Frans Steyn and Ryan Kankowski are among the big names dropped as the Sharks side to face the Melbourne Rebels is named.
Most of the changes made could probably be justified in terms of form, but the decision to drop Kankowski is a strange one, given that he was one of the few players to emerge from last week’s loss to the Brumbies with any credit. His place at the back of the scrum goes to captain Keegan Daniel, with Marcell Coetzee switching from open side to blind and Jacques Botes starting in the number 6 jersey.
Further changes in the pack see Pieter-Steph du Toit start in place of the injured Anton Bresler, while Kyle Cooper and Wiehahn Herbst come into the front row for Craig Burden and Jannie du Plessis respectively. Burden, du Plessis and Kankowski all bench this week, with Vodacom Cup captain Jandre Marais elevated into the 22 for the first time this season.
The changes at the back see Meyer Bosman in for Steyn and Lwazi Mvovo start for Odwa Ndungane, with JP Pietersen switching from left wing to right. Steyn, who will enjoy a “heavy conditioning” week to try to get his weight under control, will play off the bench, along with Riaan Viljoen, who is rewarded for great form in the Vodacom Cup. In the final change, Cobus Reinach starts again at scrumhalf, with Charl McLeod back on the bench.
Ndungane drops out altogether.
Sharks:
1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Kyle Cooper
3. Wiehahn Herbst
4. Pieter-Steph du Toit
5. Franco van der Merwe
6. Jacques Botes
7. Marcell Coetzee
8. Keegan Daniel (Captain)
9. Cobus Reinach
10. Patrick Lambie
11. Lwazi Mvovo
12. Meyer Bosman
13. Paul Jordaan
14. JP Pietersen
15. Louis Ludik
Replacements
16. Craig Burden
17. Jannie du Plessis
18. Jandre Marais
19. Ryan Kankowski
20. Charl McLeod
21. Francois Steyn
22. Riaan Viljoen
Tweet
Interesting!
Only guys to keep the same jersey:
Beast, Franco, Pat, Jordaan, Ludik
Time for the dross to be shaken out of this team.
Good to see Plum not pulling any punches.
We should be able to safely drop some big names for the Rebels.
Explain to me why Frans is only now getting a so-called conditioning week? Why did this not happen during the pre-season?
I’m extremely happy that they didn’t just switch Frans to 15. He deserves some bench time to realize what team he plays for. But so does Marcell. I would’ve kept Kanko and dropped Marcell (sorry tannie Ice, but the kid’s playing Bok rugby in the Black & White)
omw, if I knew this, I would have given the game to the rebels by 5.
The fact that KD is getting preferential treatment is beyond me tbh, and not good for team spirit.
Plumtree has panicked
@Die Kriek (Comment 5) : In his defense he is not doing anything different from last year – except his is not putting in as many tackles. He was used as a tackler / battering ram (in the absence of Alberts) last year too.
Only reason Fat Fransie is on the bench is so they can keep him away from the kitchen/fridge. 😈
@Uli (Comment 6) : Plum had to choose between one of his captains to have on the field. Can’t have both captain and vice-captain on the bench, unless you appoint another captain
@robdylan (Comment 7) : Good, that’s normally what it takes for Plum to steer the ship in the right direction. 😉 Caution to the wind son.
As long as he doesn’t panic once the ship is running straight and true 😯
@Bokhoring (Comment 8) : He ran gaps as well as defenders, had a beautiful offload (almost nonexistent this season) and was starting to become a semi decent poacher too
@robdylan (Comment 7) : I think he woke up. Can’t back guys that don’t back you.
@robdylan (Comment 7) : I also think so
@Bokhoring (Comment 10) : Yes true. That said, what warrants KD to play instead of FS?
@Bokhoring (Comment 10) : My point is just that just like FS not being up to pace, he has at least played most of the games, where as KD is clearly of the pace. Both shouldn’t be there. But is KD really the safer option?
On the positive side we have 2 of our 3 top try scorers this season on the field, and one on the bench. 😈
@Bokhoring (Comment 17) : lol
@Bokhoring (Comment 17) : I can’t even remember who has scored tries this season…
I see lourence van merwe is the ref.geeeez can’t we get a good ref for once. we are going from bad to worse
@Uli (Comment 16) : Plum mentions that Frans will be in for a tough conditioning week (I assume that is the polite term for an opf*k session) – so probably not a good idea to start a game with him.
@jovner (Comment 20) : yeah, what the hell is that muppet doing blowing a Super Rugby game?
well atleast the guys that showed they want to play for this jersey last week are starting go cooper and psdt 🙂 and im gonna go to this game the boys gonna need the support they can get after last week
Odwa has been a loyal servant, but this season he has really proved to be beyond his prime.
Cannot understand how he is keeping S’Bura out of Super Rugby…
@CapeShark (Comment 24) : sbura has trouble catching the ball
@Bokhoring (Comment 21) : I really hope that dude can lose some lard cos right now he has all the grace of a grizzly bear in the midfield.
@Poisy (Comment 25) : And Odwa????
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJz4d-dJs6E 😯
@robdylan (Comment 22) : beats me…i have never seen him having a good game with the whistle
@CapeShark (Comment 27) : yes, but he redeemed himself for that by scoring the match-winning try later in the same game.
Sbura can’t seem to cement a place in Currie Cup because his hands keep letting him down.
The lesson is stop hating a guy who’s been there and done that for the Sharks MANY times before, in favour of one who has yet to deliver on his undoubted promise.
@robdylan (Comment 29) : Fair enough…but when Oddie took the field ahead of Lwazi, I was like WTF?
Anyway, my main bone of contention is Steyn. Can’t wait for Whitehead to be back…
@CapeShark (Comment 30) : you’ve got a problem with Odwa, clearly… Why?
Sure – the problem with the sharks is the personnel, not the coaches or gameplan.
I agree with the selections, but I hope Plumtree is not scapegoating. He is the one who played Fransie January despite his conditioning, for example.
Good team. Keegan had to play as captain and hopefully will be better in his preferred position (8) and another week of recovery from the knee problem. Expect to see Coetzee/Botes replaced by Kanko and Keegan back to 7 sometime during the game. As for Odders, yes he’s been there and done that for the Sharks. Point is though, and there are many who share this view, he needs to make way for a younger player and the time is now!
Good team and right time to make some changes. The energy of youth will help a lot in the collisions, and Bosman is more likely to pass than Steyn at the moment. I thought Kankowski wasn’t ready to play at the beginning of the season, but had to due to the Injuries. He’s had a long year and needs the extra time off to condition and rest mentally.
I actually thought Pat played well last week despite the result. He got little or no go-forward ball, yet he mixed it up as well as he could. He took it to the line a few times and actually got over the advantage line. His cross kicks found their man, and he got both his shots at goal. We just had the wrong game plan in the last quarter. We were clearly not getting though their defense, and we probably needed a few high up and unders to contest. The forwards, weren’t winning, so gives the backs a go,
@robdylan (Comment 7) : Plumtree is hoping the changed players are going to bail him out. He is refusing to take responsibility himself for what has been lacking for some time.
Of course we expect to beat the Rebels, but the way we do it will tell the story. Imo nothing less than 4 well constructed tries will do.
The only reason I cannot see us losing against the Rebels is because I am a Shark supporter ( biased
), and then because we have quality players who should be able to hold their own against most teams even without decent coaching.
@Gaff (Comment 35) : Also agree regarding Pat, to me he looked better than the previous games, mixing it up quite a bit.
Had the result gone our way Pat would have been praised for his innovation and illusive style. Sadly one man can’t do it all by himself.
@Big Fish (Comment 32) : Lol, Frans may have something to say about his new surname.
I cannot but chuckle at the ‘stern’ assurance that Frans will ” enjoy a “heavy conditioning” week “, haha I suspect the emphasis will be on the enjoy. A week???
Ah go Frans we need you ready and raring to go!
I think Coetzee is lucky to still be there….
I rate Kleinhans….where is he? Amazing in the loose
@kagun (Comment 40) : playing Vodacom
The Sharks need to get some fire in their asses or it’s going to be a looooong season. Come on Sharks!!!!!!!!!
@robdylan (Comment 41) :
I agree with every change except Kanko…that is a disgrace. he has been our best loosie (with Deysel) and Keegan was terrible last week (and I like the guy)…
Rob do you know if Plum has something against Kanko?? similar shit happened last year.
I am glad Cooper is getting a start – thought he was great last weekend. And I’m glad Marcell is getting a chance at blindside. I actually like our loose trio combo.
Playing musical chairs is not going to make one iota’s difference if he insists on a gameplan which relies heavily on giving the opposition the ball! 🙄
@Big Fish (Comment 32) : Sure – the problem with the sharks is the personnel, not the coaches or gameplan.
My sarcasm detection system is a bit fritzy today…