The Sharks team named to face the Bulls tomorrow boats an average of almost 47 Super Rugby caps per man, but the loss of near-centurion JP Pietersen from the lineup has certainly had an effect.
We’ve been tracking the total and average number of caps for a few weeks now, ever since it was first mooted that the injury situation in the Sharks camp makes it impossible to field a competitive side, or words to that effect. Our analysis shows that, while disrupted, the Sharks have nevertheless been able to call on enough experienced men to ensure that the side, on average, remains experienced. This week, for the first time since we started keeping track, the average number of caps dips below 50.
Beast Mtawarira returns this week to earn an 86th career cap, with opposite prop Jannie du Plessis also earning his 86th for the Sharks (but 111th overall) in a strange coincidence. Pat Lambie (48th) and Lwazi Mvovo (49th) edge ever closer to a major milestone, while Meyer Bosman, playing his 46th for the Sharks (and 107th overall) could soon become the first in this squad to accumulate a half-century of games for two different Super Rugby sides.
Looking at another statistic, Pat Lambie requires only 17 more points to become the fifth South African player to score 500 points in this competition, the others (in order), being Morne Steyn, Peter Grant, Andre Pretorius and Loius Koen.
| Player | Sharks Caps | Other Caps | Total | |||
| 1 | Beast Mtawarira | 84 | 0 | 84 | ||
| 2 | Kyle Cooper | 13 | 0 | 13 | ||
| 3 | Jannie du Plessis | 84 | 26 | 110 | ||
| 4 | Pieter-Steph du Toit | 18 | 0 | 18 | ||
| 5 | Franco van der Merwe | 12 | 73 | 85 | ||
| 6 | Marcell Coetzee | 35 | 0 | 35 | ||
| 7 | Willem Alberts | 44 | 37 | 81 | ||
| 8 | Keegan Daniel | 92 | 0 | 92 | ||
| 9 | Charl McLeod | 51 | 0 | 51 | ||
| 10 | Pat Lambie | 47 | 0 | 47 | ||
| 11 | Lwazi Mvovo | 48 | 0 | 48 | ||
| 12 | Meyer Bosman | 45 | 61 | 106 | ||
| 13 | Piet Lindeque | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 14 | Odwa Ndungane | 91 | 10 | 101 | ||
| 15 | Riaan Viljoen | 19 | 26 | 45 | ||
| 16 | Monde Hadebe | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 17 | Wiehahn Herbst | 35 | 0 | 35 | ||
| 18 | Jandre Marais | 9 | 0 | 9 | ||
| 19 | Tera Mtembu | 6 | 0 | 6 | ||
| 20 | Jean Deysel | 50 | 0 | 50 | ||
| 21 | Tian Meyer | 0 | 11 | 11 | ||
| 22 | Sean Robinson | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||
| Total | 809 | 294 | 1033 | |||
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Hell what was Plum think ………. picking a side with only 1033 super rugby caps, madness pure madness.
what has happened to the hoff
I don’t think Plum is too concerned about the future of Sharks rugby, he just wants to save his own bacon and that’s why he prefers loan players to youngsters.
@pete69 (Comment 2) : apparently he has flu…
@robdylan (Comment 4) :
Really?
@robdylan (Comment 4) : As in “he flew into a rage at the shoddy treatment he has received”…?
@Culling Song (Comment 6) : LOL 🙂
Yes, probably
@Culling Song (Comment 6) : Well said!
what’s this I hear about a certain curly-headed number 8 playing for College Rovers tonight?
@robdylan (Comment 9) : Intersant.
@Culling Song (Comment 6) :
😆
@robdylan (Comment 9) :
Say it aint so! 🙄
@Big Fish (Comment 11) : if he gets over his flu
@robdylan (Comment 12) : Seriously? Kanko playing club rugby?
@robdylan (Comment 9) : That would be enough to make me vomit 🙁
@robdylan (Comment 9) : Seriously…?? Has he really slumped that low out of Plumbtree’s favour?
WEll, still good on Kanko being a club player and making the Bok squad! Good achievement
seems he’s not playing…
@robdylan (Comment 16) : So what’s the poor guy doing with himself to stay focused and motivated?
Blerrie Plumtree (maybe Kanko is also calling for Plums head, maybe he’s been caught commenting on Sharksworld 😈 )
Wonder how good mates Smittie and Kanko is? Kanko to whisper some advise in Smittie’s ear…
@KingRiaan (Comment 18) : *twiddles thumbs and whistles*
@robdylan (Comment 19) : Or scouring the net for Japanese contracts
@FireTheLooser (Comment 17) : Yeah, I would love to know how much rugby he has played in the last 5 weeks. Rob?