Sharks coach John Plumtree has already changed one aspect since taking over from Dick Muir. He names his teams early and doesn’t mess around with meaningless subterfuge.
The Sharks side to face Western Province in their Currie Cup opener on Friday night has been named. The team contains 7 Springboks in the run-on side with an eighth on the bench. Loose forward Jean Deysel, injured in last weekend’s warm-up match against the Griffons, has not been included.
Steven Sykes will again play at blindside flank, leaving young Alistair Hargreaves to partner skipper Johann Muller in the second row. The front row of Deon Carstens, Craig Burden and Jannie du Plessis picks itself, but one would expect to see Pat Cilliers as the reserve prop. Robbie Harris, though, has been named in the number 17 jersey, making one wonder whether Cilliers isn’t perhaps carrying an injury. Skipper Badenhorst and Albert van den Berg are the other tight forward replacements.
Jacques Botes has been named at number 8, with Keegan Daniel completing the loose trio. Look out for Wildebeest opensider Skollie Ndlovu, who has been named as the loose forward replacement.
The back division has an experienced look to it, with Rory Kockott and Brad Barritt the halfbacks. Andries Strauss partners Waylon Murray in the midfiield, while all three of the back three are Springboks: JP Pietersen, Henno Mentz and Stefan Terblanche. Scott Mathie has, somewhat surprisingly, been selected as the reserve scrumnhalf over Charl Macleod. Flyhalf Andrew Borgen and the exciting flyer Lwazi Mvovo are the other backline replacements.
Here is the complete side:
15 Stefan Terblanche, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Henno Mentz, 10 Bradley Barritt, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Jacques Botes, 7 Steven Sykes, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Johann Muller (capt), 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Deon Carstens
16 Skipper Badenhorst, 17 Robbie Harris, 18 Albert van den Berg, 19 Skholiwe Ndlovu, 20 Scott Mathie, 21 Lwazi Mvovo, 22 Andrew Borgen
Tweet
some baffling calls… Mathie must’ve had a hell of a game on Friday night. Also, we don’t have a single big, fast loosie in the mix. I’d have had someone like Blignaut or Potgieter (or even Thabo Mamojele ) on the bench in place of Skollie… only because we already have two similar players in the starting lineup.
Keen to see Mvovo ge a run.
also not sure what the logic is in picking Al H ahead of Al vdB…
@robdylan (Comment 1) : Epi ❓
@robdylan (Comment 2) : For the looks… 🙄
@Charlie (Comment 3) : Please! Don’t ever say that name here again! 😉
@Charlie (Comment 4) : he has such lovely long eyebrows, doesn’t he?
I dunno… I think that’s a good side (even though not a fan of Botes and Keegan starting)… time for a few to step up… and also astounding to see a JP, Murray, AVDB, JDP and particularly Muller in the CC… but grateful!
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 6) : yeah… a good few guys getting an awesome chance to justify their pre-supposed greatness
http://youtube.com/watch?v=iUoihFoI1uQ
Think we need this sort of a set-up for them (from 2minutes)…
@robdylan (Comment 7) : And maybe we need to win this thing… ❓
@blackshark (Comment 9) : yes – would be good
Vodacom Western Province team: Gio Aplon, Wylie Human, Dylan des Fountain, PJ Vermeulen, Joe Pietersen, Willem de Waal, Alistair Siegelaar, AJ Venter, Francois Louw, Pieter Myburgh, Ross Skeate (captain), Adriaan Fondse, Brok Haris, Deon Fourie, Schalk Ferreira.
this isn’t going to be pretty 🙁
@Dive Pass (Comment 11) : most important thing there is that AJ is not the captain, but I’m not sure about Skeate 😯
@molly (Comment 12) :
But Molly I thought all the guys that played for WP were pretty? 😉
@Dive Pass (Comment 14) : They were, but now we’ve got AJ and Willem, the rate is going down a little. I’m just waiting for them to do a calendar like the french boys 😆
If the Shark’s tight 5 cannot dominate and subdue the Streeptruie and force their loose forwards including AJ to get sucked in then we will not deserve to win.
The Sharks have too much firepower in the front row to allow the Goats any go forward front foot ball. The primary ball that does come their way should be under pressure, slow and hard fought.
There has not been a better opportunity for the Sharks to obliterate and annihilate this team from the fairest Cape and to silence their arrogant supporters ( at least for a while)
@Ragged (Comment 16) : Yeah, we’re so arrogant about our team at the moment, so arrogant that we’re all spelling doom and gloom for this game.
@molly (Comment 17) : anyone who read my article yesterday could well accuse us Sharks of being arrogant 😉
‘obliterate and annihilate’ 😆 love it.
Ouch!
Full Name Skholiwe
Nick Name Skollie
Surname Ndlovu
Height 180cm
Weight 90kg
FLANK
What happened to all those plus 190cm 100kg flanks you were rattling off the other day Robbo?
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 21) : Justin Downey, Mike Rhodes, Jacques Potgieter, Thabo Mamojele…
Molly with respect to you, I have endured and been exposed to the continual provocation both on Keo and Superbru by some of your less erudite and circumspect fellow supporters.
I would like nothing less than to see the Sharks put 50 points past the Goats. Finally silencing the PROVIIIIIIINCE and STOOOOOORMers shouting fanatics.
Personally and this is only an opinion I do not believe that half of the current players involved in the Bok set up are there on merit. They are there only because WP rugby is the flavour of the month, so perhaps the WPRU will get what they deserve.
To the victors go the spoils. To the vanquished ( fill in the blanks)
Go Sharks!!
@Ragged (Comment 23) : have to agree with you about the rabble on Keo. I wouldn’t like to think that any of our WP supporters on this site are anyhere near as bad…
@robdylan (Comment 22) : Are they that rubbish that we have to complement two small flanks with one even smaller…
Borgan… any good… nice to see a Natalian coming back to the Sahrks after two seasons overseas… hopefully for the right reasons…
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 25) : I think Borgen might turn out to be ok… he’s leapfrogged a number of other guys.
I can’t fathom the decision to pick Ndlovu… then again, Plum knows more than me.
Probably
@Ragged (Comment 23) :
The Cape Mafia always try to control SA rugby.
Be it journalists, coaches, Sports Science institute etc. They like to base everything down there.
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 20) :
Pretty much in the Keegan mould then.
Haven’t they killed all the goats on Table Mountain?
@robdylan (Comment 24) : thats why we come here, I’m embarrassed by some of them. Please don’t put me in the same category.
@Villie (Comment 27) :
If Doc Craven used to be the Don…. who is now? 😉
@ra-cheltjie de’ be-er (Comment 29) :
No the Sharks will be killing the stranglers on Friday….
I will never be silenced. 😀
PRROOOOOOOOOOOVIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNCCCEEEEE!!!
Sorry couldn’t resist.
@Dive Pass (Comment 31) : He not really dead. 😉
Cape town is also home to the gay mafia. Same has ‘normal’ mafia. Just much better dress sense & their houses are much better decorated.
@ra-cheltjie de’ be-er (Comment 29) :
Yep, shot between the eyeballs, Ta ta Tahr.
@Villie (Comment 28) : even smaller than Keegan
@molly (Comment 30) : never. I’m sure ragged will learn that soon
@ra-cheltjie de’ be-er (Comment 35) :
Yeah right ….better dress sense like that guy in your old picture
@Salmonoid (Comment 36) : Thought so. Plus they’re not even indigenous.
@Dive Pass (Comment 39) : Oh yeah…
I’m going to run riot if we do manage to sneak a win. 😆
@Dive Pass (Comment 31) : Pagad
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 43) :
That comment may be deemed unacceptable in terms of Rob’s constitution clause 17.3 …..
@molly (Comment 42) : won’t blame you if you do!
@Dive Pass (Comment 44) : it’s borderline 😉
sharks to win by 20
@Dive Pass (Comment 39) :
Or itcould read ….like that old guy in your scrum. 😉
I might just break out the leathers again if we (WP) win.
But I’m not all that optimistic.
@robdylan (Comment 46) :
He is an Aussie import, they have a long history of being on the wrong side of the law 😉
pity about deysel
barrit to tackle province into oblivian
What school did Borgen go to? Is he local lad? What age, tried to Google him but found nothing.
Scott Spedding never made the jump, he showed glimpses but could not take the final step.
@Salmonoid (Comment 48) : 😀 😀
Only one Don in Cape Town these days – Badiah Chaban, a weird one but a don none the less.
@molly (Comment 42) : Not much chance of that Molly… well maybe about the same chance as England beating the AB’s and Italy pulling of a victory at Newlands!
@Ragged (Comment 52) : Kearnsey. He is now 22.
@Ragged (Comment 55) :
In fact Ragged is so confident that he is volunteering to take part naked in the the next Gay Parade in Cape Town in the Sharks lose…. 😉
borgen a local natal boy born n raised lol
@Dive Pass (Comment 57) : bwaaaa
Ill gladly accept a 1 point win if it spares us enduring the leather clad ra-cheltjie.
< Go Back JP set to play for Sharks against WP 17 Jun 2008 John Bishop WORLD Cup wing JP Pietersen has been released by the Springboks and will play for the Sharks in their Currie Cup opener against Western Province at King’s Park on Friday night. Pietersen was drafted into the Bok squad in the build-up to the second Test against Wales, but Bok coach Peter de Villiers has now sent him back to the Sharks. De Villiers ruffled feathers in Durban when he blamed Pietersen’s lack of form, and axing from the Bok starting line-up, on his poor conditioning with the Sharks. Plumtree said yesterday that there were a number of reasons why Pietersen struggled on the end of a disjointed Sharks backline. “He has played a lot of rugby without a break and our backs did not function as well as we expected. “He’ll be disappointed not to be in the Bok squad, but he now has the opportunity to show his capabilities on Friday night.” Plumtree said that he had one or two injury concerns ahead of the Currie Cup, with the damaged hand suffered by number eight Jean Deysel in the friendly against the Griffons on Friday night the most significant. “The hand is quite swollen at the moment, but we will know more in a day or two. “He has not been ruled out of the Province game yet.” Plumtree confirmed that Bok lock Johann Muller would captain the Sharks with Brad Barritt, who will start the Currie Cup at flyhalf until the return of Frederic Michalak, his deputy. The new Sharks coach said that AJ Venter, who has moved to Cape Town and will play against the Sharks on Friday, had taken “a lot of intellectual knowledge” with him. “But that’s part and parcel of professional rugby. But things change, I am always changing and the stuff he’s taken to Province is old stuff. “We’re looking at changing strategies and doing different things all the time. “If it works, the game will speed up,” he added. Plumtree confirmed that promising young prop Patric Cilliers, who returned for the Wildebeest in the Vodacom Cup recently, had suffered a setback and could be out for another four weeks. “We won’t rush him. We’ll be sure to condition him properly so he is ready for the Super 14,” he said. Plumtree indicated that he wanted to develop certain players for the Super 14 next year and the loss of a number of players to the Boks provided openings. “But you have got to be careful with rotation and you won’t see wholesale changes. “We want to play an entertaining style of rugby, but we also want players to improve in their decision-making and option-taking. “That comes when encouraged to play with continuity.” The Sharks coach said that the possibility of Bok captain John Smit returning to the Sharks was “looking positive.” “We definitely don’t want to lose a guy like that to another province. “Everyone knows what he brings to the team.” Friday’s match kicks off at 7.00pm.
that will help answer some of the questions me and you had ROB
pity about patrick being injured again
@sharks_lover (Comment 63) : yeah – bummer
@robdylan (Comment 56) : Cheers Rob, Must have been the same year as Brad. Thinking back now I vaguely remember.Flyhalf. which leads me to ask what has happened to a Westville boy who played with Waylon; Chris Mickelwood played SA schools in 2004.
@Ragged (Comment 65) : He was a year after Brad, methinks.
Micklewood seems to have gone overseas. Either France or Italy.
You planning on entering our Fantasy League competition, by the way?
@Dive Pass (Comment 57) : Hell what the heck in for penny in for a pound.
But I must be careful who I can ask to be my backstop!
@Ragged (Comment 67) : we have a picture gallery, just in case 😉
@Ragged (Comment 67) :
That’s pretty sporting of you mate….I’m sure Rachel will especially come over to SA to lend any support he can 😉
@robdylan (Comment 66) : He played in the same match as Brad and Waylon in 2004 where Westville beat Kearsney at KHS in a thriller. Chris scored all WBHS points.. think the score was 12-10.
He was at the Academy 2 years ago and thought he would go all the way.
Forgive my ignorance here but how do you join this Fantasy League competition? I am a bit of a IT fossil… technically challenged, so to speak.
@Ragged (Comment 70) : go look here:
http://www.sharksworld.co.za/2008/06/13/win-more-test-tickets-with-sharksworld/
Then send me an email with the 26 guys you want in your team
Currently the Sharks have over 67% of SuperBru contenders in their favour to win the match…
SuperBru picking statistics
Picks for Sharks 4359 (67.33%)
Picks for Western Province 2103 (32.48%)
Picks for draw 12 (0.19%)
Average Sharks pick Sharks by 9
Average Western Province pick Western Province by 8
Average overall pick Sharks by 3
Biggest Sharks pick Sharks by 100
Biggest Western Province pick Western Province by 149
@robdylan (Comment 71) : Cheers Rob I have mailed you my squad.
Must admit I am enjoying your site.
Apart from Dive Pass 😉
@Ragged (Comment 74) :
I grow on you…..like a fungus 😉
@Ragged (Comment 74) : got it… thanks
@Dive Pass (Comment 75) : And to think that I used to like Mushrooms!
@Ragged (Comment 77) : check your mail, please
@Dive Pass (Comment 73) : Haven’t made my picks yet… 😯
@robdylan (Comment 78) : Thanks Rob, you are highly efficient.
@Ragged (Comment 80) : actually, I’m not even a real person. I’m a shell script 😉