The Sharks reconvened on Monday after enjoying a few well-deserved days off last weekend, with their eyes firmly on Saturday’s must-win Super Rugby clash against the Vodacom Bulls at Mr Price Kings Park. While one or two players are still carrying injury niggles, for the most part, the squad seems to be in pretty good shape with a run of five key games still to play ahead of the knock-out phase.
In fact, the only member of the squad who will definitely miss out on Saturday’s game due to injury is regular number 8 Ryan Kankowski, with his cheekbone injury set to sideline for a number of weeks yet. All of the other forwards who missed out on the Brumbies game after picking up injuries against the Stormers seem to have recovered enough to stand a chance of being included this weekend; lock Gerhard Mostert is back in the mix, while hooker John Smit and flank Jacques Botes will both need to pass fitness tests later in the week to be included.
Botes is likely to make it, which is great news indeed considering that Keegan Daniel won’t be able to play this week. The fiery Springbok flanker was handed a one-match ban after a dangerous tackle on Brumbies centre Christian Lealiifano and together with Kankowski’s injury, his unavailability leaves the Sharks a little short of loose forwards. Marcell Coetzee will again come into the reckoning this week after an impressive cameo against the side from Canberra, but should the worst case scenario unfold and Botes be ruled out again, John Plumtree might be forced to bring in some emergency back row cover from outside the squad, or even use one of his more mobile locks, such as Mostert or Anton Bresler, as a makeshift loose forward.
The Bulls, meanwhile, look likely to have a full-strength quad from which to choose, with outside centre Jaco Pretorius the only injury doubt at this stage.
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Man… We gonna miss Keegan. He always fires against the Nulle!
Ryan Kankowski hasn’t had a great season so far. So the forced rest might make him hungry to succeed when he gets back. Hopefully Jacques Botes does pass fit, because his defence will be needed to counter Fourie du Preez. Jacques Botes may not be a flashy player, but he gets involved on defence and at the breakdown, whereas Keegan Daniel and Ryan Kankowski tend to stand off and trip the centers up. The only concern is who will crack first, the Du Plessis brothers or Stegmann and Bakkies? They are the players that can lose a game through ill-discipline. Hopefully John Smit is fit, so he can break the two up, as things are definitely calmer when the Du Plessis brothers aren’t on the park together.
Botes should definitely be fit, according to the doc. Smit is touch and go
I do hope the Rebels centres were just plain useless or we going to be troubled by meisiekind all night.
This is of topic, but I wonder if anyone can answer me these 2questions. If I remember correctly didn’t Adi Jacobs and Marius Joubert play as a combo back at age group level? Also back in 2000 or something didn’t Hugh Reece put Stef as a centre for a few games?
@waje (Comment 2) : lmao why do you think that is bro? 😉
@Poisy (Comment 5) : You can see the two psych eachother up. Which works well until things go wrong then they lose the plot.
Will miss Keegan – hope Botes passes fitness and the rest of the squad is raring to go. KICK BULLS BUTTS – GO SHARKS GO GO GO!!!!
@waje (Comment 6) : lmao 😀
@Mocho (Comment 4) : I think Stefan played with Naas Botha and Wynand Claasens. 😆
Meisiekind > Meyer Bosman 😆
Go Bulls!!! 😈
I think the Sharks will take this one as they will be more refreshed and they do have home ground advantage!!
@Megatron (Comment 10) : Unfortunately true.
@wpw (Comment 11) : sharks will be under-cooked and lethargic like they were against the brumbies in that first half.
The Du Plessis brothers account for 18 of the Sharks 101 penalties this season. Which is high considering they haven’t played 80 minutes every game. Bismarck also has the sole yellow card. I love the Du Plessis passion, but it does cost games.
@waje (Comment 14) : where do you scource that stat?
@wpw (Comment 11) : I think your avatar should be a wooden spoon 😉
@Megatron (Comment 13) : the bulls havent played an 80min run away game either. both teams tend to play good in parts of the game.
a player that i think could run us ragged this weekend, given space, is Bjorn Basson. Hes looking pretty good at the moment. Thats IF wynand get to pass the ball… otherwise bjorn will be living of scrap up and under ball…
@wpw (Comment 11) : go chiefs… 😈 😉
@VanWilder (Comment 17) : quite right both teams can blow hot & cold…bjorn is the most lethal wing in SA @ the moment…mvovo is getting left behind.
PLEASE…. MVOVO MUST PLAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@VanWilder (Comment 18) : Blues, you mean…? 😉
@Megatron (Comment 19) : Where’s the spoon…the wooden one…Mvovs is WAY more lethal than Bjorn – he just needs to get decent ball – so not his fault really that he cannot showcase what he can do with the oval ball…
@Mocho (Comment 4) : 1st question…they did… 😉
This game will be immense…
“The hardest game in Rugby” Quote Victor Matfield
In Colosseum Kings Park, Clash of the Gladiators…
Oupa, here’s a pointer to a prematch team talk:
My name is Stefanus Terrimus Blanchi, Commander of the Shark Army, faithful and loyal servant to the true Emperor John Plumtreeus, underrated ultimate team man, leader of a brutal team, and I will have my victory, in this half or the next….
Ndugane @15 with JPP @14 and Mvovo @11 please. Not sure about singing a player’s praises when he only came on for the last 5 mins of the Brumbies game. Worried about our loose forwards..at least Plum can look at guys like Bressler and Burden if he needs cover there. Glad Mostert is fit again.
Found this funny: “The Bulls, meanwhile, look likely to have a full-strength quad” I hope their other muscles aren’t at full-strength. 😆 😆 😆 Unless Robdylan means the Bulls four wheelers. The Cheetahs Harleys were at full-strength on Saturday against Crusaders. 😆 😆
@Megatron (Comment 10) : gulp!
@Ice (Comment 21) : um, have you seen bjorn basson lately? 😉 take off those shark-tinted dolce & gabbanas uysie!
they’re both Eastern Cape boys so i have no bias against anyone of them but Bjorn is scintillating @ the mo!
@Megatron (Comment 27) : Actually its Bulgari, Vogue or Dior – I prefer those in Sharks-tinted shades… 😉 (Not as effective as your faithfull Oakley’s Ray Ban’s etc – but much prettier)
Megs – but could he look to shine by better play /ers surrounding him? Also I presume you did not make that statement based on the game against the Rebels?
@Heavens Game (Comment 23) : you had similar sounding prose before the stormers KLAPPED you lot @ not-so “Fortress Kings Park”
@Megatron (Comment 10) :
and lately, Meisiekind > SBW
@Salmonoid (Comment 30) : no man! Meisiekind is a FLAT TRACK BULLY! he only runs straight against defences that have been pummeled by his forwards, if you put just one body in front of him, he will crash on to him, no sidestep, no swerve, NOTHING! ask herkie kruger!
Crusaders 27 – Bulls 0, enough said!
@Megatron (Comment 31) : I did say lately, remember he has been worked out by Pdivvy and Doc Venter. Its the retirement home for SBW from here on in. 😈
My Concerns:
It`s no use moaning about our mid-field. Plum obviously made promises he can`t break.
But think back to the slaughter we witnessed at Newlands.
If we got physically dominated by the Stormers, who have never been more physical than the bulls . .. how do we plan to counter this?
You have to win the breakdowns in any match but especially against the bulls . . . would our forwards step up?
If they can`t, it doesn`t really matter what our backline does . . .
What’s up with Frans Ludeke saying that The Sharks will run at the Bulls intimating that we will be scared to take them on in the LO?
“We expect that, like then, they will try to carry the ball and keep it alive. I also don’t expect them to kick the ball into touch a lot because our lineout is a strength,”
@KSA Shark © (Comment 34) : He isn’t shying away from the truth. The Sharks lineout has been average all season. Even lazy Victor Matfield will put our jumpers under pressure.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 34) : Round one to him then . . .
@KSA Shark © (Comment 34) : I reckon he read a comment from someone here on SW and echoed it to the press…. 🙄 😆
I reckon he has nightmares of us running at them the last time we met…CC Semi Final 2010…a de ja vu performance of that performance to me would be the ULTIMATE high!
@Original Pierre (Comment 33) : You have to win the breakdowns in any match but especially against the bulls . . . would our forwards step up?
If they can`t, it doesn`t really matter what our backline does . I second that…we need to get the ball and IMO keep it.
@Original Pierre (Comment 36) : The game is not won in the media…
@Ice (Comment 37) : I don’t think he had to read it here. John Plumtree has to talk about it after every match. It isn’t a big secret. It is by far the biggest problem in the Sharks game at the moment, because without 1st phase ball you spend most the game defending.
@Ice (Comment 38) : Alistair Coetzee would argue that point. 😆 He has beaten the Sharks twice, because both games they never showed up.
The Sharks average a 75% success rate at lineout time. Not as dreadful as I thought, but still not a Super Trophy winning success rate.
@waje (Comment 39) : It was a joke. 😉 – Someone actually did say it on here and almost exactly in those words…was it not you?…anyway – that’s why I made that comment.. 😉
@waje (Comment 40) : Showed up? in the media?
i’m always concerned when we play the bulls because they are such a good team but one thing I’m pretty sure that the Sharks won’t be lacking commitment as they often do when playing other teams.
@Ice (Comment 42) : Before both games Alistair Coetzee talked up the Sharks and the Sharks were dealt with like chickens in a slaughterhouse or Sharks on a Chinese trawler. 😆
@Ice (Comment 42) : It was me. I was only stating the obvious. 😆 But I am sure Frans Ludeke isn’t an avid Sharksworld reader.
@rekinek (Comment 43) : If each and every player in the 22 man Squad plays with 120% commitment we will win the game hands down.
@robdylan (Comment 3) : Rob
According to todays Daily News, only ones out Kanko and Daniel
Smit and botes ready for action
@Ben (Comment 46) : 100% should be enough 😆
The Bulls weakness is Bakkies, Spies and Matfield. The Sharks must bug Bakkies until he does something stupid. And attack Spies and Matfield as both dislike getting their hands dirty. Spies’ defence is very suspect.
@rekinek (Comment 48) : I think 80% should just snatch us the game. 🙂
But 30 % is enough to get a matric pass.
@Ben (Comment 50) : once Bakkies is off even 70% will do 😀
@waje (Comment 51) : 😯 seriAAAs?
@rekinek (Comment 52) : Willem should be able to take care of that little problem for us. 😉
@waje (Comment 44) : I dont think Ludeke is “talking us up” – I think he is actually saying in very nice words – the Sharks line outs are a stuff up so they will try to avoid the situation by running… 😛
Just saw who the referee is and I am worried. Bryce Lawrence. He allowed Richie McCaw to lie on the Cheetahs side of the ruck, almost all game. The Crusaders were allowed to slow down ball at almost every breakdown. I still wonder how Bryce Lawrence has been appointed RWC referee ahead of better Kiwi referees.
@waje (Comment 44) :
@Ice (Comment 55) : He is using reverse psychology.
@waje (Comment 58) : How? What needs to be reversed?
I see KEo has signed a management deal with Luke Watson. Its quite hilarious as he was going on how the Cheetahs are so crap and they should be expected to give their place to the Kings soon. Not after this past weekend :-D! One can expect a lot of mumblings about how Watson must get a BOK place and other Kings nonsense in the Media soon 😉
@waje (Comment 56) : last year Brycie was kind to us 😀 …which means … this is the unkind year 😯
@Ice (Comment 59) : Does he want us to try and compete in line outs by saying we are afraid to try it?
Not even beach bums with a 30% matric pass rate will fall for that phsycology!
What is bloggers on this sites obsession with Keo? I have been to that site twice and found it mediocre and trashy. So I won’t waste my time there.
@waje (Comment 63) : so you went there 😯
@waje (Comment 63) : The obsession is exactly that…they find it despicable! 😉
Bryce Lawrence is no good!
@GreatSharksays (Comment 66) : 😕
@rekinek (Comment 64) : Way back when Keo was still the thorn in Rudolph’s side. I haven’t been back since.
@Ice (Comment 65) : But then don’t come here and complain. Complain on his site. Don’t bleat behind the guys back, it makes you no better than him.
@waje (Comment 68) : Just expressing opinions I guess…but ja – I cannot remember last time I was on keo…so plead NOT Guilty, djou onner! 😉
@Ice (Comment 69) : Never accused you.
I think the Sharks can use Bryce Lawrence to their advantage. Bryce Lawrence dislikes players moaning, and Victor Matfield has been drama queen extraordinaire this season. The Sharks just need to get Matfield in a whiny mood and things will turn the Sharks way quickly.
@waje (Comment 71) : i like Bryce, in one game against the Hurricanes i think, he Yellow Carded both Francois Steyn & Kankowski for “not supporting their bodies @ the breakdown” the Sharks lost that game i was besides myself with laughter 😀 go Bryce!
you right about one thing, Bryce hates moangats!
This is going to be a serious game of physical rugby… I hope we can find some sort of momentum building form and confidence from this game… Collision points and setpiece is vital… Midfield… Hmmm….
@Megatron (Comment 72) : Hey Megy-pooh – you seem to be changing your avatar with your jocks at the mo… whazzup? You havin’ an identity crisis? 😆
@waje (Comment 49) : LOL, since when is Bakkies a weak link? 😯
@Original Pierre (Comment 75) : it’s his headbutting side 🙄
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 74) : tssst he supports EP Kings …. sigh … 🙄 You may well call it identity crisis. 😆
@Ice (Comment 55) : i’m trying to figure whther he is trying to goad (sp) us into actually going for the LOs to prove him wrong.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 78) : That would be far too clever. Remember who we are talking about here! 😆
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 79) : You make a very good point 🙂
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 79) : Yip, the Bulls idea of mind games is a headbutt.
Well lets just give it our all and with a win i got faith in our team and we will win
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 74) : hey Shazzy-poo 😉 well, if you looked intently you would’ve noticed that the previous pic was taken @ an EP Kings match & now the latest one is cover featuring our newly acquired loosie Luke Watson, wearing our black & red strip!…so you see Shazzy consistency 😀