Well, there’s never a dull moment down in Durban, is there? Stefan Terblanche seems to have a very understanding wife and will take his place at outside centre for the Sharks against the Lions this weekend after all.
Earlier in the day, it was reported that Terblanche would be given the weekend of, but that now seems not to be the case, as the veteran has been named to partner Meyer Bosman in the Sharks midfield.
Other changes to the backline that played against the Leopards see Charl McLeod replace Conrad Hoffmann at scrumhalf and Lwazi Mvovo come in for Odwa Ndungane at wing. Sbura Sithole moves from left wing to the right to allow Mvovo – unlucky to be cut from the Bok World Cup squad – to play in his natural position.
Up front, the only change to the pack sees Keegan Daniel take over from Jacques Botes at openside flank, also assuming the captaincy in the process. Botes will be part of a 5-man forward bench, along with another Bok returnee in Jean Deysel. Ali Hargreaves falls out of the picture, to be replaced by Jandre Marais in the number 18 jersey, while the inclusion of the extra forward sees Marius Joubert drop out of the 22 altogether. Adi Jacobs and Hoffmann are the only backline reserves this week.
Sharks: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Sibusiso Sithole, 13 Stefan Terblanche, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Fred Michalak, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Keegan Daniel (capt), 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Eugene van Staden, 18 Jandre Marais, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Jacques Botes, 21 Conrad Hoffmann, 22 Adrian Jacobs
Is there really that little faith in Adi??
@vanmartin (Comment 1) : seems like it
Go Tjarkies!!
Where’s Richards?
I would have like a Deysel, Coetzee and Daniel starting combo with Kanko on the bench..but ja – thats me.
Good to see Coetzee keeping his spot though, as well as Jandre coming in again.
@robdylan (Comment 2) : Maybe Adi should go seek a good retirement at one of the French or English clubs. Sharks aren’t doing his career any favours. I wouldn’t care that much if he was a rubbish player but I think he’s proven that he’s not with the few opportunities he’s been afforded.
What a joke!
@JarsonX (Comment 4) : playing for Rovers
@robdylan (Comment 8) : So Sbura is favoured above him then.
I don’t really think it is the inclusion of the extra forward that caused Marius Joubert to be dropped from the 22.
I would have preferred to see Adi starting and stef having some quality family time. Allowing for Gouws or Richards to make their way onto the bench.
Great side, except for Tereblanche.
Glad Sithole is starting.
Please hang up your boots Stef. Your time is up.
Come on Plum…..give Adi a break FFS!!
Stefan’s wife must really love the Sharks.
@rhineshark (Comment 14) : Or she would not mind the break to be alone with her new baby..?
@rhineshark (Comment 14) :
I personally think he’s now suddenly playing because he fears his time at the Sharks is rapidly coming to an end.
1 good performance by Adi and Stef will battle to start again.
MAMA MIA…HERE WE GO AGAIN !!!
@John Galt (Comment 12) : Honestly, it is less about Terblanche, he is still a very good CC player, although hopefully this is his last season. It is more about not giving Adi any sort of a shot. I am not sure what is going on in Plum’s mind with regard to Adi, because when a huge majority here think he deserves a starting shot, why does Plum not think so????
And I would like to see more of Mark Richards, on the rugby field.
@JarsonX (Comment 9) : well, it looks that way, doesn’t it?
@Salmonoid (Comment 19) : me too, of course, but which one of Ludik, Mvovo and Sithole do you drop to make room for him?
@robdylan (Comment 21) : I was thinking that they both should get gametime, Richards and Sithole that is.
@JarsonX (Comment 22) : so you want to leave Mvovo out?
Is Ali Hargreaves out of favour – or is he still nursing – or are our new boytjies just too hot to replace?
Feel for Adi and Stef collectively – also trust Marius Joubert comes good before soon, because at this stage I loathe his presence there – not a personal thing, just know that he is so much better than his recent showings…
Great to see Jean Deysel back – I feel for him, and can only imagine he’d rather be with The Boks, but after a quiet 2011 Super season – its time to pay back to The Sharks with some big performances…
Sharks to take this game, looking forward to it!
@robdylan (Comment 21) : Sithole, just to give Megatron a bile attack.
I wonder if there’s a personality clash between Plumtree and Jacobs.
Since Jacobs is another one of these players who’s past his peak and fast approaching his sell by date, it would be nice if we could benefit by using him in some or other type of exchange deal for a player Plumtree does think has starting potential.
@beet (Comment 26) : Yep; quite remarkable to see the fall from relative grace for Adi – there must be more than meets the eye… Professional sport is such a delicate thing – one can only assume there must’ve been something disruptive – because Adi on a fast pitch like Ellis Park (I will not call it Coke Park) can be absolutely devastating…
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 24) : Ali had flu
@robdylan (Comment 28) : That makes sense… I rate Ali.
@robdylan (Comment 23) : No. 1 starting and 1 benching or 1 this week, the other next week.
@beet (Comment 26) : Hmm – Is his contract up and not being renewed? Dont underestimate the influence of the “wise men” who brought you JLP, MB, MJ etc who handle the contracting on who plays or not.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 18) : John Plumtree, if you’re reading this, Dancing Bear doesn’t know why you won’t listen to him…
I kind of like our bench this weekend.
With 20 minutes to go we can send on Botes, Deysel and Adi . .
Botes will win lots of turnovers for Deysel to set up phases and Adi will round it off . . .
@CapeShark (Comment 32) : hehehe, It would be nice to know wouldn’t it. Although I didn’t ask him to listen to me, I just would like to know why he does not think much of Adi when so many here think he is our best 13. I am sure Plum has his reasons, but unfortunately, his reasoning is beyond me.
@Original Pierre (Comment 33) : I like your view, however Botes does not turn over much ball. He plays to the ball, but does not play to the ground. Great support player, tackling like a demon, and securing ball at ruck time, but not much at turning the ball over.
Rekinek and I will be there in the flesh to support our boys!!!!
Anyone else going?
@Ice (Comment 36) : Oh – and we are also taking the better halves and the ankle biters!
Thne Lions will be very tough in Jhb. Usually when the Sharks lose to the Lions its through poor tackling and silly mistakes on the Sharks behalf. Terblanche vs Mapoe should be an interesting matchup as will Michalak vs Jantjies. Keegan Daniel needs to step it up if he wants to keep his place and captaincy.
@steve (Comment 31) : Contract expires with Sharks end October 2011, nothing new on the table yet
so sbura has to move to the other wing to accommodate the Sharks’ other Bok discard
@Megatron (Comment 40) : Pieterson has to do it for king Banana as well.
That’s life.
@Megatron (Comment 40) : Spare a thought for Mark Richards then.
@Salmonoid (Comment 42) : i reckon the Bok castoffs should bench.
@Megatron (Comment 43) : Ok, no problem with that.
@Megatron (Comment 43) : @Salmonoid (Comment 44) : Yes let’s leave our best players on the bench! That worked so well for us against the Griquas, didn’t it?
@Ben (Comment 45) : hahaha you’re still smarting from be klapped by the Kwas?
@Megatron (Comment 46) : I just feel the best team available should be starting every game.
@Ben (Comment 45) : @Ben (Comment 47) :
What happened to the other Ben? Plum plays his best centres available and you throw your toys and dont want them. Now we are saying expand the exposure of fringe players and you dont want that either. 
@Ben (Comment 45) : You can take the Bok team, give them Sharks contracts, dress them in black and white and they will still get klapped by Griquas in Kimbereley. Thats the way of the world.
@Salmonoid (Comment 48) : Got no problem with resting players. But you can’t keep Mvovo for example on the bench for the whole of the Currie Cup.
That other Ben doesn’t believe that Plum’s best centres is necessarily the best centres in the squad.
@Ben (Comment 50) : In reality the best team should always be taking the field, I just feel for some of the players.
Mind you if we win this game it will put the Sharks in a good position going into the second half of the competition.
@Ice (Comment 36) : Would have love to but is still struggling to get over the phnemonia. I hardly ever miss a game up in Jo’burg. Enjoy
@Nita (Comment 52) : Shame Nits!! Hope you get better soon – I’ll shout for your sake too!
@Ice (Comment 53) : hey hotness
@Megatron (Comment 54) : Have you no scruples. Werent you giving Helen the eye a short while ago?
@Salmonoid (Comment 55) : unlike you i can look at the menu and not order
@Megatron (Comment 56) :
You are assuming that the fine establishment would choose to serve you should you choose to order.
Methinks that you would wait in vain, with your cutlety unused.
@Megatron (Comment 56) :
Gees louis…. May the rugby start for we do not know what we will be chatting about next
@Big Fish (Comment 57) :