Rob Jr starts at 10, Bosch moves back to 15 and Fassi back to the bench.
JLDP back home with a MCL niggle – so Paul takes his place and Stringer back on the bench. Hopefully Burden can stay fit until the match this time – otherwise the Sharks will have no reserve hooker. Andrews swaps places with Van Heerden in the starting team. Ward takes over as back line replacement from Van Wyk.
The Sharks ideally need to win this, or at least gain a losing bonus point.
1. Mzamo Majola
2. Kerron van Vuuren
3. Coenie Oosthuizen
4. Hyron Andrews
5. Ruan Botha
6. Jacques Vermeulen
7. Tyler Paul
8. Daniel du Preez
9. Louis Schreuder (c)
10. Robert du Preez
11. Makazole Mapimpi
12. Andre Esterhuizen
13. Lukhanyo Am
14. Sbu Nkosi
15. Curwin Bosch
Replacements
16. Craig Burden
17. Juan Schoeman
18. Thomas du Toit
19. Ruben van Heerden
20. Luke Stringer
21. Zee Mkhabela
22. Jeremy Ward
23. Aphelele Fassi
Tweet
I have no words …..
I do not wish to criticize!!!
But let us be honest, when children works for their parents in a “bigger” organisation, there would most probably be some form of favouritism that creep in. This favouritism attempt to favour the child, but it might not necessary (and would most probably not) be in the best interest of the “bigger” organisation. When it is done as openly as it is done here then it reminds me of the arrogance that some of our politicians are displaying.
It is a sad day for the team that I support so dearly and the sport I love so much….
Our best performance of the season (1st game against the Lions) had Rob at flyhalf and Curwin at 15. So we know this combination CAN work. Let’s hope it does anyway. Also Maybe Fassi is carrying a niggle as well, we don’t know nor will we ever know because the Sharks dont share that info. Also perhaps Rassie wants to see Curwin have another run at FB against a virtually international side…some bigger things at play maybe? The boks are slender at FB options. Backing the boys no matter what! Give it maximum effort lads!
Oddly enough the rotation of Andrews and van Heerden is of bigger concern to me.
At least Bosch is starting and from fullback he has more space, time and freedom to attack. I hope he keeps the kicking duties and so long as Rob finds can find some of his early season/last year form he’ll have a solid outing and will help keep the defensive line intact.
lets hope Rob Jnr has found form at practice because It would be nice for him to leave on a better note. Fassi better never make a mistake again!
@Keagan_Sharks (Comment 3) : All plausible reasons lets hope its that and not Rob is due a start.
@BluffShark (Comment 2) : Yip it was never a good idea to have a coach manage a side in which three of his boys play. Of course there could be nepotism but there could also just be a perception of nepotism they equally bad for a team. There is also a possibility he goes too far and is unduly harsh on his boys in order to avoid being perceived as favoring them. These are all issues that could have been reduced with a selection committee which Rob refused which ties into the arrogance you mention
Not happy about Rdp Jr starting at FH as he was responsible for missed tackles that lead to 3 tries for the jags at kings park. Hopefully he has a good outing this time as Bosch is currently in great form and also Fassi. If not hopefully his dad has the balls to replace him early rather than later.
Besides flyhalf and FB selections. We need our forwards to front up and we can not allow the game to open up. Our boys need to clean rucks like demons. No turnover ball allowed
Glad to see Ward back in the mix. Hopefully, with the Jags bringing their heavies around the corner, Ward can put in a few big hits like he did last year…
@Karl (Comment 10) : That’s true, I like Ward when he gets aggressive and makes those hits. He plays with such passion, it’s awesome to see. Hope he brings that Currie Cup form when he comes on.
@Keagan_Sharks (Comment 11) : Ward is, in my view, the second best 13 in SA. He may need to move to get a proper shot. I like that he is at the sharks but 2 super rugby games in 2 years isnt great.
You guys see that Damien Willemse is out for the remainder of Super Rugby with a knee injury. Would make sense why Bosch is at FB this weekend, I reckon its Rassies doing. Wouldn’t be surprised if we see Bosch for Rugby Championships this year.
@Keagan_Sharks (Comment 13) : I read the Rob wanted Jnr to start last week but the senior players objected so I dont think its done with Bosch’s best interests at heart.
@BluffShark (Comment 2) :
“I do not wish to criticize!!!”
I am not a racist but……
I am not anti-semitic but…….
I am not homophobic but…………
I thought this site was dead, but then Rob Sr decided to pick Jr at 10
@Byron Wright (Comment 14) : And where did you read this nugget of information?
@Bokhoring (Comment 16) : Yep, when the season is done and dusted you guys can get ready to start administering the last rights.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 18) : Wait, maybe not so quick, we will still have 2 Doeps and maybe some dedicated ray of sunshine can spend their time on their knees hoping and praying that one of the twins drops every ball that comes his way (remember the hands of sh#t days) and we can get back to bashing the family again – that should give the site some legs at least.
Highlanders 19 – Bulls 7 and the cutest number 15 ever helping with the kicking tee duties.
19-14
Such a wasted season for us…
Looking at the SA conference wow, everyone’s consistently inconsistent.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 15) :
Great for you to have excuses to be all of that…..
@BluffShark (Comment 23) : Huh???
Just trying to point out how meaningless it is to start a rant or whatever by claiming that its out of character to do just that. It comes across as hypocritical.
24 – 14
24 – 17
@revolverocelot (Comment 22) : Except the Jags
Van Snail make LS look like Rocketman
24-24
Another draw – probably the best outcome for the Sharks overall
Game drawn. Fun times.
Bulls now have a 92% chance of qualifying for the quarters.
@Bokhoring (Comment 32) :
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 33) : You can’t disagree with maths
I also read the article about the seniors not wanting Rob to play fh last week. I’ve got no more words. If bosh leaves we are well and truly effed.
Please share this article. I cant find it anywhere. If there was any truth to that I’m sure the Sports 24 on the lot would hop on that faster than Joel Stransky hopping on the Lions balls.
@Keagan_Sharks (Comment 36) : On IOL – Mike Greenway
https://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/super-rugby/demotion-of-sharks-bosch-fassi-is-a-disgrace-25433387
thanks to the Bulls if we Beat the stormers and we should qualify
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 19) : Wow chill dude. No one is attacking the Du Preez family. The twins are awesome players but big brother Rob has not been recently. Hence the criticism of the dad. How do you drop or shift your form players to accommodate one who is not in form. Especially at this crucial stage of the season. Would this had been the case also if the player was not the son of the coach?
@Karl (Comment 38) : thanks for the share. Listen this guy looks like a freelance writer who cant remove his bias from his reporting. Also he provides no substantial evidence, I wouldn’t take it too seriously.
@sudhir (Comment 40) : Coaches always have their favorites, look at Rassie with the Stormers players. Look at Meyer with his Bulls players.
@Keagan_Sharks (Comment 41) : You should read up on Mike Greenway. He has reported in Durban from before I can remember, written John Smit’s autobiography, gone on tours with the Sharks in the Straeuli days. He is the one journalist that would have many connections in the Sharks
On a unrelated tangent, has anyone taken note of how many Sharks there are in the Junior Boks starting lineup? Clearly not everything at the union is in a disastrous state…
@Keagan_Sharks (Comment 41) : I wouldn’t question Mike Greenways professionalisms, he’s a top scribe in my opinion and one that is in the know. He’s also writes for the mercury and they in my opinion are more ethical than most publications.
Well i will concede I dont know too much about him however he refers to Rob Snr as demoting two black players in the squad in Curwin and Fassi. This in my opinion is blatant virtue signaling. He is trying to create a hit peace in order to get his opinion through. So as he is entitled to his opinion I am entitled to mine…regarding him and his professionalism. Perhaps he is just a frustrated Sharks fan like we all are but to imply the coach is some how racist is petulant.
@sudhir (Comment 40) : Hey man, why so serious. I was pointing out, mostly jokingly but with a twist of truth out how this site can still draw bloggers. Pity you didnt get it.
BTW your @sudhir (Comment 8) : may well prove a point – Rob Du Preez missing 3 tackles that led to tries is just not true – why would you post it then?
@Keagan_Sharks (Comment 46) : Good on you to pick that up. Mike Greenaway was a very good journalist but clearly Rob du Preez has got to him and its now personal. Bringing race into the equation celarly shows a vindictive side to the guy – its almost put in there as a rallying call to rile up the masses and get them to demand action against Du Preez. Good luck to Greenaway, I hope he feels proud of himself to stoop that low.
@Culling Song (Comment 44) : Yep and by all accounts they are assembling some top school players to come to the Sharks next year as well.
All RSA ref panel having a blinder for the stormers this evening
We need a big game from the Sharks tonight! Let’s go boys!!
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 48) : The answer to your Greenaway question is in that he wrote John Smith book, the guy definitely has a dog in the fight, and he’s doing everything he can to smear the guys who outed Smith.I used to enjoy his journalism but find his unrelenting bitter criticism of Rob jnr very unprofessional.
The immense pressure that is being put on that kid to get at his father is quite sinister.
Maybe we should recruit Elton Jannetjies from the Lions he’s un happy there and according to the rugby cognoisti on this site anything is beter than Rob jnr.
Argies lots of niggle
@byron (Comment 53) : Illegal clean out on Ruan and mapimpi gets pinged for a high tackle, the boys are going to have to dig very deep here
Why was that not a penalty for crossing/blocking
@byron (Comment 55) : Because when you play in Argentina, you play against the entire Argentina
This TV coverage is unacceptable …
@byron (Comment 57) : So are the game plans and performance by the sharks players
So far Rob has been good. Sharks bad and as always hands bad
@Byron Wright (Comment 59) : Would love to see Rob jnr subbed by fassi and captain snail also subbed around 55 minutes, fair is fair
@jdolivier (Comment 60) : ha ha would love it but i will be shocked to see it
@Byron Wright (Comment 61) : Schrueder and rob jnr don’t click as a combination, it is extremely hard work to make one of the most dangerous backlines in the competition look so pedestrian
Jags are well coached. I wonder how far they will get in the playoffs.
We’re trying to play too wide… We need to shorten the play, have two runners and a back option
I do greatly appreciate what Rob Snr has done for us at the sharks, but I feel strongly that we need to reboot and refresh the coaching staff, fresh ideas and approaches, candidates like Tony Brown, Jimmy Stonehouse, and maybe even Nick Easter come to mind. We have been poor this Sr season
Stonehouse could bring that Smith fly half with him
I see we cleared out a lot of players that represented us in last year’s Super Sport Rugby Challenge (basically the reserve league), Courtney winnar to the kings, visagie brothers to the griffins and pumas respectively.
SA teams experience major playing staff turn over
@jdolivier (Comment 62) : i agree with that i also dont know why Estherhuisen seldom hits it up especially when they rushing
Ref my sales 2 forward passes
9 penalties to 2
Dumb rugby by the sharks
Kak kick from Bosch gets punished by Bofelli
He list that wall when grounding Mr ref
22-0
@Bokhoring (Comment 70) : 2 forward passes, bofelli in front of the kicker and he lost the ball before grounding, so no biased refs here
Bye bye sharks that’s another mediocre season under Rob Du Preez done and dusted
Ref … They can’t sub … It’s a PENALTY
@jdolivier (Comment 73) : Nothing wrong with this last try
@Bokhoring (Comment 76) : When you are already 15-0 down, decisions like that break all team spirit. One thing is very clear, Rob snr has done sweet blue fuck all in the 3 years his had. Pathetic this season. Look at the wealth of talent at his disposal
Good buildup from the Sharks again ruined by losing the ball in contact
I think SA needs to cut down to two teams in Superrugby. We don’t have the players or coaches for four teams at this level
Finally the Sharks get on the scoreboard
Surely we all agree its time for a new head coach?
@Byron Wright (Comment 81) : Just a skills coach would be a good start
@Bokhoring (Comment 79) : Just leave sanzaar, go north, get money to retain players, easier traveling, way better officiating and sanctions
73 minutes to bring on the fetcher to attempt to neutralize their ruck play. Genius Rob, genius
@jdolivier (Comment 83) : Our current 4 teams will still see their arses up north. Could work if you cut it to two
So another disappointing season has run its course. The fact that these players Cann ot play at home tells a story of a rotten core at the union.
@Bokhoring (Comment 85) : This team with proper coaching should beat any team. Look what akkerman did with a squad of unknowns. Unfortunately we let good coaches leave and keep toxic ones past their sell by date
This was a hopeless effort. Not sure of what to say about this performance. Pretty much sums up the season. Wooden spoon match next week. Not sure who deserves it more.
I now truly understand why rob stepped away from all of this. It’s just not worth it wasting time and money for this bullshit year in and year out. The definition of insanity is repeating the same action and expecting a different outcome each time. Having Rob snr as the coach for 3 years expecting a different result is insane.
@Keagan_Sharks (Comment 88) : Send in all the fringe players that got 7 minutes at the end of a match or was subbed too early. Can’t be worse than what is happening currently
3 years of progressively worse results and we get zero feedback from the union i am losing hope
I dont like it when fans call for the coaches head after every bad performance. However if Rob Snr is to be judged by this season’s performance, I’d say he is in hot water. With the amount of talent and team cohesion we’ve had over the last two years, this is an unacceptable season. I am open to Dick Muir taking over again, always liked him.
@Keagan_Sharks (Comment 92) : We’ve done well in currie cup the last 2 years, currie cup. We need a superrugby coach
@jdolivier (Comment 83) : If the Sharks play up north it will mean hardly any home games in Durban. Players are already struggling with heat & humidity in March – you would struggle to put together a decent game in December & January even playing all the games at night.
Can’t find a match 22 for our second team against SWD in cape Town today? Any one got a link?
Watching the game on TV, would have gone through to watch it live if I had known it was being played at Florida park in ravensmead cape town, never been their but my neighbour grew up in that neighbourhood and would have definitely been keen to tag along.
@Bokhoring (Comment 94) : Somehow the the reds manage, Brisbane is not that far off Durban heat and humidity in their summer
@jdolivier (Comment 96) : Which comp is the Reds playing in over Dec-Jan?
@Bokhoring (Comment 97) : Reference to the normal superrugby season where our players struggle. Odly enough visiting teams seem to play with more flair than the locals. Which comes full circle back to the deficiency in our coaching set-up.
Remember when we won consistently under Jake White and we complained the Rugby was boring? I miss those days.
@Keagan_Sharks (Comment 99) : Even gold doesn’t seem so bad in retrospect
If Rob Snr is given a performance review this year it’s not going to look very good. Especially when you consider the amount of depth we had compared to other franchises.
@Keagan_Sharks (Comment 101) : I don’t know if they have such fancy things at the Sharks especially as they have a volunteer CEO(unpaid) who is leaving anyway.
I think we stuck with Rob Snr until the Sale Sharks decide they want him.
@Byron Wright (Comment 102) : Sale Sharks are trying to win next year so I dont think he is top of the list. I reckon we give Dick Muir and Nick Easter a run as coach and assistant coach respectively. We definitely dont have the budget for any international coaches. Also Easter only spent 2 years with Harlequins post his Rugby career so I’m not sure he is head coach worthy yet. At least Muir took us to the 2007 final
@Keagan_Sharks (Comment 103) : I think Dick cares about Natal rugby so thats a step in the right direction. I still feel Jimmy Stonehouse may be an option but to be honest at the moment I would just love to see some movement from a union that has stagnated to the point of absolute inactivity.
@Byron Wright (Comment 104) : Agree fully with your entire statement
@Byron Wright (Comment 104) : for me we should look to appoint Stonehouse or Muir with Easter in the mix to be part of the broader coaching team, If we could get Tony Brown as head coach I would be happy with that as well, however, can we afford the cost involved?
Will we have to pay Rob Snr to leave now? not to mentions the other coaching staff we may want to change…
Looking at the SR log makes me really uncomfortable…
@revolverocelot (Comment 106) : Well Stonehouse is committed to the Pumas as DOR, even made that clear by withdrawing his name from the Bulls gig. Brown has brokered a deal to return to the Highlanders, where he is much more familiar with their setup so that’s an easy fit w.r.t culture etc.
That leaves us with Muir. And personally I would much prefer him over the other 2
@revolverocelot (Comment 106) : @Choochi (Comment 107) : one of the bonuses of Muir is he has worked with the support staff so would most likely keep the same set up and we only have to pay off Snr
@Choochi (Comment 107) : thanks for the insight seems Muir is the way to go, certainly not a bad choose
Another quick observation, two weeks ago when our second team played the EP elephant’s, that cost kid that played fly half looked a decent player and yes is is related to the much heralded centre Nick Koster who seem to struggle live up to the hype sorrounding him from school level already
Should Muir take over I hope he does so from the CC onward so that he can start to i9mpliment his ideas before SR preseason already
@Byron Wright (Comment 6) :
I agree with all your possible alternatives, but with the match done and dusted, I think we may conclude that on the balance on the probably that it might have been pure (political) arrogance as mentioned in my previous post on this matter (comment 3).
The sad thing from this is that I come to compare this beautiful game of ours with politics. An an opinion might be that just like Zuma “dump” our country in an economic turnstile, John Smith has done the same with the sacking of John Plumtree. Since Plum’s departure, rugby at our beloved Kingspark, has just deteriorated. One or two coaches have arrived and we thought they might have been our knights to rescue us from starvation such as Dick Muir & Brendan Venter, but sadly the odds were set against them and they surrender to the mighty sword of politics and who knows what.
The sad thing is that if we beat the Stormers, some might argue there is light at the end of the tunnel which result in just an extension of our suffering and humiliation. I am seriously in doubt if I will renew my season ticket for the 21 consecutive year.
@Byron Wright (Comment 7) :
Thank you… And well stated. Either way it is not in the best interest of the team.
I have no major issues if a father coach his own children. I mean let us be honest, although the perception of the same nepotism might exist with the selection of the twins, very few have complaint about their selections in the team.
Keegan Daniel, however, might disagree with the latter. Let us leave that us such (for now)
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 15) :
And you point is ………
Bla bla bla
@BluffShark (Comment 112) : Keegan is retired
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 24) :
Point taken, but maybe it is frustration that may contribute to people acting out of character.
The manner in which you attempt to emphasize what you perceived as hypocritical, might create the perception that you busy discussion Australian Rugby and their woes.
@Karl (Comment 114) :
Well aware..
during last year, when he had to compete against the du Preez brothers.. and I don’t say Snr applied nepotism there, but of what we have seem wrt jnr, what chance did Keegan had..
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 48) : @jdolivier (Comment 89) :
well stated
@BluffShark (Comment 112) : Its not a new thing to nail the Du Preezs, last year it was Dans turn with much the same being said about him and his father then as what is said now.
@BluffShark (Comment 111) : I agree that a lot of damage was done with the way that Plum was fired, it started a loss of real Sharks history and intellect and sadly we are battling to recover but there are clear positives such as an under 19 team that went a whole season undefeated and who now dominate the Junior Bok team. That under 19 team was assembled despite us not having a main stream varsity cup side so whoever did their recruiting really needs to take a bow on a job well done. I believe there have already been some big name signings of current schoolboys that will be with the Sharks next year.
Reading Jake White’s article on “..selling out SA Rugby..” resulted in the thinking of how an overseas’ team loaded with South Africans would do against our boks or our current Sharks team. Thinking of a possible team (X-sharks players preferred) – please feel free to adjust.
1 Jannie Du Plessis / Vincent Koch (Not Sharks)
2 Biscmark Du Plessies / Kyle Cooper / Franco Marais
3 Lourens Adriaanse
4 Etienne Oosthuizen
5 Anton Bresler / Reinhard Elstadt (Not S)
6 Schalk Burger (Not S)
7 Michael Rhodes / Franco Louw (Not S)
8 Marcel Coetzee
9 Cobus Reinach / Charl Mcloud / Rory Kockott
10 Ruan Pienaar
11 JP Pieterse
12 Frans Steyn
13 Brad Barrit / Paul Jordaan
14 Cheslin Kolbe
15 Willie Le Roux
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 119) :
I appreciate the positivism and I agree all is not doom. I do think Garry has done magnificent and I hope he somehow reconsider leaving us…
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 119) : So one should take a break from Sharks rugby and check back in again around about 3 years time?
@Bokhoring (Comment 122) : If you want, but dont expect too much, because by then the guys coming through will probably have been exposed to the world and will probably be heading overseas. Im sure someone like Dylan Richardson will already be on many a scouts radar (plays flank and hooker)
Its going to be a hard slog.
Best just keep supporting, take the rough with the smooth and dont have pipe dream crazy expectations.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 123) : Sad how much Sharks and SA rugby has deteriorated. In the Plum (and briefly the White) years a Sharks supporter could expect the team to be able to challenge for the top 2 and possibly the trophy. Now we have to settle for the one or two good games in a season.
@Bokhoring (Comment 124) : It is indeed sad. Im really worried about SA rugby, we are bleeding and there is no ambulance just around the corner.
What do you know about the new SARU contracting system and how it will be implemented?.
@BluffShark (Comment 116) : I think this is a moot point, because most SA coaches prefer big loosies over the whippet-types anyway. Which, imho, is why Keegan never had a decent shot at playing for the boks, and why Kwagga’s career there won’t materialise
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 125) :
From what I understand player categories have been defined:
Professional
Semi-professional
Development
Club
Unions will have salary and player number caps introduced.
PONI’s (Players of national interest) will be identified – not clear if SARU will top up their contracts?
https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/sa-rugby-announces-contracting-model-overhaul-20190607
Some comments from Tank Lanning and Zelím Nel: https://www.alloutrugby.com/cap-to-chase-or-keep-players/
Thanks, I suppose time will tell whether it is the right thing. It does seem to be a means of locking in a player for a good stint into the system while paying him “well”. Will it be enough though. South Africa is pretty unique so we will haveto see how this pans out.
Its not an entirely simple model, I feel SARU could have put a few instructional videos together to show how it will affect all and the different scenarios that can be played out.
the Sharks 2019 super rugby season summary is basically a copy/paste from the last few years in terms of the shortfalls….inconsistent, numerous handling errors, lack of tries being scored, lack of backline creativity.
Numerous coaches have come and gone but yet AB Zondagh remains as skills coach…the mind boggles.
@SheldonK (Comment 129) : Long time no see
@Bokhoring (Comment 130) : Yeh, baby girl arrived in April so havnt had much rugby watching/commenting availability
@SheldonK (Comment 131) : big congratulations with the baby girl!!! May she only bring you joy!!!
@SheldonK (Comment 131) : Congrats
@JD (Comment 132) : @Bokhoring (Comment 133) : Thanks chaps
@SheldonK (Comment 131) : Congrats!!