Louis Ludik will shift from fullback to wing this week, allowing John Plumtree to accommodate Riaan Viljoen at fullback and Meyer Bosman at flyhalf as the Sharks take on Bulls at Kings Park tomorrow night.
Viljoen enjoyed a bright start to the season at flyhalf, with his big boot and unpredictable running style key in early victories against both Western Province and the Lions. Opposing teams have started to read him quite well, though and it’s been felt for a while that the time was right to give Meyer Bosman a run in that position. With both Tim Whitehead and Paul Jordaan fully fit for the first time this season, the centre pair that looked the Sharks’ best during Super Rugby will finally enjoy a Currie Cup run-out. Whitehead shifts from outside centre to Bosman’s former 12 jersey, with Jordaan starting at 13.
The elevation of Lwazi Mvovo to the Bok squad sees Ludik occupy the number 11 shirt this week, with Biljoen dropping back to fullback.
The only change to the starting pack sees Pieter Dixon take over from Bok Craig Burden at hooker. His understudy this week will be Kyle Cooper, finally fit after three months out of action with a neck injury. Cooper takes Monde Hadebe’s place on the bench, with Tera Mtembu coming in as well, as a rotational change with Brynard Stander. Mtembu’s elevation this week is just rewards for a fine national club championships campaign, where he was elected “forward of the tournament”.
The final addition to the squad is Marius Joubert, with the former Bok occupying the number 21 jersey worn by Jordaan last week.
Sharks: 15. Riaan Viljoen, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. Paul Jordaan, 12. Tim Whitehead, 11. Louis Ludik , 10. Meyer Bosman, 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Keegan Daniel (Capt), 7. Jean Deysel, 6. Jacques Botes, 5. Anton Bresler, 4. Steven Sykes, 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 2. Pieter Dixon, 1. Dale Chadwick
Replacements
16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Julian Redelinghuys, 18. Jandre Marais, 19. Lubabalo Mtembu, 20. Charl McLeod, 21. Marius Joubert, 22. Sibusiso Sithole
Tweet
LIKE!!!
Mmm. I liked Ludik at FB. Solid as a rock. Viljoen there for his boot?
Dixon to start, Cooper on the bench, no Hadebe??
@PTAShark (Comment 2) :
It sounds like it’s probably going to be raining so a big boot from the back cold be a good idea and Ludik will also be at the back to cover.
I actually anticipated the Bosman move. I just thought that Viljoen would’ve dropped to the bench, but the idea of his big boot from the back is actually a very reassuring one.
Just keep Reinach on as long as possible.
meyer bosman, hhmm 😛 cj stander there’s your channel
Finally Bosman is moved to 10, now we’ll see if we were right about this move.
@Megatron (Comment 7) : why don’t you go check out Meyer’s tackling stats last week, before saying dumb stuff like that?
I Like. um Rob, when do we get “like” buttons here?
@Uli (Comment 10) : umm dude… you can “Like” this via Facebook…
@robdylan (Comment 11) : me dont have FB at office 🙁 I thought you going to say something of that sort haha.
@Uli (Comment 12) : I just added a “share via twitter” button too? Or do you not have that either? 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 13) :
Maybe he was referring to ‘liking’ individual comments?
@Pokkel (Comment 14) : ja – I know 🙂
I’m just trying to head him off…
@robdylan (Comment 9) : Agree! Maybe it should be a rule that statements need to be backed up by stats… This would cut down on the Keo like comments…:-)
@robdylan (Comment 15) : hehe, scammer 😀
I am just a bit sad Stander was dropped for this. I would have preferred to see him in the starting line-up to give Deysel a break.
And Little Boy-wonder gets another start at scrumhalf 😎 😀
Sharks or Sharks?
@GreatSharksays (Comment 16) : Nice
I saw somewhere that stander was starting for the bulls is that a misguided release?
@Dunx (Comment 22) : I think you may find that there is more than one player with that last name 🙂
@Uli (Comment 17) : ok – so I’ve inclued a plug-in that allows you to like comments, but if I’m honest, I don’t like the way it looks.
I’m going to try find a different one
@robdylan (Comment 24) : haha yea true, it looks terrible haha
is that a glove or the colour of the hand?
Rob… You can just change the images on the server. Just make sure they are roughly the same size:
http://www.sharksworld.co.za/wp-content/plugins/like-dislike-counter-for-posts-pages-and-comments/images/up.png
http://www.sharksworld.co.za/wp-content/plugins/like-dislike-counter-for-posts-pages-and-comments/images/down.png
@robdylan (Comment 9) : meyer bosman to me, will be perennial useless…you can fawn over him all you like… 😀
@TRF_Ezequiel (Comment 27) : thanks bud, ja. I will do that when I get a moment
@Letgo (Comment 8) : Just remember if it works I called it months ago! 😈
@robdylan (Comment 24) : Rob,
I am starting to hate the “like” buttons really quickly …. lol
@robdylan (Comment 24) : Yeah these thumbs are a bit intrusive.
Maybe the thumbs should be the colour of the “reply” arrow/button….and a wee bit smaller.
Now just need PSdT and Kyle Cooper to join the team, and we’ll finally have the CC team that I’ve been looking forward to all season long – except off course for Dale, unless he pulls his socks up (pun only partially intended- he really needs to step up his game).
@robdylan (Comment 29) : Just make a small arrow… Up = a green arrow pointing up (of course) and Down = a red arrow pointing down (again, obvious haha)
Great starting XV; bench good except and a big one for me, where the hell is Stander! Tera over Stander doesn’t make sense to me and never will…we only have one number 7 in our 22. We have the whole loose trio well covered with Stander on the bench, Tera is only a number 8, which Botes and Deysel can play and he only has a running game…can’t believe Stander got such a raw deal.
Stander did more effective work in 10 minutes against the Lions than Deysel did the whole game and then you want to drop him?!…not fair; jus sayin.
@TRF_Ezequiel (Comment 34) : or what I just did
Lets not forget that Bosman is a Springbok flyhalf, so like that move. Im not sure what Hadebe and Stander did wrong to get dropped? I was actually thinking Stander should start ahead of Deysel as he is more mobile.
Isn’t it amazing amidst all the selection chaos at national level, to click on your favourite local rugby site and read of selections that make sense. Amen!
@SheldonK (Comment 37) : I think that if Deysel hadn’t been passed fit (touch and go) Stander would have started in his place.
The selection of Mtembu is interesting… I think it’s felt that he’s in great form at the moment and may also be indicative of the Sharks’ desire to open things up in the final quarter. The Bulls are ripe for bonus-point plucking.
Hadebe is unlucky, but remember he was always behind Cooper in the pecking order and Coops was always going to be picked as soon as fit. I expect him to start next week assuming he comes through ok. Dixon is starting because he scrums better than Monde. The scrums against Province were amazingly good yet it all fell apart against the Lions… the only change there was at hooker.
@neilster (Comment 38) : I’m really quite touched that this is your favourite local rugby site 🙂
jislaaik, but the dislike cross is bold 😯
appear that all comments are DISLIKED
@R144N (Comment 41) : ja, maybe you’re right. I’ll try find a subtler one.
Welcome to the site, BTW… tell us about yourself.
@robdylan (Comment 43) : at the risk of bloggers hitting the DISLIKE button 😯
@robdylan (Comment 43) : Remove the tick buttons, just have it in grey “like” or ”dislike” 😉
@R144N (Comment 44) : I agree, maybe remove the dislike option too, only have “like” or “gtfo” options, the later option activating a Atl+F4 command 😀
I would have preferred Hadebe starting with Cooper on bench felt Hadebe was doing nicely! Maybe they whant Dixon to start the boxing in the rain again 😉
Actually thinking I might just can the dislike option…. good idea
won’t fans of a certain province think they can LIKE to hit DIS button?
dislike en dis nie like nie
@robdylan (Comment 48) : either you like it, or gtfo ❗
@R144N (Comment 49) : those fans generally don’t manage to type the URL in the first place 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 48) : Ja, we are way to touchy to survive a bunch of folk disliking our comments.
Most of us are kind enough to just ignore silly comments.
So either like the comment, or ignore it….win/win
@FireTheLooser (Comment 52) : and now I don’t even have to reply to tell you I agree… I can just click “like”. Oh wait….
Best thing about these likes is I can scroll through all the meaningless drivel and see good posts…
I think best backline would be: 9 boy wonder, 10 Bosman, 11 Odwa, 12 Tim, 13 Viljoen, 14 Jordaan, 15 Ludik.
Please give us a dislike button so we can burn Megs 😆 😆
@robdylan:@robdylan (No Specific Comment) : now if we could only see who hit the Like button… 💡
@R144N (Comment 57) : ai carumba… don’t go there please 🙂
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 47) : Feel for Hadebe
@Talent (Comment 59) : Feel he has done nothing wrong actually done his basics well, didn’t deserve to be dropped for ou toppie 😳
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 60) : I’ve been so pleased with Plumtrees player management ,this go`s against it …
Give Hadebe a break! Cooper is back from injury, we need to manage our players. I would have preferred Brynard Stander in the starting XV in stead of Deysel (who could clearly use a break)
@JD (Comment 55) : Why would you take Paul Jordaan out of your team. I really don’t rate Viljoen as a consistent performer. And would definitely not give him Jordaan, a very exciting prospects spot.
@Talent (Comment 61) : I don’t know? Won’t Hadebe just go back to the under 21’s now? It will be good for him to get more game time with them. And I don’t think it’s out of site out of mind for Plum either. Just that Hadebe can be helpful to the under 21 cause, while Dixon has been a pillar of experience in the front row, which I think Dale and Wian needs, and Kyle we all want Kyle back.
Maybe once Kyle is ready to start Hadebe will be used of the bench.
@Letgo (Comment 64) : he could, but he’d be kicked out for being too old 🙂
I can´t believe Plum has moved Ludik out of position to accommodate Viljoen. Why not move Viljoen to wing and leave Ludik where he has been the best in SA all season?
@robdylan (Comment 65) : Great, then that really wasn’t a good move from Plum.
I thought Hedebe was good enough to be backed for the rest of the CC, but still our front row needs some experience. It’s lacking something and maybe now is not the best time to play two pretty inexperienced players between two props who are still just finding their feet at senior level.
I hope Kyle does well. Maybe once kyle has one or two good games under his belt Hadebe will be given another shot?
@robdylan (Comment 39) : My thoughts for starting with Stander is because if Deysel breaks down we then go into the playoffs with a very green player. I would have started Viljoen at wing and left Ludik at fb as he is the form fb. I like Bosman at 10, best passer in SA!
@Letgo (Comment 67) : I think that’s the plan. Next week, I expect to see Cooper start with Hadebe as backup and Piet back in the stands checking out his retirement portfolio
@robdylan (Comment 69) : I think Pieter may have a beer or 3 in those stands! haha
@SheldonK (Comment 70) : after his career, I reckon he deserves them 🙂
I love these combos!!!!
@Letgo (Comment 63) : Would move Jordaan to wing – more space to use his speed, also think Viljoen could be good at 13 as he’s a strong runner and not to slow either and that leaves Ludik at 15 where he belongs.
And just when Ludik was pushing hard for a Bok callup at fullback he gets shifted to the wing.
None-the-less, without referring to the bigger picture (Bokke), it is a good move IMO.
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 74) : whilst both you and I believe that Ludik is pushing hard for a Bok spot, I am afraid the erstwhile Bok coach is not of the same mind.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 75) : took the words right out of my mouth.
I don’t think Heyneke even watches the Currie Cup.
Or wait, let me rephrase. He’ll watch tomorrow’s game because his favourite team is playing
@robdylan (Comment 76) : ja and now he will not see Ludik play in his possition. Rob what do I need to do to also get a star under my pic?
@robdylan (Comment 76) : Coach Meyer will be too busy Friday night to watch the match, he will be busy drumming independence and natural rugby ability out of his Bok team!
@JD (Comment 77) : just keep making comments
@JD (Comment 77) : you have 115 points at the moment… that makes you an “Academy recruit”… or “Johnny No-Stars” in other words 🙂
You need 250 point to get your first star. That’s another 135 points. You get 5 points for each comment, so another 27 and you’ll be there.
@JD (Comment 77) : @robdylan (Comment 80) : 250 for a star. 1k for 2*. 5k for 3*. And so forth, stars 1 & 2 are easy, but from there its tough. Stick with it bro. And a belated welcome to the site JD.
Wow ludik selected at wing!!! That idiot strikes again. How much longer is he in contract, probably long enough to f up many more of our best players. The only people more useless than him are his employers.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 75) : It still wouldn’t hurt to keep pushing for a callup for fullback which is virtually impossible in the wing position…
@JD (Comment 73) : Yeah a warm welcome to you mate, can’t say that the welcoming is as warm for @cody007 (Comment 82) : … Why you so angry, so insulting? If its because of the Lambie-Meyer situation… go for it 👿
@cody007 (Comment 82) : Sheez dude, that’s a bit harsh. 😯 Maybe you should just support a different team then and we will all be better off.
@JD (Comment 77) : You also lose points for any of the following:
– Writing Daniels in stead of Daniel (or Ludick instead of Ludik)
– Saying anything negative about Lambie
– Saying anything positive about the Bulls (that excludes the Bulls Babes of course)
@JD (Comment 77) : Howdy and welcome! Don’t allow the guys to pull the wool over your eyes; the fastest way to get a platinum star is to buy me a bottle of Glenmorangie Signet. Now you know.
@Culling Song (Comment 87) : 😆 hey I see now that you don’t live in this beautiful country of KZN you’re up early 🙂
@Franshark (Comment 88) : I drive 40km to work and start at 07h00. Combine that with a 9 week old baby and you have a sure-fire recipe for early mornings 😆
@Culling Song (Comment 89) : 🙂
Its game day…
Bulls to the slaughter-house today 🙂
I was actually very impressed with Brynard Stander – he made more of an impact than Deysel did IMO.
Just my luck. Game down for the game and now this weather!
Dale, Monde and Bryand all played at Westville under Reece, so did Chris Miclewood, Cameron Innes, George Earle and Tian Meyer as well as Kayha Majola. Waylon Murray did a post matric as well.
just shows that Reece can bring out the best in players…. just waiting to see him do it with Whitehead, Jordaan and co…. CC champs for the next 5 years?