Sharks Coach John Plumtree would have been all smiles this week as he was able to name as close as possible his strongest line-up of the season for the Absa Currie Cup match against the Lions on Saturday in Johannesburg.
Michael Marnewick writes for Sharksrugby.co.za that earlier injury concerns to “Beast” Mtawarira and Deon Carstens have been alleviated and the pair have both been picked in the matchday 22, while, as expected, Stefan Terblanche, Odwa Ndungane, Jacques Botes and Bismarck du Plessis who all missed last week’s game are back in the fray.
However, the biggest news of all is the welcome and timely return to the playing arena of Springbok Captain John Smit who comes back from a groin injury sustained in the early part of the Vodacom Tri Nations.
His role as Captain of the South African national side has seen his provincial duties at the Sharks limited to Vodacom Super 14 rugby in recent years, his last game in the Currie Cup taking place in 2005 (having earned 54 caps in total). After the Rugby World Cup last year, he remained in France to play for Clermont before returning to South Africa to take up his Springbok duties and then came the good news of his re-signing with the Sharks.
A completely international backline is complimented by an all-Springbok tight-five and a further Bok at Eighthman, giving this Sharks side an exceptionally competitive feel about it, and with a further three Springboks on the bench, the Sharks will certainly go into this match with a lot of confidence that comes with having players with experience of playing at the highest level.
Both sides have admitted their respect for the other and like each weekend when one fixture stands out as a make-or-break game, so this clash should go a long way towards determining log positions for the protagonists.
Matchday 22
15. Stefan Terblanche
14. Odwa Ndungane
13. Adrian Jacobs
12. Francois Steyn
11. JP Pietersen
10. Frederic Michalak
9. Ruan Pienaar
8. Ryan Kankowski
7. Jean Deysel
6. Jacques Botes
5. Johann Muller ( Capt )
4. Albert van den Berg
3. Jannie du Plessis
2. Bismarck du Plessis
1. Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements
16. John Smit
17. Deon Carstens
18. Steven Sykes
19. Keegan Daniel
20. Rory Kockott
21. Bradley Barritt
22. Waylon Murray
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Very nice team , would have liked to see Barrit next to Adi in the backline though
Awesome side.
Every position in the side can be covered by another player in the side.
I still see Steyn long term future at 15 after Oupa Terblanche retires…but I must admit Oupa has impressed me the last couple of games he played.
How’s this for a bench ?
16. John Smit
17. Deon Carstens
18. Steven Sykes
19. Keegan Daniel
20. Rory Kockott
21. Bradley Barritt
22. Waylon Murray
My confidence levels have suddenly shot up… (as if…)
damn what a team
same team i told rob the team would be except we thought hargreaves would be ok and play according to press
and also according to press carstens would have been out and so i had cilliers on the bench
other then that i had it 100 %
@Pokkel (Comment 3) : Oh yes…after a shaky start… Oom has come to the party in the last couple of games. Much better than starting on a high and dipping towards the end.
The Lions will have a long day…
Not that I was ever going to choose the Lions on SB, but this team has just increased my margin by quite a bit. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 7) : I’ve already made my picks… I’m not expecting any margin points for this one now. 😈
@just blackshark (Comment 6) : This team has no excuses not to win the CC this year. The only way is if they are mentally not right for the semi’s and Final.
injury concerns to “Beast” Mtawarira and Deon Carstens have been alleviated
These guys were just giving Loffie a dose of false hope…
@Pokkel (Comment 9) : Mr Van Zyl did an interview with e-tv and he tried his best not to put the players under pressure as far as winning the cup is cncerned. We all know what he is thinking though…
what a side! Kitties, beware
I know that I am
Extremely parochial but I recon that this side could more than hold it’s own against any provincial team in World Rugby.. I would go as far to venture that this 22 man squad could beat most international sides; including the Wallabies and the Bok team (sans the Shark players that are currently in it!)
This is the year that we have been waiting for since 1996 ❗
@robdylan (Comment 12) : have to agree
tam i gave you was close huh lol
we both just didnt know hargreaves was the actual one still injured and carstens is ok lol
damn supersport press lol
had i know the injuries were not as per press this is also how i would have had the team
i also would start with albert as the lions lineouts are good
they have a 2 long jumpers
great great team
@Ragged (Comment 13) : whoa – slow down there, skippy!
Ok, you’re actually right, just don’t want to seem arrogant :
@sharks_lover (Comment 14) : yeah – wanted to ping you and say well done for getting it so close.
GREAT side, that.
Sharks by 8 would be good enough for me. 😈
@McLovin (Comment 17) : 8 what ??? Tries 😉 ❓
@McLovin (Comment 17) : he he
nostradamus is right!
@try time (Comment 20) : of course 🙂
@Ragged (Comment 18) : Tee hee…
@robdylan (Comment 21) : yeah bro brillian side
cilliers i guess will be playing for the sharks under 21 which is good keep him match fit
@sharks_lover (Comment 23) : shit! Didn’t think of that.
The under 21s are getting pk’ed every week… not a great season for them. U19s are doing much better
@robdylan (Comment 24) : i have to agree with you
i dont think the coaching is upto scratch
we have this acadamy and our junior teams are useless to say the least
i cant believe we get all that talent and they cant even beat the valka at age group
last saturday the valka under 21 beat the sharks under 21 35-12 in kempton
thats shocking
😯
@sharks_lover (Comment 25) :
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
Sharks u21 14 – 25 Vodacom WP u21
Griquas u21 26 – 29 Border u21
Free State u21 42 – 34 Leopards u21
Griffons u21 36 – 12 BA Mighty Elephants u21
Boland u21 10 – 20 Golden Lions u21
Valke u21 39 – 19 Mpumalanga u21
Dude – do you drink a lot at these games? 🙂
lol nope
last week we got inlate and people there told us under 21’s had lost badly to valka under 21
was it not maybe under 19’s??
there was a game on the field we could see from just outside the grounds ??
guess people we asked there must have been drinking to much
lmao
🙄
@sharks_lover (Comment 27) : both of our junior teams played against WP last week, at home.
it must have been the Mpumalanga u21s who lost to the Valke
guess so
damn people dont even know what game they were watching lol
we only got into the staium 5 min before main game cuzz guy with out tickets ran late
we were so pissed off at him
in saying that rob i see both under 19’s and under 21’s have played 4 games
19’s played 4 lost 1
21’s played 4 lost 3
still not good as i was saying
@sharks_lover (Comment 31) : you’re spot on… our u21s are pants, but I really doubt they would lose to the Valke!
U19s have also drawn one, so they’ve only really one two out of four. That said, they lost very narrowly to Province this weekend and their draw was against Free State. They’ve beaten the Bulls and the Lions
they beat boland 41-0
29 Boland u19 0 – 41 Sharks u19 Boland Park, Wellington
dont think they have playes lions yet
thats saturday
@sharks_lover (Comment 35) : oh – ok. Hey, even the great robdylan is allowed to get something wrong once in a while, right?
@robdylan (Comment 36) :
Rob’D Great…
@robdylan (Comment 36) : 😯 😆
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 37) : Yay! 🙂
damn rob sees a blonde and gets all 😯
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 37) : good day hun , you joining me and kirsten for the game saturday>??
hope so lol
@sharks_lover (Comment 41) :
Nah..I am gooiing a braai for the hubby’s 28th… 😉
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 42) :
but thanks for the invite!! Next time!± 😀
👿
😆 its cool hun another tme
Mmm…see it’s Jacobs vs Fourie on Voldy… 😈
GO ADI… YOU BEAUTY !!!
@Charlie (Comment 45) :
A question Charlie…if Adi plays for a different team…will you still support the Sharks?? 😈
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 46) : Off course… 😀 But I am a fanatic Adi Jacobs fan… 😉
@Charlie (Comment 47) :
I know Charlie, dear…was just asking… 😉
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 46) : lol good question
That ADI- FOURIE battle is pointless because its based on current form vs old form. ADI! ADI! Until Mossie plays 5 tough games…
@just blackshark (Comment 50) : reckon Mossie ain’t even really match fit yet. Bit of a tough ask.
And as for Jannes…