The Sharks XV take on the Border Bulldogs in their opening match to the 2012 Vodacom Cup tournament on Friday night in East London. The team that has been selected sees a mixture of young talent and experienced heads, and should take the game to the Bulldogs.
The bigger names in the team include Tera Mthembu, who won his first Super Rugby cap last weekend against the Stormers, Sbura Sithole, Gouws Prinsloo and Kyle Cooper, all names that we have seen in the Black and White at Currie Cup level.
Amongst the backs, there is also an ex-Springbok in Marius Joubert, who will guide the younger players around him. He will start at inside centre and form a partnership with Wandile Mjekevu. The halfback pairing of Cobus Reinach and Fred Zeilinga is an exciting combination with some explosive pace between the two of them.
The front row of Mienie, Hadebe and Schonert is a combination that will work well together for most part of the season, with Kyle Cooper still stuck on the bench after recovering from injury. Captain Jandre Marais is joined by Pieter-Steph du Toit in the second row, yet another combination that will see a lot more game time this year.
The loose trio of Kleinhans, Stander and Mthembu is balanced and will run the Bulldogs off their feet.
The Sharks XV
15. Gouws Prinsloo
14. S’bura Sithole
13. Wandile Mjekevu
12. Marius Joubert
11. Rosco Speckman
10. Fred Zeilinga
9. Cobus Reinach
8. Lubabalo Mtembu
7. Brynard Stander
6. Francois Kleinhans
5. Pieter-Steph du Toit
4. Jandre Marais (Captain)
3. Nick Schonert
2. Monde Hadebe
1. Danie Mienie
Replacements
16. Kyle Cooper
17. Allan Dell
18. Peet Marais
19. Chris Cloete
20. Shannon Rick
21. Heimar Williams
22. Jors Dannhauser
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So Joubert wont be in action against the Lions
@JarsonX (Comment 1) :
Of that we can be sure!
Queen’s taking on Hoerskool Grens in the curtainraiser to this match,better tell the Sharks guys who’ll be there to have a good look at young Joshua Stander,also captaining the side at flyhalf along with JP Smith in that 9-10 axis. Also good to see some of the young Sharkies coming home to the region where some of those lads played their bulletjies rugby.
20. Rick Shannon……. or even Shannon Rick????
@JarsonX (Comment 1) : @Richard Ferguson (Comment 2) : Thank goodness.
Interesting to see PSdT at 5. Thought he would have played at 4 and Jandre at 5. Have never seen PSdT play but from what I’ve heard, he’s more of a 4 lock?
Fk me that is a good side.
How tall is PSdT again?
@John Galt (Comment 7) : It is. But they need to gel together as a unit.
@JarsonX (Comment 1) :
see the teeth 
Think I might also be there
@Franshark (Comment 10) :
So Whitehead and alberts will at least be on the bench
Yep good team that, excellent team in fact. Means both Whitehead and Alberts are fit… Excellent… Cooper, poor guy. Monde must be spectacular (which he is) to keep Kyle on the bench. Burden and Cooper… What (wasted) talent… But that’s the game…
Yay! Alberts gonna play this weekend!!!
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 15) : I think it is because they know Cooper won’t be available to Sharks XV for too long…just a Guess
But if Hadebe has jumped Cooper then i’m impressed with Monde, he must have gained some extra weight and power in the off season…his only downfall was his size a year back, in my opinion.
BTW, that is a great Sharks XV team…quality all round. Hope Dell does well off the bench aswell. I reckon he could become our 4th choice prop by next season if things go well, could even overtake Chadwick sooner than that if he(Dell) gets some game time in the CC.
Good to see so many eastern cape bred players..Mjekevu(attended Dale and later Selborne and then KES),Dell,mthembu,Sithole,Cloete.
what happened to theisinger? wasn’t he the next big thing?
Has Piet Lindeque now completely fallen from grace?
Mcalister are you from the country thats has more cattle than people by any chance? JJR hope you’re right,you know this guy made high school such a pleasure for me,down to earth,humble lad. He taught me how to march for trooping the colour parade at school. I would be really chuffed if he were to play Super Rugby next year,also believe that when he gets to senior rugby at the Sharks he’ll be captain,superb leader is young Allan Dell,none more testement than the Sharks u19 coaches making him captain when they still had the Craven Week captain from the previous in the team
I read as far as joubert and didn’t bother going any further.
@Dunx (Comment 14) :
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 15) : @JJR (Comment 16) :
Or it could mean they are not ready at all.
@KSA,hahahaha..well you probably missed on seeing the most exciting backs of the lot in Mjekevu,Sbura and Gouws
@Ludz (Comment 23) : I saw those on the second read but i’m more interested in who is NOT in the Sharks than who IS in the SharksXV really.
@McalisterBW (Comment 18) : Theisinger went to Cheetahs and was converted to lock, what i saw he did well; but his lack of strength and power in his legs has effected him badly it seems…all those injuries he had seems to have taken its toll; if any team could get Theisinger 100% fit, it is The Sharks.
BTW, weather looking good for saturday now…Partly cloudy and no rain
So Sun today all the way to Saturday…Pitch should be looking great!!
@Ludz (Comment 20) : thats me mate! Representing Botswana on Saffa rugby sites!lol
Where is Piet Lindeque?
Where is that SA Schools fullback Sean Robinson?
Let’s hope some of these guys start knocking on the doors of those Super rugby players who appear to be under performing.
@JJR (Comment 25) : is that Adriaan Theisinger who went to Grey College?
Another we haven’t heard from for a while is former Grey College No.8 Niel Jordaan. Apparently he was the next best thing
@JJR (Comment 26) : I see our prayers have been answered
. Now plse just pray that my money from Italy arrives before Friday so I can get my season tickets! Then I can go to the match 
Hey mate,how long have you been on here,ladies and gentlemen I’d like to introduce to yet another man who had the privelege of gracing the black and gold blazer,a man of the 2009 matric class,two years my senior. McalisterBW,he has rugby knowledge that far exceeds mine
@KSA Shark © (Comment 22) : well let’s be optimistic… Logic says based on team selected here that they will be… Surely Whitehead is fit, should play off the bench… Give Meyers 55 – 60 mins with good distribution etc… Then Whitehead to play some dynamic impact rugby. Alberts – really looking forward, hopefully he is hungry for play… He MUST be fit, Terra wouldn’t have been dropped. Alberts MUST be fit!
A few of the other VC teams named for the weekend
Bulls to play Griquas
Jurgen Visser, Sampie Mastriet, Ulrich Beyers, Jean du Plessis, Clayton Blommetjies, Wesley Dunlop, Lohan Jacobs, Jono Ross (c), Jean Cook, Warwick Tecklenburg, Cornell Hess, Gerrit-Jan van Velze, Ryno Gerber, Bongi Mbonambi, Dawie Steyn. Replacements: Robbie Coetzee, Basil Short, Franco Mostert, Daniel Adongo, Rudi van Rooyen, Tony Jantjies, Courtnall Skosan
Leopards to play Lions
Hoffmann Maritz; Danie Dames, Charl Weideman, Adriaan Engelbrecht, Berty Visser; André Pretorius, Eugene Jantjies; Morné Hanekom ©, MB Lusaseni, HP Swart, Brendon Snyman, Robert Kruger, Buhle Mxunyelwa, BW van Dyk, Snoepie Coetzee. Reserwes: Wian Fourie, Gavin Nesindande, Marcell Groenewald, Bernie van Rooyen, Johann Laker, George Tossel, Wynand Willis.
Lions to play leopards
Marais Schmidt, Ruan Combrink, Bradley Moolman, Robert de Bruyn (capt.), Anthony Volmink, Andries Coetzee, Ross Cronje, Ruann Lerm, Uzair Cassiem, Jaco Kriel, Paul Willemse, Hendrik Roodt, Van Zyl Botha, Edgar Marutlulle, Ruan Dreyer. Replacements: Francois du Toit, Wessel du Rand, Fabian Booysen, Stephan de Wit, Nico Kruger, Garth April, Harold Vorster
WP to play Boland
15 Kurt Coleman, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 JP du Plessis, 12 Marcel Braché, 11 Danie Poolman, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom (capt), 8 Tyrone Holmes, 7 Don Armand, 6 Reuben Johannes, 5 Quinn Roux, 4 Mike Ledwidge, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Subs: 16 Pieter Stemmett, 17 Wicus Blaauw, 18 Yaya Hartzenberg, 19 Rohan Kitshoff, 20 Ricky Schroeder, 21 Berton Klaasen, 22 Michael van der Spuy.
Free State to play SWD
15 Philip Burger, 14 Kholo Ramashala, 13 Johan van Schalkwyk, 12 Barry Geel, 11 Marco Mason, 10 Riaan Smit, 9 Izak Jacobs, 8 Dries van Schalkwyk, 7 Francois Uys (capt), 6 Oscar Limani, 5 Waltie Vermeulen, 4 Ockie van Zyl, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Elandré Hugget, 1 Vaatjie Koortzen.
Subs : 16 Antonie Earl, 17 Justin Pappin, 18 Charl Schult, 19 Neil Claassen, 20 André van der Walt, 21 Mzuvukile Duma, 22 Sethu Tom.
@steve (Comment 33) : I wonder if Pat Howard for WP is injured? Surely he’d get the 12 jersey if fit
So van Velze is now a lock convert. I supposed he has too much competition at 8 with the likes of Spies, Stander and Botha
Lions missing Ruan Botha probably through concussion still, Ruan Venter and Etienne Ooshuizen
@slammerboy (Comment 34) : I’d like to see Pat howard get a run – but remember he is still u20.
I expect ruan Botha and Ruan venter to feature for the Lions at some point.
If I look through the teams though there aren’t very many players still eligible for U21 rugby in most sides – Lions probably have the most.
@steve (Comment 35) :
Interesting to see Ross Cronje starting, do you think it is just for gametime? Or do you think that is where he stay most of the season. Just wondering what you think his chances of playing any super rugby are?
Hopefully they get some game time since all three are in contention for being selected for the JWC.
That Lions backline has a Michaelhouse theme – Combrinck, de Bruyn and Cronje alll old boys
@Pat (Comment 36) : I think that they are pretty good – he has been out with an injury after starting the season as the no 2 scrummie.
Who is Jean du Plessis? Wonder when Kholo Ramashala went back to the Cheetahs,Ruan Botha must surely be injured. Good to see Ruan Lerm,why he’s not in Dawie’s u20 squad is a mystery to me.
@Pat (Comment 36) : I’d say they are pretty good. Don’t think the Lions Super 15 9s are that great so expect Cronje to get some game time at some point. Hopefully Mcleod outshines Bondesio otherwise I’ll be removing my foot from my mouth!
@slammerboy (Comment 37) : It certainly does – may even see Guy Cronje who has been playing well for UJ in the varsity Cup feature – that would make it four.
@slammerboy (Comment 40) :
Yeh i havent been too impressed with Bondesio at the minute, takes an age to get things going but it could be that he is still finding his feet at super rugby level. But definitely think Ross Cronje could cement a position there if he gets gametime.
@Ludz (Comment 39) : du Plessis played for Pumas Craven Week team in 2010, went to HTS Middleburg. Lions U19 in 2011. 105kg so he’s a big lad. Muzi might know him since he could have played in last years U19 final against the Bulls
Oh and where’s Michael van Vuuren,the Cheetahs hooker who played for SA u20 last year,last I checked he was Adriaan Strauss’ deputy,now he’s nowhere,is he injured?
@Ludz (Comment 44) : He has been playing for Shimlas in the Varsity Cup. Shimlas aren’t going very well so that possibly undermined his chances
Apparently JC Van Rensburg only out for 6 weeks and not rest of Superrugby season – supposedly surgery went well and things not as bad as feared.
@slammerboy..oh him,was wondering who this is,he’s a big boy,watched him a couple of times while he was a schoolboy,good player. JP (Jean-Pierre or Jean-Pieter) du Plessis,didn’t know he had moved to the Bulls
@Ludz (Comment 47) : not the Stormers JP. Different one entirely if that’s who you’re referring to.
I won’t be watching so let us know how he plays.
Also keen to hear how Marnus Schoeman, if selected goes against the Bulls.
@McalisterBW (Comment 27) : Serious, i grew up in Botswana…had a good time there.
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 30) : Conflicting weather reports tonight…so lets hope for the dry day; but be prepared for a Wet one.
@slammerboy (Comment 29) : Yes; Jordaan is still very young, we will probably see him play some U21 rugby this year.
@slammerboy,no Western Province JP isn’t that big,the one I’m talking about is the 108 kg monster who had a twin brother who played at fullback for HTS Middelburg,he wasn’t as big as his brother though. Just don’t know which one is Jean-Pierre and which one is Jean-Pieter,but those are their names
@JJR (Comment 49) : @JJR (Comment 49) : seriously..did my high school years at Queen’s College and year of varsity in PTA..plan to return upon completing my degree..
@McalisterBW (Comment 52) : Did my High school years at Michaelhouse and finishing my Degree at NWU, hopefully this year
Probably going South and not North when i finish…the east coast is calling 
What’s happening with the Du Preez, Kearnsney Brothers? The brother that plays 7 needs to come to The academy, i also like the Flyhalf.
@JJR (Comment 54) : The no.7 looks like a decent player..i’m not too sure about the flyhalf..didn’t see alot of him durin last years craven week
I see a lot of Tukkies polayers in the Bulls side…I wonder what they will be like now in the Varsity Cup! And people moan about the Sharks recruiting…
@slammerboy (Comment 43) : @Ludz (Comment 47) : Different player – this is Jean du Plessis – he has played for Tukkies in the Vaarsity Cup for the past year or two – originally from WP – Boland Landbou – he was in the WP u21 squad in 2010.
There are two JP du Plesssis – one is in the WP side this weekend and the other played U19 for the Lions in 2011 and I believe is still there – he may get a game for the U21′s later in the year but both of the Lions Vodacom Cup centres – Robert de Bruyn and Bradley Moolman – are still U21.
@slammerboy (Comment 28) : Lindeque is either injured or out of favour – although IMO Mjekevu offers much more than him – bigger and faster just not entirely convinced that he is a 13 and not a wing. He was scheduled to play wing for the Lions U21′s in 2011 until Divan Ferguson the first choice 13 was injured and Wandile was moved in.
He did play centre at KES and for SA schools in 2008.
robinson is still U19 and needs to show what he is capable of at the higher level I expect before he is considered for the Vodacom Cup side.
@steve (Comment 58) : I like the idea of Wandile at centre, Plum and The Sharks have a clear strategy here, they are looking at having exceptionally fast outside centres. Wandile IMO is a centre, he has good ball sense, and can step off both feet, will create a lot of space for his wings and support players.
@McalisterBW (Comment 55) : That No.7 is a beast for his age, he is the youngest of the 3 brothers…think he was 15 or something(He’s Huge for that age), and i think that is the only reason he wasn’t selected for SA Schools…cos i wathced most the Craven week games, and i thought he was the best 7 at the tournament.