John Smit will play on the hallowed Kings Park turf one last time this evening, as he leads his Barney’s Army Invitational XV onto the pitch that he has played on with distinction innumerable times over the last 15 years or so.
The match, though, will mark the return of more than one Sharks legend, with the side’s coach – Smit’s original gaffer and godfather of Sharks rugby, Ian McIntosh – perhaps the greatest one on show. Other returnees who have served the Sharks with distinction include number 8 Shaun Sowerby, flyhalf Butch James, wing Brent Russell and fullback Percy Montgomery, whilst the bench includes Stefan Terblanche and Rory Kockott.
Smit will be flanked by Argentine international Martin Scelzo and former Bok prop Faan Rautenbach, with Scotland’s Jason White joining another Bok captain, Vic Matfield, in the second row. Sowerby is at the back of the scrum, along with Super Rugby stalwarts on the flank in Julian Salvi (Brumbies) and Francois Louw (Stormers). Bath’s Mark McMillan is at scrumhalf with James outside him, while current Sharks centre Marius Joubert (who played with Smit at Clermont, as well as for the Boks) starts at 12. England’s Matt Banahan wears the number 13 jersey, with Saracens’ Maori winger Joe Maddock completing the back three with Russell and Monty.
Stormers stalwarts Pieter Dixon, Hottie Louws and Rob Linde are on the bench, along with Kockott, Terblanche and All Black Stephen Donald. As reported yesterday, Sharks Under 21 squad members Danie Mienie (prop) and Heimar Williams (centre) have been given the once in a lifetime opportunity to rub shoulders with real legends of the game in all shapes and sizes; both will play off the bench as well.
In a truly ground-breaking move, Smit will apparently be miked up during the match and will be able to interact with the commentators as the game progresses. Let’s hope that it’s not going to be live all the time, as I’m sure a few choice words will be uttered in the heat of battle, even despite the friendly nature of the game!
Barney’s Army:
15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Brent Russell, 13 Matt Banahan, 12 Marius Joubert, 11 Joe Maddock, 10 Butch James, 9 Mark McMillan, 8 Shaun Sowerby, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Julian Salvi, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Jason White, 3 Faan Rautenbach, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Martin Scelzo
16 Pieter Dixon, 17 Danie Mienie, 18 Rob Linde, 19 Hottie Louw, 20 Rory Kockott, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Stefan Terblanche, 23 Heimar Williams
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Wish I could b there tonight
Or it would sound like an obsene phonecall with all the heavy breathing coming through 🙂
I wonder how fit the likes of Percy and Victor are?
Should be an interesting match.
@Pokkel (Comment 3) : apparently not too much! LOL I am looking forward to this!
Still begging hubby to let me go 🙄 the things one has to do to stay married 😆
Just want to see Russel.
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 5) : pretty cold and rainy in Pietermaritzburg, I hope Durban has better weather for tonight.
@Uli (Comment 6) : Uli I was thinking the same!!!! woke up to this miserable weather and thought it doesn’t make my case any stronger 🙁 Will phone my sister just now and ask her what their weather is like, she stays in Morning Side up a very steep road from the stadium 🙂
Go Sharkies!! Will be watching tonight.
Raining in Dbn at the moment with the weather looking pretty gloomy for tonight. Nonetheless, can’t wait to get to the game. It’s going to be a blast. Pity there wasn’t too much attention given to selling supporters gear.
@CDRhino (Comment 9) : Thank you CDRhino! damn! raining hard or that british drizzle?
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 7) : Hehe good luck, hope you get to the game 😉
@Sharksmad(comment 10) – that British drizzle nonsense. Barney’s Army must have brought it with them ;-). Still really looking forward to the game though.
Just got back from the Shark Cage where I got a Barney’s Army jersey. So chuffed.
@CDRhino (Comment 13) : nice!
@CDRhino (Comment 13) : a rhino in a barney army jersey, that’l fool a few poachers 🙂
@Franshark (comment 15) 🙂
@CDRhino (Comment 13) : Mail me one, we don’t have Shark Cages this far north