I keep hearing that the Sharks are going to use the Lions game to assess the depth available in the province and try to unearth some fresh talent for the Currie Cup. If we’re going to do that, then let’s do that, but we as fans mustn’t get too upset if we end up losing the match – quite horribly – as a result.
There are few areas in the squad that could be considered “settled” – in fact, it’s only really the second row where we are likely to have our first-choice combination available to us not only for the Lions match, but also throughout the Currie Cup. There are a number of real questions that we need answered and the Lions match represents as good an opportunity to do that as any.
Up front, we’re likely to have Jannie du Plessis with us at tighthead, unless a Bok injury necessitates a call-up for him. The Sharks have no real shortage of quality props anyway and we know what Pat Cilliers, in particular, has to offer as a replacement. We could use the Lions match the assess the credentials of a number of the Vodacom Cup props, in particular young Wiehahn Herbst at tighthead and Sabelo Nhlapo on the other side. The other option – and one which may potentially be the most sensible – is to play Cilliers at loosehead, since we will need a quality player to own the number one jersey throughout the Currie Cup. Let’s give Pat a run at loosehead against quality opposition and see how he goes.
Hooker is another position where we need to understand exactly what the next rung of players looks like. Craig Burden simply must start the game, since we need to see if he has come on at all in the basic skills department since his unfortunate Super 14 run last year. Picking Skipper Badenhorst will accomplish absolutely nothing – we know what we have in him and it’s time for us to accept that he’s not the answer. Badenhorst could bench, but I’d rather see a bolter like young Dylan Rutherford picked in the number 16 jersey. We’d find out pretty quickly if he has what it takes at this level of the game.
Muller and Sykes will no doubt start at lock, but I’d like to see Joe Snyman given a run off the bench. The former SA age group star had a pretty useful Vodacom Cup and looks overdue for the big time. Jacques Botes and Keegan Daniel give us plenty of options on the open side but it’s at blindside and number 8 that we are definitely short of experience. Assuming Jean Deysel is available to play, we need to give someone like Warren Whiteley or maybe Mike Rhodes a run in Ryan Kankowski’s spot. Justin Downey’s ability to cover the entire back row must surely count in his favour when it comes to dishing out the number 19 jersey.
Scrumhalf is, of course, not a problem, with Rory Kockott and Charl McLeod the incumbents. Flyhalf, though, is a position where we simply do not have a clue about who our next best is and again, it’s imperative that we let somebody other then Monty Dumond have a proper run. Len Olivier’s share seem to have fallen alarmingly since arriving from the Valke in the off season, but I’d really expect him to be given a bench spot at least against the Lions. Young Guy Cronje and Pat Lambie, both Michaelhouse old boys, are the frontrunners for the number 10 jersey at this stage and it would be good to accommodate both in the match 22, if at all possible. Lambie, in particular, seems a very exciting talent indeed and he may just be the logical successor to Stefan Terblanche at fullback.
The centres are again a completely blank slate, with Riaan Swanepoel likely to feature, along with Andries Strauss, Ian Adendorff and Zuks Vulindlu. I would imagine that Trevor Halstead is probably also in the mix somewhere, but from what I’ve heard, his Vodacom Cup form wasn’t inspiring enough to suggest that the former Bok is likely to make a significant impact on the Currie Cup. Waylon Murray may finally be over his injury problems and this match would represent a good opportunity for the big Westville lad to show that he still has an appetite for big-time rugby. Should he be available, we can then use Vulindlu on the wing, which might just make a lot of sense given the dearth of quality out wide.
In fact, in the absence of JP Pietersen and Odwa Ndungane, the Sharks’ wing cupboard is alarmingly bare, with Lwazi Mvovo and Chris Jordaan the only real options. Danie Dames and Carl Bezuidenhout could also come into the picture.
If I were picking the team, this is what I’d go with. Bear in mind that I wouldn’t be expecting this outfit to actually beat the Lions, but would rather look at how the individuals stood up under pressure, against really top opposition.
1 Pat Cilliers, 2 Craig Burden, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 4 Steven Sykes, 5 Johann Muller (capt), 6 Keegan Daniel, 7 Jean Deysel, 8 Mike Rhodes, 9 Rory Kockott, 10 Guy Cronje, 11 Luzuko Vulindlu, 12 Riaan Swanepoel, 13 Waylon Murray, 14 Lwazi Mvovo, 15 Stefan Terblanche
16 Dylan Rutherford, 17 Sabelo Nhlapo, 18 Joe Snyman, 19 Justin Downey, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Len Olivier, 22 Pat Lambie
Tweet
Hmmm…
This comes around once in 12 years…
Experiment against the Lions???
I dunno so much but even though they have lost a hell of a lot of Boks
@Morné (Comment 1) : hey dude – it’s not like I’m advocating leaving out anyone good who’s actually available. It’s jsut the Monty Dumonds and Skipper Badenhorsts that I haven’t picked.
Oh – and Jacques Botes, but that’s just because we need to see somebody like Downey play.
@robdylan (Comment 2) :
Like I said you lost a host of guys to Bok duty.
But for the Lions, I would pick the absolute best I can.
A victory over the Lions is something that lives with you for very long, and its not easily achieved.
And you know my feeling RE the CC… 😉
@Morné (Comment 1) :
My thoughts as well, but then when you have 10 starters out and their backups that haven’t really played much, any team that is put out will have a degree of experimention about it.
I wish it was like the old days and play with your Bokke.
We must play our best side.
There are compulsory friendlies where you can mix and match.
Sharks must beat the Lions even without 10 Bokke.
Heaven help if we play like Golden Lions.
Murray would do well to study the game of Jacques Fourie. They are both the same size but what makes Fourie an outstanding centre is his awareness and ability to run off the angle well. He’s also one of the best followers of kicks. Murray’s defence is ok, but he could be a little more confrontational at the tackle point.
If he could up the positive aggression, he may well yet return to his former Bok ways.
I don’t see the Lions team losing to ANY of our provincial teams.
We are talking about test players here.
If I drive down there tomorrow and discover Plum hasn’t fielded his best side I will be apopleptic.
@klempie (Comment 8) : Damn, i had to look that word up. 🙂
@klempie (Comment 8) :
apopleptic, its amazing the words one can come up with while hitting the tarmac.
@klempie (Comment 8) : I wouldn’t drive down tomorrow… the game is on Wednesday
@wpw (Comment 7) : they bloody nearly lost to the Cheetahs
@Salmonoid (Comment 10) : Discussions on Sharksworld just got esoteric….
Esoteric (Adjective)
1. Confined to and understandable by only an enlightened inner circle; “a compilation of esoteric philosophical theories”.
😯
@CapeShark (Comment 13) :
All these big words, I’m starting to feel vertiginous.
So who are the inner circle? 😉
@wpw (Comment 14) : In other words, the opposite of keo.co.za 😛
@Salmonoid (Comment 16) :
There’s only one ‘inner circle’ and that is the Sharks supporters!!! 👿
@wpw (Comment 18) : we’re more like a 3-ring circus
@wpw (Comment 18) :
And I thought it was the crowd which have exclusive rights to edit, alter, delete and adulterate perfectly good posts.
@robdylan (Comment 19) : Yeah, wpw, i think you’ll find the sharks’s supporter arrogance has wained somewhat since the Bulls became the only SA team to win the Super series…twice…
🙄
@Salmonoid (Comment 20) : we don’t do that here
Has Monty been given enough of a chance?
@CapeShark (Comment 21) : uh huh!
@robdylan (Comment 12) : Rob, I fear they will play their strongest side against the Sharks..which means NO Earls and Fitzgerald at centre.
I expect them to go with Roberts and O’Driscoll in midfield and Bowe on the wing. Will make them a much more difficult nut to crack.
Infact I think there is a distinct difference between their Wed and Sat sides!
@blackshark (Comment 23) : I think so… don’t you?
@Villie (Comment 25) : yeah – no doubt. They’ve said they’re picking their shadow test side. We’re up against it, there’s no doubt about that.
@robdylan (Comment 26) : in which position ?
@Villie (Comment 25) : “Infact I think there is a distinct difference between their Wed and Sat sides!”
Like Wed smashes the opposition and the Sat luckily passes through. Wonder why the captain in Sat one
@robdylan (Comment 26) :
Can’t say I’ve seen enough of Monty…
Do you think he’s our 1st choice flyhalf for the CC?
@rekinek (Comment 29) : To be honest the captain does not deserve a spot in the test side as he’s not one of the best 2 locks on tour.
Nathan Hines and Alun-Wyn Jones are better than him.
The backline almost picks itself for the tests already. The following are certainties (if fit) for the first test.
Lee Byrne, Tommy Bowe, Brian O’Driscoll, Jamie Roberts and Mike Phillips. Which means only left wing and flyhalf are up for grabs. Because I think they will go for Phillips at 9, Stephen Jones (being his Welsh partner) will probably crack the nod ahead of O’Gara.
@rekinek (Comment 28) : flyhalf… you reckon he needs more chances at fullback?
@blackshark (Comment 30) : what about Len ? Didn’t Monty play mainly FB in Vodacom Cup.
@Villie (Comment 31) : he definately did not inspire me. maybe he is saving himself for test matches. apparently only captain’s spot in test game is certain.
IMO BOD would do much better job as captain but I guess BIL are in “obsession with forwards” phase.
@blackshark (Comment 30) : I think that depends on “acquisitions”….
@rekinek (Comment 34) : he did
@robdylan (Comment 22) :
Boring.
@Salmonoid (Comment 38) : perhaps
On Monty and Len Olivier, I cant remember seeing anything, bar guest appearances here and there, of them.
@robdylan (Comment 36) :
I don’t have high hopes in that department…but we’ll see. 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 39) :
I remember seeing articles dissapear into cyberspace.
@robdylan (Comment 11) : 🙄
I am taking 3 days off. The game is in the middle of the three days. 😎
@Salmonoid (Comment 10) :
@Salmonoid (Comment 42) : which articles?
@CapeShark (Comment 9) : 😛
@robdylan (Comment 22) : Sure you don’t! 🙄
@klempie (Comment 47) : we’ve never pretended to be anything other than what we are. If you want to get involved in psuedo politicking, go over to Keo or Ruggaworld.
Hi All
I hear Deon Carstens will be available for the game also maybe a 20min run for Ruan and Frans
Ruan and Frans is not from a reliable source but Deon is
RobDylan can you check that waylon is going to play I hope he does
@klempie (Comment 43) : have fun 😎
@robdylan (Comment 48) : That’s fine. Just don’t claim that posts aren’t ever edited or removed because of anyone here, I am the most qualified to say that that is certainly not the case. 😉
@rekinek (Comment 50) : Thanks bru. Hooking up with KSA and Kette for a braai after.
@klempie (Comment 52) : 😎 is this safe
@klempie (Comment 51) : posts are edited if they don’t comply with the rules. We’ve always been very clear about that.
Since the site was launched, I don’t think we’ve edited more than 10 comments in total.
@robdylan (Comment 54) : how old is this site?
@Fattmann (Comment 49) : Interesting I heard the same rumour about Frans and Ruan.
@rekinek (Comment 55) : we started in Feb 08…
@robdylan (Comment 57) : How do most people get to Sharksworld..I think I found Sharksworld when I clicked on your link at keo..
I joined towards the end of the Super 14 2008….I think…..does this mean Im one of the ‘old folk’ on Sharksworld???
@robdylan (Comment 54) : I’ve had at least 5.
@Pokkel (Comment 58) : yes – you’re pretty much vintage around here.
I do a lot of marketing of the site!
@klempie (Comment 59) : Naughty naughty……dit is daai vuil politieke bek van jou 😉
@klempie (Comment 59) : yeah well – some people just never learn
@Pokkel (Comment 61) : My bek is so skoon soos Dana Winner se @#$!.
@robdylan (Comment 45) :
One specific one was about someone that had benifitted from land invassions in Zim.
@Salmonoid (Comment 64) : Oh yeh? I wonder who that could be? 😕
@klempie (Comment 63) : Wie is Dana Winner???
@Pokkel (Comment 66) : Ek weet nie. Een of ander japie sangeres. Jy sien haar CD ads op TV nou en dan. Lyk my sy’s baie…hoe se ‘n mens…ag en engels is dit “wholesome”.
@Salmonoid (Comment 64) : yeah well – if you can’t see how that kind of thing is completely at odds with the general tone of this site, you’re not as bright as I figured you to be!
@klempie (Comment 67) : ha! I KNEW you had underlying tendencies! You closet Bull you!
@robdylan (Comment 68) : I’d like to find out who he is on about if it’s all the same to you. It’s a complete mystery. 😛
@klempie (Comment 67) : Ek het n mental block as ek enige ads sien met NOG n afrikaanse sanger/sangeres….ek sal dit nie onthou nie al sien ek dit 🙄
@klempie (Comment 67) : Ek sal n bietjie uitkyk vir n ad….sy het duidelik n moerse indruk op jou gemaak 😆
@robdylan (Comment 69) : Hey if female Bulls fan all looked like this I would be. I could put up with the music if I got to go home to that every night…
@klempie (Comment 73) : Rob your stoopid href tags don’t work.
http://kr.img.blog.yahoo.com/ybi/1/f0/0d/youngbong_k/folder/3/img_3_163_39?1139807773.jpg
@klempie (Comment 74) : ummm – at what stage did I commit to letting you add whatever markup you wanted to?
You guys have a pretty weird understanding of the concept of “ownership”…
@robdylan (Comment 75) : What is this? PSWML?
@Pokkel (Comment 72) : Ok my bad. Seems she’s Belgian! 😆 How she’s selling records in SA is beyond me.
@Pokkel (Comment 66) :
@klempie (Comment 67) :
A Belgian singer with a squeaky clean image
@klempie (Comment 74) : no – not for me. She has that typical MDL-poppie look. Definitely not going onto my Christmas list.
Oh – and her eyes are too close together.
@klempie (Comment 76) : I call it FUML
@klempie (Comment 74) : Not my type…sy is nie lelik nie, maar lyk oudtyds en preets….plus sy het n trouring aan….
Sy sal my definitief nie vir dir Bulle laat skreeu nie.
@Ollie (Comment 78) : Pokkel, nou verstaan jy hoekom ek’t gese my bek is so skoon soos haar… 😉
@klempie (Comment 77) :
Flemish/Afrikaans
Close enough
@robdylan (Comment 79) : Markup Definition Language poppie? Hell I wish we coulda had some of those in Comp Sci…
@klempie (Comment 82) : Jy beledig darem die vrou nou verskriklik
@Pokkel (Comment 81) : Too old for me anyway…just saying. If my ball and chain looks like that at her age I won’t be complaining.
@robdylan (Comment 75) :
You tell them Rob.
The two of us need to discuss the way forward (wrt the site of course) and discipline issues!! 🙄
@klempie (Comment 86) :
ball and chain… 😈
@robdylan (Comment 80) : It should be Poephol Sharks World Markup Language. 😛
@Pokkel (Comment 85) : Toemaar ou pel. Dis mos in Afrikaans so miskien sal ek gelukkig wees dat sy nie verstaan nie. 😉
@klempie (Comment 86) : Jy het nou n lat vir jou eie gat gepluk….nou probeer jy ‘please explain’ 👿 😉
@Pokkel (Comment 91) :
@robdylan (Comment 68) :
Touchy hey, you asked, I replied, and now you want to get personal about it. Hell chap, I didnt have a go at you about it but its obvious from your reaction that it is of some form of annoyance to you that this is pointed out to you.
@Salmonoid (Comment 93) : Let the games begin! 😆
@klempie (Comment 84) : Mutton Dressed as Lamb, boetie…
@Salmonoid (Comment 93) : I’m just not sure why it is that you’re banging on about it, is all. We’ve never been anything other than 1000% open about what kind of site we’re running here.
@Pokkel (Comment 66) : 😯 you must have a chat with ouma. 😆
@robdylan (Comment 95) : Mutton Dress as Lamb, Mutton Dressed as Lamb…I don’t get it. Is the inference that mutton isn’t as good as lamb?
@rekinek (Comment 97) : Hey Winner’s not THAT old… 😛
@Salmonoid (Comment 93) : Sammy and I are kindred spirits I think…
@robdylan (Comment 75) : socialist
I know this is TOTALLY off topic, but please forgive me. Just went onto Sportsmans warehouse’s website… R1299.95 for a springbok replica jersey!!!!!
Who are they kidding?
OK the girls have arrived okes. Keep it clean…
@klempie (Comment 99) : but her target group is 😉
Guys…Lions team has been announced!!
@rekinek (Comment 104) : Her target group is anyone outside the major South African metropols excluding Mangaung. 😉
@molly (Comment 102) : And they wonder why people buy “fake” jerseys at the traffic lights 🙄 🙄
If they made the jerseys R400 each then the pirates would battle!
@Villie (Comment 105) : and is it sat or wed? 😆
@klempie (Comment 106) : oh sorry and Tswane…what an oversight! 😳
@molly (Comment 102) :
Ridiculous… 👿
@robdylan (Comment 96) :
Who is banging on about what, a few comments were passed in jest re the inner circle. You made out as if you never interfered with posts or articles, I named one that you did, AT YOUR REQUEST, and for that you start getting personal.
Lighten up.
Yes, everybody knows what kind of site you run, squeaky clean, like Klempies dream girl, except of course when it comes to insulting opposition players, Afrikaans people and a special fondness of verbally abusing Francois Steyn.
@molly (Comment 102) : Yes, I saw that the other day. The New Bok jersy with the Bok on the RHS with Protea over heart.
The BIL jersey is half that price – + – R650 odd.
@rekinek (Comment 108) : \reki…it’s MAINLY Wed team. Only 4 remaining from Sat team 😛
Lee Byrne; Shane Williams, Brian O’Driscoll, Jamie Roberts, Luke Fitzgerald; Ronan O’Gara, Mike Phillips; Jamie Heaslip, David Wallace, Tom Croft, Paul O’Connell (capt), Alun-Wyn Jones, Adam Jones, Lee Mears Gethin Jenkins. Replacements – Matthew Rees, Phil Vickery, Simon Shaw, Joe Worsley, Mike Blair, Riki Flutey, Leigh Halfpenny.
@Salmonoid (Comment 111) : Yoh, yoh, yoh! 😮 😛
squeaky clean, like Klempies dream girl
HEY!! My dream girl is far from squeaky clean she just LOOKS like her…but brunette and longer hair…and with eyes further apart… 😆
@Villie (Comment 113) : could it be considered as a sign of respect to sharks ❓ 😆
@Ernie (Comment 112) : not exactly a market here for BIL jerseys here.
Getting back to the topic at hand.
http://www.2oceansvibe.com/2009/06/08/lest-we-forget-2/
B&IL for wednesday:
Team: Lee Byrne; Shane Williams, Brian O’Driscoll, Jamie Roberts, Luke Fitzgerald; Ronan O’Gara, Mike Phillips; 8 Jamie Heaslip, David Wallace, Tom Croft, Paul O’Connell (capt), Alun-Wyn Jones, Adam Jones, Lee Mears Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: Matthew Rees, Phil Vickery, Simon Shaw, Joe Worsley, Mike Blair, Riki Flutey, Leigh Halfpenny.
@Villie (Comment 113) : So as long as Plum plays the best team, we should win?
@Villie (Comment 114) : @rekinek (Comment 118) :
oki – you were first.
@blackshark (Comment 110) &@Ernie (Comment 112)
Makes me so angry!! Even the Junior replica shirt is crazy… R999.95. Honestly how many legitimate shirts are we going to see out there?
@klempie (Comment 115) :
Well in that case we probably are kindred spirits.
@rekinek (Comment 116) : 😆 Nope..not really. They are aware that this will be the toughest game of the tour so far. However for Lions it’s more about getting the combinations right for the first test. I think they know at least 9 of the test lineup already. The makeup of the front row and backrow is still fairly open.
I see they are giving Shane Williams as much game time as possible to regain his form!
New thread up gents and ladies:
http://www.sharksworld.co.za/2009/06/08/oconnell-leads-lions-into-shark-tank/
@klempie (Comment 119) : Difficult to call. Even with our strongest outfit, they will be the favourites. However, we definitely have a shot at beating them!
@Villie (Comment 123) : it was so beautiful that this intercept try came off his pass.
methink – the little man is overrated.
would love to see sharks beating them. i reckon doable, but o’driscoll in some good form lately.
@Salmonoid (Comment 122) : Look at the chick at the top of wpw’s link in #117. THAT’S my dream girl! 😉
@Salmonoid (Comment 111) : we don’t cover politics. That’s all I ever committed to.
@Salmonoid (Comment 111) : Too true, but then I suppose that does not qualify as political to some?
@rekinek (Comment 126) : When ‘wee Shane Williams’ is on form he’s dynamite. Not overrated at all. Some of his best tries have come from making the boks look stoopid…
@diablo (Comment 129) : On this site, the golden rule is that if it isn’t about rugby then there’s a 90% chance it’s political. Stick to that rule of thumb and you should be ok.
@robdylan (Comment 128) : Yeah I agree, when rugby sites start getting into Luke Watson, puke, SARU, SARFU, race stuff, Zim land invasions and all that Stofile nonsense, it stops being rugby and becomes this bunch of negative crap. The less of that, the better.
@klempie (Comment 131) : you know, Klempie, I find that for the most part, we actually get on fine here. Like I said, we have very rarely had to censor anything because the vast majority of our posters understand and agree with what we’re trying to achieve.
I can never figure out whether Salmo is just trying to stir or whether he (or she) has a real problem… if it’s the latter, my email address is festooned all over the site and I’m happy to take up any of this stuff off the site.
I’m not going to change my approach and my business model just because a few people are feeling sarcastic.
@klempie (Comment 131) : there is a cricket bit that takes up the remainder 10%
@robdylan (Comment 133) : * high fives Sammy.
I feel a bit guilty cos Sammy did all the hard yards reeling the brute in and all I did was land him in the boat.
@rekinek (Comment 134) : Well I dunno. We all know what Rob’s opinion is on that. The line between Proteasworld and politics is pretty blurry,
Did someone say cricket?? 😯
Whoop Whoop!!!
What are the chances of us actually winning the T20 WC?? 😎
@klempie (Comment 135) : glad you assholes had fun
@wpw (Comment 137) : T20 isn’t cricket…
@robdylan (Comment 138) : 😆
@wpw (Comment 137) :
90 %
@klempie (Comment 139) :
10km isn’t running.. 🙄
@blackshark (Comment 142) :
😆 😆
@blackshark (Comment 142) : @wpw (Comment 143) :
How many kilos are you dudes doing these days? Besides, I don’t HAVE to run far. I found that the amount of running was makig me lose weight which is counter productive. Put that in your spliffs and smoke it. 😎
Great. EVERYONE who was supposed to drive down with me for the match have bailed on me. 👿
@klempie (Comment 144) : eish… I have a 10k coming up in just over a month. And I just can’t seem to get out there and train for it.
@robdylan (Comment 146) : A month should be enough? 😕
@klempie (Comment 147) : yes – assuming I can actually get started with the training
@robdylan (Comment 148) : I didn’t go to gym for 10 days and it completely stuffed me.
@klempie (Comment 149) : I have just started to pick up some sort of weird flu-like thing as well… just what I don’t need
@robdylan (Comment 150) : Oink oink.
@klempie (Comment 151) : that’s what I’m thinking too 🙁
@robdylan (Comment 152) : whatever man…First World thinking has made your mind weak. You’re from saffer land where thousands perish yearly from innumerable diseases. 150 deaths globally over months (the bulk of which were in Mexico) and the entire First World are running around with face masks. Pfff.
@klempie (Comment 127) :
As you said earlier – Yoh, yoh, yoh!
That is not Dana Winner, who is actually big mates with Steve Hofmeyer
@robdylan (Comment 150) :
Tell me about it.
Its got you frayed around the edges when it comes to poor Salmo.
@Salmonoid (Comment 155) :
what about Dale Chadwick in the CC picture?? Since replacement loosehead prop Sabelo Nhlapo is injured at the moment anyway…
@s.h.a.r.k.s (Comment 157) : i heard that sabs wasn’t badly injured. Poor Dale deserves a break after being screwed over by the SA selectors! Welcome to the site, by the way