Two Sharks teams go head to head this evening in an open trial match at Mr Price Kings Park.
Kick-off is at 6pm and we’ll have one or two folks there keeping us up-to-date with how the game is progressing.
Let us know if you’re planning on going – or even better, are at the stadium already.
Here are the sides. Replacements will be shared equally across both team, one would imagine.
Zambesis
Dale Chadwick
Craig Burden
Wiehahn Herbst
Jandre Marais
Ross Skeate
Keegan Daniel
Pieter-Steph du Toit
Lubabalo “Tera” Mtembu
Charl McLeod
Patrick Lambie
Lwazi Mvovo
Meyer Bosman
JP Pietersen
Odwa Ndungane
Riaan Viljoen
Raggies
Danie Mienie
Monde Hadebe
Nicholas Schonert
Anton Bresler
Alistair Hargreaves
Jacques Botes
Francois Kleinhans
Ryan Kankowski
Cobus Reinach
Frederic Michalak
S’bura Sithole
Paul Jordaan
Tim Whitehead
Wandile Mjekevu
Louis Ludik
Replacements:
Allan Dell
Franco Marais
Nicolaas Van Dyk
Steven Sykes
Chris Cloete
Brynard Stander
Brendan Groenewald
Shannon Rick
Fred Zeilinga
Gavin Hauptfleisch
Marius Joubert
Piet Lindeque
Jaco van Tonder
Rosko Specman
Gouws Prinsloo

Very interesting to see Pieter-Steph playing at 7 in the “probables” team
sorry to take so long to get this up, BTW… took THAT LONG to correct all the incorrectly-spelled player names on the official Sharks website.
only one name I really wasn’t expecting to see there… Brendan Groenewald. Looks like a loose forward who went to Glenwood, but then went to play under 21 rugby for the Cheetahs.
Back with us now
Mcleod v Reinach will be a matchup of interest to me. Not because I want Reinach ahead of McLeod but I DO want Reinach as our 2nd choice.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 4) : agree completely.
And not to be nasty to Shannon Rick, who’s also a pretty good scrummy, but I don’t see Reinach really struggling to hold down that position.
Unless Fred gets a run at 9 tonight and looks really good.
@robdylan (Comment 5) : agreed. how long is Hofmann out for?
Anyone can give me some more insight on Gavin Haupt.? Havn’t really seen him play. Who’s Brendan Groenewald…it’s not Lambert, so is it the Guy that played for Cheetahs U/21 and came from Glenwood? If it is, its great…very good ball carrier, very much like Stander.
With the youngsters we got The Sharks are sorted for at least 10 years, if they can retain all the talent…Well Done Sharks Academy!! And all the recruitment Staff.
I would have love to see Anton competing for the 5 or second choice 5, rather than Hargreaves!! 👿
@robdylan (Comment 5) : I hope Reinach does us and himself proud!!
Damnit X100..why aren’t i staying in Durbs anymore??? 👿
@robdylan (Comment 3) : Oops sorry only read ur comment now 😳 Great to have ball carriers like him and Stander coming through…young Deysel and Alberts right there. 3 younf fetchers coming through in Cloete, Kleinhans and Khaya Majola…wow can keep going on for ages, the youngsters coming through all have such great potential. 🙂
@Ice (Comment 8) : We need to have solid lineout options…lineout was pretty bad last year until Skeate came and brought some stability. Bresler is a very promising 4 4 me…might still have to up his weight a bit, but he is a solid athlete.
Just to mention…with Fred leaving i really hope Sharks bring Rocket back to Durban…i love his approach to the game, and he is a Shark at heart…bring him back Rudolf!! Asseblief 🙂
@JJR (Comment 11) : I agree on Skeate completely. I find Anton just to be more a 5 though – not so much a big enforcer type…but thats just my opinion. 😉
Beautiful night at the stadium..
And we have kick off
Burden with an early try for the white tean.. Lambie trying for a conv from the sidelines, and slots it..
@JJR (Comment 7) : yes… same guy
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 14) : Are we on for the parking area with Rovers? I think i have your bank details.
@JJR (Comment 7) : as for Gavin… very promising schoolboy flyhalf who missed all of last season’s under 19 season through injury.
Daniel dots down the second.. Good interplay, JPP cutting inside and giving a nice offload in the tackle..
Lambie converts..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 18) : Already we are seeing the benefits 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 19) : of Lambie at 10, or JP at 13?
@robdylan (Comment 20) : JP at 13. We’ve seen the benefits of Lambie at 10 for ages. 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 21) : fair enough!
Ref Berry being harsh on sealing. Also interesting: Ndungane down by contact not grip tackle, not held but not allowed to get up and play on. Ref insists he must release ball first a-la Kaplan.
@beet (Comment 23) : interesting….
Go Jp…Go Jp…Go Jp Go!! 🙂
Excited to see chris cloete’s name in the mix as well.
And as for pieter-steph du toit at 7: will be good to have a 6’5/6’6 blind -side flanker like sharks teams of past had with atherton/charl v rensburg/aj venter.
Bosman scores the third, under the poles.. Simple does it..
Lambie converts..
End of second chukka
And mjekevu on the wing.
Zambesis 21-0 raggies
Changes aplenty now at half time..
Zeilinga with a score for the black team, seconds after coming on.
Beautiful individual run, the man has pace!
How’s jordaan and whitehead doing?
What position is zeilinga playing in? 9 or 10?
@Pokkel (Comment 32) : they let Bosman score against them 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 34) : Nasty!
@Pokkel (Comment 35) : sorry…
How’s JPP going?
Zeilinga is at 10, his favoured position.
Not much to read into either Whitehead or Jordaan’s form. Paul struggled for an understanding with Freddy M. I thought their styles wud compliment each other. Also not much ball for the reserve team to work with so Tim reduced to defender most times the ball was in his area.
Thought JPP did well. Again so hard to read into this game. He didn’t have much defensive responsibility, but he certainly offers a lot more with ball in hand than Stef or CS’s main man Marius did in 2011 and I’d be surprised if JPP doesn’t start at 13 against Boland next Fri.
I’m a little biased on this one but of the backs I liked Mvovo. There was evidence again of what some have said about his aerial weakness at the back and inability to kick from deep but with ball in hand he’s an absolute gem
Thanks beet: some useful insights there.
@Pokkel (Comment 32) : The most crucial question on SW ever I believe.
Thanks Beet.
They should actually play the stronger pack with the ‘weaker’ backline so they get a bit more ball.
who scored try number 4?
I know Paul Jordaan scored a try
@beet (Comment 46) : did he switch sides?
@robdylan (Comment 47) : Bosman probably let him through 👿
@robdylan (Comment 47) : So how’s the weather on the Mud island today?
@Pokkel (Comment 48) : LOL 🙂
@Pokkel (Comment 49) : Blimming FREEZING
@robdylan (Comment 50) : So you’re not having a braai and a swim at the moment? Another tough day in Africa.
@Pokkel (Comment 48) : Maybe they had a 1 for 1 agreement before the match 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 47) : He might have. I know he had a white jersey with no.23 on when he dotted down and I’m quite certain Keegan was the catalyst in the try but I was possibly guilty of talking too much and not paying enough attention.
BTW there was a power failure so the game ended after 3 chukkas
Meyer Bosman had a good outing. I think it was either War1 or Dancing Bear who’s defended his offloading ability in the past and there was evidence of that today. Runners with good timing and willingness to work off his shoulder will enjoy playing alongside him and really with his height and reach, he should be looking to delivering more of the old style Jauzion offload-in-the-tackle type plays.
It also felt like KP was a narrower field today. There was a lot of congestion and from 2011 experience we know that Meyer has been at his worst when he has to look after an open space around him as a defender. In a situation like today, he was never going to be taken out of his comfort zone. I still fear what will happen if he’s matched against strikers who get the ball a little earlier and rush at or around him.
@beet (Comment 54) : that’s a bit disappointing.
@beet (Comment 55) : did chris cloete and stander get a run before the power failure ?
I see David Campese in some Pics chatting to Plum…would be great to have him involved, again….our backline was full of flair when he was in the management team.
@Ice (Comment 8) : I agree, think he should focus on playing 5.
@JJR (Comment 58) : funny u say that just the other night my son phoned me to ask whether Campese was back at the Sharks because he watched an interview with him and he was wearing a Sharks jersey. It would be great indeed!
@JJR (Comment 58) : where can I find these pics?
Ok guys, I’m not going to write an individual article for a warm up game that ended after 3 chukkas when King Park (and seemingly only Kings Park) was plunged into darkness. So here’s my list of players that stood out:
JP: JP has taken to outside centre like a duck to water. Looked dangerous and full of running. Oh, boy Plumtree has seen the light. Excited about this move.
Jacque Botes: Despite playing for the ‘B’ team, Botes was relentless getting stuck in and carrying the ball up strongly. Will never disgrace a Shark’s jersey. The pick of the forwards before he came off.
Lambie: Cool, calm and collected as usual. The opposite of Freddie who tried a little too hard to give the ball flight.
Ross Skeate: Is becoming Mr Dependable, which is great. Takes the kicks-offs well, drives up and clears out. High work rate. Will handle Super Rugby easily this year.
Zeilinga: Scored a superb try with his first touch of the ball, dummied and broke down the left hand touchline, burnt all the defenders. This kid has gas. But his general play is a little too ‘immature’ still: guilty of tossing the ball “touch rugby’ style to no-one in particular.
Charl Mcleod: Maligned last year for being a bit of a ‘glory boy’, Charl was back to his super-fast ways, clearing the ball at lightning quick speed, giving Lambie plenty of time. I sincerely hope he cuts down on his individual darts this year.
Dale Chadwick: Either really impressed the coaches, or was put through a gruelling fitness marathon. Played just about all of the match, and pretty much destroyed everyone in front of him. Much stronger than he looks. I have no doubts he’ll hold his own in Super Rugby.
Players who were incognito:
Kankowski: Oh boy, what has happened to this guy? Once was one of the most explosive number eights in the world. Now he’s running sideways, not finding any gaps, ball spits out between his legs in the scrum way too often. A real shame, he’s lost his mojo. Hopefully he’ll find it soon.
The entire ‘B’ backline:
I think it’s safe to say, we’ve found our ‘A’ backline. Let’s hope they stay injury free because the players opposing them weren’t inspirational. Louis Ludik, Mjekevu, Sithole, Whitehead – none of them really put their hands up and did anything special. Our two wings in particular were guilty of watching the game from the sidelines.
@CapeShark (Comment 62) : Nice report. Did the ‘B’ backline get much ball to play with? How was their defense?
@Pokkel (Comment 63) : Their defense was actually pretty good, except for Meyer Bosman being allowed to lope in under the polls, but on attack the fact is that Michalak doesn’t distribute out to the wings, he prefers to scissor just about every time. You could also see they were not as composed: balls lost forward, passes that went over heads. I put it down to youth and lack of experience from Jordaan and Whitehead.
@CapeShark (Comment 64) :
You must remember that the A backline has been running together, building combinations, whereas the B backline was put together last minute.
A bit unfair to write them off seeeing as they got little or no front foot ball..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 65) : And I think this lack of cohension was also evident in the B-team pack, no more so than in the lineouts where Hadebe struggled to find his targets in Hargreaves and Bresler. These setpiece turnovers reduced the amt of ball they had to work with even further.
In terms of the scrumming: one of the mini discussion we’ve had here last year on SW revolved around Jandre Marais vs Anton Bresler. Based on available stats there is a perception that these 2 good mates are roughly the same size but clearly when standing alongside each other on the field, it’s clear that Marais is a far broader and more powerful looking unit, however just like stats, dimensions don’t always tell the whole story but a reasonable assumption is that Marais is a stronger player and therefore able to amongst other things involving power and physicality, be a greater contributor at scrum-time.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 61) : Gallo images search “Steve Haag” or “Sharks”.
It was really disappointing that Tim Whitehead didn’t to play either inside or outside centre on the other team. Anyone who hadn’t seen him play before last night left none the wiser about his ability.
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 60) : Awesome…and he was waving a paper in front of him, so it wasn’t just a casual chat…looked like management talk to me 😉 Wow, would be Great to have him wouldn’t it…We would have a blend of knowledge from Australia, South Africa and New Zealand in one management team…lets wait and see what happens. Exciting!
@CapeShark (Comment 62) : Ja, the Kanko situation has bugged for a while, he simply has only had around 2/3 good games in the last 2 years and i think 2 of those games were against the lions and one against the Cheetahs…weather conditions were perfect on both occasions and the games were dominated by The Sharks pack…i really wonder if Kankowski can perform in anyhting other than good conditions.Pack doesn’t dominate Kanko really struggles.
@CapeShark (Comment 62) : I enjoyed reading your comments
With regards to Kanko not being able to find gaps, there really weren’t that many to be found. Both D were good at closing down spaces, resulting in few line breaks.
This is either good news or bad news. The Sharks defensive systems are so good that they are going to suffocate opponents or the Sharks attacking game is so poor that it fails to suck in defenders thru phase-ball rucks.
@beet (Comment 71) : If Paul Jordaan and JPP can’t make line breaks, then i would say the Defence must be pretty solid 🙂
@JJR (Comment 69) : it would our backline went down as soon as he left, many here shot me down felt it was Muir I say howcome the with all the talent in the boks he could never recreate the same creativity of the Sharks bacline
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 73) : he meaning Muir!
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 73) : Agree 100%… Muir looked good as a Head coach at The Sharks, when in fact it was Campese, Plum and Balie Swart that did all the good work for him 😉
@GreatSharksays (Comment 61) : Or simply just search “Campese” on Galloimages website, under sport.
@JJR (Comment 75) : JJR we seem to be on the same page!
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 77) : Remember The Sharks scrum in 2007? Have not seen Botha or Deon scrum that well since…they totally smashed everyone! Balie Swart knows his scrummaging…that’s 4 sure 🙂
@JJR (Comment 78) : agreed! Isn’t he with the bulls or lions now ? 🙁
Unless the JP at 13 experiment turns out to be a huge success, which I don’t think it will, Plumtree has just dug himself a hole.
Eventually he’ll revert back to one of his regular centres, because JP doesn’t quite fit with what he’ll want to do… He’s got his strengths but also glaring weaknesses that will come through against top quality opposition in seriously contested games.
Then Plumtree going to have to put up with 9 out of 10 supporters saying ‘PLAY JP AT 13’. 😐
David Campese is a complete joke.
Embarrasses himself every time he opens his mouth.
@hendrikp (Comment 80) : And those glaring weaknesses are?
@hendrikp (Comment 81) : We didn’t ask for the guy to be likeable, we just want a backline coach of his quality.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 82) :
Not necessarily a ‘strong runner’ as you see from most centres. Can’t play the bash it up sort of game – which you need to sometimes.
Not used to running any lines to speak of off set phase ball… so far he’s been nothing more then a pair of hands on offense that can spark something. He’s never been a crucial part of making a backline function.
I could then go into his tendencies on defense and so forth…
But we’ll wait and see what happens
@KSA Shark © (Comment 83) :
He’s not even a quality backline coach… has he ever had that job anywhere? Answer… no.
@hendrikp (Comment 85) :
His assessment on why the Wannabies didn’t win the World Cup was… they didn’t spread the ball to their wingers enough.
The guy’s just plain thick. Just doesn’t have any insight into the complexities of rugby… it’s just all about side-stepping, goose-stepping, wingers scoring tries.
Then harped on about why Robbie Deans should be sacked. Stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.
He’s disruptive, and more obsessed with furthering his own reputation then really coaching rugby.
@hendrikp (Comment 86) : lol when I read about campo and the sharks I just knew you were going to be critical 😉
@hendrikp (Comment 86) : the sharks had him as skills consultant not backline coach..
@hendrikp (Comment 86) : I see your feelings towards Campese are on a par with mine towards Matfield. 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 89) : …and mine towards Marius Joubert …and Beyonce
@JJR (Comment 78) : plus there was smit as hooker and ackermann and muller as the locks.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 82) : @KSA Shark © (Comment 83) : Agree and Agree…There is nothing wrong with JPP at 13 has all the attributes and always gains metres with ball in hand and when taking contact….so don’t know what hendrik is on about to be honest.
@hendrikp (Comment 84) : are we talking about the same guy?
Black dude, tall, bald, joins the Bok and Sharks backline at some good angles occasionally, looks slow when he runs but is actually almost flying, pretty hard to bring down in the tackle, made a lovely try last night with a step inside?
I think you must be thinking of someone else.
@bergshark (Comment 91) : indeed…akers was immense for the scrum that year.
@Culling Song (Comment 90) : 😆
@JJR (Comment 92) : I think he’s thinking of the wrong player. 😉 😛
@CapeShark (Comment 64) : how did pieter-steph do at 7?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 93) : Took the words outta my mouth there KSA Shark…maybe he’s talking about Rosko Specman 😆
@hendrikp (Comment 84) : Well, JP looked pretty damn good to me at 13. Still, it’s a little too early for you or me to make opinions over this; so let’s wait a couple of games. By the way, I don’t think any coach wants his 13 to be a ‘bash it up’ kind of player. 12 & 13 = two totally different positions. As for his defense, well, he’s famous for two game-saving tackles in two different World Cups…
@KSA Shark © (Comment 83) :well put – the man can be a total buffoon, if he get our backline to function as such I will love him!
@JJR (Comment 98) : that was a name from nowhere_ rosco specman! How did he do? Did he get game_time at all?
Suppose he will be in the reckoning for vc squad?
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 100) : campo was skills consultant last time he was with the sharks.not backline coach.
@Culling Song (Comment 90) : Shame
Marius got about 20 minutes and then the light went out…. 20 minutes too much 👿
@bergshark (Comment 102) : And let’s be honest these “consultants” don’t really do much besides popping up during the odd practice, talking a bit of strategy and running a few drills. Don’t see how he can be a “disruptive influence”.
@CapeShark (Comment 99) : agree with you : can’t really say it will work or say it won’t based on a pre-season trial game.but I’m hoping jpp can pull it off.he has more skills than some critics give him credit for.
Anyway,the sharks success will not depend on an individual but a team.
@bergshark (Comment 102) : oh thank you Bergshark!
@bergshark (Comment 106) : 100%
@hendrikp (Comment 84) :
Put the crack pipe down.
Can’t tackle??? Not strong on his feet??? Do you read what you type before you post? 😯
@CapeShark (Comment 99) :
Don’t get why people don’t understand this simple point. 13 is not a crash-baller or primarily a distributor, unlike a 12.
A 13 does need good lines, but strength in the tackle and speed are powerful attributes for a 13.
I’m not saying that the JP experiment will work, but he is defo worth backing in the current set-up.
@Big Fish (Comment 109) :
One aspect I’m worried about with Jpp is that he doesn’t look comfortable passing the ball the his right, it looks very awkward..
Hoping he can work on it..
@hendrikp (Comment 84) : Hendrik dude, generally I like having you on Sharksworld. You often voice opinions which, although I don’t always agree with, are generally based on thoughtful analysis, and stimulates debate. In this case though, it would appear you were smoking whatever Lewis Carol was when he hallucinated the Jabberwocky…
@Culling Song (Comment 111) : a lot of guys seem to have a big blind spot when it comes to JP… never see all the awesome stuff he does, just keep making up crap about him being “lazy” or having a “slapgat attitude”.
I have NO IDEA where that comes from.
@robdylan (Comment 112) : It’s so weird. JP’s name would be one of the first, if not the very first I would write down on my team sheet, both for the Sharks and Bokke.
@robdylan (Comment 112) : most of the blindspotters don’t suppoprt the Sharks.
@JJR (Comment 7) :another loose forward from the Glenwood production line. Hopper must be happy with that!
Regarding du Toit at flank do you think Plum feels he’s too short to be a quality lock? I see he is under 2metres tall
@robdylan (Comment 112) :
I can think of some reasons.
@Culling Song (Comment 113) :
@KSA Shark © (Comment 114) :
Good point. I reckon JP will go down as a Sharks legend.
@slammerboy (Comment 115) : isn’t he 1.98m ?same as sykes.but how long is his arms?maybe sharks looking for a line-out option at the back (like they had in teams with charl v rensburg,aj venter).
@bergshark (Comment 118) : I wouldn’t read that much into it. Lots of locks available to the squad, but with Alberts, Deysel and Coetzee all out for various reasons, they were very short of big loosies.
what I do find encouraging, though, is that even if none of the three mentioned above is fit to play the Bulls (unlikely… Coetzee will definitely be there and Alberts might make it too) we know that we now have another player that could slot into that role.
@bergshark (Comment 118) : He said “under 2 meters” …1.98 IS under two meters… 😆
@Big Fish (Comment 109) :
Where did I say he wasn’t strong on his feet, or couldn’t tackle?
I simply said defending in the midfield is a BIG difference to being part of the back-three, where JP is generally dropping back on defense.
And I wasn’t talking about his physical stature, rather his approach when running the ball. He’s not a ‘put your head down’ type centre. Whether that’s a good thing, or a bad thing, we shall see.
I just don’t think it’ll work out.
@hendrikp (Comment 122) : It’s a good observation. From my experience the best defenders are generally the ones that lead with their heads and JP, well I wouldn’t say he’s as bad as a Butch James but certainly doesn’t favour getting his head down.
I’m a bit concerned about defensive communication. It wasn’t altogether there betw Meyer and Terblanche. It’s crucial to know who you have to account for esp. in traffic.