The Sharks may have sustained a massive blow to their chances of retaining their unbeaten record against the Brumbies in Canberra this weekend.
Gavin Rich writes for Supersport that skipper and key lock Johann Muller burst an eardrum in Dunedin last weekend and was reportedly in considerable pain when the Sharks flew from New Zealand to Australia, where matches against the Brumbies and the Waratahs await them.
The word from Australia is that it is highly unlikely that Muller will play against the Brumbies, which means that coach Dick Muir has to find a new second row combination as well as appoint a new skipper for this match.
AJ Venter, who has played lock and has captained the Sharks often in the past, would kill two birds with one stone if he was recalled, with the other lock option to partner Steven Sykes being Albert van den Berg. Either way, Muller will be missed as he has been the unsung star of the Sharks pack this season.
Keegan Daniel is also doubtful for the Brumbies match, with the management giving his chances of playing as 50/50. The flanker sustained a knock to the back against the Highlanders, and has also been in a lot of pain this week.
The fitness of Daniel could influence the make-up of the second row, as Venter would be the obvious replacement in the back-row if the openside flank is not there.
Venter would take up the No 7 jersey, with Jacques Botes moving back to No 6, where he played for most of last season.
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Yes this will be a blow but the Brumbies are probably without Mortlock, which will hurt them more.
EINA 😐
Goodmorning everybody…
The Sharks can survive this blow, enough backup… 😉
maybe they can play Adi at flank. 😉
Maybe they can play Steyn at flank (seeing as he has played nearly everywhere in the backline)
Morning people…
Good to see you are finding some humour from these sad news 😛
So the options are:
Mr. Fixit Go To Guy can help out YET again.
Or
Adi can finally get a start.
😆 😆
KSA
I suppose we won’t agree re: Steyn’s performances this year but i still think he’s been pretty average.
I know, i know, he is being played out of position… blah blah blah
After all, he is a WC winning 12. :puke:
I’m probably late but can someone pls explain the FJ!ELN!
Morning!
BS – looks like [email protected]$% Jou! Ek le nie!
Have a great day all – busy busy busy!
Also feel Sharks can survive this – only one prob – if Sykes and VDB are the lock pair – and one gets injured – do they move AJ in as lock – who will then sub AJ on flank?
its time for AJ to step up again…this is a solid Sharks squad, they’ll be ok…
Deysel is there Ice
Yep…I guess you guys are right. We were gonna need a guy like AJ to give all that he has left to make it through this test anyway. Now it looks like he will have a BIGGER ROLE to play.
AJ…do it for the Sharkies all over the world.
I do agree he has been average though.
Morning Spyker! Thanks.
Sorry – but I hope AJ does not captain…I have not too much confidence in his captaincy as he gets a bit heated under the collar very quickly…and he needs to concentrate on a job that has to be done.
Who else is available to Captian…Bis?
BS
No you are not late.
it is a bit of a joke going back to the RW site.
F%K Julle! Ek Loops Nou! ( I put it up when saying goodbye last night and decided to leave it up for a while)
Oh I get it KSA…but you’re still here?
Botes did very well for the CC but I think if AJ starts he will be captain.
I hope the Sharks finally get to play like we all know they can.
Come on Sharks!!!
P.S. How about Jacques Botes as captain???
Wes – rather Botes than AJ..hell – how about Fransie??? He has been almost everything – might as well give him a chance at captaincy.. 😉
WPW
We were discussing the same thing last night and IMO either Botes or Venter could be Captain.
Safe bet would be Venter though. That way he can scream at the ref a little more before the ref takes offence. 😉 (The comment is serious, the justification is tongue in cheek)
#19
Verstaan! 😎
AJ needs to get fired up Ice… the team performed for him last year
And I think he can still perform for the team…
hi BS, a bit of AJ fire may be just what the Sharks need to kickstart their attacking game
Comment 21 of 23, posted at 15.04.08 08:35:49 by wpw (YNWA)
Spyker – getting fired up s ok – but overdoing it – he sometimes gets the ref upset and that is NOT good for us…he also need to show the youngsters that you can play hard without loosing your cool… 😐
Botes will be captain, methinks
Hello , Star gazer….. 😉
Ice, you’re right … i think with his new wife’s influence he just might get the balance right too 😆
Spyker – or he might just “OVERHEAT”…(she is quite a blonde!)
Botes is probably a safer bet as captain, but AJ needs to wake up anyway and show his leadership skills
Interesting stuff. Not much depth at lock then?
can’t believe we let Greg Rawlinson go 😉
Waz, if Mullers injury is short term, as it seems, they should be ok with Sykes, Albert and AJ
Afraid not, Waz…. 🙄
AJ ain’t the same playa no mo’. Seems his wife has leeched some of the fire from his belly. I hope I too find a woman with such a voracious appetite. Lets hope the old man can lift himself for a few more games.
BF- that’s all we need from him…fire for a few more games… 7 to be exact…
Morning Ice Ice Baby! Guys, I also want a cool suffix to my name! Im thinking Big Fish (Sk8erbooi). What do you guys think?
Good morning all. BF – hi! Long time no see.
I haven’t been that impressed with AJ this season – think the new rules don’t suite his style of play.
BF
Yeah that’d bee cool provided you can figure out what Sk8erbooi is an acronym for? 😆
Hi Nessa! Think you right about AJ, but also think this is just a season too far for him- Time, Tide and SARS wait for no man.
I know what it stands for KSA! I’m still hip damnit!
KSA – surely you had no doubt that he knew what it stands for? 😉
Bath Butch about Tigers’ visit
Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:37
Back in action: Bath flyhalf Butch James
Having endured months out of the game after suffering a shoulder dislocation when Bath faced Saracens back in January, Butch James will be glad to put his boots back on to face Leicester Tigers in a Guinness Premiership outing on Tuesday.
Pulling on his No.10 jersey, for the first time in almost three months, the flyhalf will be relishing the chance to get back into action at The Rec.
There is way too much h8eration going on in this here dancery! 😉
I think guys like Butch, John and Percy needed a rest after the WC. Their bodies just timed out and they were given a forced rest.
Ha-ha – Morning All and my slippery fishy friend! Make it B’ig F’Ish…that will be WAY cool! 😆
Big Fish (TOCHMT)
Big Fish (GBOGH)
Met Ys! Glad I caught you! Thanks for the idea, but I’m trying to be distinctive- to go where no man or fish has gone before. Nessa, I think we are really underestimating the post-WC fatigue. Remember, we played 3 huge matches more than NZ and Oz, while we didn’t have the last S14 off either.
Share the meaning of life and those acronyms please Clark!
TOCHMT = Triangle on chin helps me think
GBOGH = Go BIG Or Go Home / (Go Bald Or Grow Hair) 😆
yeah – after I posted I reckoned you will not be one to follow fashion trends… 😀
I would also like to get the meanings of those, Cru… 🙂
Test…
Big Fish (RSBAIET)
“Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time”
If you know who said that (without googling it), then you’re as intelligent as I think you are. 😎
Big Fish (HIWSFTW)
has intellectual wisdom seeking for true wisdom 😉
BF, ICE, CRU-el this one could help you reach finacial freedom (WBFM)
Cru – love the “GBOGH” (both meanings). 😉
GBOGH – At least that doesn’t apply to me in ANY way 😳 😆
KSA,
According to GBOGH, you’re indecisive. 🙄
Big (FISH)
C’mon, ask me
Sharks face their Canberra bogey
Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:50
The Sharks travel to Canberra this weekend for their Round 10 Super 14 clash with the Brumbies knowing that they haven’t won in the Australian capital for 10 years.
It was way back in 1998 when the Durban-based franchise triumphed at the Canberra Stadium, courtesy of a 41-23 victory.
Since then they have lost five matches on the trot in Brumbies territory, including the 2001 Super 12 Final, where they were beaten 6-36.
The Brumbies will be on a high after their victory over the Blues on the weekend, and will be buoyed by the fact that the Sharks seem to be struggling somewhat of late.
The second-placed outfit were pushed all the way by the 12th-placed Highlanders on the weekend, squeaking a 19-17 win.
Johan Muller’s team will need to overcome their Canberra bogey if they are to remain unbeaten this season.
In fact, they could even relinquish their second spot that they have occupied for most of the season. That is if the ‘Canes get all five points at Newlands against the Stormers – a tough ask – and the Sharks fail to pick up a single point against the Brumbies.
Another interesting observation is that the Hurricanes have a better points difference than the Sharks – by a single point! That is largely due to the Bulls inability to tackle the rampant ‘Canes on Saturday.
What’s more is that the Sharks and ‘Canes drew 13-all in Round Eight, and are separated by only one point in the points difference stakes!
The Sharks will be well aware of the threat the Hurricanes pose to their home semifinal chances, and will be desperate to break their 10 year drought on Saturday.
But there is no doubt that Stirling Mortlock’s men have the psychological advantage over the Sharks.
It was the Brumbies that ended the Sharks unbeaten run in 2007, turning the form book on its head with a surprise 21-10 upset in Durban. The previous week they were comprehensively outplayed by the Cheetahs and fans and pundits alike gave them no chance against the Sharks.
They proved them wrong!
Could they be the first team to inflict defeat on the Sharks in 2008?
By Steve Farrell
Cru…I’m asking… 🙄
of course they could. Any team can beat any other team in this competition.
I remember last year’s game like it was yesterday… 👿
I was on holiday in the South Coast…we lost to the Brumbies…the Proteas lost the Aussies… I drowned my sorrows… 😈
the Proteas lost TO the Aussies 😳
#63…rob…yeah right 🙄
that Brumbies game last year was a nightmare. We NEED to stuff them this weekend
Yes we do…and I feel way more confident now that Johan has ruled himself fit to play
#62
FISH = Frans Introduced Second Half 😛
#68 You think you’re funny huh? 😐