Bismarck du Plessis has been passed fit to start at hooker for the Sharks this weekend.
With Kyle Cooper back in the Vodacom Cup team, it was expected that Bismarck would play some role, after sitting out last week’s game. He has duly been named in the number 2 jersey, with Craig Burden reverting to the bench. The rest of the tight five remains unchanged, although there are changes on both flanks, with Jacques Botes named to start for Marcell Coetzee at 6, and Willem Alberts coming in for Jean Deysel at 7.
Both Coetzee and Deysel feature on a 5-forward bench, along with debutant Pieter-Steph du Toit, who will provide lock cover.
Tim Whitehead has been passed fit to continue at inside centre in an unchanged back division, after initial doubts about his availability.
The Sharks
1. Dale Chadwick
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. Jannie du Plessis
4. Steven Sykes
5. Anton Bresler
6. Jacques Botes
7. Willem Alberts
8. Keegan Daniel (Captain)
9. Charl McLeod
10. Patrick Lambie
11. Lwazi Mvovo
12. Tim Whitehead
13. JP Pietersen
14. Louis Ludik
15. Riaan Viljoen
Replacements
16. Craig Burden
17. Wiehahn Herbst
18. Pieter-Steph du Toit
19. Jean Deysel
20. Marcell Coetzee
21. Frederic Michalak
22. Meyer Bosman

Good luck Sharks.
Really do hope Bissie is 100%. Still a long long season ahead of us.
Only player I would have loved to have seen there is BEAST…hehe.
He will be back after the bye no doubt.
Actually pleased to see Botes starting too.
Lekka man…..
GO SHARKS!
Gonna be a toughie, so lets bring the A-game and hope like hell.
Not sure about Ludik on the wing, to be honest..
But good team otherwise..
I am glad Coetzee is well enough to sit on the bench, and the break next week will do all and sundry a lot of good.
Thought Coetzee was injured?
This is a good team, the best we could possibly select I guess.
Also glad that Tim Whitehead is in midfield, that is a big relief!
Wow, 3 loosies on the bench! OK, I know PSdT is a lock first, but still!
they should have started with jannie at 1 and wiehan at 3 and give dale a bit of a break. otherwise i am satisfied with the team.
If youre in town, and still thinking about going to the game, just GO. Kings Park packed is all we need. Great team picked me thinks. Backing Botes for a big game
@jovner (Comment 9) :
I am sure that in front of the home crowd, and knowing that we have a bye next weekend, Dale will put heart and soul on the line this weekend.
My money is on a big game from the big guy!
@jako (Comment 10) :
Co-sign!!
Get to the game peeps, its going to be a cracker, and the weather is going to be awesome!
Oh, and pop in to see the Beast mess up some EP Kings players 😉
@robdylan. I see you have made a new position in the pack. Botes & Alberts are at flak. Is this because they take it or give it? 😆 😈
CHIEFS by 5+
@markm (Comment 13) :
A missing ‘n’ makes all the difference.. 🙂
@Megatron (Comment 14) : If I was playing Superbru I’d say Chiefs by 15. Hope the Sharks can pull through though.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 5) : I have always been a bit worried about Ludik on the wing, but he stepped up last week and had a good game, also that try saving tackle was superb. Though tomorrow there is that massive Masaga (spelling) on the wing for Chiefs.
Think we can take em by a few.
Go Sharks.
@Puma (Comment 17) : ludik can forget about catching lelia, he will be eating dust. 😆
GO SHARKS!
Hope I can get to see the game.
Can’t believe I have missed 3 in a row!
@Megatron (Comment 18) : Hey Megs, less lip, more penmanship. Where’s that article?
Decisions Decisions . . .
Last week we all agreed the Sharks wouldn`t beat the Cheetahs, well they lost to the Chiefs so it should be straight forward right?
But why are the Sharks favourites then? 🙄
@Megatron (Comment 18) : Don’t worry we will hunt in a pack…. 😛
Forwards also need to stop that Taumalolo prop in his tracks – he is now the top try scorer in this year’s S15 – 6 to his name
The boys must really throw every last ounce into this game – they can rest from Sunday
@Culling Song (Comment 20) : you mean Megs’ Opus? 😛
@Megatron (Comment 18) : Ludik had a pretty decent game last week….but yeah…
Why we can’t find a specialist 14 with some decent pace? Not happy with a stop-gap defensive winger while someone exciting like Sithole mucks around in the Vodacom Cup.
@Megatron (Comment 24) : while I’m not sure how old you are, you’re definitely a pus 🙂
@CapeShark (Comment 25) : Only problem I feel is defensively Sithole isn’t ready yet for SR.
@Ben (Comment 27) : Megatron follows his career closely and I think he’ll tell you exactly the same.
@Ben (Comment 27) : True, but then again Mvovo is also getting bumped off quite regularly at the tackle point. Let’s hope Sithole makes the cut next year. It’s time we has two blitz-quick wingers.
@robdylan (Comment 26) : hahahaha 😆
@CapeShark (Comment 29) : Agree with you. Can’t wait for Sithole to make the grade. He’s a great prospect and fast as hell! 🙂
@Ben (Comment 27) : Agreed.
Is he big enough to defend though?
@Original Pierre (Comment 32) : you seen his guns?
@Original Pierre (Comment 32) : He’s big enough. Technique seems more the problem.
@robdylan (Comment 33) : Do you still have your Blacberry Robbo?
@Ben (Comment 35) : for sure
@robdylan (Comment 33) : @Ben (Comment 34) : Oh okay, no I admit I`ve only ever seen him on tv and he didn`t look very big.
Well then someone seriously needs to work on his tackling technique.
Glad to see Botes starting for a change.
bigger is not always better,check at Aplon,he is a demon defender
@Shred (Comment 38) : jeez dude… where have you been?
Hey guys, just for fun.
Type “Ek is ‘n bloubul” in at google translate.
@Letgo (Comment 41) : and then put stormer in place of bloubul.
@Letgo (Comment 41) : @Letgo (Comment 42) :
Brilliant!
I can’t wait for the game tomorrow, really gonna try to get to the field early to watch the Beast!!!