Jacques Botes will not be included in the Sharks team to face the Stormers this weekend, having sustained an injury against the Hurricanes on Saturday. As a result, coach John Plumtree will be forced to yield to temptation and select Jean Deysel a little earlier than he was intending to.
The powerful flank – who earned his sole Bok cap against Italy in 2009 – has been making steady progress after a serious knee injury prematurely ended his 2010 Currie Cup campaign. Having played around 200 minutes of rugby for the Sharks XV in the Vodacom Cup over the last month, the signs are that he should be ready to take on the might of the Stormers… whatever the case, without Botes in the mix, Plumtree would be forced to blood a raw youngster like Marcell Coetzee against if not for Deysel.
In other good news for the Sharks, hooker Bismarck du Plessis and lock Alistair Hargreaves have both been cleared for duty, having been out for one and three weeks respectively. Craig Burden and Gerhard Mostert look likely to feature for the Sharks XV in their must-win Vodacom Cup knock-out against Western Province as a result. The return of du Plessis, in particular, will complicate the selection fot he front row, as John Smit played well at hooker last week. The fiery former Free Stater’s dynamic game all over the park will probably tip the scales in his favour, though.
No..We need to take Mostert with…we need to dominate the Stormers physically. Yes, I thought Skeate did well on Saturday although a lot of people were not happy with his performance but Mostert against the Stormers and Bulls offers us more.
My team for Saturday would be.
15 Ludik
14 JPP
13 Adi
12 Bosman
11 Mvovo
10 Lambie
9. McLeod
8. Kanko
7. Alberts
6. Keegan
5. Ali
4. Sykes
3. Jannie
2. John(c)
1. Beast
16. Bissie
17. Eugene
18. Mossie
19. Deysel
20. Hoffman
21. Stefan
22. Odwa
lekker Deysel!!!! Cant wait to see this guy back in action. Make us proud…
My team for Saturday would be.
15 Ludik
14 JPP
13 Stefan
12 Bosman
11 Mvovo
10 Lambie
9. McLeod
8. Kanko
7. Alberts
6. Deysel
5. Ali
4. Sykes
3. Jannie
2. Bismark
1. Beast
16. Smitty
17. Eugene
18. Mossie
19. Daniel
20. Hoffman
21. Adi
22. Odwa
well – you guys better start phoning and emailing Plum to tell him Mossie must be with the Sharks this weekend…
@Ben (Comment 2) : I would go with that team. I suppose plum is just wondering about 2 and 13. But i say lets play John and Adi. Would give us the strongest squad.
@sharks_lover (Comment 4) : sorry Bismark to start at 2 and Stefan to Capt
@robdylan (Comment 5) : lol rob
to me skteate had a bit of a shocker last week
MOssie has been very good so far in all the games he has played
few reasons i wouls start bissy is that fetching role and i think with deysel hitting the rucks hard and winning ball could be huge
also we might have bismark sulking if he thinks he is dropped
thus i would start stefan to capt , i too would love to see adi start
@Ben (Comment 2) :
Love that side!
Plenty of physicality up front, pace and power in the back 3, and with Adi in the centres, we can keep their centres honest.
We know that won’t be the side though.
I really hope that Deysel is fully recovered.
the loose trio to me should be one of 2
8 alberts
7 deysel
6 daniel
or
8 Kanko
7 Alberts
6 Deysel meaning the bench would have either daniel or kanko as backup
@sharks_lover (Comment 4) : So where is John now, on the bench or starting? Can’t be both?
@Ben (Comment 12) : sorry did post after that one that i would have bismark starting with smitty off the bench @sharks_lover (Comment 9) :
@Big Fish (Comment 10) : Yes I know he’ll never choose that squad.
i dont think we should put all the prssure onto john , as good as he was last week , can you imagine we lose and he was at 2????
john would as usual cop all the blame
@sharks_lover (Comment 15) : I’d even play John at prop and make him captain just so that Adi can start!
Against the Stormers @ Newlands we Need Bissie to start! We missed his ball poaching ways last week @ while many here do not rate flo he should not be under estimated!
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 17) : hello aunty
@Ben (Comment 2) : If we start with that team we should win. In the CC last year 80% of our games were won in the first 30 minutes. We used to put 20 up on teams and then starve the opposition of possession and put them under pressure which lead them to making errors.
If we implement that form then starting with Adi and Mvovo will help the cause. Starting would Bissie might be tempting, but we need a captain and Smit’s form counts in his favour. Bissie can come on in the second half and fight at the breakdown.
@Ben (Comment 16) : lol i hear ya
if smitty plays off the bench he is mature about it , i just dont get the same feeling about bismark
and the team cannot afford inhouse player issues , it would disrupt to much , and i aint saying there are?? just saying we should avoid it as much as possible
Can’t believe Mostert is gonna be in Sharks XV…he can cover 4 and 5, plus he makes a big impact…Literally!!! The Capetonian at Heart, A.K.A Skeato should be the one to get dropped. At this stage i even prefer Bresler to Skeate. Skeate is my 5th choice Lock. Glad Deysel’s chances have gone up…i really want him back; i think he is ready!!!
guys can you see how difficult this is for plum???
and if john starts Ben all the more reason to play Deysel at 6
he is the closest we have to a fetcher other then bismark
Can anyone confirm or deny the rumour that Fakeforcer Vermeulen needed clean underwear after reading this headline?
@Mocho (Comment 19) : Yip even If Plum really wants to start Bissie then just move Smit to prop. But loosehead. Don’t think Smit should ever play tighthead again. I just want Adi to get a start. But it seems Stef is Plum’s love child!
@sharks_lover (Comment 20) :
@KSA Shark © (Comment 23) : hehehehehe
@sharks_lover (Comment 22) : I was thinking more of Keegan playing the fetching role if Bissie didn’t start.
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 17) : We missed his poaching?
We achieved the highest score we have all season and we repeated (only for the 2nd time this season) a 5 try haul.
I think we did more than allright thank you.
@Ben (Comment 24) : Maybe it’s not so much that he loves Stefan, maybe it is that he DOESN’T love Adi.
@Ben (Comment 26) : boet deysel is our best fetcher along with bissy
dont get me wrong i am a big daniel fan
our option might be to play alerts at 8 then and deysel at 7 and daniel at 6 and play kanko off the bench
@sharks_lover (Comment 20) : Well honestly imo if that’s how Bissie feels about it he can go and play his rugby somewhere else. The name in front of the jersey is always more important than the name at the back.
@Ben (Comment 26) : in other words Ben a team like this
My team for Saturday would be.
15 Ludik
14 JPP
13 Adi
12 Bosman
11 Mvovo
10 Lambie
9. McLeod
8. Alberts
7. Deysel
6. Keegan
5. Ali
4. Sykes
3. Jannie
2. John(c)
1. Beast
16. Bissie
17. Eugene
18. Mossie
19. Kanko
20. Hoffman
21. Stefan
22. Odwa
another player that should sooner or later get a start is hoffman
@sharks_lover (Comment 29) : Nah I would start Kanko. Either Deysel or Keegan to start at 6, I really don’t mind which one.
If Mostert is not in 22 i will go nuts, i can’t help but think that Plum favours Skeate over Mostert…but in my opinion it can’t be rugby reasons. Makes no sense.Also don’t know if Skeate’s heart is in playing for the Sharks jersey…i think he plays for himself…maybe i am just saying this because he is really a Stormer inside.
Yes, Jacobs deserves a go at 13…we all know he offers us a lot more than Stef. I rate Smitty should stay 2…Bissie can make an impact off the bench. Smit can’t play prop just Because he is Captain…Beast should not move over for someone who is not better than him in that Position. I am all for Smit at 2!!! Not Prop!! Is John playing at 1 best for the team or is it just so that he can start? We must do what is best for the team and i will say again Smit should be our starting 2. John and Bissie can rotate.
Dudette is not a John Smit fan… I’m not sure why not, but I doubt it’s gonna change now
I don’t think we’ll see John at 1 this weekend. It will be 2 or 16. And don’t expect Adi to start either. They like him as an impact sub.
@sharks_lover (Comment 32) : I agree with that Hoffman should get a start soon. But they should do it against weak oposition like the Bulls or the Lions!
@sharks_lover (Comment 32) : Agree.
@robdylan (Comment 35) : i think Keo’s crowd has gotten to her
*sigh*
If ever there was a guy who deserves the tag ‘overrated’ then its this guy.
ONE good season in 2008 Currie Cup and since then he has been injured. Jeez, talk about hyping up your players…
Daniel was awesome as an impact sub and I’d like him to continue in that role. Doubt plum will start wolla, though
@wpw (Comment 39) : well i see on keo after 4 matches elstadt is the new best lock in SA
i mean thats tormer supporters hype
If we want to win on Saturday we have to bully the Stormers in the scrums and break downs etc
i dont see that happening with daniel at 6 but with a trio of alberts wolla and kanko
last 25 min daniel can come cause more havock on the field with his speed
Deysel is a super Blindside flank…smashes through the Defence and can steal like Brussouw at the Breakdowns. Also puts in huge Hits…overating? Never eva…he is Da Sh*t!!!
Ksa come until Mvovo scored the intercept we were not that flash and it was against the Canes who let the Cheetshs across their line 6 times? You think it will be easier against the team with the best defence in the comp? With a fetcher? I wish I had your guts!
@sharks_lover (Comment 42) : Okay but the question is how fit and ready is Deysel? That’s why I don’t want to rush him back.
@robdylan (Comment 35) : Hope so…not a fan of Smit playing Prop at all. I feel it does not benefit the team and only happens to make space for our Captain…i hate seeing Beast on the bench. Smit can start at 2, with Bissie off the bench…i have no problem with that at all…cause it is best for the team when looking at all the aspects.
@Ben (Comment 45) : He has played like 3 games for Sharks XV and since then he has had about 2 weeks of intense conditioning. I believe he will be more than ready to give The Sharks 20-30 Minutes off the bench.
@JJR (Comment 43) : amen
@Ben (Comment 45) : yes he is ready
and i like rob dont think plum will start him , but i would seriously consider it if i was plum , specially if you start smitty at 2
we must have a fetcher in the team , deysel and bissy are our 2 fetchers
@sharks_lover (Comment 42) : If we want to win on Saturday we have to start playing the whole 80 minutes like we mean business and not just the last half an hour!
@wpw (Comment 39) : your bait is old and smelly
@JJR (Comment 47) : Exactly off the bench. That’s why he isn’t in my starting team
@Ben (Comment 52) :
Sorry; did not read!!! Apologies 
@Rob
Who said it was bait??
@JJR (Comment 53) : Actually meant for Sharkslover to read my comment.
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 50) : sharon agree 100% , but we still must have a fetcher on the field or we will get skinned
playing the full 80 min is a given
to me we should play to loose a game and its for that reason i would consider the loose trio of deysel alberts and daniel, specially taking into account that we start smitty and not bissy
we have to win the collusions
@KSA Shark © (Comment 23) : Actually, he needed his nappy changed.
if we start with bissy?? the bench daniel and start Kanko
Rob its not that I don’t like JS ’cause I do its just I think Bissie is better and check my posts since I started coming to Sharksworld I have consistently said so. I remember reading the stats at half time on Sat and we had conceded 2ce as many turnovers as the Canes that is what is worrying me re Sat that is all
@robdylan (Comment 51) : did you get a chance to go to see CD??
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 59) : if you read my posts you will find i agree with you in many ways
we have 2 fetchers deysel and bissy
@sharks_lover (Comment 61) : By the way Boet. I never said Keegan is a better fetcher than Deysel. I said I was thinking of Keegan playing the fetching role because I’m not sure Deysel is 100% ready to start.
Here’s the team plum will pick. I can almost guarantee it…
Beast Bis Jannie Sykes Hargs Keegs Vic Hoff
Charl Pat JP Meyer Stef Oddy Louis
John Eugene Skeate Wolla Hoffies Adi Lwazi
@Ben (Comment 62) : nope mate never thought you said do either , just saying why i would start deysel
I don’t think Deysel is ready for a Start as Ben has said…therefore Bissie should start with John at 1 eventhough i hate Smit playing Prop. Bissie can play afetching role. Deysel came come off the bench for 30-20 minutes. Will only give Deysel a start after the Bye; to be 100% sure he is ready; Alberts will also be fresh and we can hopefully see them combine and Break the opposition to pieces.
Beast should come on for Smit at 50 Minutes. Smit gets tired fast when he plays Prop. Also Stef should go 15 and Jacobs go 13 last 20-30 Minutes. Stef is the Captain with smit off so we have to take Ludik off to make space for “Impact Jacobs”.
Wes, known you long enough to know when you fishing
S_L, afraid I didn’t manage to get to La Lucia yesterday. Last day in durbs was hectic beyond belief
@robdylan (Comment 63) : thats also who i think the team will be , but not fully what i would choose
accept i aint sure he will drop mvovo?? for tri-pod
@sharks_lover (Comment 64) : But if all fit and ready my loose trio of choice would be 8 kanko 7 alberts 6 deysel and then have keegs come of the bench as impact.
@robdylan (Comment 66) : ahh ok cool
@Ben (Comment 68) : thats powerhouse trio mate
@robdylan (Comment 63) : I think Plum will start Mvovo. Only change
@robdylan (Comment 66) : When r u off back to Blighty?
@sharks_lover (Comment 70) : Makes the trio of 8 vermeulen 7 flo 6 burger look like children!
@Ben (Comment 73) : Hence my nappy comment!
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 74) :
howzit going in blue bulls country shaz?
@Ben (Comment 71) : you wanna bet?
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 72) : tomorrow night
@robdylan (Comment 76) : Have you got some info from inside? Something smells funny!
@Ben (Comment 75) : Marvelous! They keep losing which makes me a happy bunny! Think my sticking pins in an effigy of Victor Matfield may be yielding results! Now… where’s my Schalk doll?
@Ben (Comment 73) : well they did last year in the super 14
our loose trio was alberts , kanko, deysel VS Schalk, vermeulen and flo
need i say who won the battle??
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 78) : You don’t need a Schalk doll darlin. Alberts should take care of his ribs for us!
@sharks_lover (Comment 79) : Please spell it out for us!
@robdylan (Comment 76) : Have a safe trip “home” and twas truly splendid meeting you!
@Ben (Comment 77) : ben the reason he might start odwa ahead of mvovo , is re their workrate
odwa does a lot of hard work , now i agree mvovo is getting better and scores tries , but he is kinda lazy, he needs to get more involved in the game
all you have to do is go look at the starts and see how little he gets involved
so i wont be surprised if odwa starts
@Ben (Comment 81) :
@Ben (Comment 80) : Ah yes, Mr Bone Collector. Should crunch him into mulch just fine. Add a couple of nifty hand-offs from our dearest SuperPat and we’ll grind Schalkie’s bones to make our bread!
As for that big girl’s blouse Vermeulen… do Pampers come in XXXL sizes? 
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 82) : sharon did you see me greeting you on Keo the other day?? i made sure the blokes there knew you are a big sharkie
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 85) : No but pamper come in 3-4 years old sizes. Should fit Duane just fine those!
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 85) :
@sharks_lover (Comment 86) : Was that you? Didn’t see! I pop over there from time to time to stir up the proverbial pile of pooh and watch them start taking bites out of one another! It’s huge fun!
@Ben (Comment 87) : If not then it will have to be incontinence pants…
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 89) : lol yup that was me
same Nic
@sharks_lover (Comment 91) : Will have to plan a more co-ordinated attack!
Those okes are SO easy to wind up over there! 
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 92) : lol they sure are
and as it is us sharkies get under their skin so easily
Most of us agree…it’s not that we think Skeate is not good because he is..he should compete directly with Hargs for the number 5 jersey. The space on the bench should be kept for Mostert cause he makes a huge impact when he comes on. Deysel should also be on the bench and only come on with 20mins to go. We also need to start with Bissie..the impact he makes from the start is massive.Beast coming off the bench is also huge. All in all, we also need a strong bench and a bench that includes Beast, Eugene, Mostert, Deysel is strong. The question is, do we go for a 5 2 split or a 4 3 split.
@robdylan (Comment 76) : i’ll take that bet… really dont think mvovo will be dropped after his last performance even if we up against a menacing backline thats waiting to come right
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 44) : Don’t try and have the guts I have, strive to have my objectivity
It would be silly to start with Deysel, and we all know this.
Let’s give the guy a a chance to come off the bench and ease back into full blown Super Rugby action.
The last thing we need is for him to injure himself again.
My back three would be Kanko, Alberts and Daniel.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 97) : then you will lack grunt and you will have no fetcher if you start with smit
if that loose trio starts you have to play bismark
and that also means you must start stefan and play adi off the bench
Mostert should be with Sharks in Cape Town not with the VC side.
Sorry for Botes, but will be really pleased to see Deysel back. If Deysel starts we can start with Smit. If not then Bissie has to start.
Go Sharks.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 97) : Agree that we should bring Deysel off the bench. BUT we can’t start with that loose trio you have there. Not against the Stormers. Like S_L says, we will have no fetcher. Then we have to start with Bissie. Think Plum might just consider to start with Deysel.
@ SL and Puma
Do you really think Bis won’t play this weekend? I will put my money on the table that Smit will be at loosehead. Then you can start with Kanko, Alberts and Daniel.
Fetcher this fetcher that, I agree with JW. A fetcher is someone who fetches beer.
Have a look at the stats, where does Bismarck rank with GAINING turnover ball? I KNOW he LEADS in turnovers given TO the opposition.
Bismarck was awesome on turnovers gained in the 2010 S14 but how many has he ACTUALLY achieved this season?
Fetching is dead. Get two big boys (like Sykes and Deysel) to hit that ruck just as it forms and the ball is yours.
It’s called counter-rucking and it WORKS. Go watch the Crusaders play this season.
@robdylan (Comment 103) : JW was a genius ahead of his time.
@ Rob
Would you start with Deysel?
if smitty is to play loose head , then i have no doubt in selectin deysel at 6 with kannko and alberts
daniel is brilliant when he comes on as impact player
deysel will be strong behind smitty at LH and bismark will be there
and what of MOM beast though?? his was huge last weekend?
This complicates things…
Botes out you lose speed to the breakdown. If the Reds blueprint is to be followed in beating the Stormers, you have to dominate the tackle area…
Plum imo has little option but to start Bismarck whose major strength is in the tight-loose and tackle points.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 97) : Agree 100%.
@robdylan (Comment 103) : Agree 100%.
I am in a VERY agreeable mood!
@Morné (Comment 107) : and that is why i will choose deysel , he hit rucks harder then most , against the self same stormer loose trio as last year the sharks player kanko, deysel and alberts , no fetcher remember?? and smitty at hooker who thunped tiaan liebenburg
what alberts kanko and deysel did was win the collusion points
Flo was taken out of the game that day, infact plum would be wise to go watch that match again
@sharks_lover (Comment 109) : Bang the drum
@Ben (Comment 110) : lol ben im bangin immmmmaaaaaa bangin booom boooooooom booooooom
@sharks_lover (Comment 111) : Been hearing that sound from last night!
@Ben (Comment 112) : Kind of like that ominous soundtrack from Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and Return of the King! Something wicked this way comes!
@Rich, yes I would. Risky, but I think it will work.
He played 80 mins against the Pumas and came through fine. I’m sure he’ll be ok
STORMERS TEAM: Conrad Jantjes, Gio Aplon, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Byran Habana, Lionel Cronje, Dewaldt Duvenage, Duane Vermeulen, Francois Louw, Schalk Burger (captain), Andries Bekker, Rynhardt Elstadt, CJ van der Linde, Deon Fourie, Wicus Blaauw. Replacements: Ethienne Reynecke, Brok Harris, De Kock Steenkamp, Nick Koster, Ricky Januarie, Kurt Coleman, Juan de Jongh
@Danman110 (Comment 115) : They Just might pull a Lions move and make a last minute change.
I never trust those Bergies.
@Danman110 (Comment 115) : where did you see that announced? I’ve seen nothing
@robdylan (Comment 117) : On Supersport.
@Danman110 (Comment 118) : thanks. Just seen it.
@sharks_lover (Comment 109) : Now you have me very confused. You spent all your earlier comments on this thread saying we need to start Bissie because we don’t have a fetcher, then in this post, you say we beat the Stormers last year without a fetcher, and with Smit starting at Hooker. So which is it? Do we need to start Bissie so we have a fetcher as you said earlier in the thread? I don’t think so, I agree with Rob that counter rucking is where it is at with the new law interpretations. I would still start Smit with Bissie on the bench. Smit was superb last week, what more does he have to do to deserve a start? I am really getting tired and frustrated with Plum’s seeming insistence on playing his players into the ground instead of rotating them.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 120) : Howzit uncle DB? I so badly wish Adi can get a start. Stef isn’t cutting it at Super rugby level at the moment.
@Ben (Comment 121) : I couldn’t agree more, I have been asking for Stef and Bissie to be rested with Smit and Adi starting for several weeks now. Bissie gets injured, Smit gets one start at 2, and then Bissie is right back in there. I also could not agree with you more that if this is because Bissie has a bad attitude and does not like playing off the bench, then he must rather leave the Sharks and take his skills and attitude elsewhere. Not saying this is the case, but if it is, get rid of the boy.
@ Ben…we all know by now – re Adi starting = wishful thinking
@Charlie (Comment 123) : Plum certainly does tend to have some blind spots doesn’t he?
@Dancing Bear (Comment 122) : Stef is stalemate in the backline! Almost never gets threw a gap, almost never offloads in the tackle, doesn’t have the pace to keep up with his centre partner or wings to run in the supporting channel. So he really needs to go and think what’s better for the team and tell Plum to rest him because I can not see how Plum can’t see all this. Is he blind?
@Charlie (Comment 123) : I think Adi will be back to shine one more time.
@Ben (Comment 125) : Preaching to the choir Ben
I agree 100%.
@Ben (Comment 126) : Adi will always shine when given the chance. He has never let either the Sharks or the Boks down.
We have two world class Hookers, and Plum can not figure out how to rotate them? I don’t get it, why would he play Bissie into the ground while Smit gets splinters in his butt? Each player should get three or four games in a row starting at 2, then rotate. I’m sorry, but I just don’t support this Bissie is a fetcher and we need a fetcher argument. It is much more difficult now to win a turnover with your hands, it is much easier and more effective to counter ruck.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 128) : Yip all he needs is a chance. Can still go to the world cup and Stef never will.
So what I’m saying is by with the Sharks not playing Adi, not only are the disadvanteging themselves, but they are keeping Adi from going to the WC in what will probably be the last one he could play in considering his age.
@Ben (Comment 130) : Look, I don’t want to take anything away from Oom Stef. He has given his all to Sharks Rugby for many years, he is a leader, and he has done great things as Captain since returning from Europe. That being said, I don’t want to write Stef off right now, but clearly he is out of form, and he has shown no signs of playing himself back into form. This leads me to two possible conclusions, first, he is past it, and I just can’t accept that, or second, he really needs some time to recuperate both physically and mentally. That being said, having Adi, a Bok Centre ready to fill his boots, why is it so difficult for Plum to make the rotational change?
@Ben (Comment 131) : They are disadvantaging both Adi and John Smit. All four players, Stef, Adi, John and Bissie could all shine in their respective position if Plum just handled the rotation correctly.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 129) : I am with you on this DB. If Deysel startst this Saturday, Smit has to start at hooker. Bissie can come from the bench later. Also would like Beast to start. I know Beast can up the tempo when he comes from the bench. BUT we need that from the start.
Agree, Smit had a great game on Saturday. I have no doubt he will again, but at Hooker not LH. Bissie can do with the rest. He has played non-stop this season. Imagine Bissie coming on when legs are tired?
We must just not mess our lineouts up this week. With Bekker there we will be punished. Against the Stormers our defence has to be spot on.
Go Sharks. If Deysel starts. Good luck for the game. Hope he has a great game. Felt for him with that freak injury last year.
Also with many here. Think Adi should start this week.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 132) : Correct I’m also not writing off Stef. But like I said he needs to look at himself and decide that he isn’t the best thing for the team at the moment at 13 and he needs to tell Plum to rest him untill he gets his form back. I also have huge amounts of respect for Stef but we can’t go round playing out of form players when we have Adi in the side.
@Puma (Comment 134) : Agree 100% Puma.
As for the lineouts, I have not really said much, but from what I have seen, both Bissie and Smit have had throws poached quite often while throwing to the middle and back of the lineout. It seems that throws to the front have not been a problem. Throws to the front are all about timing, while throws to the middle and back are also very dependent on your lifters getting their timing right, and this is where I have seen the Sharks mess up. Bissie and John have been throwing in quite well, but more often than not, the lifters have not been supporting the jumpers (much to Sykes’ chagrin in the last game). The Sharks must work this out, and Beast has been very poor in this regard this season. The Sharks must just concentrate on winning ball at the front of the lineout against the Stormers. This will limit their attacking options, but will ensure that we don’t keep throwing the ball to Bekker.
@Ben (Comment 136) : Spot on.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 138) : And if captaince is the issue I’d say put Bismarck on the bench and start Smit as Captain at hooker. To me at the moment Adi will add more value to the team than Bissie will.
@Ben (Comment 139) : And Smit is a better captain than Stef. Gotta run to a meeting, see you later.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 140) : See ya!
@Ben (Comment 2) : @Dancing Bear (Comment 133) : @Ben (Comment 139) : Ben, gotta say that I agree 100% with your squad. When I was compiling my own fantasy squad, I was toying with the idea of Mostert rather than Hargreaves, but if we are to be a nuisance to Bekker (doubt if we’ll really manage to disrupt him), then Ali is a better bet. Mostert on the bench would also ensure that we maintain the physical onslaught for a full 80 minutes.
Similarly, I was also toying with the idea (geez, that makes me sound like a selector… I wish!) of starting Deysel at 6, but again, giving him time off the bench is probably more prudent, and as with Mostert, will help keep up the physicality.
Given that John and Stef are the appointed captains, and we therefore have to start with one, I think you’ve identified the crux of the matter – who would add more value starting, Bissie or Adi? For my money, it would definitely be Adi. John has shown that he is still one of the top hookers in the country, and that we don’t necessarily lose much by starting him (in fact, we gain in certain facets, such as lineout throwing, which is pretty important when the opposing team has Andries Bekker). On the other hand, there is a huge chasm between what Adi offers in comparison to Stef…
Whic brings me to another long-standing gripe about the Sharks; how come we hardly ever managed to combine centres who compliment each other? If I have to name the pairs over the last 20 years whose skill sets have complimented each other, I’d say Muir/Thompson, Barrit/Murray, and …er…
Obtaining Meyer Bosman’s services was definitely a move in the right direction, but he’s a player who commits defenders and looks for the offload, and to profit from that you need a cenre partner who can exploit the opportunities created by Bosman committing defenders.
So what are the chances that Adi Jacobs will start ? I think…zero
@ Culling Song, agree 100%, Adi can also fill in at 10 & 12 during the game as we all know by now…
@Culling Song (Comment 142) : “Obtaining Meyer Bosman’s services was definitely a move in the right direction, but he’s a player who commits defenders and looks for the offload, and to profit from that you need a cenre partner who can exploit the opportunities created by Bosman committing defenders.”
And I think that Adi is the guy to do it, not Stef. Still think Stef can also be rotated into 15 as well to give Ludik a break. If one does not want Stef to get his form back while resting, then why not give him some time at 15?
I would just like to say in the past few games al hargreeves has been dissapointing imo.
Since when do we need a specialist jumper ,since our forwards all can lift 100 kgs over their heads ,why not play an enforcer?
Disrupt them at line out or soften the weight advantage our tight 5 will have over the opp.
Food for thought ,any way ,our front row better be on song this weekend . How good is cronjes kicking??
@Culling Song (Comment 142) : Unluckily we aren’t the selectors.
@Talent (Comment 146) : Ali has not played the last few games, out with injury, so yes you’re right, I have been disappointed in his play the past few games as well, I would much rather he actually got to play.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 148) :
@Dancing Bear (Comment 148) : I’m disappointed with Ali as well, he just never seemed to pitch up!
@Ben (Comment 150) : Certainly not the last couple of games.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 148) : @Ben (Comment 150) : HA HA HA
no man the last he played .Gosh cant give a negative opinion about a sharks player on here without getting some sought of stick. Almost as bad as WP fans us bunch are .
Ali hasnt been great in my opinion .Fair
@Talent (Comment 152) : We are just kiddin around, you know that…
@Dancing Bear (Comment 145) : I am in complete agreement; I still wanted to expand on my post, but we received visitors and I had to cut it short.
As I said, Bosman commits tacklers and looks to offload in the tackle. To exploit that, you need a centre partner with explosiveness and pace to breach the gap in defence, or alternatively, someone who can create uncertainty in the defenders minds, thereby creating opportunities out wide.
Based on above, Adi has all the required attributes; pace, acceleration, elusiveness and unpredictability. I am afraid to say that much as I admire Stefan Terblanche for his contribution towards the Sharks, he does not tick too many of the above boxes.
So, similar to your views, I would much rather see Stef rotate with Ludick. Stef has a sound positional sense and tactical kicking game, and I certainly think he can still offer a lot, just not at 13.
@sharks_lover (Comment 11) : How about:
8. Daniel
7. Alberts
6. Deysel?
My team for Saturday would be:
15. Ludick
14. Odwa
13. Stef
12. Bosman
11. Mvovo
10. Lambie
9. McCloed
8. Daniel
7. Albert
6. Deysel
5. Hargs
4. Mostert
3. Jannie
2. John (c)
1. Beast
John had a blinder last week and he can build on his performance while Bissie was injured and needs to build himself back up. Rather let him come off the bench at about the 50 minute mark and then he can destroy the Stormers who have been worn down slightly.
Deysel can play the same kind of destructive game as Bissie.
At some point in the season coming up though, both John and Stef should be on the bench and let Hargs start to take over the captaincy with both these guys providing the security blanket at a later stage if needed.
@Butchie34 (Comment 155) : I like your idea…unleash Adi, Kanko and Bissie at about 50 minutes and cause havoc!
@Pokkel (Comment 156) : Stef could also move to 15 so you can keep an experienced captain on the field.
@Pokkel (Comment 157) : That’s an important thing I hadn’t even thought about. At some stage we’re going to have to rest poor Ludick or he will break down. I don’t think any player will be able to play every single game in Super Rugby anymore.
Maybe Plum is waiting for Marius Joubert to arrive so he can play at outside centre to shift Stef to fullback to give Ludick a break.
@Butchie34 (Comment 158) : That’s no excuse both Odwa and Stef can play fullback and Adi is more than capable of starting at 13.
@Ben (Comment 159) : True, although Odwa doesn’t have too many games worth of experience at fullback.
Adi is brilliant at 13, but in my view he is one of those guys who is a brilliant impact sub; in the same manner that Bob Skinstad was a impact sub in 1997.
@Butchie34 (Comment 158) : Good idea, wonder when we can expect him?
@Butchie34 (Comment 160) : I disagree, I think Stef is badly out of form and we need to get Adi in that 13 jersey.
@robdylan (Comment 35) : I have to wonder what use an “impact sub” is if you only allow him 10 minutes per game to make an impact? Sometimes, I feel like ’tis a fool who looks for logic in the chambers of Plum’s heart…
@Culling Song (Comment 163) : Valid point…but I try to analyse Adi’s impact, 10 or even 5 minutes on the paddock…there is still a influence…honestly haven’t seen Juan De Jongh have this influence @ Stormers…Jacobs would be the best sub for Boks come WC as JDV and JF would be the incumbent midfield…
@Charlie (Comment 164) : This is what gets me; Adi tends to have more influence in his 10 minute cameos than our current no. 13 does over an entire game. So then, why limit him to ten minutes!? If Plum is so conviced Adi should be used as a super sub, at least give him 30 minutes to work his magic. Is that so much to ask!?
As for Juan de Jongh, I’m starting to think he’s a bit of a one trick pony; receives ball, accelerates off the mark, steps inside, gets flattened by the Bone Collector, repeat steps 1 – 4, etc.
@Culling Song (Comment 165) : AGREE…Give hime at least 30 min…Same analysing on JDJ from my side