The Sharks coaches have made a staggering nine changes to the starting fifteen that beat Griquas in Kimberley last week, although two of those are admittedly positional switches.
Jacques Botes, Jean Deysel and Louis are thee players who’ve carried a heavy workload thus far in the campaign and all of them have been left out for this weekend’s match against the Cheetahs in Durban; Keegan Daniel shifts from 6 to 8 to take over from Botes (and will captain to boot) while Tim Whitehead shifts out a spot to wear Ludik’s 13 jersey.
further changes in the loose trio see Tera Mtembu and Marcell Coetzee – neither of whom featured last week – come in to start on the flanks, the former set for his first-ever start at blind side. Rotational changes in the tight five see Dale Chadwick picked ahead of Danie Mienie and Peet Marais come in to replace Edwin Hewitt, who has battled a bit with flu this week.
Fred Zeilinga and Heimar Williams have been rotated “in” this week, at flyhalf and inside center, while the final change sees a fit-again Odwa Ndungane preferred at right wing to young Sizo Maseko.
On the bench, Rayno Gerber returns to provide cover at prop, while Brynard Stander also looks set to feature as loose forward replacement, after starting twice in the early weeks of the tournament.
Sharks: 15 SP Marais, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Tim Whitehead, 12 Heimar Williams, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Keegan Daniel (capt), 7 Lubabalo Mtembu, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Peet Marais, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Subs: 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Rayno Gerber , 18 Edwin Hewitt, 19 Brynard Stander , 20 Cobus Reinach, 21 Butch James, 22 Jaco van Tonder
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I like this team!!!!! Go Sharks
I just read an article about Rory Kockott. Would it not be nice if he can come back to the Sharks…and possibly the Springboks?
Except for Odwa, I actually like the look of this team. Strong bench too.
Bit of a strange looking loose trio but nice and mobile.
Cmon you Sharks!
Van Tonder holding onto that 22 jersey like his life depends on it, I wonder if he is bringing his own chair to games. Hope he gets some game time, otherwise why pick him. So seems SP Marais is being groomed to be the number 1 fullback for next year so possibliy a Lambie,Steyn,Whitehead combo for 10,12,13 in Super rugby.
I really hoped for Reinach to get a start with Fred, Heimar and Timmy. Always a fan of a Sharks running game. Hopefully McLeod can prove me wrong again.
@Bite me (Comment 5) : you’ll see that combo next week.
I got a little out of sync with the scrummies, which is why I thought Cobus was starting this week.
When will Mvovo be rested or is that what he’s technically being doing throughout the Currie Cup? 😈
@vanmartin (Comment 7) : Ssshhh none of the teams have noticed him there on the wing yet…its the Sharks secret ploy to use him eventually in a surprise attack.
@SheldonK (Comment 8) : Gotcha 😉
@bokbok (Comment 2) : Did you see that 50m drop goal from Kockott recently? He missed a 60m penalty which Armitage tried to clear. Only for Rory to pick up it and have another go. Vid is on rugbydump.
Best Sharks side I have seen in ages
@SheldonK (Comment 8) : I like this
No word on Hansie Graaff yet??
@Original Pierre (Comment 13) : out for the season with a PCL tear
Ag hell no Rob don’t tell me Sharks invested in another injured player?!?!?!?!
@Bite me (Comment 5) : For me overall McLeod has provided better service than Reinach – although he can be inconsistent – fairly good in one game and really poor in the next
@gregkaos (Comment 10) : That was a thing of beauty.
@Bokhoring (Comment 16) : Same here. Although I think Charl has out performed Cobus overall, does seem like whoever has been on the bench has had a better game that one who started.
Probably more to do with the whole team not really firing in the first halves and in turn providing difficult ball for the starting 9 to deal with.
On the flip side, I think Cobus has actually handled poor ball better than Charl.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 17) : Yes. Yes it was! I had no idea that Rory’s got the same bionic leg implants as Frans Steyn. 😉
It’s a bit random, but man I miss watching Francois Steyn play. Even when he is not on form he is such a valuable player. We haven’t seen him since we lost to the Highlanders! I would like to see him outside Williams or Whitehead. Any news on his return?
In terms of selection I like the team very much. I’m curious about the young locks, and the selection of Mvovo baffles me, but good overall.
@David12246 (Comment 20) : Rob reckons Steyn is back in about 2 to 3 weeks. I agree. Can’t wait to see him in action again.
@gregkaos (Comment 21) : As long as he is closer to the pre-croissant/baguette version
@FireTheLooser (Comment 17) : What made it even more impressive is that he did it kind of on the run. 😎
@Bokhoring (Comment 22) : Haha yes! Hopefully the long break is a blessing in disguise for him. I suspect Steyn’s been working hard on his fitness levels and is chomping on the bit to get back on the field.
From what I’ve heard (and this certainly needs to be confirmed by someone far more knowledgeable than my mates!) he’s one of those guys who wants to be the best and isn’t satisfied with just been damme good.
I just hope he comes back the way Bismarck did.
I wish there were more clarity about the guys still out injured. It is as if they are “uit die oog, uit die hart”. It is still for me just too much of a wilderness, with only some very cryptic morse code on when they are ready to play.
@bokbok (Comment 25) : I don’t think that’s true.
The only guy for whom we don’t have a clear return date is Bresler – seems it was a funny injury and they’re taking it week by week.
Steyn was always down to return at the end of September and that is on track.
Jordaan likewise was never going to return this year, so I’m not sure why people expect a week-by-week update on his progress.