A few niggling injuries to key players are causing Sharks coach John Plumtree some concern as he looks to name his side to face the Cheetahs in the opening Super Rugby encounter of 2011.
As Murphy would have it, two of the players battling for fitness just happen to play the same position, meaning the back three depth may be tested as early as the first week of the competition. JP Pietersen is battling a back and hamstring complaint, while his likely replacement, Odwa Ndungane is man down with tonsilitis. While the latter should hopefully recover in time to play this weekend, the continued unavailability of Luzuko Vulindlu means that Plumtree may be forced into playing Stefan Terblanche on the wing if both players fail to make it back on time.
This would necessitate a midfield reshuffle, with one of Adi Jacobs or perhaps even Jacques-Louis Potgieter coming in at outside centre in Terblanche’s place.
Things look a little better up-front, with only Craig Burden and Steven Sykes still looking somewhat doubtful. Alistair Hargreaves and Bismarck du Plessis are both fully fit and with Burden unlikely to have been named in this week’s 22 anyway, expect to see Gerhardt Mostert named at lock alongside Hargreaves, with Anton Bresler providing backup off the bench.
We expect the Sharks team to be named on Thursday, but it might look like this:
15 Ludik, 14 Ndungane/Terblacnhe, 13 Terblanche/Potgieter, 12 Bosman, 11 Mvovo, 10 Lambie, 9 McLeod, 8 Kankowski, 7 Alberts, 6 Botes, 5 Hargreaves, 4 Mostert, 3 J du Plessis, 2 Smit (capt), 1 Mtawarira
16 B du Plessis, 17 van Staden, 18 Bresler, 19 Daniel, 20 Hoffman, 21 Potgieter/Swanepoel, 22 Jacobs
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We’ve got to win the 1st game, we can do it. Go Sharks ❗
These guys all know the system and they know their roles in it.
I’m quite happy with Stef at wing and either of JLP or Adi at 13 for this game. Adi will step up when we need him to, of that I’m sure
Sucks that we can’t field a full strength team..maybe what happenin now will be a blessing in disguise for later…
We need to stop Andries Strauss in the midfield.
I don’t believe Jacobs can do that. JLP Maybe. Stefan YES.
@shaniboi (Comment 3) : it’s the nature of the game.
Let’s hope we have our strongest team available in time for the final 🙂
Is mark richards also injured?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 4) : I hope Strauss doesn’t stop our midfield. Maybe he has a soft spot for us
My take on this SR thing is simple: play the type of rugby we did in the CC – accumulate as much points and bonuspoints. Its crucial to win. Its crucial to win our conference, otherwise I foresee trouble. Make the goal to get to a home-semi asap! Simple really. Score tries, and kick over. And don’t underestimate ANY team.
Rob just for future reference I have season tickets that I know I won’t be using..is there a way other people on the blog could use them…
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 7) :
I can copy and paste my above comment when it comes to having to get past Strauss.
Jacobs can’t
JLP Maybe
Stefan YES.
Let me qualify both my comments.
Jacobs on CURRENT form.
Once he’s had a few games he’ll be as good as new.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 10) : Lambie can do a hand-off and Mvovo will run over him 😛
@war1 (Comment 6) : no, but as talented as he is, he hasn’t even played a Currie Cup game yet.
OMG, I’m turning into Plum!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 10) : and Bosman?
@shaniboi (Comment 9) : You in the same boat as me? Got season tickets but don’t live in SA.
@robdylan (Comment 14) : you didn’t list him. 😉
Seriously though I’d forgotten about him. 😳
In MY ranking system I’d slot him in behind Stefan and ahead of JLP.
My concern thoigh is that the “ever likeable” Phillip Burger is fast and we’ll need a wing to match that. I don’t know how good or bad he is since returning from Europe.
@robdylan (Comment 13) : yet he was very close to starting in the currie cup final as odwa was struggling with injury in the build up week
@KSA Shark © (Comment 16) : But who would you play at 12 then? Or are you talking of midfield in general?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 16) : F…I hope Mvovs run that little shit to pieces! Man, other than BB players and more JP Nel, I don’t think there’s a guy out there that I dislike so much with a PASSION!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 16) : I really dislike that guy with his arrogant try-scoring antics 👿 I’m quite interested to see if he still has the skills though.
@war1 (Comment 17) : Was he? Or was it only media speculation? Until Plumtree actually plays him we won’t know how he shapes at this level. 🙁
@Ice (Comment 19) : :snap:
@Ice (Comment 19) :
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 20) :
And here’s me thinking I had to put the “”s in to make sure you knew I was joking.
Seems I coulda done without. 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 23) : I missed the “” competely – saw the name and saw RED!
Man Strauss looks shit in the cheetah gear! 🙁
@KSA Shark © (Comment 15) : live in jhb but can’t be in durbs every weekend..besides I shot myself in the foot last year by not renewing my tickets anf had to get kak semi n final currie cup tickets…
on another subject , who of you has been watching future sharks paul jordaan in the bok 7s?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 18) : I meant midfield in general… Bosman will start at 12
@sharks_lover (Comment 27) : flippen PHENOMENAL, but needs to lose the pink boots 🙂
@sharks_lover (Comment 27) :
I saw him in their first game – well balanced gasman.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 21) : The team didn’t let anyone know in the build up week that Odwa was struggling with injury, Mark was definitely in the mix, maybe he needs more game time in the vc and then he can have a breakthrough cc season.
For anyone who cares, we just restricted Aussie to 217 all out in the warmup.
Parnell bowled 4 overs at 6.50 per over. 🙄 What is he doing there?? 😐
@klempie (Comment 32) :
Are we back to U2 and cricket analogies – wait that was the T20 stuff. 😈
nice to see tahir get a game…1-33 off 9 overs…not to bad…
@klempie (Comment 33) :
His form has been dire in recent times ..
I’m seriously hyped about the start of rugby again. Thankfully we’re not all Stormers supporters and have to wait a week longer than everyone else. That would really suck.
As much as I like Andries Strauss, I’m not too concerned about him breaking our backline, I’m more concerned with him stopping our linebreaks.
I think this could be the MOST important game of the season. Just think how different last year could have been if we hadn’t lost to the Chiefs right at the death? It might have set us up for a nice little run to the end?
But that’s 2010 and we’re looking at 2011!!!!
@klempie (Comment 33) : @stevo (Comment 35) : Where you guys getting the crici info? Cricinfo?
@Puma (Comment 38) :
Summary on NEWS24.
@Butchie34 (Comment 37) : Yeah, I am a bit worried for this game against Cheetahs. Strauss does know our game well and if we have to move Stefan to wing, think we could be in a bit of poo there.
We also have Walsh and the weather forecast don’t look great. Cloudy with rain.
@csb (Comment 39) : Cheers thanks csb.
Looks like Tahir has had a good game there. Pity it is not shown.
@Puma (Comment 40) : Not too worried about moving Oupa to the wing. Think it might be okay with Bosman and JLP in the centres.
Of course, there is the chance that we have Adi start on the wing and keep the centre combo.
But as much as Andries knows our gameplan and how we play, Bosman knows there from exactly the same position so it should equal out.
@shaniboi (Comment 9) : lend them to me 😛 I don’t have tickets I’m a student so I’m always broke lol
@Puma (Comment 38) : Ja.
@Salmonoid (Comment 34) :
sighs
SA off the mark with a wide. LOL
Okay one of you Cricket fans need posting rights. You guys need to get your own threads.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 47) : Oh please. I’ve seen you posting on cricket threads. Come out of the closet.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 47) : But I will take those posting rights. 😈
😆
First four SA runs are extras.
@klempie (Comment 48) :
On CRICKET threads. 😛
@klempie (Comment 50) : Not much of a practice run for us then… 🙂
@Puma (Comment 52) : Tait is dogshit. He’s like Nantie Hayward. Fast and all over the show.
So far, Extras is outscoring Biff and Hash. What a guy.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 51) : Then make them.
2.1 overs
Biff 1
Hash 2
Extras 6
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
@klempie (Comment 54) : hahahaha. 😎
Guys… Stop clutching your pearl chokers and swooning… It will all work out. Have some faith. And don’t forget that Odwa has tonsilitis. If he’s on antibiotics which don’t have steroids or other illegal substances in them he should play Saturday.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 47) : the question is : will you be able to control it? next momemt you see and we’re cricketized by Klempie & Co (they already talk so much 😈
Biff having some fun with Tait. Two fours off that over. 😎
LOL Tait is off after 3 overs. Damn.
Johnson is not spared some treatment either. Biff takes 9 off his first over. hehe.
this might be one of the toughest games we play ,the thing with teams like the cheetahs and lions is that they are unknown quantities
Cheetahs have a lot of under rated players -their entire front row ,loosies are all top class backs are decent…eish
Go sharks we should still win
That’s 100 up for no loss. Hmmmm. Playing Aussie isn’t the thrill it used to be. 😕
I would not worry about andries on attack.