With the news that a slew of Boks not in the match 22 for this week’s test against the All Blacks have been released, we wait with baited breath to see whether the Sharks will also benefit – and whether John Plumtree will rush any returnees straight into action this weekend.
Western Province have selected Juan de Jongh and Gio Aplon in their squad for this weekend’s crunch match against the Lions, while the Bulls will also use their Bok cast-off, Chilliboy Ralepelle, against Griquas. The Sharks are, of course, well-represented in the 22 for this weekend, with Beast Mtawarira, John Smit, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Willem Alberts, JP Pietersen and Pat Lambie all in the match 22. Possible returnees, though, are Lwazi Mvovo (who was only called up as short-term cover, it seems) and, more surprisingly, Jean Deysel.
Deysel, after impressing off the bench against Australia last week was widely expected to get a start at blindside flank this week. That honour, though, has instead gone to Alberts, who starts his first test in that position. More surprising, though, is the fact that Ashley Johnson has been preferred on the bench, leaving Deysel out in the cold.
Expect Mvovo at least to feature in the Sharks team announced today – assuming he is released – with Sbura Sithole rumoured to be the stand-in at left wing otherwise. The loose forward picture is far more complicated, though, with Plumtree simply not able to justify dropping Marcell Coetzee, who has been his best forward overall in the first five rounds. Jacques Botes has already had to “sacrifice” his starting fifteen place to accommodate the 20-year-old Coetzee and if form is taken into account, then Coetzee must certainly retain the number 7 jersey, with Deysel employed elsewhere.
Then again, those watching the Sharks under 21 side concede a heavy defeat against Western Province last week could be forgiven for salivating at the impact that Coetzee’s inclusion could have on that team too…
The Sharks side to face the Leopards will be released later today.
Seems like Adi Jacobs are out of favour @ the Sharks…
When is the RWC squad announcement!??
@JarsonX (Comment 2) : I stand to be corrected but think it is 23 August 2011 at 19:00
@Charlie (Comment 1) : With Adi still on the Sharks books, I dont know why we bought Marius Joubert.
Both are similar age and the benefit of Adi is that he was more recently involved with the Boks than Joubert.
Best solution is to sell JLP and Meyer and buy a quality backline player. Try get Brad Barritt or Frans Steyn back. Both young and familiar.
Guys ,off topic ,but why is the sat ab side a b side? and the bok side an a side? dont we have the same amount of replacements? and even more injured “would be” first choice players?
@chucky (Comment 3) : Sounds right
@JarsonX (Comment 2) : @chucky (Comment 3) : @ 19:30 live on SS1 and CSN for M-Net viewers
@Talent (Comment 5) : no… not at all.
@chucky (Comment 4) : Jacobs contract are till end of October 2011…so ja the signing of Joubert still a mystery, as Jacobs was already with them and use to the Sharks set-up…
@chucky (Comment 4) : “and the benefit of Adi is that he was more recently involved with the Boks than Joubert”.
Other benefits Adi offers over Joubert is pace, elusiveness, distribution, and yes, defence. From what I have seen of Joubert thus far, the only area where he trumps Adi is at the hairdresser, where he has (marginally) more hair. Admittedly, Joubert has not had that much game time, and may still prove me wrong, but I’m not holding my breath.
@Charlie (Comment 9) :
You forgot to add that Jacobs is also a better player and doesn’t have a windgat attitude!!
@wpw (Comment 11) :
@Culling Song (Comment 10) : Say no more…
I think I might have got this one wrong… the Boks don’t appear to have released either Mvovo or Deysel
@robdylan (Comment 14) :
It’s interesting that they would release de Jongh and Aplon but not Mvovo…..should we read anything into that?
@robdylan (Comment 14) : still working on that interview.
What would your final 30 for RWC be?
Fullbacks:
Wings:
Centres:
Flyhalves:
Scrumhalves:
Loosies:
Locks:
Props:
Hookers:
@Pokkel (Comment 15) : They are trying to get all their players in contention with as much game time as possible.
Be it with the Boks or Provinces.
Bit of rotation so when they make the final call no one was just carrying tacklebags for 4 weeks but playing. Hence Juan Smith and de jongh playing this weekend
@chucky (Comment 16) :
let’s see
Fullbacks: Steyn, Lambie, Aplon
Wings: Habana, Pietersen, Mvovo
Centres: de Viliers, Fourie, de Jongh
Flyhalves: James, Pienaar, Steyn
Scrumhalves: du Preez, Hougaard
Loosies: Burger, Smith/Deysel, Spies, Brussow, Alberts
Locks: Matfield, Botha, Rossouw, vd Merwe
Props: Mtawarira, Steenkamp, du Plessis, van der Linde
Hookers: Smit, du Plessis, Ralepelle
@Pokkel (Comment 15) : I think all three will go… as above.
Fullbacks: Steyn/Aplon/Lambie
Wings:Habana/Pietersen/Mvovo
Centres:JDV/JDJ/JF
Flyhalves:Butch James/Morne Steyn
Scrumhalves:FDP/Pienaar/Hougaard
Loosies:Smith/Alberts/Brussow/Spies/Schalk
Locks:Matfield/Bakkies/Roussouw
Props:Beast/Jannie/Gurthro/CJ
Hookers:Smit/Bissie/Chiliboy
Place for 1 more player
15 Forwards
14 Backs
Lambie to cover 10/12/15
Hougaard to cover 09/11
Aplon to cover 14/11/15
Steyn to cover 15/12
Expect either Johann Muller or Mostert to be added…maybe Deysel but wouldnt bet on it.
We are way under prepared as these guys need to play atleast 2 games before 11 September.
Maybe they will get unnoficial runs against Kings/Boland to sharpen up combos
@robdylan (Comment 18) : I dont think Pienaar will go as flyhalf…as in the past boks have only gone with 2 flyhalves 95 – Stransky/Le Roux ; 99 – Honiball/De Beer ; 03 – Koen/Hougaard ; 07 – Pretorius/James
Think he will be go as Scrummie/utility
Last spot is a straight shot between Mostert/Muller and Flip which I feel Muller might take if he is fit
Surprised that muller hasn’t been in the mix yet.should we read anything into that?
Another surprising exclusion is that of bj botha.
Does this mean that both players are out of the mix?
Would rather have bj than cj there.
@chucky: I’m not so sure about aplon anymore.think he might have just played himself out of the bok team.
@Charlie (Comment 1) : Well unless we see a report that Adi is injured I`m gonna be pretty upset when that team sheet comes out and he isn`t on it.
Fullbacks: Steyn, Lambie, Aplon
Wings: Habana, Pietersen, Mvovo
Centres: de Viliers, Fourie, de Jongh, Jacobs
Flyhalves: James, Steyn
Scrumhalves: du Preez, Pienaar
Loosies: Burger, Smith/Deysel, Spies, Brussow, Alberts
Locks: Matfield, Botha, Rossouw, vd Merwe
Props: Mtawarira, Steenkamp, du Plessis, van der Linde
Hookers: Smit, du Plessis, Ralepelle
@bergshark (Comment 22) : Both were initially involved but fitness/injury proved their undoing.
Had BJ not been injured in JHB before dparture then he surely would still be in contention. probably even would have pushed Jannie for a starting spot.
Only concern would be his general play as his scrummaging is top notch. Jannie needs to hold onto ball more.
What concerns me most though is the way the Boks run away from their support or their support not keeping up with them. Its almost like doing an up and under as the ball becomes a 50/50 either stolen or penalty conceded for holding on.
@Original Pierre (Comment 25) : Me 2 x 1 000 000
@Pokkel (Comment 15) : Yes wp needs all the help they can get against the Lions this weekend!
Adi was actually not half bad vs all blacks.don’t hope we see adi leave.feels like he hasn’t been utilised properly by the sharks.he has an eye for the gap and can put players into space.can also run himself into space.something our backline can do with.
As for an outside centre,I’d have preferred the sharks get ronnie cooke also on their books(if adi is going to be released-which I hope doesn’t happen-even though he will be turning 32 next year,he still has skills we can use at the sharks).but reports were the sharks were after both cooke and joubert earlier this year,but only secured joubert’s signature.has ronnie cooke then re-signed with brive?would still really like to see him play at the sharks.just feel he could be “electrifying”.and he is a solid defender.but straeuli has been trying to get him ever since 2005 it seems-without any luck.
@chucky: so he is out injured?that is a big shame:-(feel for the player.
@chucky (Comment 20) : I’ve got mine wrong… Mostert looks to be ahead of Flip in the pecking order now
@chucky: it too often seems as if our attack is marked by indecision and lacks any cohesion
maybe the communication on the field isn’t what it should be.
If Jacobs,JLP and Joubert not in the Sharks team then why arent they made to play club rugby? The Sharks are basically paying them to train…makes no financial sense. Let them go to the clubs (and by clubs i mean a mix of clubs not just the 1 by the stadium) and the young club guys can benefit.
it will be interesting to see if Plum will utilise his Bok discard Jean Deysel in the currie cup.
Maybe a player like jlp could actually have benefitted from some club rugby.just been hanging around the training pitch it would seem,trying to get a shot at the bench.had a stint in the sr,but maybe it wouldve helped him to go and find hid kicking boots in club rugby.the reat of his game wasn’t bad,just his gk(missed kicks)that stood out.
Reat-rest
@SheldonK (Comment 34) : By THAT club i assume you mean Collegians? Well all players are asinged to clubs not just as and when they need gametime… they try to balance it out but the Bulk of the sharks feeder teams are Rovers and to a lesser extent Collegians.@Megatron (Comment 35) : It would only be fair to keep the loose trio in tact that did duty, but ultimately it comes down to pecking order and before the season started and Bok call ups disrupted teams there was a pecking order.
Marcell knows he is behind Deysel/Alberts etc and it after maybe one game from the becnh expect Deysel to be back in the starting line up if he is not going to be involved with the Boks, but that will all depend on how well juan/Johnson go this weekend
@robdylan (Comment 18) : You are spot on there but I wonder if Mostert doesn;t have an outside chance to be selected above vdMerwe. Its going to be interesting to see how this pans out. I just hope that Juan Smith is fit for the WC.
@bergshark (Comment 33) : It boils down to confidence.
The players seem to have the structures but lack the confidence to execute it on the field which leads to individuals scrambling and trying things off the cuff.
This is a direct result of playing for their lives and playing for a win. They are desperate and when you are that desperate all structure and cohesion gets chucked out the window.
That is how you get the occasional upset by the minnows because they are “balls to the wall”
@Viking (Comment 39) : If Juan comes through 40 minutes on Saturday he will be starting.
Just hope he doesnt break down in the pool stages.
@chucky (Comment 38) : No to be honest i didnt mean Collegians, rather the other club. But thats a whole other issue. My point is that some of the guys are contracted to the Duikers who do not even play in the club league. Its only the start of the Murray Cup and how good would it be to see the likes of JLP,Joubert,Jacobs etc play for their respective clubs. If KZN serious about promoting club rugby then the contracted guys not in the team should be playing.
@chucky (Comment 41) : I just do not trust what the Cheetahs call a fitness test. Last time Juan made their fitness test just to play a full 1 min and 30 seconds. But no doubt that if he can do 40 min he will be on the plane to NZ and starting against Wales.
@Charlie (Comment 26) : You dropping Hougi for Adi? Interesting move. But I feel that Adi may be the unlucky one and if we could send 31 players he would be there.
@robdylan (Comment 8) : Rob what are the respective sides?
Boks ;15.Lambie 14.JPP 13.Fourie 12.JDV 11.Habana 10.Steyn 9.fdp 8.Spies 7.Alberts 6.Brussouw 5.Matfield 4.Botha 3.Guthro 2.Bismark 1.Jannie so for us 2, 3, 7 ,10 and 15 are not first choice despite what we may think ; a third of the team 2nd choice ,dont the ab have similar changes ?
@Talent (Comment 46) : I told Ben yesterday that our team also aint any A-team…
@Talent (Comment 46) : A lot of those are a matter of opinion. Especially 2 and 10…