I know we are in the middle of trying to win our first Super Rugby tournament, but I like to look ahead a little and if I remember correctly, we have the small matter of a Currie Cup trophy to defend later this year. Interesting you may think, and skip to the next article, but what we all have to remember is that we will be doing this without our Springboks, who will be at the World Cup trying to win another trophy altogether.
So assuming that most of our Springboks will make the squad, here is a look at the squad depth we have without said Springboks:
1.At loose head, we have a pair of youngsters in Dale Chadwick, a big strong scrummager who has proved his worth with the Sharks XV, as well as the explosive Sabelo Nhlapo. Given this lack of experience, it’s fortunate that we have the talented Eugene van Staden who is able to play both sides of the scrum and is most likely to be the first choice in the number 1 jersey.
2.Hooker is one position where we have no shortage, even with John Smit and Bismarck du Plessis away. It will be a straight fight between Craig Burden and Kyle Cooper for the starting spot. This will make for an interesting battle through the season.
3.In Wiehahn Herbst we have another hugely talented prop that will easily step into the shoes of Jannie du Plessis. Eugene van Staden can also play both loosehead and tighthead.
4.Lock is another position that we will have no shortage in quality pushing through. Steven Sykes will leave after the Super Rugby tournament, but in Gerhard Mostert and Anton Bresler we have two very good locks, with Mostert being able to push for a Springbok spot after the big loss in players post World Cup.
5.John Plumtree is going to have his hands full trying to keep all four these locks happy with a lot of game time, because here we have another good supply of competitive players. Al Hargreaves will most likely take the captaincy of this team, in the event that Stefan Terblanche does not get it, and with Ross Skeate in there as well, we have good locks.
6.Keegan Daniel and Jacques Botes will both be fighting for this jersey, and behind them we have Francois Kleynhans coming through the Sharks XV setup. Keegan Daniel is another who might be in line for the captaincy.
7.Jean Deysel is a dead cert for the 7 jersey, and also a player who will put his hand up for the captaincy in the near future. Along with him we have Lambert Groenewald in the mix from the lower ranks.
8.Ryan Kankowski will inevitably be going to the World Cup, so we can either have Keegan Daniel playing from the back of the scrum or we can take the opportunity to blood young Marcell Coetzee for some serious rugby in the coming years. There is also the exciting Tera Mtembu that we have to keep in mind.
9.Charl McLeod will no doubt be the first choice scrumhalf for the Currie Cup, and he will have Conrad Hoffmann and Ross Cronje as his deputees.
10.With Pat Lambie a near certainty to be included in the World Cup squad, we have to assume that he will not be available for the Sharks in the Currie Cup, which leaves us with a selection conundrum. Jacques-Louis Potgieter will feel he is the automatic successor to the jersey, but with the amount of centres available to the selectors, Meyer Bosman might fall into the flyhalf selection group. Along with these two we also have Fred Zeilinga in the shadows as well as Guy Cronje who has been playing for the Sharks XV.
11.All three the Sharks top wingers have been announced in the 51 man training squad for the Boks, but it will come as no surprise if only JP Pietersen gets the nod. That will leave Lwazi Mvovo to play in the 11 jersey, along with Rosco Spekman as backup. Both Heimar Williams and Piet Lindeque have had runs on wing and can easily play if necessary.
12.It is as centre that the Sharks have no shortage of players, with Potgieter, Meyer Bosman and Riaan Swanepoel who can all wear the 12 jersey. Heimar Williams will also like to see himself in this jersey in the not too distant future.
13.We will not be losing any of the centres to the Springbok squad, so here again we will have quite a few players to choose from, particularly with Marius Joubert coming into the squad for the Currie Cup. Stefan Terblanche will most likely get first choice here, but we also have Adi Jacobs and from the Sharks XV we have the amazingly talented Jerome Pretorius.
14.Depending on whether all our wings get the call, which I am going to assume only JP does, we have Odwa Ndungane and Mark Richards who can both play on the wings, with Sbura Sithole from the sevens also a great talent.
15.At the back we are most likely to have the best fullback in the competition in Louis Ludik available to us. Odwa Ndungane can also easily swop jersey to be at the back, and has proved he can hold his own there. From the Sharks XV there is also Gouws Prinsloo and Kobus de Kock who have had great seasons with the B team.
My Currie Cup starting line-up:
1.Eugene van Staden
2.Kyle Cooper
3.Wiehahn Herbst
4.Gerhard Mostert
5.Al Hargreaves
6.Keegan Daniel
7.Jean Deysel
8.Marcell Coetzee
9.Charl McLeod
10.JL Potgieter
11.Lwazi Mvovo
12.Meyer Bosman
13.Adi Jacobs
14.Odwa Ndungane
15.Louis Ludik
16.Dale Chadwick
17.Craig Burden
18.Anton Bresler
19.Jacques Botes
20.Conrad Hoffmann
21.Stefan Terblanche
22.Mark Richards
Tweet
Still a very good team…this team should able to defend the CC
I was thinking about Springboks and Currie Cups earlier this morning. I love seeing Sharks players pull on the Green & Gold, but I also want the Sharks to have their strongest possible team available week in week out. We do have some quality depth though and should still be very competitive.
When exactly does the Currie Cup start?
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 3) : A week after the Super rugby final.
We play the Bulls at home first up.
@war1 (Comment 4) : That fast 😯 I hope Rob and KSA has their planning for LMS and FL sorted out 😈
@war1 (Comment 5) : We always seem to get a tough game in the 1st round. Home or away?
I will be very disappointed if Adi doesn’t get a shot at making the RWC squad.
JDV, JF, JDJ, Adi and Meisiekind. I somehow got the feeling the Bulls centre will get the nod. 🙁
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 6) : It’s insane. One of the reasons why the new Super rugby format is just plain stupid.
WP will also have a very decent team for the Currie Cup.Good times
@wpw (Comment 8) : I think he will go. The three Stormers guys and Adi. Seems like that awesome depth at centre will come in handy in the Cape come Currie cup time.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 10) : That they will. I see John Mitchell reckons his Lions may win the Currie cup this year.
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 7) : Its in Durbs.
@war1 (Comment 13) :
Where did you get the fixtures?
I have been searching and cannot find anything..
Cannot believe it is so soon after the Super Rugby final..
@war1 (Comment 12) : I reckon John is dilusional
@war1 (Comment 13) : Nice 😎
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 15) : I think it’s too soon to say but it looks like he is grasping at straws.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 15) :
Lions wont lose anybody to the World Cup squad..
But have to agree, they are still pretty kak..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 14) : Ive hot a pdf. I’ll see if I can mail it to you a bit later.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 18) : At best they’ll manage a semi-final spot.
@war1 (Comment 17) : @Richard Ferguson (Comment 18) : Compare what he has compared to what the Sharks and WP will have at their disposal, the only advantage is that his team will have had more playing time together.
I say we will see Griquas in the semis
@war1 (Comment 19) :
Thanx boet.. much appreciated..
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 22) :
I reckon that is worth the bet right there!
Griquas in the playoffs..
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 22) : @Richard Ferguson (Comment 24) : How long have we been saying that though. They have to finish higher than two of the top 5 teams which will be a tough task. Their main problem will be depth. Also they will have new coach and we don’t even know who that will be.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 23) : Mail sent.
Probable WP team
1 Wicus Blaauw
2 Tiaan Liebenberg (vc)
3 Brok Harris
4 Ryhnhardt Elstadt
5 Anton van Zyl (c)
6 Pieter Louw
7 Siya Kolisi
8 Nick Koster / Tertius Daniller
9 Dewaldt Duvenage
10 Lionel Cronje (if Grant goes to WC)
11 JJ Engelbrecht
12 Tim Whitehead/ Paul Bosch
13 Johan Sadie
14 Danie Poolman
15 Conrad Jantjes
@war1 (Comment 26) :
Thanx bud.. Got it..
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 27) :
Still a very good team that!
Grant’s going back to Japan anyway, isn’t he?
@robdylan (Comment 30) : Hey?Watchu mean?
@robdylan (Comment 30) :
Haha..
@robdylan (Comment 30) :
You just gave every Stormers supporter a mini heart attack..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 29) : The loose trio is a bit light, but Elstadt has spent most of his time at WP as a 7 and may go there again with Fondse coming in at 4
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 34) :
Doing you think Fondse will play ahead of Elstadt after the latter’s recent run of form?
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 34) :
And I see you are assuming Francois Louw will be going to the World Cup? Or is he going to Europe?
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 35) : I don’t think so, Im just going with the fact that he has played 7 before.I don’t know what is going on in Fondses head.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 36) : If he doesn’t make the RWC squad he is off to Bath straight after SoupRugby
@war1 (Comment 25) : I hear you, but what nails them everytime is the boks coming back in the 2nd half, and that’s not happening this year. They should have a good chance.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 37) : Correction, if he does’t make the RWC squad he will join Bath in September
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 28) : how about forwarding that fixture to me to… Please 🙂
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 39) :
I see another site saying the Ethienne Reynecke is leaving, or has left WP already?
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 41) : Probably left already, he was here on loan.He was still contracted to Sarries when he arrived here and signed a contract with Connaught shortly after.Tiaan is back from injury and Siyabonga Ntubeni has looked more then decent when given a chance.
Sharks play Bulls first up and WP face Lions.July 16th
Richard, do you really think that the Sharks will leave Marius Joubert out of the squad completely? I doubt it… I think he’ll at least be on the bench!
Adi Jacobs will probably be in the Bok squad. He seems to be an automatic selection, like Ricky Januarie!
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 42) :
Oh right.. So that makes sense..
Do you know how true the rumours are around Anton van Zyl going to the Lions?
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 43) :
The fixture list I have says you play Griquas?
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 46) : Eish, you are correct.Lions face Pumas first up.
@Gazman (Comment 44) :
Joubert will find it dificult getting into the squad purely as Stef is there as captain..
And we have other centres who can cover more than one position to sit on the bench..
So yeah, I do think so..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 45) : Doubt they are true.He is a Cape Town boykie, his wife loves the Cape.He will captain the CC squad.He left the Lions and really enjoys the setup and structures at WP.Never really badmouthed the Lions but was honestly preferring CT.Heard this from Coetzee.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 45) : Granted this was told to me last year
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 49) :
I really rate van Zyl as an awesome leader, he will do well to stay in the Cape..
Seems like you guys are forgetting a serious talent in Paul Jordaan…the 7’s Bok? Great prospect
@LPsoldier ZA (Comment 52) :
The boy is still young and will most likely play in the U19 or U21 team for the Currie Cup.
@LPsoldier ZA (Comment 52) : Good day Mr ZA.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 48) : I agree that this is the way things will probably pan out, but I cant say i agree with it. The Sharks center combo in the super 15 is woeful, but they cant make major changes now and bring in inexperienced youngsters. The CC is the perfect opportunity to try something new and build for next years Super tournament. Sharks wont win the super 15 as long as they continue to hemorrhage tries through the midfield against the better teams. If Stef wears 13 for the CC I will slap someone. Hard!
I was at the post office this morning and saw a blond woman shouting into an anvelope..
I asked her why?
She replied: I’m sending a voice mail. 🙂
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 55) :
Thing is, we won the Currie Cup with him there last year?!
But I hear what you are saying, he needs to let the Sharks blood players in his position.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 57) : And the Bulls won the Super 14 last year with their lot, but it doesnt mean they are the guys to carry the team forward. Stef has passed his sell by date and his partnership with Bosman is… well… how can I put this delicately… rubbish! Its time to gamble on youth and hopefully reap the benefits of finding a great center pairing rather than making do with a functional one.
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 55) : Watch the match against the stormers again. Stefan was not the problem.
@franshark (Comment 56) : It was me!!
@Original Pierre (Comment 59) : Ive watched it and I know that. But throughout the season there has been a general lack of understanding between him and Meyer which has resulted in the opposition slipping through the gaps. The Sharks have gotten away with scrambling defense more times that they should have, but against the more clinical finishers like JdV, JF, SBW etc they have been exposed Come on, lets be honest, hes 35 and has played most of his career at wing and FB. Hes been a faithful servant to the Sharks and has my respect, but the margin for error at the top is very slight, and its time for a succession plan. He was always going to be a stopgap measure and hes done his job. More concerning is Meyer Bosman who is not considered a stopgap option and isnt firing.
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 61) : True enough. But Stefans defence looks like the rock of Gibraltar compared to Bosman.
Start Adi in Bosmans` place, he won`t concede more than 3 tries per match and might even create something on the attack. That makes him 100% better than B. Stefan won`t score 3 tries but he won`t concede them either.
When Joubert joins us Stefan can move back to 15 where he adds the most value. Untill then Bosman is a much bigger concern for us.
@Original Pierre (Comment 62) : Absolutely agree on Bosman and your suggestions for the rest of the super 15. In the Currie cup its time to blood some talented youngsters and see who is up to the next level.
Sharks team announced
Kanko is injured
8. Alberts
7. Deysel
6. Keegan
Marcell Coetzee on the bench
‘n Man sit langs ‘n blond op die vliegtuig.”Kan ek ‘n bietjie met jou gesels?” vra hy. “Waaroor?” vra sy. “Wat van…. kernkrag?” vra hy. “Sê my eers” sê sy “weet jy hoekom is ‘n bokdrol rond en hard en beesmis is plat en slap, maar altwee diere vreet gras?” “Nee, ek weet nie” se hy. “PRESIES!!!” sê sy “Jy kan nie eers oor k*k praat nie, maar nou wil jy met my oor kernkrag praat!”
@Pokkel (Comment 64) : Adi still on the bench…
@Charlie (Comment 66) : Same backline 😥
@Ice (Comment 60) : ney, wasn’t you, she was dressed in stormers supporters gear
@franshark (Comment 68) : Oh, no wonder! 😆
@Ice (Comment 65) : goodie 🙂
@Pokkel (Comment 67) : Oh well. maybe there will be a pregame injury. Most of the sharks turn around last season occurred when the injury bug played selector for them… (Lambie, Mvovo, JS to looshead instead of tighthead etc etc)
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 57) : We did win the CC with Stef at 13, but we had Andries “the immovable object covering 7 channels simultaneously” Strauss on his inside…
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 71) : I hope Marcell Coetzee gets a good 10-15 minutes. I would like to see what his standard is like in terms of SupeRugby
@Pokkel (Comment 73) : Yes, me too, but right now Id rather have a new center combo…