The Sharks have announced their official 30-man squad for the Currie Cup and to say that the list is a slap in the face for the young talent in the region would be a gross understatement.
True to form, John Plumtree and his men have made all the right noises in pre-season about how exciting youngsters would be given a chance to “put their hand up” and “stake a claim” this Currie Cup, but when it comes to the crunch, it seems all of this was mere lip service. The squad, for the most part, contains all the names we would expect; the tried, tested (and failed) are all still there, while there is nary a youngster in sight.
What makes things even worse is that off the 30 named, no fewer than 10 are currently out injured. This means that, for at least the first few rounds, the Sharks will be forced to pick players who are not part of their official squad. What sort of message does that send to players asked to do duty? “Yeah, I’m sort of picking you because I have to, but you’re not good enough to be named in the squad, really…”
Kyle Cooper and Sabelo Nhlapo are the only two players named in the squad who have not previously represented the Sharks (or another team) in Currie Cup rugby. None of the players who showed promise during the warm-up matches is there; there’s no Mark Richards, Dwayne Jenner, Anton Bresler, Justin Downey or even Mike Rhodes. We do, however, see that Andries Strauss is very much in the mix, which I guess isn’t really surprising at all. The injured Bok trio of Bismarck du Plessis, JP Pietersen and Adi Jacobs have been included, despite earlier reports that as contracted Boks they would not be available for the Currie Cup.
Here is the full squad. Players currently injured are indicated with an asterisk (*).
Backs:
Stefan Terblanche, Patrick Lambie, Louis Ludik, JP Pietersen*, Lwazi Mvovo, Lionel Mapoe*, Odwa Ndungane*, Adrian Jacobs*, Andries Strauss*, Riaan Swanepeol, Andre Pretorius*, Steve Meyer, Monty Dumond, Rory Kockott, Charl McLeod
Forwards:
Willem Alberts*, Jean Deysel*, Keegan Daniel, Jacques Botes, Gerhard Mostert*, Steven Sykes, Alistair Hargreaves, Ross Skeate, Wiehahn Herbst, Eugene van Staden, Craig Burden, Kyle Cooper, Bismarck du Plessis*, Patric Cilliers, Sabelo Nhlapo
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Hell! I dont understand this.
Me neither. And I’m very worried
@robdylan (Comment 2) : The forwards seem to have a younger look to it? Although, very dissapointed that Downey and Rhodes are not there. These guys will most certainly move on, and get some game time somewhere else.
Thanks NRU, for bringing up the talent just to give it away even in our time of need. 👿
Of to another dissapointing start and the first whistle did not even sound yet 🙁 🙁
Shit completely missed Andre P ‘s name up there. Just saw it now.
This is complete and utter crap. My day was just spoiled by this.
WE NEED SOME CENTRES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Walter Venter (Lions) is currently playing for UJ, the Sharks dont even have to pay for his service.
this had better be a joke
Ha ha ha ha. I am pleased I never got my hopes up. ha ha ha ha. i just can’t laughing. What a bunch of clowns heading up the Sharks? What is the point of having a warm up game and the players that impress are left out the squad. Why the fwak waste money on Lionel Mapoe when you going to put geriatric inside. Lets be honest Stefan isn’t right for the current game, yet he will probably play centre and captain the team. Lets also look at the great gap finders / space creators we have in Swannie and Strauss. And lets have a giggle at good ol Rory that has no idea that a scrum half’s primary function is slick distribution. these players do have class, but you cannot have all on the park at the same time if you want to take bonus points seriously.
So lets say the injured are too injured to play.
The team will probably look like this for the first game against Griquas – with 3 fullbacks, a first choice hooker at flank and only 5 on the bench, of which 3 are tight forwards:
15. Lambie
14. Ludik
13. Terblanche (c)
12. Swanepoel
11. Mvovo
10. Meyer
9. Kockott
8. Botes
7. Daniel
6. Burden
5. Hargreaves
4. Sykes
3. Herbst
2. Kooper
1. Cilliers
16. Skeate
17. van Staden
18. Nhlapo
19. Dumond
20. McLeod
21. ?
22. ?
This is seriously disappointing..
I dont know what to think of the Sharks anymore.. 🙁
Firstly one would think that the Sharks are aware that the Boks can’t play until much much much later.. so put in the squad the youngsters like Downey and Rhodes. They going to be playing the first game anyway.. unless we play Burden on the side of the scrum.. which would send all the wrong signs to these youngsters!!
I feel really bad for those guys.. they must be truly sorry chose the sharks as their franchise of choice
But, without injuries a whole different kettle of sharks:
15. Lambie
14. Mvovo
13. Mapoe
12. Adi
11. JPP
10. Meyer (although probably Pertoorsie)
9. Kockott
8. Alberts
7. Deysel
6. Botes
5. Hargreaves
4. Sykes
3. Herbst
2. du Plessis (c)
1. Cilliers
16. Skeate/Mostert
17. Daniel
18. Burden/Cooper
19. Nhlapo
20. McLeod
21. Dumond/Pertoorsie
22. Terblanche/Ludik/Strauss
Ok to all Sharks opposition here is a blue print on how to beat them.
Here is the sharks probable backline, kockett, lambie, lionel, swannie, stefan, odwa, ludik.
So to beat them is quite simple. Don’t kick the ball to ludik, because he will link up with mapoe and put you under pressure. rather hang on to the ball on attack a hole will eventually appear.
but it is on defence is where you can easily beat the sharks. the forwards are strong so commit ten me to containing them and rory. this will leave you thin on defence against the wings. but no ball will get there. rory will run 2 out of three balls back into your loosies. the ball he passes will be slow so no your defence will have time to close down lambie. if by some miracle lambie gets the ball away to swannie then your wings can stand and wait for him to run into them. swannie can’t spot a gap in the teeth of of province oke nevermind one in a backline. now if by pure fluke or miracle the ball gets to stefan at second centre and you only have flyhalf left to defend against him and odwa/lionel. don’t stress stefan will kick the ball away so don’t worry about the winger. the only backline players that need any attention are lambie ludik lionel and ryan kankowski. you smother them you have the game.
We are in for another disappointing season . 👿
Jeepers, and here I’ve been worrying about our young and fairly inexperienced (possible) squad 😯 Sterkte Sharkies 😕
@try time (Comment 12) : sorry i forgot ryan is away with the boks. well the sharks are in real kak now. he was the sharks 2010 super 14 backline player of the tournament.
now I am really looking forward to watching sarel pretorius fwaking our backline up.
what really pees me off is that our classy forwards have to carry a kak backline for another tournament.
am i the only one that finds it odd that we have 3 flyhalves and 2 fullbacks with one that can play either. stefan or lambie has to come into the backline. if it is lambie then we have 3 flyhalves doing nothing. which leaves stefan going to centre.
the best attacking backline i can make up with the fit players above is 9.charl 10.pat 11.lionel 12.meyer 13.swannie 14.odwa 15.ludik.
Oh yeah! What a team!
Go Griekwas!!!
It would appear that the Sharks are the only team that does not believe in bringing in youngsters. Management will rather buy talent from all over the country then to support the local youth. Now how in the hell will they ever manage to build a team full of players who are proud of pulling the jersey over their heads if certain players don’t deserve it.
Cant we get an interview so that those arseholes can explain their reasoning?
@JarsonX (Comment 20) : Yeah like they can really justify some of the selections.
@Rob and where did you get the squad from?
where is Sbusiso Sithole!!!! Plum is dumb 😈
@try time (Comment 17) : Nope, doesn’t surprise me in the least. One area where the sharks have really led the field is in playing people out of their preferred position, in an attempt to create a utility player
Here is a quote by Grant Bashford on the Sharksrugby website:
“I was very impressed with Mark Richards, he’s one of those players with that X-factor. Three times in the match, he looked like there were two players marking him and he ran past, through or around them and got away. He’s been doing that at age group level for the past two years and he’s doing it again. He’s got something there and we’re excited about that. We have a lot of depth at wing.”
If he is so good why isn’t he in the squad. or even look and see if he can play centre. we have enough wings and no decent centres (adi excluded)can’t we try and groom talent into positions lacking depth. without good centres wings are useless.
@Greg (Comment 24) : you dont realise that terblanche is there to bring experience to a relatively inexperienced backline, your friend dick muir wanted all the utility players
Megatron, he’s in the under 21 squad
Here is my final log predictions: Take not that the top 2 teams has scored at least 50% more tries than the Sharks.
1 Bulls
2 WP
3 Sharks
4 Cheetahs
5 Griekwas
6 Lions
7 Pumas
8 Leopards
i don’t like playing guys out of position. but the sharks have no choice. pat played flyhalf at school so him moving there isn’t a shock. but who has played centre. Currently Mark richards is wasting his time at the sharks, unless he can maybe change his style slightly to play outside centre. It gives him a chance at getting game time and the sharks a chance at scoring tries.
@JarsonX (Comment 28) : i would put griquas ahead of cheetahs this year. it was the griquas players that put respectability in the cheetahs super 14 team this year.
@war1 (Comment 26) : but dicks utility scored tries. stefan doesn’t.
Jarson, this squad is on the SA Rugby official website
@war1 (Comment 26) : He might be the man selected by management to coach the team, but he ain’t my friend!
Sure terblanche can do all that for you, but there are a lot of mumblings about making him captain, and that would be a huge mistake. IMO, a captain should, unless injured, spend the full 80 mins on the field. If you are using terblanche as a mentor and guide, surely you don’t really plan on playing him for the full game, but if you take him off, you have to change captains. For me, that makes no sense whatsoever.
@try time (Comment 30) : Apparently Juan Smith will be captaining the side from the 1st match, with him there, they are already a better team.
@try time (Comment 31) : im not saying he’s a good choice
@robdylan (Comment 32) : and they don’t post anything unless it is absolutely official.
@war1 (Comment 35) : ok then you are vindicated. 😆 😆
@robdylan (Comment 32) : Didnt see it there, let me go check.
@Greg (Comment 33) : they want him as captain and i agree that he would not be a good choice as captain
@Greg (Comment 33) : stefan is going to be captain. and he’ll stay on the park for 80 minutes. and he’ll butcher two tries a game. 😆 😥
@robdylan (Comment 32) : I cant find the link 😳
when is terblanche retiring?, the guy is ancient!
Somebody help me out here because for some reason I lack the pessimism of this discussion.
Is 30 the maximum number of players for a Currie Cup squad? If so, then what’s the problem?? Who should be there and who would they replace? We have alot of injuries, but if those players are fully ft then surely they’re first choice players. If players in your squad are injured and/or playing for the boks, surely you can call up replacements. However, can your injured Springboks who are not currently in the Springbok setup get included into the squad if say some other players were registered and they weren’t?
How do we know that Plum hasn’t been chatting to the youngsters saying that they will have a role to play in the absence of the springboks and that there will be opportunities to force themselves into the team. I can’t imagine that Bismark and JP etc will be rested without getting some much needed game time, so I’m sure they’ll have a role to play in the cc.
oh how great it is we play griquas away and bulls first up. what a great way to get rid of stefan’s win record as captain. and knock some sense into the team management.
War, please post a link to the squad?
@Gaff (Comment 43) : i have been optimistic about the sharks before every tournament starts so far and they have been poor. so i am trying reverse psychology. the last time eveyone was pessimistic the sharks made the super 14 finals.
@Gaff (Comment 43) : and if we wanted to be optimistic we would look at the forwards. but the forwards never let the sharks down during the s14. so a team is only as strong as its weakest link. and swannie, rory, strauss and stefan are it.
@try time (Comment 46) : And if memory serves me, butchered it because for the last 20 mins they ran around like headless chickens because they had no captain on the field ❗
@Greg (Comment 48) : yup. the value of a quality leader.
Allister Coetzee named a 35 man squad for WP.. why do we have to name a smaller squad? What is the maximum squad size anyway?
@Gaff (Comment 43) : but as you say the youngsters will be used. as rob says above out of the 30 players 10 are injured so already 2 are needed. when bissie gets back he’ll only play a couple of games before he returns to the boks. so that opens up another gap. so we can be positive. but these youngsters will still need to be given game time.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 50) : well hopefully it is because plum needed names to make saru happy while he worked out who to play. throw in all the injured players and and obvious players and keep the rest a secret. (damn did that sound too optimistic?)
@JarsonX (Comment 34) : They also mentioned he might only play for 30 minutes…
Andre P?? What are these blokes smoking??? Durban Poison??
@Ice Queen of the Blog (Comment 53) : you look anorexic in your pic. go eat a burger.
@JarsonX (Comment 28) :
Swop the Lions with the Pumas and you’re spot on!!
Lions to finish 7th this time around!!! 😆
@try time (Comment 54) :
@try time (Comment 54) :
Haai sies vir jou!! 😯
@wpw (Comment 57) : i am concerned about her well being. eating disorders need to be met head on. no pussy footing around. quiet diplomacy doesn’t help anyone. 😆
@wpw (Comment 57) : and you need a tan. 😆
@JarsonX (Comment 28) : I think you`re underestimating FS and the Kwasse . . .
Bulls b and WP b should be there or thereabouts I guess which means our ” crocks from the coast” will have a real fight on their hands to reach 4th position. . .
Could very well be : FS, Bulls b, WP b and Kwasse
@try time (Comment 58) : And to crown it all, there’s something odd on her head 😆
@try time (Comment 54) :
Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels so don’t dig your grave with your own knife and fork. A fat stomach never breeds fine thoughts….
@Ice Queen of the Blog (Comment 62) : 😀 😀 😀 😀
Quoting Kate Moss now Ice? WELL DONE!!!
Can Sharks supporters 4 once stop ka*ing on management and selection policies and so on. It will not change anything, but only serve as none constructive critisism to those selected. Lets be supporters 4 once. Come on sharkies. Also this squad will not include evryone who will play…i am sure Rhodes and Downey will play until willem and Jean D get right…We have no choice. If we don’t use these players enough we should just loan them until we do, so they can develop. We still need a classy inside to join the squad…with Adi out we really don’t have much experienced quality at Centre. Maybe steve in the future can be groomed to play at inside and 10. He tackles well, distributes well and ain’t bad at carrying the ball up either. We will see what happens.
Hi there guys, new to the site, frequent blogger on Rugby 365 and Keo.co.za; not that our blogging credentials need to be shared… Huge Sharks fan – always have been, always will be, but yeah, I guess I agree with you on the posts – always controversy surrounding the Sharks when it comes to recruitment, selection and management, but we as fans are the ones who are left bitter and twisted. Really not sure why the young guns are not selected -Rudi comes in and immediately stakes a claim… blah blah blah, as for the Springboks, I guess they have been selected as The Sharks will be responsible for their rehab until the Boks take them away again… Look despite there being some weirdness with this squad, anomalies if you wish, I still think we will be too strong for the Griquas this Saturday, looking forward to Deysel’s return, just hope the management team manage their youngsters and don’t make them feel like castaways…
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 65) : Welcome to the site 🙂
@JJR (Comment 64) : I want to see some silverware 1st 😈
I still havent seen anything official, so I’m still hoping for the best.
@JJR (Comment 64) : love your sentiment, but players don’t just join a squad. management go and find the talent and lure them to the union. so they are to blame for the poor state of the backline. so they deserve the criticism they get. i have 100% support for players that deserve their spots, but it is pointless supporting lionel mapoe, mvovo, odwa when swannie rory and stef waste good ball and they see none of it. as in life it is a small minority that ruin it for the rest of us.
the ones i feel sorry for the most, are not the fans the sponsors etc, it is the sharks forward pack. over the last decade they have worked their arses to get good ball to the sharks backline only to see it wasted. those are the players that get all my support.
@JarsonX (Comment 68) : http://www.sarugby.co.za/squads.aspx?teamid=8008
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 10) : Who would you have left out to make room for Downey & Rhodes???
Are you telling me they’re better than Deysel, Alberts, Botes, Daniel
@CS (Comment 72) : I would not have left out anybody, but they are going to be playing the first rounds, why not add them to the squad. WP named a 35 man squad.. seems there are no restrictions.. why leave them in the dark?
@JJR (Comment 64) : Hear hear… at least there’s someone else out there whose getting tired of all this whinging!!!
Frick… this is starting to sound like a KEO blog!!! Get a grip guys. You’re all whinging like this squad is the end of Sharks-rugby… and yet you’re talking about 5 players max… 5 players won’t substantially affect a 30-man squad in terms of our ability to win or loose the Currie Cup.
I agree we have a problem at Centre, but other than that we’re ok…
LETS BE POSITIVE
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 73) : Well, we’re in the dark no doubt… but are we sure the fringe players are? Maybe management have chatted to them about their role in the CC?
Well lets see what the Starting XV looks like, and lets see what they do with the youngsters, because lets face it, unless they are going to The Lions, they will struggle to make the Starting XV of any of the Senior teams, they all have their structures, lets see how professional ours is, it is the era of being a patient pro rugby player in SA considering depth… I am speaking generally, not specifically, because if we speak specifics we will all have a little something to say…
The ONLY good thing I see from this squad is that Lambie will not be played at 10 as we have AP, Meyer and Dumond.
With three such big names our search for a replacement for Butch seems to have finally come to an end. 🙄
But then with Stefan being appointed Captain, where will Lambie play? will Stefan play wing again?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 77) : centre I think..
the more i look at this squad the more i think plum is hiding something. it isn’t balanced. it is as if he threw a list together because saru needed it urgently.
@Ice Queen of the Blog (Comment 78) : i am also thinking that. i didn’t want to say it though.
Maybe plum is fielding this team to help the Lions win a few games thus ensuring that his friend from the Force gets offered a permanent position for turning the Lions fortunes around.
Ok s one did i miss sth out here Andre Pretorius is he the one from Snoils 😕 and if when did we buy him 👿
@KSA Shark © (Comment 81) : field oh my 👿 and then if we are week and insecure and then we loose again what a way to start the CC 🙄
@diablo (VICTORY! sweeter on neutral ground!) (Comment 14) : 👿 😥 😉
@chaz (Comment 82) : he does not have a contract-will play on a game to game basis. He is still injured, so doubt if we will see him play quickly (read HOPE)…yes, he is the one from the circus lions..
@Ice Queen of the Blog (Comment 85) : thats just bad and evil he can’t even do a good kick no wonder he has no contract and then to play for the sharks now i don’t know what to say WTF is happening to our Sharks Tank and then we still hv to sit with the coach for another 3 years 👿
@Ice Queen of the Blog (Comment 85) : Hey we are not a circus. Granted, we have some clowns,a ringmaster,and some (white) elephants, BUT WE DON’T HAVE A TENT!!!!! 😆 😆 😆
@Ice Queen of the Blog (Comment 85) : oh my Ice Queen u put your foot into it 🙄 @Greg (Comment 87) : Yes you do it just build with bricks and has no top cover 😆 😉
Nothing wrong with that squad at all. no place for downey or rhodes. who would u axe keegs,deysel,willem or jacques??? im sure they will still be in the mix for the minnow games. still concerned about our midfield in the long run!!! steven sykes should have been given a go as captain, he is a seasoned player and is never injured. i hope mapoe stays on the wing and doesn’t become a make shift center.and preetors should never have come here, to me meyer and monty should be shown some faith!!! sharks will win the currie cup though…
@fetcher (Comment 89) : Amen to that
@JJR (Comment 64) : hey man, long time no see. i guess ur right, lets wait and see . . .
Sabz Nhlapo is injured… ❓ He’s not even training…
@s.h.a.r.k.s (Comment 92) : oh ja… but back next week so hardly worth mentioning.
Apparently Strauss is fine, so it evens out. Still 10 crocked guys 🙂
there can,t be only 20 players available they,ll add people to this squad ,I don,t really understand why everyones surprised that there,s no youngsters this is plumtree,s M.O not being negative but it,s the truth
@fetcher (Comment 89) : Mate do you have inside Info, Or are you part of the Coaching staff.
I didnt even bother to read all the comments coz i’m f%@ing livid where i’m sitting. LIVID!!!!!! 😯 😯 😯 😥
@fetcher (Comment 89) :
Sharks win the CC?!? Not with that squad mate. Pretoors should have been left out and Stemmet/Lindeque/Jenner included! Never mind the gross lack of understanding that the Bok contracted players are going to be rested/managed!! Another spot for a centre (in Adi’s place whom i think only returns middle CC). Total waste. See u guys later. Cant even type …
@JustPlainSHARK (Comment 97) : agree don’t know if we will get anywhere near the semi maybe wooden spoon for us and if we don’t get to where we want to be which is the top and end up last well then i don’t know it will be a shit in hell if i get hold of him he’ll go all the way back to mommy 😕
👿 why did PLUMTREE even want another 3 year contract if he not going to deliver what we WANT now me also got the Shits sorry but the more i think about it the more i’m going to mmmm you can think of the rest 😈
SO HE BETTER AND WE MEAN BETTER GET THE CC TO SHARKS TANK 😆
@JustPlainSHARK (Comment 97) : Ah please we prob have one of the better sides in the currie cup. who do WP have or the Bulls or the Lions have compared to us??? the cheetahs maybe tricky as always but certainly not unstopable.you cant just go handing out sharks jerseys to youngsters because they had a good u21 season or a good trials match let them work for it and earn it, its no use throwing in a whole bunch of youngsters and showing a toffee to all our seasoned campaigners who are still worthy of the jersey. The youngsters will get there time.
15.Lambie
14.Mvovo
13.Stefan/strauss
12.Strauss/Elvis
11.Mapoe
10.Meyer
9. kockott
8.Alberts
7.Deysel
6.Botes/daniel
5.Skeate/heargreaves
4.Sykes
3.Herbst
2.burden
1.Cilliers
Now can anyone still say we not in with a shot??? if so 😕
thats when injured players come back in week 3. not even including jpp,adi,odwa,mostert etc the depth is HUGE.
sorry didnt mention mcloed, monty or cooper.Quality
Funny thing is that the best performances in recent years have been when a bunch of 20-year olds were selected by Muir.
The worst years were under Putt, with his very experienced palookas.
Muir didnt throw those 20year olds in right away they sat on the bench and were developed. they still had experience around them.
putt was just a joke didnt have a plan or a backbone. i take back my statement about the bulls they are pretty darn strong but beatable. 😛
@fetcher (Comment 104) :
And there you go and contradict yourself with what you sid in comment 100 with this comment. “Sat on the bench and were developed”. That is something that does not happen at the Sharks, coz “they should not be handed jerseys”. How else did Gerhard v/d Heever AND Hougaard burst onto the scene almost simultaneously? By being “handed” a Bulls jersey.
What do other teams have you ask. For one, they have yougsters who at least have exposure at this level. two, they have fit players ready to start the campaign. The Sharks will have to play the waiting game from day one!!!
We will be there or there abouts, but not near a final.
@JustPlainSHARK (Comment 105) : sorry about that was under the influence last nyt… van den heever still sat bench and worked with the senior squad it was only when akona bust his leg and when bryan left was when hougaard and van den heever where thrown into the starting line up. but they great players and u do get the odd exeption who stands up and does well like frans steyn. and u do get the one hit wonders like carl bezhudenhout or scott spedding or mxoli i could go on and they were all age group ‘stars’
@fetcher (Comment 104) :
Not true – they didnt sit on the bench – they were thrown in and learnt their craft.
JPP went from jaguars newcomer to starting 15, Beast went from 8th man to starting prop, Waylon went from nowhere to 13, etc.