In taking the field for the Sharks against Western Province this weekend, veteran fullback Stefan Terblanche edges ever nearer the magical 100-cap mark. Saturday’s match will be Terblanche’s 99th Currie Cup appearance in the black and white, to go with his 122 Super Rugby appearances for the Sharks.
Also celebrating a notable Currie Cup cap milestone is Keegan Daniel, who earns his 80th cap against Province. Daniel also needs two more tries to bring his personal tally in the competition up to 30 and he’s been stuck on 28 for a while now, as something of a drought has him in its grip!
Moving down the ranks a little, we have Kyle Cooper earning his 20th cap – although bizarrely only his second starting one – to close off a weekend with little to really celebrate from a milestone point of view. Hell, we don’t even have a birthday to talk about this week!
Let’s hope after the weekend, we’ll have a good victory over Province to dissect.
Can someone please bowl Stef a good yorker already. Either that or forced early retirement. Please.
Rob, seeing Cooper only earn his 2nd starting cap is not that bizarre if you consider the hooker stocks at the Sharks up until this point.
He’s had to wait in line behind Smit, Bissie and Burden.
All of them have proven themselves in Super Rugby as well so he’s been a fair way back in the pecking order and therefore no surprise that 18 caps have been from the bench.
Congrats Stefan.
Closing in on a major milestone. Play well because I really want you to get your century.
@John Galt (Comment 1) : If you are asking for someone to injure him then I think you need help…. and quickly too.
Keegan Daniel has 80 caps against Province!?
Has he been playing professional rugby since age 3 or something? 
Congratulations Stefan! Hope you have a HUGE game!
@Culling Song (Comment 4) : tonsil!
@robdylan (Comment 6) : I do my best…
@Culling Song (Comment 7) : great work, sir!
@Salmonoid (Comment 3) :
Huh? Where did I say I wanted him to be injured?
I was going along with the whole cricket analogy.
You know, like when you were younger and you got to a certain score and then you had to retire not out.
C’mon boet, we all know assumption is the mother of all fk ups.
@John Galt (Comment 1) :
Read your post again, you want someone to bowl him a yorker or a forced early retirement. None of the word someone, bowl a yorker or forced imply removing himself willingly, they rather imply his removal by other means altogether. Antway who retires at 98, cricket or rugby.
Glad I now know you wish him no harm.
@Salmonoid (Comment 10) :
Spelling
Old Stefan certainly earned my respect.
And he is not really the problem…
@Silver Fox (Comment 12) :
…..and not the solution either.
I fear that with Ludi(c)k
there and Riaan Viljoen in the left front seat, that Gouws Prinsloo will only ever practise with the senior team. Almost the same scenario as with Kyle Cooper (whom I really rate above Burden – imo).
This is going to be hard to say. Might as well just say it and get it over with. Congratulations Stefan!
@Ben (Comment 14) : Wait, why am I congratulating him? He only plays his 100th game next weekend!
@Silver Fox (Comment 12) : He isn’t the problem. He is merely one of the factors that are adding up to the problem..
If ever there was a case for retiring after your hundred, this is it
@Silver Fox (Comment 12) : His error count per game is starting to creep up, a testimony to his age. Hell, if you threw Carlos Spencer onto the field for the Sharks right now he might do a few good things, but the point with Stef is:
1) His lack of pace is becoming apparent
2) His touch finding kicks are not as accurate
3) Last week he fluffed kickoffs quite alarmingly
The dude is getting too old for this game… he is actually part of the problem.
@Silver Fox (Comment 12) : Agree 100%. Yes Stef isn`t the player he was but my point is that he`s been helping us out at 13 which is not his preferred position. Of course he`s not going to look great at center when he`s actually a fullback.
Crusty didn`t get a lot of praise for his stint at 13 for the bulls either . . .
But yes, sadly next year we`ll have to look at fullback more closely. With Viljoen and Ludick available there and hopefully Francois Steyn back in our mid-field I don`t see where Stef will fit in.
@Original Pierre (Comment 19) : He’ll fit in nicely in the SuperSport studio!
@Original Pierre (Comment 19) :
bad game yesterday at 15 for Stef as well. And the previous week. It will be a sin if he doesnt declare after the 100.
I’m so fed up with bashing Stef. Out of respect for what he has done for us in the past I’m just not going to say anything about him anymore. He doesn’t select himself for the team after all is said and done. Stef bashing out!
Ben I agree with you but in my opinion a player should know when its time to retire and should have the integrity to retire with some dignity. I really love Stefan he has been one of my favorite Sharks since he first came to the Sharks, I was devastated when he left and elated when he came back but the time has come for him to hang up his boots and maybe stay on as coach- as for Joubert eyish I don’t know
What an average player. And some people still defend his recent performances!
@wpw (Comment 24) : Dude you’re just pissed that you guys have to wait another year or two before he is old enough to be considered a viable option to play for the Stormers.
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 23) :
Agree with every single word. I’m not bashing Stef, but fact is fact.
99…. its about 29 games too many Stef
Tired of seeing you trying to run out of your 22, without any support, and giving away the penalty 
can watch that with my eyes closed cause I know exactly what is going to happen and what the outcome will be 