You have to feel for the Sharks XV coaching staff, with a combination of player ineligibility and injuries to members of the Sharks squad complicating their selection process ahead of the most important game of the season – the Vodacom Cup semi-final against the Pampas XV in Potchefstroom on Friday afternoon.
As we reported earlier in the week, a number of stalwart players who have played a huge role in getting the team to the semi-finals will not be allowed to play this week, ruled out as a result of having been named in the Sharks 22 too often this season. Of the side that started last week, Craig Burden, Anton Bresler, Gerhard Mostert and Jacques-Louis Potgieter will all fall foul of this ruling, although the injury to John Smit makes it likely that Burden would have been called up for Super Rugby duty regardless. Fortunately, hooker is a position where depth is not an issue, with the tricky juggling act between Burden and the insanely-talented Kyle Cooper becoming far easier this week.
In the second row, it remains to be seen whether the Sharks opt to release Ross Skeate back to the Vodacom Cup side this week, since he is eligible to play and was a little flat against the Stormers last week as well. Anton Bresler and Gerhard Mostert could both come into the reckoning for the senior side, with Alistair Hargreaves sure to be promoted to the Sharks number 5 jersey this week. There is talk that star number 8 Marcell Coetzee may also have been called up to the Super Rugby squad this week, with Jacques Botes still out injured, but with Willem Alberts missing training yesterday due to a delayed flight, that may simply have been a stop-gap move. Sean Everitt and his team would certainly be forced to scratch their heads somewhat should their key play-maker be unavailable going into this crunch game.
Things look a little more settled amongst the backs, with Guy Cronje sure to resume at flyhalf after making way for Potgieter last week. The settled midfield, lead by the in-form Riaan Swanepoel, will remain, while the back three looks to also be disrupted with both Sbura Sithole and Mark Richards again summoned to join the SA Sevens side this week. It look as though Richards will be released in time for the weekend, though, with Rosco Speckmann likely to replace Sithole on the other wing.
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Good luck boys. Bring us some more silverware!
good stuff. in potch. i will try and make it. someone knows how late the game starts?
Where is Kobus de Kock?
@VanWilder (Comment 2) : half past four
@Ben (Comment 3) : with Sbu in Cape town, I reckon KdK should make the squad this week.
@robdylan (Comment 5) : Sbu? Kobus would be a great adition to the team.
@Ben (Comment 6) : sbura sithole
Sorry to ask the same question all the time. Is this game on TV? Anyone.
@robdylan (Comment 4) : thanx rob. i will be taking my wife for her first Profert Olen Park experience… 😎 😉
@beet (Comment 8) : yip…
The XV are certainly up against it this weekend, lets hope we see some strength in adversity.
These boys will come out full of confidence after beating WP at home..
They can do it again!!
I’m going to have to get off work early to get home in time to watch..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 12) : that’s the spirit 🙂
do us proud
XV sharks
@robdylan (Comment 13) :
You want a Match Report, don’t you?1 😉
skeet is back to vc this week
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 15) : of course
Morning all, I see the game is on ss1 @ 16:30 tomorrow. Don’t miss, is gonna be a cracker.
@franshark (Comment 18) : woohoo 🙂