The Sharks have named a very experimental-looking starting side for Friday night’s warm up game against Boland, which kicks off at 7pm at Mr Price Kings Park.
Perhaps more interesting than the starting line up itself, though, is the composition of the 13-man bench; together, they paint the picture of a 28-man squad that is somewhat different to what we would have expected. Looking at who is not included is often more revealing that seeing who is there. In this case, we can assume that Jannie du Plessis is off on honeymoon, but the absence of Alistair Hargreaves and Cobus Reinach is somewhat more baffling.
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, though! John Plumtree is clearly in the mood for tinkering, hence the decision to start Anton Bresler at 5 (perhaps his natural position?) and Fred Michalak at scrumhalf. The front row, sans Jannie, is the Chadwick-Bismarck-Herbst combination you would expect, while Steve Sykes is back in his regular post at number 4, alongside Bresler. Keegan Daniel is at openside, but the selection of Marcell Coetzee at 8 and particularly the ongoing inclusion of Pieter-Steph du Toit at 7 are the big talking points.
Michalak and Lambie combine as the halfbacks, with Tim Whitehead given a run at inside centre alongside JP Pietersen. The back three remains from last week’s “Zambezi” team, with Lwazi Mvovo, Odwa Ndungane and Riaan Viljoen looking very likely to fill number 11, 14 and 15 respectively when the season gets under way for real.
All of the usual suspects, bar Hargreaves and Reinach, are on the subs bench and it will be most revealing indeed to see whether the latter, in particular, is asked to play in the Sharks XV trial match also to be held on Friday. The situation with Hargreaves is far less clear; perhaps we can assume he has been given the weekend off or is possibly carrying a niggle. With six locks all vying for only four places in the squad, though, it’s inevitable that somebody would lose out… how many of us were expecting it to be the only one of them who’s a capped Springbok, though?
The Sharks
1. Dale Chadwick
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. Wiehahn Herbst
4. Steven Sykes
5. Anton Bresler
6. Keegan Daniel (capt)
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit
8. Marcell Coetzee
9. Frederic Michalak
10. Patrick Lambie
11. Lwazi Mvovo
12. Tim Whitehead
13. JP Pietersen
14. Odwa Ndungane
15. Riaan Viljoen
Replacements:
16. Craig Burden
17. Julian Redelinghuys
18. Ross Skeate
19. Jandre Marais
20. Jacques Botes
21. Ryan Kankowski
22. Lubabalo Tera Mtembu
23. Charl McLeod
24. S’bura Sithole
25. Meyer Bosman
26. Marius Joubert
27. Paul Jordaan
28. Louis Ludik
Oh wow..
How way off was my team?! Jeez..
Looking forward to seeing Whitehead closer to the action, want to see what he can actually do!
Du Toit at 7, if he has another blinder, could push to start against the Bulls, surely?
Rob, you’re closer to Sharks management than most of us. No strings you could pull to trade MJ for Reinach…?
@Culling Song (Comment 2) : what? The Sharks management team hates me!
@Culling Song (Comment 2) :
I second that motion..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 1) : I’m surprised (pleasantly) to see this loose trio.
@robdylan (Comment 3) : OK, so try reverse psychology. Send them a long, flowery e-mail praising MJ’s virtues. Maybe they’ll drop him to spite you…
@Culling Song (Comment 6) : I’m not too worried about Reinach. They’re probably letting him get some game time with the Sharks XV this weekend, since there really isn’t any point in having 3 scrummies. There’s no way they’ll all get a run against Boland. This is more about giving Fred a chance to stake a claim to be in the match 22.
I am perplexed about Hargreaves though. Not unduly unhappy about it, if he has been dropped, because of all the locks he’s the one who needs to raise his game the most… I just find it quite surprising.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 1) : Well you could just make like some guys and say “I had the team spot on except for these 9 differences”
Mjekewu also given the thumbs down
So it’s just Jannie, Willem and Jean to rejoin. So 3 guys to get demoted to VcC along the way.
Maybe Redelinghuys and Mthembu.
Then Pieter-Steph seemed the obvious candidate a couple of weeks back but now not so sure. He might retain his possie ahead of a lock.
It may be tickets for Hargreaves.
So happy to see Whitehead given a chance to impress.
I’m not Surprised about Pieter-Steph du toit – we should really get a consensus on what we’ll make his shortened name, because I have a feeling we’ll be using it more in the future – he’s a big boy and got over the advantage line really well in the trails. And I know it’s been said, remember that it was only trails, but none of the other players got over the advantage line like he did. It’s the way he did it that also really impressed be. Some flanks nowadays use power and momentum to bash it over the advantage line. He seemed to use strength. Even after he was taken he would make another couple of yards. Does that make sense. We’ll see what happens, but I think, especially since he’s also a lock, we might be seeing more of him this season.
Interesting choices indeed. Is this game televised?
@robdylan (Comment 7) : I would be a little worried. As we’ve mentioned before, chances are Plum will use a 5/2 split most of the time. So he’ll probably want as much utility players as he could in the backs. Fred for 9/10 and one other back, probably not Reinach, most likely …well I don’t know
, but not a 9 or 10.
It’s good to see there’s some depth though, it’s a long season, and coaches would do good to make use of good rotation of players. You don’t want a guy like Alberts to have to play every game, like he did last season, now he has plenty of back-up.
@robdylan (Comment 7) : I’ll be doing the happy dance!!! Perhaps for once Plum is seeing that form should count more than caps…
Like the look of this team!
Meaty pack and dangerous backline. I like this.
@Culling Song (Comment 6) : And that is why nobody dares argue with Culling Song
Will be interesting to see how 7, 8, 12 and 13 go!
A few surprises, but it really looks like a great blend of youth and experience.
Like this tho, Plum seems to have shaken off his conservative shackles and is giving the youngsters a decent opportunity to showcase themselves
@JarsonX (Comment 12) : oh don’t be silly
Supersport have so many darts matches to show instead
Interesting team. Nice to see Whitehead playing at 12 where Mornè rates him so highly!
With the exception of maybe Du Toit ( cause I don`t know him ) I`ll take this side to Loftus !
Lets hope Whitehead has a blinder!
Anyone know Du Toits stats? Im keen to see him play and deduce whether his future lies at flank or lock
For what it’s worth I’m worried about Frederic Michalak at 9 and how it may affect the rest of the side. I hope his service is quick and accurate , I fear he may try run the show from 9 and as a result of this put Lambie and the rest of the backline under pressure.
Like seeing Bresler in the number 5 jersey . With the injury to Beast I think this may be the best option going to Loftus .Putting some weight behind Chadwick in the scrums can only be a good thing (two enforcer type locks , one more athletic)
Lastly I hope Viljoen joins at 13 on attack(now and then) as I’m still skeptical about JPP at 13.
Like the fact the Plum is experimenting !
has anyone actualy seen Fred play scummie? is he actualy any good there?
Coetzee is more of an 8 anyway, he has goos speed. Plumtree must be looking for 7 cover as Deysel/Alberts situation is always difficult to predict, one never truly knows for certain when they will be 100% fit…well that has been the case in the past, Deysel’s comback was delayed by almost a month last year.
Marcell made his name at 8, and if he performs how we know he can, we won’t blame Kanko for feeling a bit nervous
So we not gonna bring a prop on loan this superugby? I still think we need an experienced prop just to provide some cover until Beast returns. Not Start just be in the squad, for injuries and rotation purposes.
@JJR (Comment 28) : maybe a good idea to give Kanko a season in no7/6 to get him to do more dirty work?
@RuckingFun (Comment 25) : He is a lock 4 sure; but young and not as heavy as he probably will end up, so he has some youthful energy and pace, which can be used at Flank when we have injuries…Losing Deysel and Alberts, even for a game or two is quite disrupting, they play such a huge role in How The Sharks play the game.
@Uli (Comment 27) : Saw him there for France and in the Top 14, and he is very composed and makes the right decisions…only problem is that his passing can lack that “Zip”, which South African scrummies are known for. Freddie passes like Ricky Januarie. Fred has also been told he will play at 9, when he returns to France.
@Uli (Comment 29) : Eish, The Boks tried him at 7…ended badly…Doesn’t have the weight and aggression for 7, IMO. Too tall to be an effective ruck securing and winning 6…Kanko needs to do what worked for him, it was a step/Handoff and then run at the gap…not step, step again, and again and then run 30 metres sideways
Maybe Kanko should make the move to wing; not that it hasn’t been suggested before; but he could be devastating if he puts all his focus into being a winger.
I Like, I like, I like!!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) :
Spot on!
I really hope that Freddie and Lambie combines well. But now JPP can get a proper shot against a not half bad boland team to show what he can do @ 13.
@JJR (Comment 31) :
Got that one right. Kanko is definitely not a lock or flanker. He’s an effective number-8 when he runs into gaps and links well with the backs.
The move to the backs is never going to happen, but if it did, I’d want to see him at centre
@StevieS (Comment 18) : You are wise beyond your years, young grasshopper…
@RuckingFun (Comment 25) : 1.98m, 114kg
@hendrikp (Comment 35) : I hope that the Kanko at centre statement was sarcastic. (Come to think of it, knowing what I do know about you, I’m SURE the statement was sarcastic). I’m a big fan of an in-form Kanko, and I think he could play at wing, but he slips WAY too many tackles to play at 13…
@Culling Song (Comment 38) : I would love to see Spies and Kanko on the wings for an SA A Team just for the fun of it. Neither has the aggression needed for an eighthman yet both are really quick and have good ball skills.
Maybe the SA Barbarians game against England is a good opportunity to experiment
@Culling Song (Comment 38) :
Wasn’t kidding… but was thinking Vodacom Cup centre.
Not sure he’s got the kicking game to play wing.
I like the idea of trialing Fred and Pat in the halfbacks and Tim and JPP in the centers. JPP needs another run and Tim needs a pack that is going forward to give a fair shot at showing his worth.
@Culling Song (Comment 38) : Some technique training will sort that problem out – no reason why Kanko couldn’t become a great center.
The most important thing that Plum needs to realise this year, is that he has a lot of depth in most positions. Rather rest the fellows before they start to feel like the need it. We have great depth at 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,11,14,15 and all those positions should be rotated on a regular basis.
Pretty decent lineup…Plum obviously looking to see how a few new faces do with quality alongside. Personally id like to see the Bosman/Pieterson partnership given mnore time to develop…but lets see what Whitehead can offer. The Michalak/Lambie combo could be interestign if they start switching roles during the game…wonder what Pats scrumhalf skills are like…
@JJR (Comment 30) : So you are actualy saying he is crap at scrummie?
@JJR (Comment 31) : I know and saw that, but he cant sit in the backline for 79 of the 80 minutes we play for… He needs to be able to vary his play in between the two…
@Uli (Comment 45) : I’ve seen Kanko avoid going for the ball when it’s on the ground and players are coming to clear him out. He needs to get dirty!!!
Kanko is a “luxury” number 8, great when your side is dominating the opposition and on the front foot. He is more effective when conditions are good and he can use his speed from the base of the scrum. He’s certainly not a classic 8 in the Teichmann type mould.
I did notice last season that he put a lot more effort into getting his hands dirty and doing the hard graft rather than all the flashy stuff. This could be a very interesting season for him because his starting place is seriously under threat!
@Uli (Comment 45) : No, not at all, i would love Fred to start over mcloed, simply because i really hate players prone to silly errors and charl is one of them…he needs some more composure, and to stop being a “Glory Boy” as they say…it is just a mental shift for Charl, he was brilliant when he just passed the ball fast from the breakdown.
Freddy is a lot more composed at 9 as i said, and this can work on the heavier New Zealand fields, when Sharks tour. He just isn’t as fast as Reinach and Mcloed regarding the speed of the pass. He can work on it ofcourse and hopefully improve.
@Villie (Comment 47) : Agree, i’ve certainly been saying it for a number of years. Even when he did try to add aggression to his game, it didn’t work out, he just ran straight into guys and his body position was poor…he got smashed around a lot. He needs to use his handoff a lot more; Spies is also tons better when he uses his handoff; Spies does have enough aggression for me; i just think he gets overplayed a lot, and that has a negative impact on his performances.
Remeber i said Spies for Bok Captain…i stick by it, many will disagree, Yes…I just think Spies and Meyer can take the Boks really far over the next 4 years. We will see who Heyneke appoints as Captain.
On Boks topic, Du Preez probably won’t be used at next World Cup, so who will be the scrummies behind Hougaard? The names i’m thinking of don’t make me smile too much…
@JJR (Comment 49) :
Who do you have in mind for the Bok 9 jersey, behind Hougie?
Charl McLeod?
Janno Vermaak?
Sarel Pretorius?
Dewaldt Duvenhage?
I think the selection for Bok 9 will depend on who is selected at 10. Certain combinations have great synergy and others dont. If Hougaard is the 9, then maybe its better to have a more attacking threat at 10. If Steyn is 10 you need a scrumhalf that can kick and take pressure off him, so Pienaar would be the obvious choice.
If Du Preez isnt around, id go with Pienaar. He has well over 50 tests and provides extensive experience, has a great kicking game and has a lot of control. Having Pienaar at 9 also means that the Boks would have a goalkicker that could shoulder those responsibilities, although he struggled in the Lions series he has been very good up North in a goal kicking capacity.
With regards to Hougaard, him and Steyn dont really gel. Hougaard has a lot of talent but doesnt have the control of an international 9 at this stage. I would have him in the Bok setup but not starting at this stage, though Superrugby may prove me wrong.
@Pat (Comment 51) :
Interesting, I must admit that I did not even consider Ruan Pienaar.
Your comments on Steyn and Hougaard puzzle me. In my mind, if you have a deep lying flyhalf like Steyn, you would prefer to have an attacking minded scrumhalf, and so have a bit of balance.
Your thoughts so, of keeping it as a combination of either both being attacking or both being more kicking minded, is rather interesting.
I have never thought of it like that..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 52) : I think Pienaar is the most well-rounded scrummy! He can play tactically, he kicks well and he can also run with the ball.
I think Hougaard’s best position is on the wing. He WANTS to score tries and refuses to go to ground when tackled. He keeps fighting for every metre and pumps his legs like a madman! Mvovo does the same and they’re an example that I wish a lot of forwards would follow. Stay on your feet as long as possible to allow your support time to arrive.
Sharks were guilty of allowing themselves to go to ground and conceding easy penalties last year. The CC Final was a prime example. Minnie had a field-day!!!
@ChrisS (Comment 53) :
Pienaar is just not consistent enough in my eyes to be the first choice scrumhalf..
If the scrum so much as moves an inch backward, he will have a bad game..
When he is good, he is great, but when he is having a bad day, it is a disaster..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 54) : His problem has been lack of gametime there for the Boks. During last year’s Tri-Nations he was quick to the ball behind the B Team pack but didn’t get an protection and got limited gametime.
A chance to establish himself at 9 and he has the potential to be the best 9 in the world!
@ChrisS (Comment 55) :
I would try him in the England series, but he will come up short against the likes of Genia and whoever the NZ 9 is, be it Weepu or the blonde guy who’s name now I cannot think of..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 56) :
Jimmy Cowan..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 50) : I will be happy with Vermaak and Pretorius…Duvenhage, eish i really hope not. Mcloed? Needs to become a consistent performer and eliminate the silly errors from his game, those errors have left me bald