The Sharks could be without Springbok centre Adrian Jacobs for Saturday’s Super 14 clash against the Highlanders.
Jacobs injured his shoulder against the Crusaders 10 days ago and will go for a scan on Monday.
Surprisingly, his place was not taken by Springbok Waylon Murray at Sunday’s training session, but by Andries Strauss.
Louis De Villiers of Sport 24 reports that Strauss is usually an inside centre, but Frans Steyn will wear the No 12 jersey again after a fit Ruan Pienaar came through training at flyhalf.
The Highlanders don’t appear to be tough opponents – their defeat to the Stormers effectively ended their Super 14 campaign – but have the ability to pull off a shock result.
Only the Waratahs and Blues have been able to score big wins over the Highlanders this year, while they earned bonus points against the Hurricanes and Chiefs. The Bulls and Crusaders have lost to them.
Even so, it offers the Sharks a good opportunity of getting their Super 14 campaign back on track after their two defeats prior to the weekend’s bye.
With the Waratahs and Bulls next up, a defeat to the Highlanders can scupper any hopes the Sharks have of a home semi-final.
Former Sharks coach Ian McIntosh said on Monday that he saw similar traits in the current side to the one that achieved so much glory under his mentorship in the 1990s.
“They let it slip a bit in those last two games, but it’s understandable and I have little doubt they’ll be back on track very soon,” said McIntosh.
“I see the core of an outstanding and very competitive side. I am confident they will go from strength to strength for a few years still.”
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Training on a Sunday ❓
I would have thought, if Murray wasn’t ready that they would go with Swanepoel.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 2) : me too. Andries is a great guy, but too slow for outside centre at Super 14 level
@Charlie (Comment 1) :
What news do you have, how is your shoulder?
@robdylan (Comment 3) : Carthorse ❓ 😈 😆
@robdylan (Comment 3) :
@Charlie (Comment 5) :
Bring back Trevor Halstead!!!!!!!!!!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 4) : Sore, feel tired, need a defenite rest, I mean 10 Super 14 matches on the trot a bit harsh on the body 😉
Good morning all.
Strauss is definitely the right choice. He is a bit slow but that beats Murray’s a bit useless (or out of match practice I suppose). But it’s his defensive organisation that make the decision right – he’s forever marshalling the backs (on attack too) and a bit more structure is exactly what they need.
And while Jacobs’s straight running on attack is top-class, his ‘perhaps I’ll try and hold the chap until someone else makes a proper tackle’ attitude towards defence severely weakens our backline.
How long is Barritt’s contract in the UK?
I think this break might be good for Adi.
He has been playing non stop since last season hasn’t he?? 🙄
@wpw (Comment 9) : Ja my broe, kannie oekie soe angaan nie 🙄
@wpw (Comment 9) :
Is it Broken? 😯 I thought it was just injured.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 11) : EINA !!! 😯
HelOOOOOOOO!!!!!! 😀 😀
Helloooo Tannie!!
@wpw (Comment 14) : Jy soek wee vroeg oggend vi Kakka 👿
@Prof. Ice (Comment 13) :
Hullo daar! 😆
I can confirm from an undisclosed Sauce that Adi will not be playing on Saturday.
@Big Fish (Comment 16) : Tamato or Worcestor Sause ❓ 😆
😆
@Charlie (Comment 17) :
Mrs Balls Blatjang. 😎
@Big Fish (Comment 18) : Nogal chutney, my favourite 😆
hallo Vissie et al!!
@Charlie (Comment 15) :
Ek het lekker gerus! So ek’s reg vir Wes…nie dat hy nou eintli ‘n moerske challenge is nie…walkover actually..
@Prof. Ice (Comment 20) :
Watte?? 😯
Stiek uit jou bang ding!!
@Prof. Ice (Comment 20) : Soe Ice, j dink Wes is eintlik ‘n rollover ❓ 😯 😈
@wpw (Comment 21) : 😆 😆 😆
@Charlie (Comment 22) :
Judging by the pics and his eating habits…yes… 😉 😈
Only a matter of time with Plumtree ‘zero man management skills’ at the helm…
Morning all!
So I must ask again… What was the point of playing Waylon for one game?
@Rahul (Comment 27) : to make sure that we are not missing anything ❓ hehe
morning morning 😛
@Rahul (Comment 26) :
Howzit boet??
Congrats to your team cheating their way to victory against Spurs!!
@Rahul (Comment 27) :
Dunno, 🙁 But a very valid question.
Unless he will play on Saturday anyway but off the bench. match fitness could be a concern.
@wpw (Comment 29) : and the winner is….
@rekinek (Comment 28) : 😆
@Rahul (Comment 27) : sounds like he’s injured again… according to Keo anyway
@Rahul (Comment 31) :
shurrup!!! 😕 😈
Not good – Adi’s runs were going to come in handy against the Landers…especially since we need that try BP from this match.
Ag, I guess we’ll just have to score 4 turnover tries…
Sharks forever!
@robdylan (Comment 33) : “a slight knock” last I heard, but why was he playing against Crusaders when Pienaar is is fit for the next game anyway? Too many centers and not enough scrummies and no.10’s!
@Rahul (Comment 36) :
How about signing Andre Pretorius?? 😈
@wpw (Comment 37) :
Why? Are the Sharks launching a Golden Oldies side?
I thought Rassie had the market on old players cornered? 😛
@KSA Shark © (Comment 38) :
Not too long ago you guys contracted guys like Tony Brown, Percy, so moenie vir jou windgat hou nie. 😈
@wpw (Comment 37) : PFA team as chosen by the players….. with player of the year Ryan Giggs!!!!
Edwin Van Der Sar – Manchester United
Glen Johnson – Portsmouth
Patrice Evra – Manchester United
Rio Ferdinand – Manchester United
Nemanja Vidic – Manchester United
Ashley Young – Aston Villa
Steven Gerrard – Liverpool
Ryan Giggs – Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo – Manchester United
Nicolas Anelka – Chelsea
Fernando Torres – Liverpool
@wpw (Comment 39) :
Hehehehehe, BUT we contracted them when they were mature and could still play rugby, NOT when they were old and couldn’t play Rugby anymore.
WP seem intent on buying Sharks cast-offs
Percy
AJ
Brown
Bobo
etc.
😳
@wpw (Comment 39) : yes – but when we had them they were younger
rassie waited few years and then bang ❗
@KSA Shark © (Comment 41) : 😳
you were first
BTW – Bobo not such a bad buy as it appears.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 41) : How about luring Butch back to KZA?
@Rahul (Comment 44) : Kazakhstan?
@Rahul (Comment 44) : you mean – if he is still able after his injury
@Rahul (Comment 44) :
KZA? 😆
Butch turns 30 in a couple weeks time. he has just been ruled out of rugby for 9 months.
He is getting on a bit and he won’t be able to play S14 before 2011 again. He would have been good for this season but after that I’m afraid he is done.
I suspect Rassie may be busy negotiating with him as we speak. 🙄
@blackshark – YNWA (Comment 45) : 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 47) :
@blackshark – YNWA (Comment 45) : KZN 😳 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 47) : 😆 😆 😆
Didnt know he was injured…. ok next plan!
Who is the current french fly half
@KSA Shark © (Comment 47) :
Full Name Andrew David
Nick Name Butch
Surname James
Birth Date 8 January 1979
Sorry he turned 30 in January already.
@Rahul (Comment 51) :
http://www.sharksworld.co.za/2009/04/25/pdvs-headache-solved-as-james-ruled-out-for-9-months/
@Rahul (Comment 52) :
We have what we need, he is just sitting in CT.
Peter Grant must get his arse to Durban.
@Rahul (Comment 52) :
Or better still…let’s get Freddie back…he was looking pretty decent towards the end of his stay in KZA 😈 …we taught him well…
@KSA Shark © (Comment 54) : How did I miss that? 😳
@KSA Shark © (Comment 55) : Im not convinced… I’ll need to see him playing again 😐
@KSA Shark © (Comment 55) : 😯
you seem to be hanged on this “destiny thing”
@blackshark – YNWA (Comment 56) : y’all full of [email protected] today…. Long weekends must come to an end!
@rekinek (Comment 58) :
And I think once he plays in a decent side he will shape up as one of the top flyhalves in the country.
@Rahul (Comment 57) : I just hope you see him playing behind a decent pack.
@Rahul (Comment 59) : almost can’t imagine how I will be able to get through 5 day working week
@KSA Shark © (Comment 60) : i get the feeling that with Butch out he will have a go at Springboks (even if it is as a replacement) so we should see him behind decent pack.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 55) : another question –
where do you propose to stick ruan should we get grant ?
back at 9 ?
@Flashman (Comment 8) :
Craig Lewis: Would you ever consider making a return to South Africa or the Sharks?
Brad Barritt: Yeah of course I would never rule it out, I do have two more years left on my current contract and I’m really enjoying the opportunity this side so I haven’t thought about it too much.
@rekinek (Comment 63) :
Grant will be the backup flyhalf. Ruan will stay my 1st choice half.
@rekinek (Comment 61) :
I am glad Iam “easing” back into work mode with a 3 day week…would not have been able to cope with a fiver after my two weeks in KZA.. 😆
@Rahul (Comment 40) :
I saw that dude!
Giggs as Player of the Year is a joke.
More sentiment than actual quality of performance. 😕
@Prof. Ice (Comment 66) : did you enjoy Kazachstan ❓
@KSA Shark © (Comment 65) : it would be good for sharks – considering lack of FL backup but not too great for grant. It would seriously limit his game time and thus Bok chances I would imagine.
@Prof. Ice (Comment 66) : Hey I’ce…how’s the tan?
@wpw (Comment 67) :
Has he ever won the award previously?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 55) :
I don’t think Jean De Villiers will appreciate you discussing Peter’s arse!!
@blackshark – YNWA (Comment 69) :
Nope!
He won the Young PFA Award twice – 1992 and 1993 🙄
@rekinek (Comment 68) :
What a question!!?? Sunny golden beaches, blue skies, big waters and the best bunny chow eva!! 😉 (oh and some good wine to help with the hot food).. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 65) :
Yep- I would only take Grant for the bench…
@rekinek (Comment 68) :
I think coming off the bench for us would increase his chances…compared to the action he is getting with the stripes…plus he would get a chance to start should Rory or Ruan pick up a knock…
@wpw (Comment 71) :
I suppose they wanted to give him one before he died… 🙄 I mean really…what a shocker…
@blackshark – YNWA (Comment 69) :
I did real good in that department!!
@wpw (Comment 70) :
And a WP supporter comes up with that gem. 🙄 And they wonder why Stan called them “kussing byters” 🙄 😛
@Prof. Ice (Comment 72) : 😛
@blackshark – YNWA (Comment 73) : i don’t agree. Look at guys like fourie or juan smith – they shine even though their sides are worse than stormers (somehow it is unfortunately possible).
the stripes are just proving how versatile he is 😉
@blackshark – YNWA (Comment 74) :
It’s like David Beckham getting 100 caps for England.
Totally undeserved! 🙄
@rekinek (Comment 77) :
Playing at flank or centre with jokers around you is terrible…but playing at flyhalf with no pack is torture… 😆
@wpw (Comment 78) : It was voted by the players…. uness they making a mockery of the system they must think he is the best in England this year
Unless 😳 go on, have fun with that one too…
@blackshark – YNWA (Comment 79) : i wouldn’t know such details.
but what about giteau – force (like any aussies side
) not such strong upfront and he is coming right.
@wpw (Comment 78) : Direct quote from the web
“The only surprise about Ryan Giggs being named PFA Player’s Player of the Year in April 2009 was that it had taken so long for him to win the prestigious award.”
@Charlie (Comment 1) : maybe they were doing overtime
@Rahul (Comment 83) :
Is that from Man Utd’s website?? 😈
@wpw (Comment 85) : good guess!!! 😆 😆 😆
On the converse, Plumtree adds that, “Unfortunately, Waylon Murray is still struggling, he’s operating at about 85%, change of direction is an issue for him. Hopefully he’ll play some role in the Sharks XV game on the weekend.
“Adi Jacobs underwent a scan but we don’t know the outcome yet, it could be one week, it could be three months, hopefully it will be earlier, not later.”
Losing the pair obviously has an impact on team dynamics, especially Jacobs who has been in outstanding form all season and an integral part of the backline. “We’re trying to get some form of continuity going in our backline, so if Ruan makes it, it will be great for that, with Frans [Steyn] and Swannie [Riaan Swanepoel] or Andries [Strauss] in the midfield. Certainly if Ruan drops out we’ll be a playmaker or two short; hopefully he will make it.”
very mixed reports about ruan – if adi is out (what it looks like) the backline will be in bit of a trouble. i see completely inexperiednced midfield – brrrrr 🙄
@Charlie (Comment 87) : so Waylon can only run straight now? Where’s the problem? 🙂
@rekinek (Comment 88) : 😐
@robdylan (Comment 89) : 😈
@robdylan (Comment 89) :
@rekinek (Comment 88) :
No Fear. Ruan is in the Starting XV at flyhalf.
Rob are you writing a piece or can I post the team?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 93) :
And Strauss is NOT at 13. 😉
The Sharks
15. Stefan Terblanche
14. Odwa Ndungane
13. Riaan Swanepoel
12. Francois Steyn
11. JP Pietersen
10. Ruan Pienaar
9. Rory Kockott
8. Ryan Kankowski
7. Jean Deysel
6. Jacques Botes
5. Johann Muller (Captain) / Albert van den Berg
4. Steven Sykes
3. John Smit
2. Bismarck du Plessis
1. Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements:
16. Deon Carstens
17. Jannie du Plessis
18. Albert van den Berg / Johan Snyman
19. Keegan Daniel
20. Charl McLeod
21. Monty Dumond
22. Andries Strauss
@KSA Shark © (Comment 95) : 😛
@rekinek (Comment 96) :
thread is up. 😉