John Plumtree has named a powerful side to face the Waratahs this weekend, with Bradley Barritt starting at inside centre in place of the injured Francois Steyn.
John Smit, after starring in the Sharks front row’s scrumtime demolition of the Highlanders, will need to be content with a bench role this week, as Jannie du Plessis starts at tight head prop. The balance of the pack is completely unchanged from the unit that performed well last week. Keegan Daniel escapes censure after being yellow carded in the previous match and will continue in the number 19 jersey.
Johann Muller, as always, captains the team from the second row.
Charl McLeod comes in at scrumhalf to replace the suspended Rory Kockott, while Ruan Pienaar will finally start in the number ten jersey he last wore against the Reds. The Sharks have looked half the team they were since Peinaar’s injury. Barritt will partner a fit-again Adrian Jacobs in the centres, with hte back three of JP Pietersen, Odwa Ndungane and Stefan Terblanche a settled unit.
There is no scrumhalf cover on the bench, as Pienaar is obviously a more-than-capable replacement in that position. Monty Dumond and Luzuko Vulindlu will be joined by Riaan Swanepoel, unlucky to lose out after starting for the past few weeks.
15. Stefan Terblanche
14. Odwa Ndungane
13. Adrian Jacobs
12. Brad Barritt
11. JP Pietersen
10. Ruan Pienaar
9. Charl McLeod
8. Ryan Kankowski
7. Jean Deysel
6. Jacques Botes
5. Johann Muller ( C )
4. Steven Sykes
3. Jannie du Plessis
2. Bismarck du Plessis
1. Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements
16. John Smit
17. Deon Carstens
18. Albert van den Berg
19. Keegan Daniel
20. Monty Dumond
21. Riaan Swanepoel
22. Luzuko Vulindlu
Tweet
good team
same as i thought is would be in starting 15 except for 1
i had smitty playing and bismark on the bench because of the strong tahs scrum
but good team and could be very exciting
We are very lucky to have Barritt back. Perfect timing…just when we needed him.
@Villie (Comment 2) : yes we are
@Villie (Comment 2) : indeed
good day rob , villie
great team, I’m sorry to say this but McLeod’s inexperience may actually be a plus for us.
Hopefully he concentrates on the basics like feeding the flyhalf the ball and we end up seeing backline fire all the time.
rob lemme tell ya if steyn wasnt injured this could have been a brilliant backline
15 stefan
14 odwa
13 adi
12 steyn
11 jpp
10 barritt
09 ruan
22 swannie
21 du mont
20 mcleod
getting back to the team i actually when posting a team on keo had only 2 backs on reserve bench and went for another flanker like justin
this because of the way tahs play
@sharks_lover (Comment 8) : i thought maybe thats the route plumtree would take
because of the speed of daniel one late in the second half could always use him in the backline
Palu is the big danger…we need to make sure that he doesn’t kill us like he did last season. Have to make our tackles on him and ensure he doesn’t gain too much momentum. Just like Lauaki at the Chiefs…he’s the fulcrum of their pack and nullifying his game will go a significant way to ensuring victory!
@sharks_lover (Comment 7) : nope – with Steyn at 12 you might as well not have 13-15 on the field.
@Villie (Comment 10) : enter Jean Deysel. Did you SEE that massive PK tackle he pulled off on one of the Landers loosies on Saturday? He should have “you shall not pass” tattooed on his chest.
this is the best starting lineup of the season. pity about number 15.
Looking forward to seeing Braddy boy again. 😎
oh and the (c) in the wrong place.
@robdylan (Comment 11) : lets agree to disagree
@try time (history forgets losers) (Comment 13) : Maybe Brad the man can keep him out of the game. 😉 😛
@Villie (Comment 10) :
I don’t feel as threatened by him this year as last year. He was a lot more devastating las year.
@Villie (Comment 10) : it wasn’t palu as much as waugh’s cheating.
ok this is the worst part of it
rob and TT agreeing?????
😯
@klempie (Comment 17) : yeah. maybe with brad there stefan might feel it is safer to run with the ball.
I love the look of the backline. Ruan and Brad are good distributors and hopefully will put Adi into some space to work his magic with JPP or Odwa finishing off. 😀
@KSA Shark © (Comment 6) : I agree, I really want to see the backline get some quick ball.
@robdylan (Comment 12) :
Our own local monster. That guy is so strong its scary.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 6) :
Couldnt agree more!
I would definitely have started with Smit for this pack; lets hope Bismark steps up.
@try time (history forgets losers) (Comment 13) : I agree thos line up gives me a lot of confidence..with Fransie at fullback it can only get better
@KSA Shark © (Comment 6) : Spoken like a true winger 😉
Awesome line up! Glad to see Adi good to go as well!
WOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!
@Charlie (Comment 26) : Glad you decided to join us 😀 😀 😀
Awsome team – gives me a good feeling…would have like Smit tpo start though, but purely because i am not a Jannie fan… 😳
@Charlie (Comment 26) :
you Gappy, or what?? 😆
Good team…and good to have Brad back…although Swannie was doing a decent job as centre cover.
Be afraid Tahs… 😡
@blackshark – YNWA (Comment 30) : yeah swannie to start and adi off the bench is a better lineup. oh well this one is hot.
@Rahul (Comment 25) : 😛
@try time (history forgets losers) (Comment 31) : With Barrit back you need Adi’s experience. Barrit must need familiariztion time.
@Prof. Ice (Comment 29) : @KSA Shark © (Comment 32) :
What’s with the avatars? Is this the THIRSTday theme? 😛
@KSA Shark © (Comment 32) : Hey hey… Long time we miss each other here 😀
@sharks_lover (Comment 7) : Barritt at 10? WTF?
@Baldrick (Comment 36) :
WTF = WhaT For ?
@blackshark – YNWA (Comment 37) :
@blackshark – YNWA (Comment 37) : YAWN????
@Pokkel (Comment 27) : @Prof. Ice (Comment 29) : Soes ‘n Chappie 😆 😆 😆
@Baldrick (Comment 39) : You should give him a withering Blackadder putdown. 🙂
@klempie (Comment 41) : I will, I have a cunning plan master!
@Baldrick (Comment 39) :
Brad is not flashy…but YAWN????
I don’t think Rob will like that… 😈
@Baldrick (Comment 42) : 😆
@blackshark – YNWA (Comment 43) : flashy is overrated
Let me pull out the big wooden spoon…Swanepoel should be playing ahead of Barritt.
@robdylan (Comment 45) : frans is flashy-flash in the pan. give me solid anyday.
@Dive Pass (Comment 46) : nah he should be playing ahead of adi.
@Dive Pass (Comment 46) : I think Braddy is there for his communication and defensive organisation… Swannie probably a better impact option.
@try time (history forgets losers) (Comment 47) : so you prefer something solid in the pan? So much for that Immodium sponsorship I’ve been working on.
*sigh*
@robdylan (Comment 50) : well lets hope the sharks campaign doesn’t go down the pan…again. 😀 😀
@try time (history forgets losers) (Comment 47) : Stefan is solid 👿
@try time (history forgets losers) (Comment 51) : just yanking your chain, mate!
@Pokkel (Comment 52) : yank yank
@Pokkel (Comment 52) : ah yeah – brilliant point! Shove that one in your pipe, TT!
@robdylan (Comment 55) : he he he he . I couldn’t resist 😆
@Pokkel (Comment 52) : no argument there.
@robdylan (Comment 53) : i felt a little flushed.
@robdylan (Comment 55) : i don’t recall knocking his defensive capability.
Jacobs to partner Barritt…
by Gavin Rich | 07 May 2009 (13:54)
On paper at least, the outcome of the machinations that have taken place behind the scenes to combat the Sharks’ injury crisis have not turned out too badly.
The Sharks took until Thursday afternoon to name their team for Saturday’s all-important Super 14 showdown with the Waratahs at ABSA Stadium, but when the team sheet was finally released, it did not look half as bad as first feared.
Brad Barritt is back from Saracens to fulfil an obligation agreed upon when his release from the Sharks was negotiated last year, and he slots straight back into the No12 jersey he used to fill with such distinction and which was his when the Sharks contested the 2007 Super 14 final against the Bulls.
Alongside him is Springbok Adrian Jacobs. A week ago we learned that Jacobs had been advised to undergo an operation for a shoulder tear. In their desperation, the Sharks sought second opinion, and it was decided to gamble on another option which it is hoped will keep Jacobs in the mix until the end of the Super 14 – and hopefully beyond that into the Lions series.
Every time Jacobs is tackled on Saturday it would be right for the Sharks management and the fans to wince, for from what we understand even the slightest mishap could force Jacobs into having that operation and rule him out of the remaining Super 14 matches as well as the Sharks series.
The biggest question of all ahead of Saturday’s game does not revolve around Jacobs alone, but around the man next to him. Yes, he has played often enough with Ruan Pienaar at flyhalf and with Jacobs alongside him too, but Barritt has not seen action with his Sharks teammates since the Currie Cup final last year, and even then it was only briefly as he came off the bench.
With Rory Kockott suspended, the scrumhalf jersey has been handed to Charl MacLeod, who in no sense is a poor player, so provided that Pienaar starts regaining his confidence following his knee surgery and lay-off, the Sharks do still have a handy halfback combination – and plenty of talent outside them.
The pack remains the same but for one not insignificant change – John Smit, so impressive at tighthead last week against the Highlanders, makes way for the return of Jannie du Plessis. That is news that should be received with mixed feelings by Bok coach Peter de Villiers –Smit does need game time in his new position, but at the same time, there have been more than enough injuries just lately, and one to the incumbent Bok skipper would be particularly crippling.
@robdylan (Comment 53) : @robdylan (Comment 55) : but i wish he would get a little bit of the runs.
@Charlie (Comment 60) : he should be coming off the bench.
@try time (history forgets losers) (Comment 61) :
@try time (history forgets losers) (Comment 62) : Who ❓ Brad Or Adi 😯
@try time (history forgets losers) (Comment 58) : That souds gay 😯 🙄 😆
@Charlie (Comment 65) : 😳 sounds 😳
I gave this to the Tahs…
@Morné (Comment 67) : you mind asking for it back? That’s just rude… it wasn’t yours to give!
@robdylan (Comment 68) :
I am on a roll with the predictions as-well!
@Morné (Comment 69) : hey buddy – I’ll have you know I’m second in our SuperBru pool 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 70) :
I am winning prizes on Voldy
my picks: saders, canes, brumbies, sharks, bulls, lions and force to win, varying margins between 7 and 15.
im 49th 🙁
@JarsonX (Comment 72) : i have the same teams
@Charlie (Comment 65) : it was supposed to be girlie lol
@try time (history forgets losers) (Comment 75) :
Good luck today Sharks, a bonus point win is a must. Glad to see Barritt back, he’s done well for Sarries the few games he’s played.