News from the Sharks camp is that there are a few niggles with certain players after the loss to the Bulls, but no serious injuries have been picked up. Good news is that Willem Alberts has been cleared to play.
The only concerns from the Bulls match is Tim Whitehead, who has a groin niggle, and he will have to undergo fitness tests during the week to determine whether he can take the field against his previous team.
Ryan Kankowski also had a complaint during the Bulls match, but scans on his hand have confirmed that no bones are broken, and that the injury is not serious at all.
Odwa Ndungane, who missed out on the trip to Loftus, is still not quite 100% and it will be left to a late fitness test to see if the injury he picked up against the Kings in preseason, has healed sufficiently to play against the Stormers.
The news around Willem Alberts is good for the team, as there has been a lot of talk about the balance of the Sharks loose forwards, and a return to the field of play for the Bone Collector might just be the answer.
We will have to wait until later in the week to see which players will not be ready to face the Stormers, and whether the coach will put Alberts straight back into the starting line up.
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Finally one of our big guns returns..let’s hope rotation allows him keep fresh n solid..
bench role, please…
Awesome news.
But he has to play off the bench????
No need to play him from the start. IMO he will have a greater impact this week off the bench, especially if we are behind in the last 20min.
@robdylan (Comment 2) :
second that..
The only concern from the Bulls match is our Captain’s invisible man act and Bismarck’s “I’ll get noticed, by any means possible” act. 🙁
Here comes the Booooom!!!
Not sure we can afford to play him off the bench if he is fit.
Its the right thing to do from a player management perspective, but I’m sure the coach is worried about the Stormers overpowering us early and building a lead. It may be better to take him off at 50 min, when the game starts to get looser anyway, which would suit Kanko.
Yes yes yes!!!
We missed you Willem!
Back to bash-it-up rugby? 🙂
I’m worried about Timmy… wouldn’t be good to lose the oke now. That said, Meyer will do a superb job at 12 if picked and I also think we can get away with only 2 backs on the bench for this one… meaning Alberts and Botes can both be included.
@robdylan (Comment 9) :
I’m with you on this..
Im worried that we lose Tim, and the momentum he currently has.
And I am sure he will step up big time to prove his worth against his ex employers..
@robdylan (Comment 8) :
You still need big ball-carriers to create some space or momentum for your fancy-footed forwards (there’s some alliteration for yo’ ass).
@Big Fish (Comment 11) : don’t get me wrong… of course Willem has a role to play – and it’s a very important one.
I just don’t want him to play ALL the roles.
@Big Fish (Comment 6) : agreed, the Witness intimates that Alberts will be a starter according to John Bishop Alberts has been fully traaining for the last couple of weeks and can play from start
@robdylan (Comment 9) : 😈 Agree! Tim needs the game time. For a guy who played little rugby over the last season he really showed that he wanted to get involved. I hope he is fit for the Stormers game. 😈
And just off the topic a bit Ryan Strudwick has been appointed as director of rugby at Maritzburg College – good or bad Rob/Beet?
@robdylan (Comment 2) : Bench indeed…would be foolish and rather risky to start him off the bat in what will be a very physical encounter. Awesome to have him back!!
Bummed that Timmy has a groin problem…hope he can pull through. If not Bosman at 12…we still have to see how the amazing Mark Steele has been able to do with him, he certainly looked alot bigger/athletic when i saw him a couple of weeks back. His long pass, and his crash ball might also assist us agianst the Stormers.
Feel bummed for Whitehead, he was our best player last week…he was solid and all over the park throughout the game. They shouldn’t risk Timmy, Groin complaints can become serious complaints very quickly…we don’t want him needing an op. at the start of the season. Hopefully he is fit for sat.
YES YES YES YES YES YES BABY!!!!!!!!
I will start Alberts and bring on Botes after 50-60 min, Botes made a huge impact when he came of the bench against the bulls will start with these loosies
6)Albert
7)Coetsee
8)Daniel
And bring botes and kanko on as soon as the game start to loosen up.
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 15) : brilliant for maritzburg… bad for the Sharks
@Big Fish (Comment 6) : Second your thinking.
@robdylan (Comment 19) : Agreed, College have done very to well to get him on board. He will be overseeing all rugby at College and will hopefully bring about positive change within the current structure.
@slammerboy (Comment 21) : @robdylan (Comment 19) : thank you guys! Really happy now!
@slammerboy (Comment 21) : @robdylan (Comment 19) : thank you guys! Really happy now for College! Glenwood, Westville watch out!
Great news for the boys to have a battlegun back in action. The hacks are saying in various media that Deysel’s injury / rehab is more serious than initially reported and might not be back at all this season? What is the official Sharks statement, is he still on course for the overseas leg?
I think Juan de Jongh’s jaw is feeling sore again 😛