In a bitter blow to the Sharks’ hopes of picking up a win in Canberra this weekend, flyhalf Pat Lambie has been ruled out as the result of a dental injury.
Fred Michalak comes in to partner Charl McLeod in the former’s first run at flyhalf this season and the Sharks will again be starting from scratch with a wholly-new 10-12-13 axis. Meyer Bosman drops to the bench after a superb game against the Waratahs, with Tim Whitehead moving into the number 12 jersey. In a bit of good news, JP Pietersen has been passed fit to start at outside centre.
Bosman and Louis Ludik are the only two backs named on the bench, as the Sharks have opted for a 5-2 split with Jean Deysel the extra forward. The only other change to the lineup sees Steven Sykes come in to partner Jandre Marais in the second row, with Anton Bresler playing off the bench this week.
There is still no sign of either Nick Schonert or Paul Jordaan in the match 22, with Marius Joubert missing out this week too.
Sharks:
15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Fred Michalak, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Keegan Daniel (capt), 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Jandre Marais, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Dale Chadwick.
16 Craig Burden, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Anton Bresler, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Jacques Botes, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Louis Ludik
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This could go one of two ways, Freddie could have one of those blistering games where he can do nothing wrong, or he could have a complete mare… Which i suppose is true of most French rugby players… 🙄
I cannot understand why Plum would play Fred ahead of Bosman. Bosman has played 10 for 20min stints this whole season, with Lambie shifting to the back, Bosman has run into some of his best form while Fred has looked off par for a while. I really don’t think this move will help us.
Let’s hope I’m wrong.
It’s good to see Deysel back.
I don’t even get why Burden is on the bench any more. Plum won’t use him. Is there a rule that you have to have hooker cover, because this is just getting sad.
@The Quirk (Comment 1) : Nice generalising there.
@Letgo (Comment 2) : it’s a valid point… not sure why Meyer isn’t backup 10.
Another fantasy league injury 😥
@lostfish (Comment 5) : at least he didn’t call anyone “the F word” 🙂
@lostfish (Comment 5) : I thought so…
@Letgo (Comment 4) : there is such a rule, yes.
Although the rule doesn’t preclude you having two props on the bench as long as one of them can “sort of” play hooker…
@robdylan (Comment 6) : Sometimes the selections just don’t make sense. Perhaps Bosman has a niggle and is riding the bench to get some rest?
Michalak ahead of Bosman boggles the mind…
I fear that after a good start to the year, Plum’s stocks are starting to plummet in my eyes following the tactical substitutions last week, and the team selection this week.
Surely a 10/12/13 axis of Bosman/Whitehead/JPP would have made more sense? It would have allowed some continuity from last week by still having Bosman playing on Whitehead’s inside, while allowing the promising Whitehead/JPP partnership to continue.
Also, with Fred on the bench you would have had reserve cover for your scrumhalf; now your scrumhalf backup is also playing, and exposed to the risk of injury.
Sheesh… 🙄
@robdylan (Comment 10) : But where are we going to find another prop, not to mention a prop that can play hooker?
Burden should find a team who will at least play him every now and then, this is a waste for the player and the team. Why would you have a guy on the bench week in and week out if you’re not going to trust him to make his impact of the bench?
When given some gametime during CC Burden has proven to be a strong runner, and good at the set pieces.
I like Bismarck and think he’s huge for the Sharks, but even he can get fatigued and might need a rest every now and then, even if it is just for 10 or 15 minutes!
@Culling Song (Comment 13) : amen I think all my positive thoughts on Plum are coming back to haunt me and turning negative once again. Oh well another watershed year 😥
Sharks to win this one ,just becuase we lost last week.
@Letgo (Comment 14) : Plum’s management of Burden is shameful, to say the least. Mr. Plumtree’s stocks have just taken a further dip…
@Talent (Comment 16) : scientific… NOT
@Letgo (Comment 14) : Burden is fast and mobile and the perfect impact player to come on when there are tired legs on the field. Bismark can’t play 80 minutes of every game. His management has been shocking to say the least.
@Culling Song (Comment 13) : That seems to be the logical move.
– Fred hasn’t even played at 10 this whole season.
– Fred has looked average at best when he did play.
– Fred is temperamental can could be just as bad as he could be good on any given day.
– Bosman has slotted into the 10 channel nicely for about 60min accumulative this season. In fact every time he has shifted into that channel he has impressed.
– He and Tim has now played to very good games next to each other and they seem to be combining well as a pair.
– Bosman was one of our best players last week.
My kind of article this. You saved the best news for last.
@Culling Song (Comment 13) :
I agree 100%. A 10/12/13 of Bosman/Whitehead/JPP sounds very exciting and Freddie hasn’t had any gametime this season at 10 yet.
I’m very worried about this decision.
Lambie will fit in well with the Stormers after losing his front teeth.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 21) : OK, you *are* on a roll with this and the Wynand/23 comments!
@Pokkel (Comment 22) : Luckily there are so many great other things happening in 2012, because Plum seems to have suddenly made it his mission to ruin the year for me… 🙄
have you guys noticed that bar the Reds-Tahs games, we have yet to play the same centre pairing in 2 consecutive games?
Bulls: Tim JP
Stormers: Meyer JP
Lions: Tim JP
Reds: Meyer Tim
Tahs: Meyer Tim
Brumbies: Tim JP
that’s got to get pretty confusing…
I am not that comfortable with this team……….. 🙁
it looks a nice team.my money is on a good win.don’t be negative.
@Culling Song (Comment 25) : I wondered how long it would take for the NFCSP to abate…
Two words Paul Jordaan 😉
@SharksRTB (Comment 27) : @pete69 (Comment 28) : there are some clear positives… to me, the only real doubt is Fred at 10, which is actually stupid, because he’s a test flyhalf with 50 caps to his name!
If things do start to go wrong there, we can get Meyer on pretty quickly.
I like the prospect of Deysel, Herbst and Bresler bringing big pain off the bench in the second half. Got to put in a strong forward showing here and bully those boys off the park.
I am not keen on the Michalak ahead of Bosman selection either but I can see some possible reasoning behind it.
As a few of you have mentioned, when Bosman moved to 10 he looked good, I’ll add the the whole team looked good when it happened. That coupled with the dip the team took after the subs came on last week may just be the reasoning behind this selection. I believe Plum has done this to finish stronger rather than finish with the team fading.
Strange selection at 10: I was initially not too worried about Pat resting knowing we could turn to Bosman – who kind of made it hard to drop him due to his performances these last few weeks.
However, it could just be that we want to play close more and use space in broken play – Fred is an opportunist, while Bosman’s forte at 10 is playing very flat to open up his backline.
@PaarlBok (Comment 23) : 😆
What the hell is a dental injury and how does it keep you out of a game?
@robdylan (Comment 29) : NFCSP = new found Culling Song positivity…?
advantage brumbies!
Damn that is bad news. Big, big blow to lose Lambie. Has been one of our top Sharks. Just when Lambie was playing really well at fh and his kicking was top class too.
Not so sure about Fred slotting into fh now. Probably should have given Bosman a start, seeing he is playing some very good rugby at the moment. Also Bosmans’s defence at the moment is top class. Would have given him a start at fh and leave Freddie on the bench to cover fh and sh.
Really hope Lambie is up and ready for the Canes game.
@Salmonoid (Comment 35) : Yes I would like to know that too.
No Jordaan again I see. 😕 Would have had Jordaan on the bench and left Ludik out. Sure Ludik can cover fb as well as wing, but Jordaan is a whole lot more exciting and should be backed. He can cover centre and wing, with Odwa there playing on the wing, he can cover fb if need be.
@Puma (Comment 38) : wasn’t bosman on the field when tom carter & rob horne were running rampant?
Would also have preferred Bosman at 10. Hopefully Michilak has a blinder and shows us what we will be missing when he heads back to France. He certainly didn’t show us anything while he was playing at 9.
@Culling Song (Comment 36) : spot on 🙂
@Megatron (Comment 41) : Transie, Freddie just has not had enough game time to warrant a start. Bosman is playing good rugby at the moment and deserves a start.
Anyhow it is a huge loss to lose Lambie right now.
I would be very surprised if Plumtree could out smart Jake White even with a full strength team…. can’t pick against my boys either 🙁
Brilliant move by Plum, if the Sharksworld bloggers are so confused about this move, just think what goes through JW’s mind 🙂
@Franshark (Comment 46) : Unfortunately it won’t work. Four years of Snorre has made other coaches immune to this kind of illogical thinking – they’ve realised there isn’t some kind of mysterious genius at work and that what looks a little stupid is just that. 😉
@robdylan (Comment 43) : Actually, contrary to popular belief I am generally a happy person devoid of cynicism and negativity. I achieve this sunny disposition through a strict regimen of indolence & mind-altering drugs, and by exorcising any dark impulses by ranting at the Sharks and listening to bleak music.
Now you know. 😉
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
In a former incarnation I would be crying into my pillow at this stage of proceedings.
@Puma (Comment 39) : Lambie took a knee to the jaw in Saturday’s game.
@stertjie (Comment 51) :
he is lucky he didnt take an arrow to the knee …
Oh come on – Michalak is capable of having a brilliant game, Bosman is not. Coming in to play flyhalf for the last 20 mins of a match is hardly the same as controlling an entire game. 5 matches ago everyone would have cursed Bosman being in the match 22 and now he’s supposedly better than Freddie!
Bosman is on a ROLL! Should have been in the starting XV either 10 or 12…but I guess he is sub to both positions?
Quite a solid tight 5 and strong losies bar keegs.. Wonder what the gameplan is..?
Damn I am a bit flabber, hope Jake is too! 😆
@Ice (Comment 54) : bar keegs? Did you see what that kid did on Saturday? Looked pretty strong to me 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 55) : just talking physic wise…
After such a good last weekend for SA teams, it looks as though we might end up 1 from 5 this week. And the 1 will be a derby.
@Flashman (Comment 53) : Michalak is equally capable of playing a shocker – we don’t want that against a Brumbies side out to prove a point – and Bosman has nearly always been decent during his stints at flyhalf, even before 2012.
@Zibbie (Comment 49) : I assume Lambie is in you FL team? 😆
@vanmartin (Comment 59) :
yes damit …. now i have Harris and Lampie out , Daniel Halangahu on the Bench . So Morne is going to have to have a blinder !!!!
We should take this by a mile on paper though….. 😯 But we are the underdogs 😆
Can someone please tell me what a Dental injury is? I am glad to see that Lambie is getting some time off, but a dental injury? Could they not find something worse on the kid that they have to start blaming his teeth for not being able to play?
at least MJ isn’t playing
@stertjie (Comment 51) : I know he did, watched it happen. Actually thought he was not going to get up and continue, but he did.
They say it is a dental injury though. So was wondering (like some here) why is that keeping him out this weekend? Could be that they will only repair the tooth today or tomorrow and it might be a bit close to the game. Not sure just a thought.
@MJ (Comment 63) : If there was a like button beneath your post I’d click it. 😀
@Viking (Comment 62) : The bloke got a knee to the cheek, Boet. He was being attended to for a while on the field.
Watch how good our backline is going to be if freddy has a good day at 10.