is a much better wing than Mvovo at this point in their respective careers. Not saying Mvovo will not improve and become one of the best, but right now, he spends too much time waiting for the ball, and his outside defense is suspect.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 63) : Haven’t thought of MB coordinating the defence.
Suppose it could create problems if both tries to do it. MB has done the job well for the cheetahs last year.
@Viking (Comment 67) : The best backline defense the Sharks ever fielded was coordinated by Barritt. I honestly believe the 12 is best suited to coordinating the defensive lines. Remember DeWet Barry during the 2004 Tri-Nations victory?
@Dancing Bear (Comment 68) : Also let’s not forget that Dries Strauss did it for the Sharks in the CC last season, with great effect.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 68) : Sho! The 2004 tri-nations is a long time ago. Good memory. But agree with you on 12 being a better suited position for coordinating the defence.
@Viking (Comment 70) : I still think Stef has much to offer the Sharks both on and off the field, but right now, he is off form, and Adi is playing very well. Having Adi start for Stef is not like playing a rookie in a big match, Adi is a Bok centre, has many matches with the Sharks, and would never let his team down. Just makes sense to me to rest Stef and give Adi some match time.
As for Adi, not sure whose cereal he pissed in, but the way he has been treated by both the Sharks and Boks over the past year has been horrendous.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 71) : I do like both players and they have delivered for us over the years. I would rather prefer Stef at 13 for this game though. Just believe he has been the more consistent over the last year or so. But must say that Adi has looked much better in the last couple of games he has come on from the bench.
@Viking (Comment 72) : I understand where you are coming from, but Adi has either been injured or buggered around over the last year. Not really fair to compare their play over the past year. Either have to look at the entire career or form in the past couple of matches. Careerwise, Adi has always been a superb 13, whereas Stef only moved there a couple of years ago.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 73) : Agree with you. But don’t think the sharks coacing has buggered him arround over the last year. He has been injured and I believe the coaces has gone for the inform player over the last year. But if Adi can string together a couple of good performances together he can make that 13 jersey his own again. As you say, over his career he has been a great 13 for the sharks and the boks.
I have to go. Diaper duty with little shark. Catch up later
@Viking (Comment 74) : Hasn’t Adi already strung together a couple of good performances? Not sure what more he needs to do. John Smit gets a 6/10 in both his last two matches, and nobody has any problem with him dropping to the bench to accommodate an in form Beast. While Stef gets a 5/10 in both his last two matches, and nobody would even consider dropping him for Adi. Not sure why.
@Viking (Comment 75) : Cheers
@Dancing Bear (Comment 76) :
You and I are on the same page here DB: Adi is being screwed around, as was Murray, who is again shining for the Lions.
Adi hasn’t had an extended run in yonks, but even so, he still offers much more than Oupa at 13.
His ommission is a mystery to me.
@Big Fish (Comment 78) : I will never take anything away from what Stef has done for the Sharks, especially since his return. But why he is untouchable while the best captain in world rugby is not, I just don’t understand.
Adi’s defense has always been underrated, and there is no doubt about his attacking ability. Couple that with the fact he has been superb every time he has come off the bench so far this season, I really have no idea what more is expected from him.
@Big Fish (Comment 78) : Murray went through a phase of crabbing sideways while with the Sharks, but surely that can be coached out of a player? Murray is a very fast learner, I remember a match against the Bulls a few years ago where he was made to look very ordinary on defense. He came back the very next week a changed man, superb on defense. I think he is a very coachable (is that even a word) individual, and was not given a real opportunity at the Sharks to shine after his injury woes.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 80) :
I remember that game – Olivier was all over him, and we even noted that how he responded would say a lot about him. Needless to say, he responded very well.
I certainly believe he could have offered the Sharks a lot, but even right now, we are wasting Adi on the bench.
I agree with you that Oupa is a Sharks legend, but so is Adi, and he offers us what we need at 13 – penetration and vision.
@Big Fish (Comment 81) : Agreed and with the nature of the Super 15, long season and all, there will be plenty of opportunities for both Stef and Adi in the 13 jersey, if they are managed well. I regret to say that thus far in the season, Plum has done little if any player management.
In the scrums on Sunday, it seemed to me that Bissie was packing down very upright again. He seemed to improve during the end of year tour and the beginning of this season, but was upright again against the Saders. My opinion is that he is as much to blame as anyone for the scrumming woes. Upright scrumming from a Hooker usually comes from being tired, or out of shape. Since Bissie is clearly not out of shape, I have to believe he is in need of a rest. An upright scrumming Hooker takes any chance away from the props to dominate their opposition. Smit never scrums upright, ever, always seems to have perfect scrummaging technique.
I have been saying this for a couple of years now, but SA front rows are the only ones in the world that still use the old method to set up for scrums. The hooker stands upright with hands over his head, props come in from the side and underneath the hooker’s hands, hooker binds over the props with the loosehead slightly forward of the tighthead. This sets the hooker up slightly toward where the ball is getting thrown in from. But let’s face it, hookers do not hook the ball anymore, the scrummie throws it in toward their side, with spin on the ball so it goes back under the 8′s feet without touching a player.
All other teams set up with the hooker slightly forward of his prop, in a semi crouch position, without his hands over his head. Props come in from below and behind, and right into the crouch. Hence the front row starts out much lower than the old technique. A good scrummaging hooker will still drop down on the crouch call, like Smit does, but when tired Bissie does not drop enough. The new technique would force Bissie to set up low, and would prevent a lot of upright scrumming from him, in my opinion.
I have not seen one international team still set up like the SA teams do. The problem is none of the forwards coaches in SA are familiar with the new technique (new well actually it is at least 10 years old, with Argies using it longer than that) so they do not coach it.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 85) : Howzit uncle DB?
@Dancing Bear (Comment 85) :
You’ve delved further into the Dark Art than I dare follow. Always interesting to hear your insight on this.
From a purely superficial level, it just looked to me like the guys were tired and not well-bound at the scrum – perhaps unfamiliarity or lack of game time together.
Beast added a different level of hunger and intensity.
Yaso DB. You shouldn’t be so scarce! I’m loving your technical analysis regarding the various scrummaging techniques.
Its so good to hear that Deysel will be making a come back! missed his huge runs!
Now Plum has a headache. What happens to the starting loose trio? It will be a while till he finds his form, that much is true, but when he does who do you leave out??
IMO, it has to be Kanko. Im a huge fan, but lately he hasnt been at his best. My trio would be.
6 Daniel
7 Deysel
8 Alberts
Alberts was immense there for us in the CC. And I truly believe that he could easily become the Bok 8 if he was given enough time to settle. Spies is no where, and Vermuelen hasnt been given a run at Test level. Alberts would be that Danie Russouw No 8 that we played in the RWC 2007.
DEYSEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)
Sorry for the extended screen all have a wonderful day
A strong bench is important, remember what Peddrie and Danie used to do for the Bulls when they came on? Won many games for their team when things looked bleak. Eugene, Mostert Deysel/Alberts and John Smit coming off the bench can cause havoc and do the same for us. Glad Mostert is back in the mix, the big lad looks hungry.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 92) : that he does. Was very impressed with him against the Saders
@Dancing Bear (Comment 85) : Howzit DB… So sorry to hear about your dad… please accept my condolences and prayers. And thanks for the Scrummage Tech 101 course – fab! Love learning about this game because I hate being clueless!
Boots n All has just addressed the absolute panning that the press and others have been giving John Smit with Bob Skinstadt standing up for Cappie and telling all and sundry off with a wagging finger. Was nice to hear him and Darren Scott standing up for him. He’s been subject to an absolute character assasination at the moment. Very sad.