Sharks coach John Plumtree has made six changes to the side that beat the Free State Cheetahs last week for Friday’s Absa Currie Cup match against the Platinum Leopards at The Absa Stadium Durban (7.10pm kick-off).
With three rounds of matches remaining in the pool stages, Plumtree has had something of a juggling act to negotiate over the past 10 days with injuries, players returning from injury and a slew of Springboks available for the province.
Something akin to a nice headache to have if you’re a coach – with so much depth at his disposal – he has had a careful balancing act to negotiate in incorporating returning players back in the side, making sure those who need the rest get it and the same for those needing valuable game time while not making wholesale changes which could affect the continuity and momentum of the side.
With Western Province breathing down The Sharks necks and any manner of permutations still remaining as to where the top four teams end up on the log as they search for home ground advantage come the play-offs, winning – and winning well – against the Leopards is a non-negotiable.
Stefan Terblanche continues his leadership role with a 100% success rate from nine outings as captain while Luzuko Vulindlu who showed great promise in the Vodacom Super 14 earlier this year before suffering a derailing injury has been recalled to the side in one of two changes to the backline.
Ruan Pienaar is the other, he will partner Juan Hernandez from the scrumhalf position for this match while big Michael Rhodes comes in for Jean Deysel who suffered a knee injury last week. With Steven Sykes having barely stopped for breath all year, he gets a welcome break – albeit off the bench – to allow Alistair Hargreaves to gain valuable game time after his long term injury-enforced absence.
The injury to Patric Cilliers a few weeks back has most fortunately not been serious and he will start at loosehead with Skipper Badenhorst starting at hooker.
Bismarck du Plessis and Deon Carstens will provide front row cover off the bench, with Sykes and Keegan Daniel the other forward replacements. Rory Kockott, Monty Dumond and Adrian Jacobs complete the bench.
The Sharks
15. Stefan Terblanche (Capt)
14. Luzuko Vulindlu
13. Waylon Murray
12. Andries Strauss
11. Lwazi Mvovo
10. Juan Hernandez
9. Ruan Pienaar
8. Ryan Kankowski
7. Michael Rhodes
6. Jacques Botes
5. Albert van den Berg
4. Alistair Hargreaves
3. Jannie du Plessis
2. Skipper Badenhorst
1. Patric Cilliers
Replacements
16. Bismarck du Plessis
17. Deon Carstens
18. Steven Sykes
19. Keegan Daniel
20. Rory Kockott
21. Monty Dumond
22. Adrian Jacobs
with thanks to www.sharksrugby.co.za
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Easy 5 points.
Good to see Zuks back in the squad and Waylon getting another run at 13.
As McLovin (Comment 1) : @McLovin (Comment 1) : has stated, this should be an easy 5 points.
@blackshark (Comment 2) : should be, although i think the momentum of the team is more important so that we arrive at the semi’s firing on all cylinders
GO SHARKS!!!
@blackshark (Comment 2) :
I think you got his attention… 😉
Go Sharks!! A full 5 points coming up.
10-0 Sharks
Tries by Mvovo and Vulindlu, both convertions missed it seems
u/21 beat the Leopards 38-7
hey! Why cant i change my profile on the mobile version???
17-0
Try Strauss
30mins odd
22-7
Strauss score the bonus point try
@JarsonX (Insomniac) (Comment 11) : Leopards scored an easy/soft try
27-7
39mins
Botes scores the 5th
Hernandez kicks worse than Pienaar tonight
HALFTIME
Sharks 27-10 Leopards
the site is dead for a friday 😯
2nd half underway
Sharks almost scored their 6th 3mins in but ref says its forward
Leopards goal kicking sucks just as bad.
48mins gone
nothing much happening now
53min
Sharks seems to have lost a bit of momentum
Leopards almost scored another soft try. Plum is ringing the changes now
oupa Albert scores the 6th and Pienaar converts and Kockett replaces him
64min
34-17 Sharks
Leopards scores and intercept try.
😯
Sharks defence sucks!
17 points difference, not good.
66min
TMO rules ‘no try’ to the Leopards but they get a penalty instead.
34-20
Sharks were much better without the Springboks 😈
A pathetic performance by the Sharks (s14-ish). They shouldve won by 40+ points tonight
76mins gone
pathetic pathetic pathetic
FULLTIME
Sharks 34-20 Leopards
the scoreline really flatters the Sharks, 14 points difference. 5 tries in the 1st half and only 1 in the 2nd.
the bonus point atleast guarantees topspot for another week.
Goodnight guys! Go Griquas, Cheetahs and Lions!
Greetings all who are here and those who are not
I have a theory about last nights game Its Robs Fault cos he went to the game!!!
seriously though first half ok second half poor JMH subbed and monty in and suddly back line looked poor crab running no space and the loop pass back in the game and waylon started to run like Fleckie B4 JMH went off line found gaps and waylon ran straight
2 of their tries were intercepts one cleaver one stupid
my concern was the pack yes no diesel power and a few others but even with jannie there their front row worked our case for us
we also have a lightwieght pack I know when the big guns return it might be different but im concerned by the pack
anyway for what is worth we got 5 points
Yeah it wasn`t anything to excite the fans was it?
Still we got the 5 that`s the important part.
Has anyone got feedback regarding Deysels` Injury?! Also we need JP back soonest.