Former Sharks stalwart Deon “Speenvark” Carstens will represent his new side, Western Province, for the first time this weekend as he’s been named at tight head prop for the Vodacom Cup side. In a somewhat ironic twist, Carstens’ blue-and-white debut will be against the team he represented with such success for so many years, the Sharks.
While it’s unlikely that many of the men in the white and black Sharks XV jersey would have played with Carstens before, given the general youthful nature of the side (well, baring Marius Joubert) the expected return to action of Jean Deysel in this match should ensure that the likeable prop at least has one old mate to swap war stories with after the game. Carstens has struggled for fitness since moving to the Cape from Saracens in the UK and will be joined by another player returning from injury in the WP engine room, lock Rynardt Elstadt.
Elstadt was one of the finds of the tournament for the Stormers last year, but a long injury lay-off in the Currie Cup and the subsequent rise to prominence of the even-younger Eben Etzebeth has seen the former’s star wane somewhat over the last few weeks; he’ll be keen to put that right on Saturday.
For Carstens, who last played tight head at a serious level a few years back, there may be some adjusting required in the number 3 jersey. He has played test rugby in the position, though and will nevertheless present a formidable scrumming challenge for young Sharks XV loosehead Danie Mienie to overcome. According to reports, the scrum was an area of real dominance for the Sharks XV in their last match, but they will surely find WP a far tougher nut to crack in this area than the outclassed Border were.
Western Province: Kurt Coleman, Danie Poolman, JP du Plessis, Marcel Brache, Ederies Arendse, Demetri Catrakilis, Nic Groom, Nic Fenton-Wells (capt), Don Armand, Reuben Johannes, Quinn Roux, Rynhardt Elstadt, Deon Carstens, Sidney Tobias, Wicus Blaauw.
Subs: Schalk Ferreira, Tom Botha, Hilton Lobberts, Rohan Kitshoff, Ricky Schroeder, Michael van der Spuy, Berton Klaasen.
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Thats a pretty strong WP side…SHarks XV gonna have to be at their best. Will be good to gauge the strength of our front row depth when they come up against 2 guys that have Super Rugby experience in Carstens and Blaauw.
So I know a vark is a pig but what is speen?
@lostfish (Comment 2) : a speenvark is a suckling pig
@robdylan (Comment 3) : Aaahhh, ok. Thanks.
Good to see Elstadt back. Hope they rotate him and Etsebeth and Bekker and Steenkamp as the tournament goes on. Still feel we need Kitshoff in the Stormers side specially against the Lions. No fetcher will cost us at some stage of the marathon.
The number of names I recognise from Varsity Cup rugby is astonishing!
@lostfish (Comment 2) : Speen is also the nickname the matrics gave me when I was a Std 6 laaitie – to the great enjoyment of my friends 😡
The LEGEND that is JP Du Plessis is playing I see!! 😛
@Villie (Comment 8) :
The Sharks should sign him. 😈
@Big Fish (Comment 9) : don’t start a roomer…