Willem Alberts, Best Mtawarira and Craig Burden have all been named on the bench as the Sharks prepare for their Currie Cup semi-final against the Blue Bulls.
John Plumtree has bucked the trend set by all three other coaches who have made it this far and has opted not to rush his battle-weary Springboks straight back into action this week. Instead, Dale Chadwick, Kyle Cooper and Jean Deysel are given starts in this key game, with the last-named earning a 50th Currie Cup cap in the process. Jannie du Plessis starts at tighthead in a swap with Wiehahn Herbst as the only change to the starting pack; however, Plumtree has opted to mirror the Bulls’ tactic of picking a full front row on the bench, hence a place for Herbst among a 5-man forward replacement section.
Steven Sykes is bracketed with Peet Marais as the reserve lock and will need to pass a late fitness test.
The only change to the starting backline sees Lwazi Mvovo come into the left wing position, with JP Pietersen switching to the right to replace the injured Odwa Ndungane.
The Sharks:
15. Louis Ludik , 14. JP Pietersen , 13. Paul Jordaan , 12. Tim Whitehead , 11. Lwazi Mvovo , 10. Pat Lambie , 9. Cobus Reinach , 8. Keegan Daniel (Capt) , 7. Jean Deysel , 6. Marcell Coetzee , 5. Anton Bresler , 4. Jandre Marais , 3. Jannie du Plessis , 2. Kyle Cooper , 1. Dale Chadwick
Replacements: 16. Craig Burden , 17. Tendai Mtawarira , 18. Wiehahn Herbst , 19. Steven Sykes / Peet Marais , 20. Willem Alberts , 21. Charl McLeod , 22. Meyer Bosman
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Perfect!
Bulls not known for their scrum – so Beast on the bench maybe not a bad idea
At least we didn’t make the same mistake as last year, rushing the boks back.
Good team, Must say a surprise or 2 Rob
I remember posting the team i thought would play and i suggested a 5-2 split?? with 2 props, well as you had suggested to me that plum has never opted for 2 props on the bench before.
Well there you go, a first for everything 😆
but happy with this team
Bulls should of played hougaard to counter reinach..big game for the guy..I’m hoping he step ups and shows uss what he is capable of doing In big games..
Buying a nice big Blou Bul steak for Saturday, me and my team will be feasting in similar fashion!
still feel for Meyer Bosman, he did hell of allot to get us to the semi in the first place.
@sharks_lover (Comment 4) : haha, well yes.
Ok, so I didn’t pick that he’d start with Chadwick. And neither did you, before you get all cocky 🙂
As you know, you cannot go into a game without tighthead cover on the bench, so the only way of accommodating Beast in his squad without requiring him to play 80 minutes was to pick both him and Herbst on the bench.
I didn’t see it coming, but it does make sense.
Are you sure this is our Plumtree and not the one from Culling Song’s alternate universe? 😈
Great team, I like.
Great team. Heck Jannie (the smiling tighthead) must be tired. Does anyone know how many games he has played this year (boks and Sharks)?
@robdylan (Comment 8) : Chances are that it will rain on Saturday, which means tons of forward play, so two props on the bench could be a master stroke.
It’s an insane bench we’ve got there!
@robdylan (Comment 8) : 😆 boet not cocky at all but very surprised as what you had said about 2 props did make sense.
But yeah this all makes sense if one looks at expected conditions and of course one takes the bulls style of play into account
@JarsonX (Comment 9) : Speaking of, is Culling now living in that alternative universe of his?
i am super happy with this! Go Sharks!!!! Plum showed faith in the CC side – now reward him for that!
Awsome blerrie bench too! 🙂
@JarsonX (Comment 9) : @Die Kriek (Comment 13) :
Culling started a new job in a new town and just bought a house which he’s moving into in 3 weeks time. So Culling is pretty busy nowadays. Hopefully once he settles we’ll get some of his witty comments again.
I like the look of that side and the bench is just bloody awesome.
I did expect Riaan Viljoen on the bench at least because of his big boot but I suppose you can only accommodate 22 players on matchday.
@Die Kriek (Comment 13) : What Pokkel said. @Pokkel (Comment 15) : 😎
@Die Kriek (Comment 13) :
The alternate universe being the ‘wrong’ side of the boerewors curtain!
Missing a certain Jacques Botes…
Could live to regret having no fetcher. But then again dont think the Bulls have either do they??
@pienaar111 (Comment 19) : Botesie is injured..
@pienaar111 (Comment 19) :
Botes didn’t pass a fitness test.
@Pokkel (Comment 21) : jis, jy’s lekker stadig, Skillie! 😆
@Ice (Comment 22) :
@Ice (Comment 22) : :middelvinger:
I think Rob should add some of the emoticons from RW for people like you! 😉
@Die Kriek (Comment 13) : What are you doing out from under your rock!?
Nice to see I’m being missed.
As Pokkel said, new job, and the plant I’m looking after is about 150% bigger than the previous one. Insanely busy, but I read the site sporadically so that I don’t lose complete touch
.
@Ice (Comment 20) : @Pokkel (Comment 21) :
Ah right..well thanx guys I missed that one. hope he ready for the final if we make it…
GO BOYZ!!!!
@Pokkel (Comment 26) : Try this ,.!.,
@Culling Song (Comment 25) :
You gotta shit sometimes né! 😆
@Pokkel (Comment 24) :
@Pokkel (Comment 29) : Bwahahahaha!!
😆
Understand the Continuity thing; but starting Beast over Chadwick would def. have been a change i would’ve expected. Chadwick looks like the odd man out in that starting lineup.
Beast should’ve started.
@JJR (Comment 31) : Rather have an average Chadwick start the game, than an average Chadwick come off the bench and lose the game for us.
Beast will be a firestorm when he comes on with 30-40 mins. to go. Good luck containing him, especially with the bland style of rugby he’s been forced to play with the Springboks.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 32) : I am with you…
@Culling Song (Comment 25) : Where’s the new plant?
@ChrisS (Comment 34) : In his Garden?? 😆
@ChrisS (Comment 34) : eMalahleni (Witbank)
@Culling Song (Comment 36) : Oh dear
@MysticShark (Comment 37) : I live in Bronkhorstspruit though, which is quite nice. Witbank is, er, let’s just say not so nice and leave it at that
We have more than enough versatile players in Lambie, Bosman and Jordaan to safely make a 5-2 slipt. If push comes to shove Burden can always play center/wing 😆
Happy with this team. Good luck Sharkies.
@Culling Song (Comment 38) : @Ben (Comment 40) : wow, the legends of sharksworld all here on one day 🙂