The Sharks, having lost 25-10 to the Waratahs earlier this season, know well what they should not do when they play the Australians in the Super 14 semi-final here on Saturday.
Liam Del Carme writes Beeld that for that reason, the South Africans feel they are better equipped to win the rematch, even though it may necessitate a team change.
On their previous visit to Sydney, the Sharks came off second best in the mauls.
“We learnt a lot from the defeat,” Sharks coach Dick Muir said here on Wednesday. We have changed some things. We are certainly better, as a squad, than when we were here last.”
Muir has no doubt that the Sharks will have to stand up to the Waratahs in contact situations. The battle for the ball will be crucial.
“We will have to soften them up in the mauls. We can’t afford to come second in that department,” he said, without placing any cards on the table.
The possibility that Tonga’s Epi Taione will be included on the flank, has become stronger.
Taione served a six-week suspension after head-butting Jeremy Thrush of the Hurricanes earlier this season. He seems likely to be among the loose forwards as part of the Sharks’ plans to hold their own at breakdown points.
His chances of playing are probably better than those of Springboks Frans Steyn and BJ Botha are.
Assistant coach Grant Bashford thought on Tuesday that Botha had almost no chance of being fit to play but Muir seemed optimistic on Wednesday.
“We feel Frans and BJ should both be ready. We will finalise the team only on Thursday and will wait and see,” Muir said.
But even if Botha has recovered from his calf-muscle injury it may be risky to include the tough front-row star in the starting lineup.
The Waratahs are expected to stick to the team that beat the Reds last week, with the exception of Tatafu Polota-Nau, who will be replaced in the front row by Adam Freier.
There is also some doubt about the fitness of star wing Lote Tuqiri, who took a knock on a knee last week.
A probable Skarks team:
Stefan Terblanche; Odwa Ndungane, Adrian Jacobs, Brad Barritt, JP Pietersen; Ruan Pienaar, Rory Kockott; Ryan Kankowski, Epi Tainone, Jacques Botes, Johann Muller, Steven Sykes, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: Waylon Murray Frans Steyn; Jean Deysel, AJ Venter, Albert van den Berg, BJ Botha, Craig Burden.
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A probable Skarks team:
JP Pietersen, Ruan Pienaar, Rory Kockott, Ryan Kankowski, Epi Tainone, Jacques Botes, Johann Muller, Steven Sykes, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira.
Substitutes: Waylon Murray Frans Steyn; Jean Deysel, AJ Venter, Albert van den Berg, BJ Botha and Craig Burden.
Something wrong with this team ❓
wonder what that may be
Congratulations to you PJLD and all the Man United fans.
That’s what Chelsea gets for their stupid “SCOUSE-FREE AREA” banner…
Now …you’ve won it THREE times…not too shabby hey…
Dankie blackshark
i feel like death is kicking my arse
@Charlie (Comment 1) :
Unless its a soccer team…
@I’ce (TKMITFM) (Comment 5) : 😆 😆 😆
SHARKS FC!
@PJLD (Comment 4) :
What happened? Forgot to sleep again? 😉
@blackshark N.R.N.S! (Comment 6) :
You bet!! LOL (my smileys are gone…)
Congrats to Bismarck with his 24th birthday today ❗ ❗ May there be many many more and may you spend most of them at the Sharks 😆 😆
the return of 11 man Rugby???
are we really that good??
@Reds (Comment 9) :
Hi Reds…is he THAT old??…. 😉 Thought he was still a youngster like us…. 😀
@Charlie (Comment 1) :
Half the backs are missing???
Morning all, happy birthday Bissie…geez 24 only
Hello icey my stoutgat twin
@Debs (Comment 13) :
Hey Deboratjie!!! 😎
I have the need to make sh*t today…ever had that feeling?? 😉 😈
Icey i have those days too often…only problem is i make so much s##$t and then i can never get out of it…hehehehe
@Debs (Comment 15) :
Also always up to the waiste.. 😉
😳
Okay i have hunted down the original article in Dutch and whoever did the transcribing from Beeld obviously thought the Sharks only needed 11 players.
my 😳
Here is the Probable team of 15 players.
Sharks: Stefan Terblanche; Odwa Ndungane, Adrian Jacobs, Brad Barritt, JP Pietersen; Ruan Pienaar, Rory Kockott; Ryan Kankowski, Epi Tainone, Jacques Botes, Johann Muller, Steven Sykes, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira. PLAASVERVANGERS: Waylon Murray Frans Steyn; Jean Deysel, AJ Venter, Albert van den Berg, BJ Botha, Craig Burden.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 17) :
So they have Steyn as a farm replacement……
I don’t read much into this team. I don’t think Dick will start with Taione at all.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 19) :
We will hopefully find out in next 2 hours…..not that Muir kept to the time limits last week.
Adi Jacobs to start 3 in a row ❓
Muir waits on Steyn recovery – Mike Greenaway May 22 2008 at 08:26AM
Francois Steyn will play inside centre for the Sharks against the Waratahs in the Super 14
semifinal in Sydney should he recover from the rib cartilage injury that kept him out of the final pool game against the Chiefs, and tighthead prop BJ Botha has not yet been ruled out of the game, contrary to press reports.
Speaking from Sydney, coach Dick Muir said that Steyn is “touch-and-go” to be fit to play and that if he does play, the fact that he might be on the tender sides means he has to start.
“It is not wise to have a guy on the bench who might break down soon after he comes on (and the problem would be exacerbated if that happens early in the match),” Muir said. “Frans is a big game player (he has played in a Rugby World Cup final) and his enormous boot is a weapon most teams do not have at their disposal.”
That ability of Steyn’s to kick goals from 60m was mentioned with trepidation by Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie as early as Monday and it would be mostly on those grounds that Muir would trade Steyn for Bradley Barritt. The latter had an exceptional game when he reclaimed his No 12 jersey from Steyn for last week’s game.
Interestingly, Muir said that he would not consider playing Steyn at 13 in place of Adrian Jacobs.
“No, it would be a swap at 12,” Muir said. “I believe Adrian has done more than enough in recent games to warrant continued inclusion at outside centre.”
Muir said Botha was still in a fitness race to make the starting line-up.
“It is incorrect that he has been ruled out of the game,” Muir said. “He and Francois will again have late fitness tests and where both of them failed before the Chiefs game, we are hopeful that at least one of them will make it this time, and if it is both that will obviously be great.”
The talk about Steyn and his ability to kick monster goals is in contrast to the heavy focus on try-scoring over the last fortnight, which saw the Sharks score 12 tries to qualify for the semifinals.
“Obviously the context of this game is different,” Muir said.
“No bonus points are required in a semifinal.
“You take whatever points are on offer whenever you can, and you give the opposition as little opportunity to attack you as possible.”
In other words, are the Sharks are going to be a lot more conservative than they were against the Chiefs?
“Not necessarily,” says Muir. “We are in a situation where we are now very comfortable with playing two strategies: we kept it tight for eight rounds to go unbeaten and then in the last fortnight we have shown we an cut loose.
“The trick for us is to know when to use which strategy in the same game. We want to play low-risk rugby but switch to all-out attack when the opportunities are there.”
Muir said that the Sharks could not escape the growing din in Sydney over the hasty dismissal of coach McKenzie six weeks ago.
“There is quite a lot of emotion about the coaching issue and it is a card the media is happy to play to stir up the players.
“Frankly, I don’t see how anybody will nee any extra motivation when you are playing for a place in the Super 14 final.”
This article was originally published on page 28 of The Star on May 22, 2008
@Charlie (Comment 22) :
In other words, are the Sharks are going to be a lot more conservative than they were against the Chiefs?
“Not necessarily,” says Muir. “We are in a situation where we are now very comfortable with playing two strategies: we kept it tight for eight rounds to go unbeaten and then in the last fortnight we have shown we an cut loose
“The trick for us is to know when to use which strategy in the same game. We want to play low-risk rugby but switch to all-out attack when the opportunities are there.”
Ahem ahem ahem ahem!!!!
@Charlie (Comment 22) :
Charlie did Adi play 12 or 13 when he was part of the great Falcon’s centre pairing with Botha?
I just hope DM is sure about Epi. We can’t afford to loose any player due to red and yellow cards.
@Dive Pass (Comment 24) :
He played 12… 😉
@Charlie (Comment 26) :
Thanks Charlie
@Dive Pass (Comment 27) : Pleasure
Good morning all.
morning Nessa…..join us while we all wait to hear the Sharks team announcement
Hi DP – just glad to hear it looks like my Adi will be starting again. 😀
Did any of you see the picture of Plumtree on the Sharks official website? He has either dyed his hair blonde or the thought of being the Sharks head coach has turned him grey over night…..
Hoezit? Wat sê allie Tjaaks fêns?
Where do you see the picture of Plum? I see one of Bashie.
@Nessa (Comment 34) :
:oops:….that would explain it….lol
No problem – just thought I was looking wrong. 😉
He is such a nice guy.
@Cru-El (Comment 33) :
Scares one u….you still in hiding after yyour teams hiding?? 😉
Do you think we will get a team announcement today? We didn’t last week.
What’s the ;atest that the team can be announced?
Ness – sure someone posted a team on another thread… ❓
@Nessa (Comment 38) : “It is incorrect that he has been ruled out of the game,” Muir said. “He and Francois will again have late fitness tests and where both of them failed before the Chiefs game, we are hopeful that at least one of them will make it this time, and if it is both that will obviously be great.”
@Charlie (Comment 41) :
Meaning? That he is waiting for last minute fitness tests again?
@I’ce (TKMITFM) (Comment 40) :
Didn’t see one. 😥
hey guys
Hi Rob.
Hate to say I told you so…
If Frans can play…he’s starting… 😐
@Nessa (Comment 42) : Seems so… 😉
I think Muir has his team but he’s just trying to see how long he can delay the team before Ewen snaps… 😈
Be patient guys…soon all will be revealed. We have to try every trick…including mind games…
@blackshark N.R.N.S! (Comment 48) : Ewan has already snapped… he named his team ages ago.
Dick is trying to pull a Rassie. 😀
I wish Dick would rather pull a Jake White and win the damn game 😉
@robdylan (Sharks Forever!) (Comment 51) :
Good one Rob!!! 😀
And while he is about it – how about a double whammy – two in a row???
@Nessa (Comment 52) : that’ll do 😉
Ha ha ha … we own the “DELAY” strategy…Rassie just borrows it now and again…
I’m actually too calm for a Thursday…have a feeling the nerves will hit me big time on Saturday morning…
@blackshark N.R.N.S! (Comment 54) :
😈 😈 😈
@blackshark N.R.N.S! (Comment 54) : I am also strangely relaxed. Not sure why
Sharks Match 22:
15. Stefan Terblanche
14. Odwa Ndungane
13. Adrian Jacobs
12. Francois Steyn
11. JP Pietersen
10. Ruan Pienaar
9. Rory Kockott
8. Ryan Kankowski
7. AJ Venter
6. Jacques Botes
5. Johann Muller ( Capt )
4. Steven Sykes
3. Jannie du Plessis
2. Bismarck du Plessis
1. Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements
16. Craig Burden
17. Deon Carstens
18. Albert van den Berg
19. Jean Deysel
20. Epi Taione
21. Bradley Barritt
22. Waylon Murray
@robdylan (Sharks Forever!) (Comment 56) :
Have you had any trees?
had = seen
@Dive Pass (Comment 57) :
Is this the real thing?
Oh well…guess BJ didn’t make it.
Otherwise the team looks fine to me…we’ll murder the TAHS!!! 😡
Brad onto the bench is a mistake 😮
@blackshark N.R.N.S! (Comment 60) :
yip, hot off the wires…….
@Cru-El (Comment 61) :
Well at least he is there if the wonderkind doesn’t delivery….just hope Steyn is told to play sensibly on his own try line!!!
@Dive Pass (Comment 63) :
deliver not delivery
I thought Barritt was the axis around which the Sharks backline revolve.
@racheltjiedebeer (Comment 65) :
That little oval shaped thing called “the ball”…that’s the axis our backline needs to revolve around.
@racheltjiedebeer (Comment 65) : He is. 🙁
@robdylan (Sharks Forever!) (Comment 67) : I suspect our national coach has requested this particular centre combination.
@Dive Pass (Comment 64) :
Steyn better be Mr Delivery
@robdylan (Sharks Forever!) (Comment 68) :
I doubt he would in the semi-final of the Super 14…..
@Cru-El (Comment 69) :
@robdylan (Sharks Forever!) (Comment 67) :
Don’t cry RobDizzy…Superman will get his chance after Wonderkid !
@robdylan (Sharks Forever!) (Comment 68) : 😉
@blackshark N.R.N.S! (Comment 72) :
@Charlie (Comment 73) : 😀
@Charlie (Comment 74) : 😮
@robdylan (Sharks Forever!) (Comment 75) : 😳