Frans Steyn looks set to start at inside centre against Western Province this Friday, with Fred Michalak and Ruan Pienaar completing an attacking axis likely to cause the Cape Side a few headaches.
John Plumtree must feel like Christmas and Hanukkah have all happened at the same time for him, with the unexpected return of three key Springboks, coupled with the return from injury of Michalak. Last week’s makeshift halfback pairing of Mathie and Dumond did a pretty good job against Griquas; this week, the internationals will get their chance against a WP side without the services of Willem de Waal. The talk is there will be a rookie flyhalf partnering Dewaldt Duvenage for the men in blue and white.
Steyn will partner Waylon Murray in midfield, with Stefan Terblanche at fullback and Odwa Ndungane back in his favourite number 14 jersey. There are options aplenty at left wing, with Chris Jordaan likely to get the nod over Lwazi Mvovo, Wes Bodmer and the woefully out-of-sorts Henno Mentz. Riaan Swanepoel looks likely to miss out, although hopefully the talented midfielder will be included on the bench.
The Sharks coaching team have not been told for how long they can expect to have the services of Steyn and Pienaar, which John Plumtree finds somewhat perplexing. The impression that has been created is that the pair will not be required during the home leg of the Tri-Nations, which seems frankly bizarre.
Talk that Ryan Kankowski may have made a miraculous enough recovery to participate this weekend seems to be a little premature. BJ Botha, though, is probably a good bet to take over at tighthead and together with Deon Carstens and Skipper Badenhorst, who were in brilliant form against Griquas, the Sharks will expect to dominate up front. WP will probably hace Schalk Brits at hooker, which is sure to help.
Probable Sharks Team:
15 Terblanche, 14 Ndungane, 13 Murray, 12 Steyn, 11 Jordaan, 10 Michalak, 9 Pienaar, 8 Daniel, 7 Deysel, 6 Botes, 5 Muller (capt), 4 Hargreaves, 3 Botha, 2 Badenhorst, 1 Carstens
16 Burden, 17 du Plessis, 18 Sykes, 19 Ndlovu, 20 Mathie, 21 Strauss, 22 Swanepoel
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Lets hope we don’t have uncontested scrums what a joke 👿
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 1) : Surely not two weeks in a row
@robdylan (Comment 2) : I don’t trust Rassie, and did you see Brok Harris lying in a heap after Heinke had finished with him, how long will he last against BJ? or is it Deon I get 1 and 3 confused! 😳
Morning All!!
Just wanna wish SYKSIE a HAPPY 24th birthday!!!!!! 😛 😛
Brok Harris is a wanker
@PJLD (Comment 5) :
Ai PJLD….Now you come and spoil my birthday wish with a posting like that… 😈
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 4) : Ah yes. Good catch. Happy Birthday, Stevie! You know his middle name is Robert?
Thanks for telling us Ice – Happy Birthday Sykes!
@robdylan (Comment 7) :
I do…what else you wanna know??? 😉
Blaauw, Harris and Brits are going to get eaten alive! We’ll see uncontested scrums after 50 minutes
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 3) : Hi all!! Dudette, a statement like ” I don’t trust Rassie” is a huge compliment for the guy, so I guess all the remarks here from Sharksworld about him is just confirmation that we would have loved to have had him in our camp.
@PJLD (Comment 5) : There was just a huge hoohaa about Barrit, are you trying to spark the same here? Must say it is amusing when the guys get so hot under the collar, especially if you take into consideration that Barrit are STILL going! 😀
As it happens, this year christmas & hanukkah will indeed overlap. 🙄
@Silver Fox (Comment 11) : yep would be nice to have him as technical advisor with disco lights going on top of the Shark tank 🙄
This sort of reminds me of the Bible parable of seven years of famine followed by seven years of plenty.
If the Sharks are able to continue their impetuous that can go a long way to securing a semi slot and dare we think a home win against the Cheetahs and Bulls a “Home” one at that!
By the way with reference to this section ” The Sharks coaching team have not been told for how long they can expect to have the services of Steyn and Pienaar, which John Plumtree finds somewhat perplexing. The impression that has been created is that the pair will not be required during the home leg of the Tri-Nations, which seems frankly bizarre.” Nothing that the Bok brains trust does surprises me anymore.
@Ragged (Comment 14) : I wholeheartedly agree that there are “perplexing” decisions being made. 🙂
@Silver Fox (Comment 15) : I heard the “chosen one” mumble something on the news last night but my decoder was on English! It sounded something like Steyn and Pienaar must not think that they have been discarded. But it could quite easily have been I like to drink Bacardi.Who knows??
@Ragged (Comment 16) : 😆
@Ragged (Comment 16) : And apparently Frans is now looking to go overseas as well thanks to snor 👿 I am severely tempted to support Argentina and the Ozzies!
It would be magic if Sharks could add Brad & Kanko to the above lineup.
After this is a 2 week break.
Go Sharks
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 18) : Dudette!!!! How can you say such a terrible thing!! 😯 😯
No, jokes aside, it is distressing that there should be even rumours of such things taking place. I do think every player should look after himself and his future, for they have to live on after their rugby careers. But surely SOMEONE IN SA should wake up and realise it is time to look after our own! We generate more than enough money for that, or should anyway!
@Silver Fox (Comment 20) : This unfortunately is what happens we will only start looking after our own when its already too late, look at Eskom. I just feel for Ruan especially he has been messed around like crazy!
I’ll be watching this whilst hiding behind the couch. 😐
The blogger formerly known as Racheltjiedebeer has changed his/her name to McLovin.
Thank You
sharks looking bladdy good in CC, skipper bardenhorst and front row playing well, but with the risk of getting my leg bitten off, you were bladdy lucky to win against the pride of Joburg.
@cab (Comment 24) : If you had come on after that match we pretty much agreed with you! 🙂 But weren’t we awsome on Saturday 😛
@cab (Comment 24) : Howzit Cab.
I recall a TMO decision that was NOT allowed. Albert & Mathie. Score could or maybe should have been 23- 11.
But we shall see on 27 Sept at Coke Park when full strength teams are available. I rate your scrum.
@Ernie (Comment 26) : I have read something to that effect, please explain, sorry I was at the Tank to watch but was sitting behind posts and couldn’t see what was happening on oposite side.
My team if injuries are not a problem.
1 Deon
2 Skipper
3 BJ
4 Alister Hargeaves
5 Johan M
6 J Botes
7 Jean Deysel
8 Kanko
9 Rory Kockett
10 Ruan
11 Stefan
12 Brad
13 Waylon
14 Odwa
15 Frans Steyn
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 27) : I was also at the game but only picked up after watching the recording. Sharks had a lineout close to tryline. Maul the drive etc. Eventually Albert & Scott drove over but TMO adjudged ball to be held up – 5 m scrum. or inconclusive or could not see grounding. Ball was clearly over the line – but !! A NZ TMO would have given it to Crusaders or Blues. IMHO.
@Ernie (Comment 29) : Oh thank you! I had missed the rerun!
WP will probably hace Schalk Brits at hooker, which is sure to help.
It will????
@Ragged (Comment 14) :
Just for the Lions to beat them there again? 😉
Big Fish, prepare yourself for lots of drinking mate.
We celebrate losses differently in the Cape.
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 25) :
no argument there, big win, and in kimberley, never easy, sharks reserve frontrow has looked impressive, even against Freestate. Carstens back to best.
@Ernie (Comment 26) : hi ernie, ja 1 or 2 tight calls, but save for a moment of brilliance from keegan i felt the pride should have taken that one, then again i am biased. re-match should be good, deysel has moments, but then others when tackled backward (i.e. griquas). AJ is a big gap to fill, tho he also looking a season past it at WP at the moment.
Hey cab, good to see you again.
@cab (Comment 32) : hey cabman!
That looks a good backline…
And I cannot but think after the success the Valke and LIONS had…that the Sharks will also target the WP midfield…and with Michalak and Steyn…should even he more successful at it…especially if they can get one of the outside backs running off their shoulders!??!
And lets not forget Ruan and his darts at the line…
I think Sharks can come away with a bonus point win here….
Unless WP have managed to cover that gap in their defence…but if you take into account that they have a new 10/12 and 12/13 combo for the game…it seems highly unlikely….
so 12 is in fact where PdV sees steyn, as he said that they released these players with the condition that they be played in the recommended position.
i am happy about this, he can become a great 12. not so sure about him as a 10 though, too many blunders too few wonders.
saw a try of jacque fourie against samoa in the wc that was set up by steyn, man it was good, would like to see him play like that again.
@MorneN (Comment 31) :
Bring it on! 😈
This is an awesome Sharks side. I’m looking forward to it. Just hope their is NO rain in Goat Country!
Rob, have you heard any rumours of Duane Vermeulen joining the Sharks? It seems he is going to leave the Cheetahs seeing as they have signed Frans Viljoen and have a plethora of loosies!
Man, wouldn’t it be great to have Vermeulen, Deysel, Botes, Keegan and Kanko for Super 14 next year?
Villie I have read Vermeulen has signed with Province, turned down Sharks Offer.If Ruan is playing Scrummy is this until Michalak leaves or until Rory is over his injury. I just am loath to see Ruans talent being wasted on the Bench!! Please OH Please can our coaches sort this out to the benefit of the team and players.
Sharks will win comfortably against Western Province.
Deysel getting better and better match after match.