Fred Zeilinga will start for the Sharks at flyhalf in the only unforced change to this week’s match 22.
As predicted, Odwa Ndungane and Brynard Stander both make way this week, as the result of injuries picked up during last week’s win over the Lions. SP Marais shifts from right wing to fullback to cover for the veteran, with fit-again Sizo Maseko named to start for the second time in the number 14 jersey. Keegan Daniel comes in at open side flank in a direct swap with Stander, while Jacques Botes retains both the captaincy and the number 8 jersey.
20-year-old Zeilinga has been impressive off the bench over the last two weeks and with James struggling a little over the same period, the decision has clearly been made to throw the youngster in at the deep end this week. James is on the bench, with Tim Whitehead not making the squad this week.
Speaking about the move to start with Zeilinga, backline coach Sean Everitt said “Fred will start this Friday, he’s come off the bench in the first two games and done really well. He’s taken a lot of pressure off with his long kicking game, so he deserves a start, but at the same time it is rotational as well. Within our squad we are going to rotate players at times, so it’s Fred’s turn to show what he can do from the start.”
The Sharks:
15. SP Marais
14. Sizo Maseko
13. Louis Ludik
12. Heimar Williams
11. Lwazi Mvovo
10. Fred Zeilinga
9. Charl McLeod
8. Jacques Botes ( Capt)
7. Jean Deysel
6. Keegan Daniel
5. Marco Wentzel
4. Edwin Hewitt
3. Wiehahn Herbst
2. Kyle Cooper
1. Dale Chadwick
Replacements
16. Craig Burden
17. Rayno Gerber
18. Peet Marais
19. Lubabalo Mtembu
20. Cobus Reinach
21. Butch James
22. Jaco van Tonder
Tweet
Is Whitehead not fit or have they just not chosen him?
This is a good but inexperienced team. It will be exciting to see them in action.
have to applaud the coaches for making the tough, but correct decision to drop Butch.
@robdylan (Comment 4) : Rob, I was under the impression that a squad system would be employed by the Sharks. Any idea if this is still the planned approach? Reason I ask is that players like Marais, Reinach and Burden would surely have been given starts by now.
@vanmartin (Comment 4) : that’s what we have been told, but there haven’t been any details yet. So it’s hard to say whether they’re sticking to what they said or not. Let’s see again after the first round of matches have run their course.
If I manage to get another interview with one of the coaches next week, I’ll ask that.
@robdylan (Comment 6) : Thanks, much appreciated!
@vanmartin (Comment 6) : check the quote I just added at the bottom of the article….
@robdylan (Comment 8) : Thanks! It sort of makes sense with the limited personnel available in certain positions.
i don’t think we can get to clever just at the moment,need to get some good wins under the belt first and then we can start rotating players.
@bobby 26 (Comment 9) : that’s what I think too
I think this is a Very GOOD Team, Youth and older heads. They are going to have to stand up to the physicality of the Cheetahs and close the Gaps that the lions exposed on Friday. Glad to see Fred getting a start would have liked to have sen Peet in there as well. Lets bleed the young guns in now so Next years Super Rugby we will have a very strong squad.
Tim should have played at 13, Sadie will be all over Ludik.
I like that Botes is staying put exactly where he was. He’s been doing a good job of the base of the scrum and as a captain. He’s had a calming effect on some of the younger players, but also rallies his troops every now and then, getting them together for a talk after a try is scored against the Sharkies or just before an important scrum. I’v been inpressed, and this gives Keegan a chance to get back to form without the added pressure of captaincy.
I like this team, good job
@Letgo (Comment 13) : Same here! I rate Keegan highly as a captain, but his performances whilst not captain at the end of the Super14 were brilliant. An absolute menace for the opposition during their line outs. Add in Marco and the Cheetahs will need to improve their lineouts drastically which they were really poor at last weekend.
@JD (Comment 12) : It’s going to be tough for Ludik, but I believe in him.
@gregkaos (Comment 15) : and they’ve lost their lineout lock…
Cheetahs is going to win far against this sharks side, with 20-25 points
Ludik is not as poor on defense as you are all making him out to be. He’s actually very good.
It is Tuesday today is it not?? A team announcement so early??
@Flippie (Comment 18) : What was your prediction against the Lions, again?
@Stu (Comment 20) : The match is on Friday, so I guess it’s the same as how the Boks name their team on Wednesday for a Saturday game.
@Flippie (Comment 18) : Have a little bit more faith in a decent Sharks team against a depleted Cheetahs outfit. Sharks by 9.
@David12246 (Comment 23) : what faith can you have on the sharks, they won’t win against the mighty cheetahs in bloem.
@Stu (Comment 20) : when the sharks paid the ref for the match of that game
@R Hayward (Comment 16) : @David12246 (Comment 19) : I like Ludik as a player and think he’s a super fullback, but at 13 is weak. It’s nothing against Ludik it’s more against the coach for picking him out of possition. Would have think Ludick at 15, SP on the wing and Tim at 13 would have been a beter backline.
@vanmartin (Comment 4) : I would prefer to start with the team that played well last week but give the boys, such as Cobus, Marias and Burden, more game time every week until they start and then keep this substitution process up to rotate all throughout the season.
i.e. Cobus played 30 minutes last week. I would play him for 40 and if he is comfortable, then start with him next week.
@Flippie (Comment 25) : Speak English please.
My fellow sharkies based in bloem . Let’s go support. Vodacom park friday night I will be there screaming my lungs off
Peet Marais to start for crying out loud
I would move Botes to open side and Keegan to 8, but keep Botes as captain. I think Botes is a much better open side than Keegan.
@Stu (Comment 28) :
dont feed the troll 🙂
Think our backline is a bit thin compared to the Cheetahs…
But we should dominate up front? Or at least have a bit of ascendancy….
But 12/13 is a worry.
Is Whitehead still injured?
I cant believe he would have been left out of the entire match 22 otherwise.
Williams had a good game last week but he is nowhere near the class of TW.
@Stu (Comment 28) : LOL
@Zibbie (Comment 32) : Zibbie, will your team come right this weekend? I am going to back them!
@Zibbie (Comment 32) : Troll or drol? Probably a meaningless distinction anyway
@Flippie (Comment 25) : Ek sien daai pille is nog steeds nie beskikbaar nie.
@R Hayward (Comment 36) :
man … i dont know …. ill back the bulls on superbru and the Lions will win just to spite me 😛
@vanmartin (Comment 37) :
hahah who knows 😉
Good team! Will be interesting to see how Zeilinga does in his first start.
As for the rotational policy, I’m sure they have had a sitdown with the players explaining their thinking. Picking a different team each week would bugger up all momentum, so it makes sense to swop the guys in a staggered fashion.
@R Hayward (Comment 36) : That is a big gamble to back the Lions…. Like Zibbie said I am going to back the Bulls on SB and hopefully with my SB history I will be wrong…. Lets hope so 😀
I really like Zeilinga, I actually think he is the way forward for the sharks.
Uli I couldn’t agree more
Whaaat, another Friday game. Anyway I see the lighties are also playing on Friday at the Park so I would suggest a quick pub lunch and then catch all tree games. Now if only I was’nt 1000+ k’s away.
Question : When Graaf recovers, where would he dig.. er slot in?
@Original Pierre (Comment 45) : good question. Look, they need to give Hansie a run at some stage, but we mustn’t get the cart before the horse. He needs to be fit and he needs to impress enough at training to prove he deserves a shot.
Good starting 15 – quite excited for the game mainly becoz the younsters in the team has so much potential
😉