Sharks coach John Plumtree has been able to name a strong side to contest the ABSA Currie Cup semi-final against the Free State Cheetahs in Durban this weekend. The starting fifteen contains ten springboks and an Argentine international, with a further two international players on the bench.
Bismarck du Plessis and Beast Mtawarira have both been passed fit to start after picking up first-half injuries in Kimberley last week. Bok captain John Smit will again be in the starting tighthead spot, with Jannie du Plessis and the impressive Craig Burden providing front-row cover. Johann Muller and Jacques Botes are both back in the side after being out of action, while Jean Deysel also comes back into the starting lineup. Keegan Daniel drops to the bench this week, while Mike Rhodes and Alistair Hargreaves are the unlucky youngsters to miss out on a place in the 22.
Amongst the backs, that starting team is unchanged, with Riaan Swanepoel and Adi Jacobs continuing at centre after impressing against the Griquas. Ruan Pienaar and Juan Hernandez are the halfbacks, with an all-Bok back three of JP Pietersen, Odwa Ndungane and captain Stefan Terblance sure to provide some fireworks.
Waylon Murray is a surprise omission from the 22, with his spot on the replacements bench going to Monty Dumond.
15. Stefan Terblanche (Capt)
14. Odwa Ndungane
13. Adrian Jacobs
12. Riaan Swanepoel
11. JP Pietersen
10. Juan Hernandez
9. Ruan Pienaar
8. Ryan Kankowski
7. Jean Deysel
6. Jacques Botes
5. Johann Muller
4. Steven Sykes
3. John Smit
2. Bismarck du Plessis
1. Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements
16. Craig Burden
17. Jannie du Plessis
18. Albert van den Berg
19. Keegan Daniel
20. Rory Kockott
21. Monty Dumond
22. Andries Strauss

Rob, i was about to post the team – you were quicker 😈
that’s a good team – although i would keep hargreaves somewhere. not sure that johann will make it 80 minutes. but i guess albert is there for experienece in crunch time.
nice profile pic rob 😉 and a good sharks team
@rekinek (Comment 1) : my gut feel is that with so many forwards carrying niggles, we really should have added Hargreavs or Rhodes to that bench at the expense of Dumond or Strauss
@war1 (Comment 2) : fanks boet
***JAWS MUSIC***
>–^->
This is it!!!
@robdylan (Comment 3) : agree – and we do not actually need dumond because ruan can cover 10 and both jp and odwa could cover fullback. Even if Ruan and Hernandez implode kicking wise there is kockot and terblanche.
@war1 (Comment 2) : @robdylan (Comment 4) :
i was keeping quiet not to show my ignorance but cannot anymore.
who is on your pic and what’s the significance.
@rekinek (Comment 7) : his name is Willem Alberts…
Pity about the rain – but I still see a lot of tries from this game…
Sharks by 15+
@robdylan (Comment 8) :
You still lokk like a (bloody tough) Springbok security guard to me.
Is that the same Willem Alberts that signed a Lions contract yesterday?
@robdylan (Comment 8) : Do you know something we don’t? Any news on the Fourie hearing? Last I heard he was claiming that he didn’t have a proper contract in place, in which case the other two don’t really have much room to manouvre out of theirs, if they are proper contracts?
@robdylan (Comment 8) : this lions player ? is it how he looks like? 😯
sth fishy here..
@rekinek (Comment 7) :
The significance is that Rob has always been a Lions fan…
@blackshark (Comment 13) :
Must be, considering what transpired yesterday.
@Salmonoid (Comment 14) :
Did he decide to stay?
@Baldrick (Comment 11) :
http://www.sharksworld.co.za/2009/10/14/jaque-could-have-a-strong-case/
A good but not unbeatable team. VRYSTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT! 😈
@Salmonoid (Comment 10) : seditious rumour and hearsay! You shouldn’t believe the stuff you read on Keo 🙂
@Baldrick (Comment 11) : Ludick and Alberts have the same contracts ass Mossie
@blackshark (Comment 5) :
Hi there…been a long time since I saw your little symbol 😉
@robdylan (Comment 3) : I agree with you
Damn but I hope the Cheetahs beat the Sharks!!!
Sorry guys but I’ve really changed my opinion re: Sharks supporters…
They’ve bcome nearly as arrogant as Bulls supporters!! 😯
@GI Ice (Comment 15) : @robdylan (Comment 18) :
According to someone (who “sounds” clued up) on Keo, but Rob says its a red herring.
yay rory gets in again. weehoo. he is the leonard/santana of rugby.
@Me2 aka Mama Shark (Comment 20) :
Hello Mama…
Really psyched up for the game now…
@wpw (Comment 21) :
You can hope away…hope is FREE…
also interesting that dries gets the nod ahead of murray.
@wpw (Comment 21) : WOW…..you break my heart 😉
@try time (Comment 25) :
You sound extremely “bland” making that comment.. 😆 and I am really laughing at your using of “interesting”.. 😆 @wpw (Comment 21) :
Wessie – because we CAN.. 😉
@Me2 aka Mama Shark (Comment 26) :
Heya Mamma!!
@try time (Comment 23) :
Ive heard him being called Carlos Santana before but never Leonard. I studdied with a Leonard Santana – good guy.
@wpw (Comment 21) : is it because we finally have sth to be arrogant about or because some of us do not agree with certain nominations?
I am in 2 minds about about WP /BB semi. On one hand I’d rather Bulls win because I prefer them to WP and overall I think they are better team. On the other hand I’d rather Wp win so that the sharks could beat them in final.
Otherwise we won’t hear the end of how lucky the sharks are not to play WP in final – like last year we were so lucky that WP didn’t make semis and sharks did not need to play them.
@try time (Comment 25) : guess plum wants to keep Adi entire 80.
I see Usain Bolt is playing in a cricket matcj on Sunday…I guess he is going to give “a good run-rate” a new meaning! 😆
How many of the over Usain?? Ahhh, maaan, about 40, maaan…
@Salmonoid (Comment 29) : you might have noticed the slash between the two different peoples names?
@rekinek (Comment 30) :
I’d prefer a WP vs Cheetahs final at Newlands!! 😈
Revenge for them knocking us out in the semis in 2006 (I was there)
@GI Ice (Comment 32) : Time to change that camo for Sharks apparel 😀
@wpw (Comment 21) : And there I had my hoops t shirt already out to be worne after my Black and White 😈 Oh well I guess the poweder blue one will just have to replace it this Saturday 🙄
@Me2 aka Mama Shark (Comment 35) :
I am still at war!! 😆
@Me2 aka Mama Shark (Comment 35) : Hi there Me2 I have been wearing black and white the whole week, tommorrow and Saturday I will be in full official Sharks gear! GO SHARKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 36)
: @Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 38) :
Hi there…will have mine on on Sat..actually thinking of making a “Black & White” biscuit for my Sharkies 😀
@GI Ice (Comment 37) :
Does wearing black count for now?? 😎
@GI Ice (Comment 40) : Well..yeah…OK…
@Me2 aka Mama Shark (Comment 39) : That is a brilliant idea! You know my 12 year old had his birthday organised by the Sharks, cost me a packet but it was really worth it! Sharkie was a hit as he is always, and I took home 20 very happy boys who were raving about it being the best party they ever attended! But to get back to the point, the only thing they didn’t provide were the party packs. With the kind assistance of Regina from Sharks Rugby school, a real love, I managed to get Sharks packets, and then I battled to find any black and white sweets to put in the packs! If those cookies were available they would have been a hit!
@wpw (Comment 34) : of course you’d prefer to face the opponents you stand a vague chance of beating…
@robdylan (Comment 43) : 😀
Happy with the team but could Juan Hernandez prove his worth? hehe few games wow not bad.. I am not complaining about the looks though… 👿
OH Did I forget to mention… SHARKS ARE GONNA WIN!!! 😛
@Donna (Comment 45) :
Agree
@Donna (Comment 46) :
AND….AGREE!!! 😀
@robdylan (Comment 18) : Green-keepers the bunch of them!
GO SHARKS !!!

@Charlie (Comment 49) : Hi Charlie!!
@Donna (Comment 46) : Agree BUT still very nervous about the game.
@Donna (Comment 46) : spot on
And WELCOME 🙂
Thanks!
@Me2 aka Mama Shark (Comment 50) : A HOI !!! 😆
@Charlie (Comment 53) : hosa ma se kind
any news on when our OUPAS are going to retire? Im happy with the team
who is the most capped sharks player of all time ?
@Donna (Comment 56) : I think it’s Steve Atherton but could be wrong
I had a toss up between John Smit, Albert VD Berg or Terblanche? Dunno… Google NOT HELPING
I`ll go with Jeremy Thompson but will we ever get the right answer?
Hugh Reece Edwards 165 caps? eish… let me google games played by Jeremy…
@Original Pierre (Comment 59) : I’ll find out – just give me a few hours
Think you are right though
@Donna (Comment 60) : does Hugh have 165? It’s probably him, then. Atherton has 163
@Donna (Comment 56) :
CC? S10/12/14? or combined?
Of All Time
I really would`ve felt a little more comfortable if Murray was on the bench and not Strauss . . .
I think im feeling the same way.. but Murray has been ok lately… lets see
John Smit has 98 Super caps and 60 CC (Total 158)
Albert has 95 Super caps and 75 CC (Total 170)
Thos are the CURRENT player leaders
So then it has to be Albert
Should`ve known. The Man From the Mountain has been around forever . .
@KSA Shark © (Comment 68) :
Stefan and Carstens are ahead of John Smit sorry
Stefan Terblanche has 92 Super Caps and 71 CC Caps (163)
Deon Carstens has 80 Super Caps 85 CC (Total 165)
@KSA Shark © (Comment 68) :
What about AJ Venter?? 🙄
@wpw (Comment 72) :
he is in a retirmement village somewhere. 😆
AJ Venter 96 Super Caps can’t find a CC figure. he could be up there but not in the lead i think.
what about Ackermann – wasn’t he quite old when retiring.
@rekinek (the battle has begun…) (Comment 74) :
Ackerman was a real wuss. And I’ll tell him that to his face!!! 😯
15. Stefan Terblanche (Capt)
Fail 😈
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 76) : Epic
going to the game tomorrow Box tickets… GONNA SHOUT SHOUT SHOUT… *please dont stuff up sharks*
@wpw (Comment 34) : Ek oek, dit was blind gewies
@Donna (Comment 78) : im not even going to be able to watch the game at all, will have to check score updates, thats if i have signal where im going
@war1 (Comment 80) : Thats just bad planning
@Pokkel (Comment 81) : these things happen
hahaha where you going!!
@Donna (Comment 83) : heidelberg, bit of a gents weekend
Guys weekend without RUGBY!!oh no…
Enjoy!!
@Donna (Comment 85) : roughing it a bit, its ok, im sure ill be able to watch the final
@war1 (Comment 80) : @Pokkel (Comment 81) :
shocking
@war1 (Comment 87) :
You won’t enjoy it seeing as the Sharks won’t be involved!! 😈
OH NO YOU DIDNT!!!!
@war1 (Comment 84) :
i am on a ladies weekend with the finals…
I have a strong supsision I am gonna watch it alone.. 😐 😆
@Donna (Comment 90) :
hehehehe 😈
@GI Ice (Comment 91) : even more shocking
@GI Ice (Comment 91) : the organiser must be a lions supporter
Sharks – Bulls Final
@wpw (Comment 92) : I know VIOLENCE
@Donna (Comment 96) :
I know BOETA C
@wpw (Comment 97) : 😈
@rekinek (the battle has begun…) (Comment 93) : @rekinek (the battle has begun…) (Comment 94) :
no – cheetah, i think.. 😆
The answer is Albert
@wpw (Comment 97) :
papsakke slaat nie seer nie.. 🙄 😆
@GI Ice (Comment 101) :
Hy sal jou byt met sy gums… lmao
@GI Ice (Comment 101) : Papsak en bier maak seer!
@robdylan (Comment 100) : with how many caps?
@wpw (Comment 102) :
@BoetaC (Comment 103) :
Ek vat jou woord daarvoor! 😉
@GI Ice (Comment 105) : Is saferer soe
@BoetaC (Comment 106) :
saferer??? lmfga!! 😆
😀 😆