Whilst the news that Bismarck du Plessis is still many months from full fitness after a horror knee injury is perhaps not the big news that some are making it out to be, the fact remains that the Sharks will be tested at hooker during this year’s Super Rugby tournament.
Let’s not beat about the bush. Bissie picked up a terrible knock and we should probably consider ourselves lucky if we get to see him at all in Super Rugby this year. Any hope of a return prior to the season kicking off was always naive and the supposed “bombshell” that he’ll miss the bulk of the campaign certainly isn’t unexpected, not to me at any rate. The problem at the moment lies with the backup…
We’re all still reeling somewhat after the lineout implosion that saw the Sharks capitulate in the Currie Cup final and to say that any of us are confident that wither Craig Burden or Kyle Cooper is ready to be a “ready-made” replacement for Bismarck would probably be stretching the truth. Further complicating the picture, though, is a concerning knock picked up by Burden during practice last week, coupled with an MCL strain suffered by third-choice rake, Monde Hadebe. Burden, at this stage, looks like he’ll be ok to play, but Hadebe is going to miss the first few games.
So bad was the concern, in fact, that Baby Bok hooker Franco Marais found himself yanked form the UKZN Impi squad for the season to provide cover. With Burden not suffering any lingering effects and Hadebe’s injury not too serious, it’s more likely that Marais will play Vodacom Cup, but should something happen to Kyle Cooper over the next few weeks, don’t be too surprised if the man from Transvalia Hoër ends up being a surprise inclusion on the Super Rugby bench.
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Kyle Cooper needs to step up this season, it has to be seen as his make or break season. Burden for me will always only be a 20min. hooker, ie. good from the bench, but not feasible for rotation.
Bismarck’s style of play is obviously rough on his body, so we need a hooker that can step up for rotation.
Shape up of ship out boys!
Line-outs could be the Achilles heel of the Sharks this season. I am going to be really annoyed if we loose more tight games due to sloppy line-outs.
I must say I prefer Cooper to Burden in general play – more my idea of a hooker. He needs to sort out his throwing though.
hopefully franco will help us in the lineouts & the youngsters have a good chance to learn
Not good news for Sharks supporters, but many will be cut down by injury before the season starts proper. Cory Jane alsosuffered a pre-season, and likely season ending injury.
The Sharks have incredible depth almost across the park, except in the frontrow, and cruelly, that is where the injuries are striking.
Anyone seen the squad on the Sharks website, seems final and no Kyle Cooper 😯
@FireTheLooser (Comment 5) : isn’t it still last year’s squad they have up there?
@robdylan (Comment 6) :
Franco vd Merwe and Butch James are there which indicates it’s this year’s squad.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 7) : Monde Hadebe is there, I don’t believe he was in last year’s squad.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) : Frans Steyn isn’t there either…
@robdylan (Comment 9) : So the squad is very half-heartedly semi-updated
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) : @robdylan (Comment 9) : So we’ll maar have to wait and see. Would the squad normally be finalised before or after the warm-up games?
Did see Plum saying that Kanko will be joining the Sharks next week. 😀
@KSA Shark © (Comment 10) : you read my mind…. it’s like they counted until they got to 16 forwards then just stopped. No Marais brothers either, no Herbst, no Dell…
@FireTheLooser (Comment 11) : the Sharks NEVER announce a finalised squad.
@robdylan (Comment 13) : So it’s kinda like a work in progress then 😐
@robdylan (Comment 12) : The guy (not Mike) is sitting at home trying to figure out what he has forgotten.
Frans Steyn!!!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 15) : what do you know that I don’t know? Is Mike not running it any more?
@robdylan (Comment 16) : No he still does, but I don’t think he compiles the list for the squad page surely.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 17) : no – he definitely just puts up what other people tell him to – even if he knows it’s wrong or incomplete
Slightly disturbing how the two saffa sides are both struggling with hookers. Next we’ll have a shortage of opensiders!
Shouldve read ‘the TOP two saffa sides’…
Could anyone help me with a nice site to stream the games from please?
I really hope Bizzie comes back quickly and better than ever.
Ben are you in Bangkok?
@Ben (Comment 21) : vipbox.tv
@KSA Shark © (Comment 23) : Yes I am.
@Seth101 (Comment 24) : Thanks.
@Ben (Comment 25) : I’ll be there from 31 March to 8 April. There are quite a few places to watch SR live in BKK. Although SA games will be late night. Aus and NZ games will be midday
@KSA Shark © (Comment 27) : I never have a problem finding a place to watch the games when in BKK
@KSA Shark © (Comment 27) : Ok cool. Remind me again and we can meet up when you are here.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 28) : That’s awesome. The time difference is a little hectic. If the game starts at 19:00 in SA I will see it starting at 00:00 in Bangkok.
@Ben (Comment 30) : l’ll post link to where I usually watch, as well as a few others. You should be able to get satellite tv in BKK as well
@KSA Shark © (Comment 31) : Thanks KSA. I stay about a 1 hour drive from central Bangkok at the moment.
@Ben (Comment 32) :
Rustenburg to Bangkok….That must be quite a culture shock? 😀
@Pokkel (Comment 33) : No need to tell me about it. 😆
An hour’s drive, so about 10kms then. 🙂
@Ben (Comment 34) :
@KSA Shark © (Comment 35) : 😆