Tim Swiel starts at flyhalf for the Sharks as part of a youthful backline to face Saracens this Saturday.
Late injuries to Keegan Daniel and Marcell Coetzee have forced a loose trio reshuffle, with Willem Alberts (number 8) and Tera Mtembu (open side flank) playing outside of their most familiar positions. New boy Etienne Oosthuizen gets a start at lock, where he will join a quartet of Springboks in a powerful tight five.
Cobus Reinach gets the nod to partner Swiel, while the loss of Frans Steyn to an injury sees 20-year-old Andre Esterhuizen tasked with wearing the inside centre shirt. Paul Jordaan makes a welcome return to the side outside Esterhuizen, while Tyler Fisher gets a run at 15, with experienced wingers Odwa Ndungane and Lwazi Mvovo in support.
Jacques Botes covers loose forward from the bench, with new boy Lourens Adriaanse joining Dale Chadwick, Kyle Cooper and Stephan Lewies, all of whom starred in Currie Cup last year. Jaco van Tonder and Heimar Williams make up the back contingent along with Charl McLeod, while Fred Zeilinga and Monde Hadebe are the unlucky tourists to miss out on selection for the game.
The Cell C Sharks
1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Bismarck du Plessis (Captain)
3. Jannie du Plessis
4. Etienne Oosthuizen
5. Pieter–Steph du Toit
6. Tera Mtembu
7. Jean Deysel
8. Willem Alberts
9. Cobus Reinach
10. Tim Swiel
11. Lwazi Mvovo
12. Andre Esterhuizen
13. Paul Jordaan
14. Odwa Ndungane
15. Tyler Fisher
Replacements
16. Kyle Cooper
17. Dale Chadwick
18. Lourens Adriaanse
19. Stephan Lewies
20. Jacques Botes
21. Charl McLeod
22. Heimar Williams
23. Jaco van Tonder
Tweet
Will be interested to see that lock pair together.
Sharks are never very forthcoming when injuries to key players are concerned…
And the center pair for that matter.
Hmm….good set of forwards and youthful backline to run the ball. Im assuming Jordaan and/or Van Tonder are the backup flyhalf options as both have played there before. Jordaan was actually a decent 10 for the Vodacom Cup or u21 side, cant remember. His kicking isnt great though. Keen to see how the new Sharks guy fare and also how they do on the artificial pitch.
All we need now is an injury to either Deysel, Bismarck or Alberts 😕
Brutally experienced world class pack. 4 lock a concern – lewies is more a 5 if he has to replace EO – PSDT to 4 ?. Concerned about a youth full but talented new backline. Reinach in for Charl ?? Tyler Fisher ?
The tight five all i can say is wow, JW i think has shown his hand here
I really feel for Zeilinga after having such a good currie cup
Anyone got info on Andre Esterhuizen?
@Talent (Comment 5) : But why would you speak of injuries. Anyway, didn’t think Jake was going to move Alberts to 8 due to his good showing at 7 last year. He did however say that he’d what’s best for the Sharks. Rob, any knowledge of the permanency of this move?
great team to start with, with a few big names missing looks like a team that could go all the way this year. I really hope Tim will grab his chance at 10 and Tyler at the back. These are future Shark starters. I also feel for Fred but we need to see if Swiel is capable of being a world class 10? The Butterflies are increasing as the Season creeps closer, but as taste test this game is a good chance to see what we can expect to see this season from the Boys.
@Uli Boelie (Comment 9) : lots – what do you want to know?
That looks like a bruising loose trio but would have expected:
6. Deysel
7. Alberts
8. Mtembu
I’d be very interested in White’s thinking on this one.
slightly worried now about this game. i don’t think we are gonna win anymore. 😕
@vanmartin (Comment 13) : i was thinking the same and maybe bring in botes at six and deysel second half
@vanmartin (Comment 13) : Both Plum and White seem to see Mthembu as a 7 and seem to want him playing more to the ball than playing a covering number 8 role. So expect Alberts to hang back and make the big hits and carries and Mthembu and Deysel to play more to the ball with Deysel taking a few pick and goes. Will be nice to see our locks running onto the ball as well.
@Poisy (Comment 14) : does it really matter, I mean, it is a warm up game. 😕
@Poisy (Comment 14) : I think its just fear of the unknown. Chin up. Once they get stuck in, I think we will take it comfortably.
@vanmartin (Comment 13) :
Spot on.
Strange reshuffle that.
@Talent (Comment 5) : Ssshhh! Don’t wake that bogey of last season!!!
@John Galt (Comment 19) : But if ever there’s a game to experiment with selections this is the game to do it. So just to make my position clear, even though I’m puzzled by the selection I’m not opposed to it.
The Glenwood boys are gonna drop a respective ball when they see no sign of young Fred.
I’m very interested to see how Fisher goes at 15. Not sure how close to 11 seconds he gets in the 100m, but could be a real handful joining the line – I believe he is already over 100kg.
Good Sharks side, I like it. Looking forward to seeing Fisher, Esterhuizen and Swiel in action
@robdylan (Comment 12) : Wie, wat en waar vandaan?
Hope the injury to Frans is not too serious. Would love for him to play most of the S15 season this year.
@Uli Boelie (Comment 24) : jonk, fokken GROOT en van Klerksdorp af 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 26) : ok hy klink so taai soos ‘n ratel, kom ons hoop dis wat hy is 😀
@The Great Couch Shark (Comment 17) : it could matter if we get a big klap up there
@Southern_Shark (Comment 18) : i hope you are right lol 😆
How serious are those respective injuries? Please confirm at what time the game will be broadcast.
@Poisy (Comment 29) : Haha, me too. 😆
I would’ve been tempted to pick Odwa at 15, Jordaan at 14 and Fischer at 13. But hey, JW is a world cup winning coach….
@Son Of Mayhem (Comment 30) : 16:15 SS1 SA time
I see Rhodes got off…
It looks like we’ll have a dry game, if the forecasts are to be believed. 20% chance of precipitation and that’s mainly in the morning and late evening.
Luckily water drains straight through the artificial turf, so if the rain stops any time before kick-off it should mean a dry pitch.
Very young team. Go SHARKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nice to see new blood getting game time. JW is testing BMT. It is experimental but should make a good game for us supporters to view. We’ll see the real team next time out. Which stores, except sharkcage, sell the new jersey? Anyone know?
Swiel might struggle if Cobus can’t allow he enough time for options. Hope they click!
Jake is looking for answers to questions. He knows what he has in Zeilinga and Williams, he could have also used Odwa at fullback. Looking forward to seeing these youngsters have a crack. Very happy with the return of Jordaan and the approach the sharks have taken.
I really cannot wait!
“Tim Swiel starts at flyhalf for the Sharks”
For #$%^&@*^@*($)@[email protected]_*!&#& sons of #^&!(*#*))_)[email protected]! pathetic bunch of #^&*@)[email protected]!
@Morné (Comment 41) :
Interesting ,now to see what tic tacs the Great White intends employing
Can`t wait to see Swiel. Hope he`s a big boy who can play like the Great Honiball !!
@Original Pierre (Comment 44) : you’ll be disappointed if you’re expecting a Honibal. He’s more Bilbo Baggins sized
@robdylan (Comment 45) : then what makes him so precious?
@benji (Comment 46) : maybe Jake likes his ring? 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 47) : eish !
@benji (Comment 46) : Decide for youself…….there is a similar clip of him doing the same at U21 level for WP last year……look it up. This is why Swiel is special
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYT56lzoMAs
@Saffex (Comment 49) : Perry impressive stuff; the boy can kick, is an elusive runner, and has great timing and vision when passing. Can he tackle though?
@robdylan (Comment 47) : His brown ring??
I hope Paul Jordaan can hold up defensively against a pretty big Figian outside centre. If not, Fischer should be given an opportunity with Van Tonder at the back. Worried about Swiel, he wasn’t given a chance at Province even when they had a crisis at flyhalf. Maybe AC is just that bad a coach or he can’t identify talent???
@robdylan (Comment 45) : @benji (Comment 46) : @robdylan (Comment 47) : 😆
@Bite me (Comment 52) : Was thinking the same thing…..strms back 3 are thin and after demitri the other tens are not that impressive [including Grand], instead they signed a 10 of bulls. Maybe he proves me wrong, but he reminds me a lot of Earl Rose……lots of talent, but never big enough.
Why no Fred? ❓ Go Figure!
@KingsArmy (Comment 54) : What Bulls 10 did the Stormers sign?
@KingsArmy (Comment 54) : it is pretty obvious to me that Swiel has all the talent and abilities as FH!
WOW! Thanks Rob for that clip. If a couch can not develop that into something more and employ in a gameplan….I have not been this excited about a young player since I first saw Naas and Joost playing at schools level!!!
@ChrisS (Comment 56) : Ryno Eksteen from Affies
@KingsArmy (Comment 54) :
While your point on size is not irrelevant, the Stormers are no strangers to losing good talent. Recent losses of Whitehead and JJ are examples of this.
@robdylan (Comment 45) : But he is bigger than Patrick and Fred so what does that make them? Midget hobbits?
This game JW is seeing what a young backline can do with a good set of forwards. He knows what most of his first choice backs can do but if we honest the Sharks backline has been poor in recent years so JW looking for new answers.
Hi all
i see after so many years things haven’t change at all, new faces old names and Morne gee lots of funny letters my friends.
Just one thing to, that is
GO SHARKS GO. 
@robdylan (Comment 26) :
We need more of thoses players
@Saffex (Comment 49) :
Must say he looks great and by the way love the song
@Chaz (Comment 64) :
A blast from the past! 😯
Welcome back!
@Chaz (Comment 62) :
I add a couple every time you steal a great talent from WP.
Saracens to win with +150 points here, sharks losing, that’s my predictions!!
Defense a major concern for me,but go Sharks
@Big Fish (Comment 65) :
Thanks Big Fish, just been very busy
@Morné (Comment 66) :
Sharks never steel we just offer more and players need to become part of a great team. The best in my books