He’s back, so if you want to hear beeeeast ringing out through the Kings Park stadium, you should go to the game early for the Vodacom Cup game between the EP Kings and the Sharks at 2.40pm. It’s quite an amazing recovery, as we didn’t expect him back for at least a few more weeks, but it looks like Mtwarira will gain some fitness from this match and hopefully be back for the Sharks after the bye.
The Sharks XV has some continuity in the backline this week retaining all the backs from last weeks game, with the exception of Fred Zeilinga who is back in place of Gavin Hauptfliesch. In the forwards coach Sean Everitt welcomes back a few players who had to fly over as cover for the Sharks on tour. Kyle Cooper, Jandre Marais and Nick Schonert will strengthen the team.
With the late announcement of the Sharks Super Rugby side this team reveals a few things for the upcoming selection of the Sharks for their clash against the Chiefs. Jandre Marais who has been covering the bench for the Sharks on tour has been named as captain, which either means one of our locks has miraculously healed or either Alberts or Deysel will be our lock cover.
Conrad Hoffman’s name is also completely left out of the 22, which suggest that Plumtree will revert back to a 4/3 split, with Fred Michalak and either Meyer Bosman or if Whitehead can’t play, Marius Joubert the other two backs.
The Sharks XV will be looking to turn around an unlucky loss of last week, the EP Kings will pose a strong contest, but the team that has been selected on paper should be able to pull this one through.
15. Gouws Prinsloo, 14. S’Bura Sithole, 13. Wandile Mjekevu, 12. Heimar Williams, 11. Rosko Specman, 10. Fred Zeilinga, 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Lubabalo Mtembu, 7. Brynard Stander, 6. Francois Kleinhans, 5. Peet Marais, 4. Jandre Marais (C), 3. Nick Schonert, 2. Kyle Cooper, 1. Tendai Mtawarira
Reserves: 16. Monde Hadebe, 17. Danie Mienie, 18. Brendan Groenewald, 19. Chris Cloete, 20. Hanco Venter, 21. Piet Lindeque, 22. Jaco van Tonder
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No please!!!! The Chief are already a tough ask pleeeeease let Whitehead be able to play, and Marius have the flu!
Beaaaaaaassssssttttt!!!!!!!
let me fill in a few blanks here…
Pieter-Steph du Toit will be on the bench for the seniors as lock cover. I know this because he’s trained with the team and neither Skeate nor Hargreaves is fit… as we know.
I suspect Conrad Hoffmann must have rolled over wrong in bed, or something, because as far as I know he’s injured again.
We can also assume Bismarck is fit.
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 1) : I agree! Quick somebody in Durban… find Joubert and take a tyre iron to his knees!!
Playing the Chiefs is hard enough without this joker coming on later in the game!
BBBBEEEEEAAAASSSSSTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!
@robdylan (Comment 3) : Just as I said on the other thread.
Thought PSDT would be on the bench as Marais is captain of Sharks XV. Cooper playing here too tells me that Bissie will start this week for our Senior team.
Okay catch up later. Cheers everyone.
Before I log off.
Welcome back BEAST…
@robdylan (Comment 3) : Ah, so Jandre Marais has simply been replaced by Du Toit. It’s good, I like that Du toit is getting his shot. Thanks for filling in the gaps. I was trying to get a decent piece done, but also in decent time. How did I do?
@Letgo (Comment 8) : not badly at all 🙂
@Letgo (Comment 8) : I’m making an assumption re PDST, but it makes sense to me. Why else would they summon him back from the Baby Bok camp if they weren’t going to use him?
It’s actually a very nice team this.
Go Beast!!! 😛 Go Sharkies!!!
@Butchie34 (Comment 4) : You obviously missed yesterdays thread about getting personal.
@robdylan (Comment 10) : This is the Sharks they do dumb sh** remember like:
1. Signing Marius Joubert
2. Flying Nick Schonert over to Aus for no purpose
3. Taking Paul Jordaan over on tour to carry tackle bags
4. Signed Marius Joubert and actually played him.
@Salmonoid (Comment 13) : I must have!! As you can see from post 14 I am rather passionate about Marius Joubert and his idiotic signing with the Sharks (along with Culling Song).
@Butchie34 (Comment 14) : I know that Culling Song did a similar comment like this in a different thread and he had a longer list but it doesn’t make it any less true.
@Butchie34 (Comment 4) : you overstepped the mark there mate.
I kakked out some other guy for saying Odwa should be “put down” and I need to be consistent.
While few of us, I’m sure, have much good to say about Marius’s performances on the pitch, we cannot tolerate comments like that, even if they are made in jest.
@robdylan (Comment 10) : Unlessssss… we are in for a major surprise with a certain V.Matfield to be named in the match 22
@Pokkel (Comment 11) : ja – I’m really pleased with the pack. Been worried that the Kings would roll us.
@Greg (Comment 18) : OMG! Don’t even go there 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 17) : No problem, I accept that and will try not to be so serious.
I did take it a little far and don’t actually wish harm to any person or player, regardless of nationality or team. If you, as administrator, can delete the comment I understand.
@Butchie34 (Comment 21) : it’s fine… I will leave the comment and the rebuke as a warning to others.
I reckon Joubert and Hoffmann are just back up for The Sharks superugby team; they don’t want the same situation where a tired Joubert had to come onto the bench when JPP pulled up in the warm up over a month ago.
@Greg (Comment 18) : @robdylan (Comment 20) : Dont worry about Matfield, he apparently said he will only play for the Bulls if he makes a comeback. 😎
@robdylan (Comment 19) : That front row is made of some beef that really love the scrum…really good scummaging front row; could probably scrum our current superugby front row in my opinion 🙂
@Salmonoid (Comment 24) : I’m sure that’s true. just interesting the team announcement for the Sharks XV came *before* the main team announcement, when the usual timing is either just after or at the same time. maybe being too conspiracy-minded here 😛
@JJR (Comment 23) : I’ll leave it as I really hope that you’re right.
@robdylan (Comment 3) : Is Conrad Hoffman by any chance related to Andre Pretorius?
The kid might be uber-talented, but we’ll never know at this rate. This is proving to be one of the worst investments the Sharks have made (with the exception of the legendary Epi Taone, Dean Hall and Marius Joubert, of course). Luckily he still has time on his side.
It looks like the team won’t be announced today, or just when I look away.
What’s up with the late team announcement? Surely Plum isn’t waiting for someone to pass a late fitness test?
@Culling Song (Comment 28) : You forgot about Lionel Mapoe, we had great return on investment with him.
@Culling Song (Comment 28) : Do you know when a certain centre’s contract will come to an end?
@Butchie34 (Comment 32) : End of this year. He signed a 2 year contract.
@Danman110 (Comment 31) : Ah yes, Lionel Mapoe was some money well spent! Ditto for Kees Lensing… *pause*… NOT!!
@Ben (Comment 33) : actually, if you recall, his contract started on 1 July last year, so we still have him for 6 months of next year too.
Oh joy!
@Ben (Comment 33) : Thanks Ben. At least I can console myself with the knowledge that there’s less than 9 months left of me popping a blood vessel in my forehead whenever he runs onto the field.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 30) : He probably is. But at the press conference he said, we’ll give them until Thursday when the team is announced, so maybe it’s just a really late afternoon announcement.
@robdylan (Comment 35) : Ah great! 🙄
@robdylan (Comment 35) : Oh boy, you’re full of good news 😉
@Butchie34 (Comment 32) : @Ben (Comment 33) : He onsly started playing in last year’s Currie Cup. That means he’s still eligble to play Super Rugby next year.
So how does that work exactly? How come in the corporate world you’re forced to retire at 63, but MJ can still play (noting of course that I use the word “play” in the loosest possible sense)?
@Danman110 (Comment 31) : What about one year one match – JLP
Whats the obsession with the length of a contract – if the coaches dont think the player is good enough they wont pick him regardless of the length of the contract, if they think he can still add value they will try for an extension.
@Culling Song (Comment 40) : He’s now in the twilight of his career so like in a desk job he’s supposed to be shuffled off to some corner where he won’t cause too much damage until the end.
Plum must have got the wrong memo and decided to put in the front line.
@Salmonoid (Comment 42) : I’m just trying to estimate how long we’ll have to put up with him before a promising young centre who actually does add value and is an investment in the future can start playing… instead of being taken on tour to carry tackle bags.
Letgo – the teams out.
@Salmonoid (Comment 42) : It’s just painful to contemplate the prospect of continuously paying someone who’s of no use to the union, when the funds could have been used to pay for something more useful.
@Salmonoid (Comment 42) : extension – you should not have said that! 😆
@Culling Song (Comment 46) : And he gets paid a sh*t load of money I’ve heard!
@Culling Song (Comment 46) : Unfortunately we’ve paid for a waste of space before (Kees Lensing at 3 bar a year) while a young player did come through.
If he’s signed a contract fine, but let him carry the tackle bags while a young player who can add value comes through and picks up that experience.
Hehehehe
MB and MJ vs SBW and Kahui
@Original Pierre (Comment 50) : I would rather have Oupa Stef around for another season than that combo!!
@Butchie34 (Comment 44) : Quick question – both the said players have contracts and were both with the squad – why do you think one was preferred above the other.
@Letgo (Comment 41) : Him too, but he played more games than one.
Sharks team announced.
Bissie, Alberts and Botes to start. Marcell on the bench. PSDT on the bench.
Thank goodness Whitehead is okay.
Go Sharks.
@Ben (Comment 47) : ha, ha contemplate that while tucked up nice and tight and just about to fall asleep. 😈
@Salmonoid (Comment 52) : My guess is fear on Plum’s side. Jordaan is young and growing into the role but doesn’t have the experience.
MJ has the experience but not the pace, etc.
So Plum goes with experience because he thinks it’ll be more important at a later stage at crunch time.
The problem is that MJ doesn’t have the speed and fitness (no matter how much we recondition him) to compensate.
Experience helps nothing if he’s going to watch as SBW ghosts through a gap that he should have closed if he had the pace.
Just hoping Bissie is 100%. Hope Plum not playing him with any sort of injury niggle.
Sharks will win this one. Not by much but we will take it.
Good team this.
@Salmonoid (Comment 52) : It’s the same fear that Pdivvy had and we all know how that turned out for him.
I am extremely happy but will not steal anyone’s thunder I will let you deduce who is back in the starting xv 🙂
Go BEAST!!!
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 59) : Bissie’s back and thank goodness no sign of he who shall not be named.
Only one thing to say. BEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSST!
Welcome back to the Beast, and Fred Zeilinga we missed you last week :smile:Go sharks xv
@Butchie34 (Comment 61) : yes thank goodness for that 😉
@spyderco (Comment 63) : dude – that buff squirrel gets me every time 🙂
I hope Wandile and Williams steps up this weekend, they looked pretty average last weekend , I wonder if wing is perhaps still Wandile`s best position?
This one televised? Anyone?
Never mind. Game is live on SS1 from 14:40
Game is under way at Durban.
@Ben (Comment 69) : good after noon mate……
Kyle Cooper over the line. TMO
That EP scrumy was way offside at that scrum
@Franshark (Comment 70) : Hey
Held up. Penalty to the Sharks. Scrum taken.
Try time. Tera over. Basically scrummed ove the try line. Tera just picking it up and diving over.
Gouws converts.
Sha 7 – 0 EP
6 mins
@Ben (Comment 76) : sharks looking good
Beast struggling in the scrums!
@Ben (Comment 78) : and looking tired already
Sharks doing some enterprising play..
I like the fact that they are looking to offload in the tackle..
Try for Stander after a brilliant run from Cooper!
Great stuff
Converted.
Sha 14 – 0 EP
20 mins
good scrum-work from the sharks
Kyle Cooper is a very special talent indeed.
@robdylan (Comment 85) : hi Rob, yes for sure….
Sharks maul it over the line. Tera with his second.
Conversion missed.
Sha 19 – 0 EP
34 mins
Cobus Reinach yellow carded for pulling back a support runner.
Kings try. Van Breda. Converted
Sha 19 – 7 EP
39 mins
Half Time
Sharks XV 19 – 7 EP Kings
Players of note.
Kyle Cooper – Having a storming game. Best I’ve seen him play this year.
Francois Kleinhans – This is the only real fetcher we have in Durban. Looking good with one or two important steals.
Sbura Sithole – Proving the Sharks coaches right today. He’s not really ready for SR yet. Making too many basic errors.
Beast – Struggled at scrum time at 1st but came back strongly in the latter part of the half. Doing some good work at the rucks at well.
2nd half under way.
Kings penalty. Right in front of goal. Over
Sha 19 – 10 EP
43 mins
Beast almost killed Specman…..
Pathetic lineout from the Sharks. Gift Darron Nel a try!
Conversion missed.
Sha 19 – 15 EP
48 mins
@Franshark (Comment 95) : how?
Beast struggling with his bind again. Penalised twice now in the 2nd half.
@robdylan (Comment 98) : accidental head butt.
Beast off after 54 mins. Hadebe on to replace him.
Score still the same. Sharks XV making too many basic errors.
Sha 19 – 15 EP
58 mins
Sithole dislocates his finger trying to catch the ball. Knocks it.
Kings knock 3m from the Sharks try line.
Sharks Penalty. Gouws kicks a tough one.
Sha 22 – 15 EP
71 mins
Sharks XV need 1 more try for a 4try bonus point.
Kings penalty from right in front now. Over.
Sha 22 – 18 EP
72 mins
Tell you what, that prinsloo kid is going to win us matches in the future.
Sharks penalty. In front. 35m out. Gouws having a go and nails it!
Sha 25 – 18 EP
74 mins
Kings lose the ball 5m out from the Sharks line.
@robdylan (Comment 98) : he ran head first into him, Specman had to go off for blood, looked very shaky……
Kings on attack again. Insinde the Sharks 22 now.
I think there’s more handling errors in the second half than score…..
Time up. Sharks penalty. Want to deny the Kings a bonus point. Kicking at goal.
Gouws nails it.
FULL TIME
Sharks XV 28 – 18 EP Kings
Time for the big guns!