While Friday night’s victory over the Crusaders was hugely significant for the Sharks – and has allowed them to further cement their position atop the South African conference – the stresses and strains of the Super Rugby tournament’s opening stanza have taken their toll, with two fresh injury concerns from that match adding to an already alarming roster of unavailable players.
Flanker Jacques Botes is thought to have broken his arm, an injury that would rule him out of action for comfortably two months, but probably more, whilst Odwa Ndungane suffered a hamstring strain that, at best, should certainly keep him out of action for this weekend’s clash at Newlands. Adding those fresh troubles on top of Friday’s bombshell about Louis Ludik, along with a slower-than-expected recovery for many injured during the pre-season, the Sharks face a very tricky new few weeks indeed and will, what’s more, tour the antipodes with a severely depleted squad.
Let’s just take a breath and take stock of exactly who won’t be available for the Newlands trip: Dale Chadwick, Bismarck du Plessis, Jacques Botes, Jean Deysel, Willem Alberts, Butch James, Tim Whitehead, Lwazi Mvovo, Odwa Ndungane and Louis Ludik – two thirds of a team, in other words – won’t be there. With injuries at loose forward and in the back three particular severe, expect that the Sharks XV ranks will again need to be raided as the likes of Tera Mtembu, Francois Kleinhans and Gouws Prinsloo move closer to Super Rugby selection.
Perhaps more concerning than the injuries themselves is the lack of clarity as to when, exactly, those on the injured list will return. Bismark du Plessis appeared to pour cold water on speculation that he’ll be back in time to tour, when interviewed at half-time on Friday. We also know that Tim Whitehead will still be out for ages, whilst no clear date has been set for James’s return either. Chadwick has suffered a setback as well, meaning that along with other fracture victims in Mvovo and Botes, it’s probably unlikely that we’ll see him again this season. Deysel and Alberts, two players who are going to need to make big contributions on tour, seem to both be “close to fitness” without ever quite getting there.
Realistically speaking, it’s only those two, plus James and probably Ndungane, who stand any realistic chance of making the tour departure in a fortnight’s time. That could provide a welcome loose forward boost, but for the time being, the Sharks are going to need to dig deep and look to the youngsters in their system to stand and deliver – and repay the faith that’s been shown in them. One man in particular of whom a lot is expected is S’bura Sithole, who’s looking likely for a start at Newlands. He’s going to have to spend a lot of one-on-one time with Paul Jordaan during the week to ensure that they know how to “find each other” by Saturday, since there was precious little of that going on on Friday night.
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The injuries have taken their toll but on the positive side the youngsters that have been called on so far have done an amazing job so there is no reason that the other youngster can’t do the same.
@Pokkel (Comment 1) : I’m very tempted to say we should call up Kleinhans in Botes’s spot – and what’s more, let him start at openside.
It’s going to be interesting to see who get’s the Springbok fullback spot with Kirscher, Ludik and Taute out for a long while still. Frans Steyn will probably get it and hopefully that opens up a 12 spot for Robert Ebersohn who frankly cannot be ignored by Heyneke Meyer any longer. Just a pity that he will be behind Bok captain JdV in the pecking order.
@Pokkel (Comment 3) : I agree ,Rob deserves a chance ,he has been one of the most consistent players in Super Rugby. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AFfwr6527g
Ignore the corny music
Another option is to get Burden involved as a loosie again. He’s probably more suited there than hooker anyway.
@Pokkel (Comment 3) : They could also play Aplon at 15 but doubt HM will go for it. He likes BIG meaty players!
It was noticeable in last year’s Currie Cup as well, Sbura and Jordaan don’t click all too well, I hope they both have better games against Stormers
Doubt it’ll be Aplon at 15, shift Joe back to fullback and play de Allende on the wing
If we short at loosie i think most would say we must bring in Tera or Franna; but we really have zero balance in our loose trio at the moment with Deysel and Alberts out. I would bring Stander onto the bench, play PSDT at 7 and bring Bresler back into the starting team. I would also play Viljoen on the wing instead of S’Bura, simply because of the Stormers love of kicking the ball all the time.
My Team if Deysel and Big Vic are still unavailable.
1.Beast
2.Coops
3.Jannie
4.Bresler
5.Van Der Merwe
6.Keegs
7.PSDT
8.Kanko
9.Cobus
10.Lambie
11.JPP
12.Bosman
13.Jordaan
14.Viljoen
15.Steyn
16.Burden
17.Herbst
18.J.Marais
19.Stander
20.Coetzee
21.Mcloed
22.Sithole
@JJR (Comment 10) : Keep Du Toit at lock with Bresler and play Kanko at 8 for the line outs.
I was impressed with how Cooper ,Du Toit and Coetzee dominated the breakdowns, Todd looked hammered afterwards. Some of the best cleaning I have seen in a while. Bresler & Du Toit will make a seriously potent locking combo.
They must do the same to that little ah Deon Fourie.
Promote Gouws Prinsloo to the bench, he can cover, fullback, wing and flthalf. Expecting big things from that man. He needs to step up, time is running out.
@JJR (Comment 10) : Like your team, however, would move KD to 8th man, play Marcel 6 and bench Kanko.Keep Sithole at 14.
still not impressed with mthembu i would pick stander ahead of him and also leave mcloed at home get one of the guys playing vc rugby to play scrumhalf and also 1 of the centres not joubert
I like your team selection JJR 🙂
@Poisy (Comment 15) : Agree regarding Tera, really just another backline player in the forwards, imo. Stander has the high workrate, can get you over the advantage line and always makes many tackles; i think he would work best in the current situation.
I know very few people will agree with me on this, but why not get Andries Coetzee from the Lions on a loan?
I think they should consider franna @6 his pilfer abilities are much better than PSDT and coetzee,
Good team JJR. Both Franna and Terra has been given opportunities. We now need the likes of Stander to make the metres over the advantage line and the tackles and to hold Fourie at bay. We have enough backs to run at the Stormers.
this is the worst it has been in years. very worried. what happens if a Lambie goes down now?
@West Indies Cricket Board (Comment 21) : In the short term Bosman moves to 10, Steyn at 12, Viljoen at 15
@Bokhoring (Comment 22) : butch should be back too?
Damn guys. Injuries really hurting us but on a positive note, what an effort in the second half this past Friday!!! Thought we deserved it after that 40 mins.
My team:
1. Beast
2. Cooper
3. Jannie
4. Steph Du Toit
5. VDmerwe
6. Daniel (Cpt)
7. Coetzee
8. Kanko
9. Reinach
10. Lambie
11. Sithole
12. Bosman
13. Jordaan
14. JP
15. Frans
Replacements
16. Herbst
17. Burden
18. Bresler
19. Kleinhans
20. Macleod
21. Prinsloo
22. Viljoen
This is on the assumption, we go with a 4-3 subs bench.
I can tell u in Cape Town, there is some rain about. Winter kicking in.
If it continues and rains on Saturday, I wont be surprised if Plum goes for 5-2 bench. Then Jandre marais in for Prinsloo on bench.
So far, my players of the season:
– Pat Lambie (a surety for 10 bok jersey, but with HM, morne will get it :-((()
– Franco VDMerwe (great replacement for Sykes, excellent in line outs and leader of the tight 5)
– Cobus Reinach (taking off from his excellent 2012 currie cup, I like Macleod but unfortunately, Reinach too good to be dropped!!)
Other players that are busy making an impact now:
– Cooper
– Daniel (starting to get back again)
All we need now is to add tries to our dominance.
3 out of 6 games – no tries and we have won all 3!!! Not always gona be like that. My belief is that 90% of teams who score more tries than the other team on the day, will win. Consider those 3 victories to be part of the 10%. LOL
@JJR (Comment 10) : Cant see Coetzee being benched. As for PSDT, i wouldnt move him. Otherwise the team is fine. Good move for Kanko at 8. Always a big fan of Kanko. U get him into space, he is the most dangerous 8th man in SA, because of his pace. I am all about tries!!! If we score more tries than the opposition, we will win.
@shaniboi (Comment 23) : Not sure when he returns, but even then after such a long layoff I would play him off the bench first