The Sharks have, for the first time this season, been able to name an unchanged side in consecutive weeks, with coach John Plumtree sticking to his team that beat the Highlanders last weekend to do duty against the Force on Saturday evening.
This means that players like Willem Alberts and Riaan Viljoen again miss out on game time, a clear indication that good form will be rewarded, and bad form will mean you will not play.
An unchanged teamsheet will do wonders for the confidence of the players who feel that they are able to do the job, and that the coach believes in them as a team to go out and win. The various combinations will also gain from this, as the front row will perform even better in its second week, as well as the centre combination of Whitehead and Jordaan having more time together and a better understanding.
We look forward to another dominant performance from the pack and the backline getting a bit more ball to run with.
1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. Jannie du Plessis
4. Steven Sykes
5. Anton Bresler
6. Jacques Botes
7. Marcell Coetzee
8. Keegan Daniel ( C )
9. Charl McLeod
10. Patrick Lambie
11. Lwazi Mvovo
12. Tim Whitehead
13. Paul Jordaan
14. JP Pietersen
15. Louis Ludik
Replacements
16. Craig Burden
17. Wiehahn Herbst
18. Pieter-Steph du Toit
19. Jean Deysel
20. Ryan Kankowski
21. Frederic Michalak
22. Meyer Bosman
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No Alberts??? is he ok?
Good to see Botes starting again…although would be awesome to have Willem on the bench
I think Albert’s absence is more of a niggle than a poor form thing. A guy like him needs to be 100% to perform at that rate.
“Sharks unchanged”
Like music to my ears…
I hope our centres get down and dirty this weekend. Lines boeties, onthou die lines! 😆
The Sharks had better win this game, I have risked my LMS on them.
@lostfish (Comment 6) : I and me too…
@shaniboi (Comment 1) : The witness yesterday said that Alberts was “almost” over his niggle and Plum was hoping to be able to pick him. Obviously he hasn’t recovered. Methinks that they rushed him back early hence his poor form and now that “niggle” has returned!
@lostfish (Comment 6) : hahahaha….what happened to the “don’t know if I have enough faith..” ? You clearly DO! 😉
Nice continuity.
Just unsure if a loose trio including a Deysel/ Alberts might not be better.
Then again, the Force are superb at the ruck, so maybe the plan is to keep them at bay for 60 min, and unleash someone like Deysel when the game gets loose and ruck attendance drops.
@Big Fish (Comment 10) :
Agreed..
The Botes selection is just to compete with Pocock..
I think the Deysel and Kanko pair will see a bit more time this week, getting 20 minutes to run at a tired Force outfit..
I would like to have Deysel at 7 Coetzee back at 6 and Botes on the bench with Alberts, with kanko missing out…surely Alberts is not 100%? Would be very strange not to see a fit Alberts not in The Sharks team two weeks in a row…wierd for me anyway.
@Big Fish (Comment 10) : Agree, would rather have Deysel start and soften up the force defence and bash them back, and then when it opens up we can bring on Botes in his place…think that would be more effective for us; but Plum is so worried about our breakdown that he is effectively playing 3 guys who have played a lot at 6.
Force flanks at 3 (Pocock) and 4 (Hodgson) on Versusco stats for defensive ruck attendance. I hope Botes will be a match for Pocock
@JJR (Comment 13) : Problem for me is Coetzee plays 6 like a 7 / 8. He does not really seem to be very effective at rucks.
@Bokhoring (Comment 15) : Deysel and Bissie are effective at the rucks, so we still got the balance. Keegan at 8 will also get fast to the breakdown. We can’t not have Coetzee in our starting team, he’s our form loose forward; i think Deysel is ready to give us some good go forward ball and bash okes for us, Botes is not gonna do that.
I would like to see how many times Botes attacked the ball at the breakdown last week, with my eyes i saw him attempt it around twice, that’s not good enough for an open side, IMO.
I think guys must remember that it is easier to secure your own ball when you going forward, and Deysel will give us that, if we don’t go forward enough we probably have to get another 1-2 players into the ruck just to get our ball back.
@shaniboi (Comment 1) : he’s been dropped boet
@JarsonX (Comment 3) : that is incorrect. Plum confirmed this week that Alberts has been dropped, he’s not injured
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 8) : the Witness is wrong. Plum confirmed at the Tuesday press conference that Alberts is not injured – he’s been dropped.
Gee… I just said the same thing 3 times. Might just have a bee in my bonnet 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 17) :
Thank
@robdylan (Comment 18) :
you
@robdylan (Comment 19) :
Rob
@JJR (Comment 16) : I am not ever saying to drop Coetzee – he is the first I would pencil in – he offers so many other attributes. Deysel and Bismarck are both very good at the breakdown, but neither is a speed merchant. Keegan has the speed, but he is not really that effective at rucks. Botes was very good at the breakdown in the Chiefs game, no so flash in the Landers game
I guess it depends how we play – if you are going to try and play it wide at all opportunities, you need speedy loosies who can help you protect your own ball.
As you say the other tactic is to use the forwards to create momentum through pick and drives or strong runs. But the Sharks do not seem to use this tactic a lot lately – except on relying on Alberts and Coetzee to bash the ball up.
My impression is that they play wide all over the field except in the 22, when the attack often becomes very narrow and only then rely on pick and drives.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 23) : I still love you, even though you’re a knob 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 17) : @robdylan (Comment 18) : @robdylan (Comment 19) : There seems to be an echo in here
@robdylan (Comment 25) :
You’re not the first, and won’t be the last to call me a knob.. 😉
@robdylan (Comment 17) : 🙁 Still don’t get why Kanko over Alberts…it baffles me 😕
@robdylan (Comment 19) : Thanks Rob! Thats sad, love the guy, but I supose his form doesn’t warrant his selection.
@robdylan (Comment 20) : I confirm 3 times
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 29) : Does kanko’s form over the last 2-3 seasons warrant selection? That’s what is properly making me ticked off 👿 🙂
@Ice (Comment 9) : lol, I just think that they are the better option than the Blues who have been decimated by injury.
@JJR (Comment 31) : I totally agree with you, not too keen on his selection either!
@JJR (Comment 28) : its cause Alberts is in my FL team 🙁
What worries me is that were not the underdogs for this game. Most people believe its going to be a walk in the park. I do not. They are not a Vodacom Cup side. Maybe they are not the best side in the compo but surely their not a walkover.
@Franshark (Comment 34) : 😈
@robdylan (Comment 25) : you cannot call Rich a knob?!? Apologise! 😈
@robdylan (Comment 20) : 3 times a charm
@Quintin (Comment 35) : For sure, after if it was not for another bad, biased hometown call by an official they would have beaten the Cheetahs last weekend.
@JarsonX (Comment 3) : Hope he is getting conditioned, seems unfit to me…
@GreatSharksays (Comment 40) : Also think it’s a good idea..to unleash him when we play the Stormers.
@robdylan (Comment 18) : I like that! Go Plum! 😆
@Franshark (Comment 34) : Do you get penalised on FL if your player knocks or turn over possession? 😈
@JJR (Comment 16) : I’m going to be murdered for saying this. Deysel is very overrated by the Sharks faithful. Never been a huge fan. He runs far too upright into contact.
@JJR (Comment 16) : With you on this, would have like to have seen Deysel start at 7 this week with Marcell back to 6. Though with Pocock there think the reason to start with Botes. Still think Deysel and Marcell should have started this game.
Anyhow good to see a settled side too.
Go Sharks.
I am so glad to see that we are sticking to a winning team, even though it was only one game. Plum is showing faith in this team and i believe that they will pull of a another Victory come Saturday Night. Hopefully this team can stick together and go through the remaining games and get us into a play off place.
@Ben (Comment 44) : I kind of agree with the sentiment, if not the reasoning behind it. I think Jean is an enormously talented individual, but he will not realise his full potential until he learns to run onto the ball at pace and attack space, rather than receiving it in a static position and trying to get over the advantage line through a combination of barging over- and swatting aside opponents, as he is wont to do. The fact that he is as effective as he is is testament to his strength; just wish he’d use it more effectively.
@Culling Song (Comment 47) : A-blimming-MEN
@Culling Song (Comment 47) :
He could learn a lot from Ash Johnson in that sense.
Cool. Not being murdered. 🙂
@Ben (Comment 50) : Slow your roll there China. JJR may yet appear and tell you about the impact of having “muscle soldiers” on the field. 😉
@Big Fish (Comment 51) : Hehe should have added “yet” to my previous comment. 😉
Look I’m not saying he’s useless at all. Far from it. Just not effective as some people think he is. Agree with what CS said. Also think he’s not close to as effective at the breakdowns as a lot think.
@Big Fish (Comment 49) : Only problem is comparing AJ and the Deyselnator is like comparing Aplon and Odwa. AJ has much more toe. Like a Bullet train, where Deysel is more like a old steam train. 🙂
But in the supporting lines and trying to run into space you are right, he can learn a lot from AJ.
@Ben (Comment 53) : Agree there.
Lets face it, when we don`t start Botes we`re starved off possession. We actually need to look at backup for him.
Kleinhans maybe or ( sorry Zibbie ! ) when Minnie comes knocking if the Lions disappear? 😈
@Original Pierre (Comment 55) : I would rather have King Carlos to actually coach the Sharks back line. Just need to find a decent defense coach somewhere
Inside info: this week I saw Alberts at the hospital. So he is definitely still injured. I get a feeling that Plum all of a sudden dislikes him and when Plums gets the “new best thing/player”, overplays them and when injury strucks, your nothing. Plum must look at some players in 22, there are players also out of form but still he keeps them…makes me wonder?? Politics? Holding grudges?? Saw on boots n all its Alberts birthday today, so congrats. It’s still my favourite player, the big gently giant.
@Converted shark (Comment 57) : Alberts valiantly started against the Lions while clearly carrying an injury. I don’t think he really recovered
@Bokhoring: Apparently after the currie cup final he went in for a huge shoulder op.That type of surgery you are out for at least 4-6months. And Plum played him earlier than recovery date. So yes I also think he hasn’t recovered yet.
I am thrilled to see Jordaan and Whitehead playing together again. Think they are both very talented and will help establish the Sharks backs in the future. (Although converted to a shark, I still think my province delivers great players)