Veteran flanker Jacques Botes has been elevated to the Sharks’ starting lineup for Friday’s clash against the Leoaprds and will wear the captain’s armband as Keegan Daniel plays off the bench. John Plumtree has made five other changes – mostly rotational – to the side that beat Western Province at Newlands a week ago.
Pat Lambie and Lwazi Mvovo are both with the Boks this week, meaning recalls to the side for Meyer Bosman and Sbura Sithole, at inside centre and left wing respectively. Louis Ludik and Odwa Ndungane keep their spots in the back three, while Marius Joubert takes over from Stefan Terblanche in the number 13 jersey. Fred Michalak has recovered sufficiently from injury to lend some continuity at flyhalf, with Conrad Hoffmann preferred to Charl McLeod as his partner this week.
Botes replaces Daniel in a straight swap at open-side flank, with the combination of Marcell Coetzee and Ryan Kankowski at 7 and 8 given a further change to develop. Ross Skeate and Anton Bresler continue at lock, while Wiehahn Herbst replaces Eugene van Staden as starting tighthead in an otherwise-unchanged front row.
Alistair Hargreaves, now over his injury, replaces the unlucky Jandre Marais on the bench.
Sharks: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Marius Joubert, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Sbura Sithole, 10 Fred Michalak, 9 Conrad Hoffmann, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Jacques Botes (capt), 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Dale Chadwick
16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Eugene van Staden, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Adrian Jacobs, 22 Stefan Terblanche
i see plum decided not to use Bok castoff Jean Deysel, marcell coetzee gets another crack.
@Megatron (Comment 1) : don’t think he was released.
Good team, although I would’ve liked it if Fred was rested this week.
@Megatron (Comment 1) : I don’t think Deysel has been released by the Boks; neither has Mvovo so the Sharks couldn’t select them.
@Megatron (Comment 1) : he wasn’t released
Hoffman, yay!
@KingRiaan (Comment 3) : for who? You guys aren’t exactly overflowing with flyhalf talent.
@Megatron (Comment 1) : Hope U got that he wasn’t released by now
Adi jacobs owning that 21 jersey by now
Pitty we won’t be watching this game
And not to mention my FL players all getting a rest…..
@Charlie (Comment 9) : I’m thinking a trip to Utopia to see how they’re managing Adi over there may be called for…
@Franshark (Comment 10) : Supersport might perhaps have live online streaming
@Charlie (Comment 9) : ya boet , i would have like to see adi and joubert get a crack together
@Charlie (Comment 13) : they will, ja
hardluck sharkies, i’m sure you would’ve enjoyed having your Bok discard running for you
@Culling Song (Comment 12) :
@Culling Song (Comment 12) :
Can I come too?
Like using a bazooka to scare off a pesky pigeon… Too much fire power used in this game, continuity sure, but why not rest the guys a bit? Give young guns more play time, Cronje, Richards, Marais etc…
@Charlie (Comment 13) : its already been advertised as such
5 Boks on the bench against the Leopards
or is it 4? Was Keegan ever capped or did he just play against the baabaas?
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 19) : they are, there are 8 youngsters in the squad
one cant just throw it all open boet , if they lost it would be all supporters slating them
i think had they not lost to Griquas?? they could probably taken more of a risk against the leopards
@Pokkel (Comment 21) : yes, but we nearly lost to the Pumas and got stuffed by Griquas. Can you blame the coaches for being unwilling to take chances?
Sharks struggle to raise their game against minnows…
@robdylan (Comment 15) : @sharks_lover (Comment 20) : Will rather check updates on SW
@Charlie (Comment 25) : we’ll be doubling our presence at Kings Park on Friday night to bring you only the best updates
@molly (Comment 7) : it’s the Leopards. JLP would do.
@robdylan (Comment 24) :
I know. That is one thing I admire about the Cheetah’s. They usually put up big scores against the minnows.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 27) : dunno hey… they have Wes Dunlop, one of the better flyhalves we’ve produced over the last few years
@robdylan (Comment 26) : me will follow on both boet , as the streaming is not great quality
Just back from ladies breakfast and can tell you not treating Adi well at all
Megatron your cousin is just too nice! Not to mention a bod to kill for! Ill soon be spouting re Sburra/hosepipe like Sharon with Lambie!
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 31) : i really feel sorry for Adi , he is a very very good center
@Pokkel (Comment 21) : Keegan played against Ireland. He is a capped Bok
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 31) : hosepipe?
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 31) : @sharks_lover (Comment 32) : Sad story it seems…
@robdylan (Comment 29) : The sum of the team as a whole should be enough to give us a victory even with JLP facing up to Dunlop.
That said, I have it on good authority that the hamstring problem during the WP game was nothing more than cramp and not a tweak of the previous injury.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 36) : ok well – good stuff then. If Fred’s fit, then we must play him.
I reckon JLP is on paternity leave now anyway
@robdylan (Comment 33) :
Thanks
@KSA Shark © (Comment 27) : damnit, I always forget about him.
Its clear now that coach Plumtree doesn’t rate Adi Jacobs. The guy must make plans to change Unions.
@robdylan (Comment 34) : At the Sharks ladies breakfast during a Q & A one of the ladies asked Sburra how he got the nickname “hosepipe” HE says it’s because of a very big vein on his bicep…….
Rob his flatmates call him hosepipe because he has a large vein in his bicep that’s large – amazing what you learn at these ladies breakfasts
We sat with Pierre Marais what a charming guy!
@robdylan (Comment 37) : If JLP is on leave then we can play Bosman there, it wwould have given Adi and/or Marius Joubert a chance to play.
That hosepipe story is probably just the PC version.
Adi has beeb screwed over good and proper. The Lions would do well to invite him over.
Seems tremendously disloyal to say this, but Adi needs to find a union that will appreciate him. All that his loyalty is getting him is ringside seats to the games, access to the Sharks gym, and about 30 minutes of game time per season. This annoys me as much as people with decent whisky “saving it for a special occasion”.
@Culling Song (Comment 46) : Agree… Accept I don’t care too much what people do with whisky
@Culling Song : I have learned that u met my mate working with me… He is also that bloubloubul that pops up here from time to time
@Culling Song (Comment 46) : uh oh… better not ever show you the inside of my “whisky cupboard” then…
@Big Fish (Comment 44) : Someone who spoke to him this am tells me that the Bulls are after him and we should know in the next month or so regarding his future.
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 42) : Peet Marais?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 50) : Bulls? I’ve heard he’d rather claw his own eyeballs out than pull on that jersey again
Stef on the bench. All hope is not lost I guess.
@Ben (Comment 53) :
@Ben (Comment 53) : He’s resting to be playing every game for the rest of the season
Rob yes but he explained to me that his name is actually Pierre and he prefers being called Pierre. His brother Jean Andre also came to our table two very pleasant young men.
@Franshark (Comment 48) : Your friend is a remarkable individual. He walks upright without dragging his knuckles on the ground. He uses words with more than one syllable. He has displayed a capacity for abstract thought. And yet he supports the Bulls. Rather boggles the mind, actually.
@Culling Song (Comment 57) : wow, that is well said
@robdylan (Comment 49) : I don’t hold with the whole “saving for a special occasion” philosophy because you never know, you could get run over by a truck, or contract a virulent strain of Ebola, or fall into a vat of LSD and wind up in another dimension and never get your opportunity. So, in lieu of that, with regards to whisky, my definition of special occasion is as follows:
1) If I’m thirsty, or
2) If I feel like whisky, or
3) If I’m conscious
@Culling Song (Comment 59) : We share the same philosophy.
You guys are snaaks!
@wpw (Comment 61) : its obvious u can’t spell… Snaaks = SHARKS
Can someone tell me where is this guy Odonga?
@dawj (Comment 63) : I believe he was at the breakfast yesterday and he always shows up in all the pics of the Sharks at training… in other words, he’s very much part of the squad, just hasn’t quite been given the chance to play yet.
I think the thing with Daniel is that because he came to rugby very late in life, his ball skills have always been a bit behind what you would expect. He’s a wonderful athlete, though, big, strong and fast and I think the Sharks are working on a plan to get him to where he needs to be as soon as possible.
Hard to pick him ahead of Coetzee though…
@Ben (Comment 60) : Good man!
@Culling Song (Comment 59) :
I better finish that bottle of whisky you gave me for my birthday before I see you again else I might just be in BEEG trouble.
@Culling Song (Comment 59) :
I’m looking forward to our tasting tonight. I wonder what special treat awaits us tonight?
@Pokkel (Comment 67) : Dude, the first rule of Whisky Club is you don’t talk about Whisky Club…
@Culling Song (Comment 68) :
Did I say ‘club’ anywhere?
@molly (Comment 6) : me thinks yay too
and let me guess – not televised
@Culling Song (Comment 68) :
@Pokkel (Comment 66) : @Pokkel (Comment 67) :
So basically you have to go on the piss until you meet up tonight to savor some whisky.
@sharks_lover (Comment 14) : aren’t they both 13 though.
@Salmonoid (Comment 73) : Or hide it!
@robdylan (Comment 34) : you don’t want to know
@robdylan (Comment 64) : yip – he was at the breakfast. But with exception of one early game where I think he either played or was bracketed I can seem to recall him being utilised so to speak.
@rekinek (Comment 77) : So was Karma good to you?
@Salmonoid (Comment 78) : Nope – Karma is a biats!!
But we did at least get a very nice (but very nervous) 
youngster at our table!
@Salmonoid (Comment 78) : Karma managed to get me a picture – only. I think you jinxed my karma
@Ice (Comment 79) :
Were you all at the same table, I dont blame the poor youngster for being shattered. The positive is that when he makes his Bok debut it will be a walk in the park for him. 
@Ice (Comment 79) : Very very nice
@Ice (Comment 79) : @rekinek (Comment 80) :
To be honest I was really hoping that you got exactly what you wanted.
Next time.
@rekinek (Comment 82) :
@Salmonoid (Comment 83) : yes ! even more reasons to look forward to the next one
@Salmonoid (Comment 81) : We were indeed – me, Reki, Ness and Janine, Kette, Me2 and Blok Dudette and then 2 other ladies with Peet Marais.
I just need to download my pics and get some from the other ladies – will put up an article!
@Ice (Comment 86) : Oh – and I am officialli now : “Tannie Ice”
@Ice (Comment 87) : are you gonna write us a nice article about your brekfis, tannie?
@robdylan (Comment 88) : i am indeed Roberto – please see comment 86
@Ice (Comment 89) : oh sweet
I’ve managed to identify all but one of the players from the pictures up on Sharksrugby
@robdylan (Comment 90) : Good – I’ll ask youir help if needed! But have manage to identify the few players I cornered!
@robdylan (Comment 90) : Do you recognize any of the ladies.
@robdylan (Comment 90) :
Rob, by the way, thanks for the awesome Sharksworld tshirt. Not sure if the thanks are due to you or KSA or all of you. I have thanked KSA.
Gwest- awesome design.
If I have left anyone out….thank you.
@Salmonoid (Comment 93) : all thanks must go to KSA and GWest
@Salmonoid (Comment 93) : BTW, is the name Salmonoid an oblique reference to the Scottish first minister?
@Salmonoid (Comment 93) : It’s a pleasure… But I did not do anything other than also accepted one
@robdylan (Comment 95) : I thought it’s something to do with a solenoid, kicking things into gear
@robdylan (Comment 95) : I thought it was maybe a reference to some sort of robotic fish?
@robdylan (Comment 95) : Drat, you have now blown my cover.
@Culling Song (Comment 98) :
Almost there, in my case it has to do with fish of the salmon / trout family.
@Salmonoid (Comment 99) : It’s actually so obvious once you put the pieces together… actually hit me when I was lying in bed last night
@robdylan (Comment 100) :
Ahhhhh Rob, thinking of me while in bed, what will the wife say (yours and mine)
Hope the nightmare was not too bad.
@Salmonoid (Comment 99) : Care to enlighten us less-intelligent-than-Rob folks?
@Culling Song (Comment 102) : see 99 @Salmonoid (Comment 99) :
@Culling Song (Comment 102) : go figure out who the scottish first minister is
@robdylan (Comment 104) : but I guess in pronunciation it is completely different.