Jake White hasn’t revealed all that much regarding his thinking for next Friday’s game against the Lions in Johannesburg, but has dropped some strong hints that he’ll want to give his best available combination a good run, without necessarily discarding the young players on whom he knows he will need to call at some point during the season.
Reading between the lines, it probably means that most of the same players that featured at Allianz Park will get a run, although those few “big guns” that were forced to sit out due to niggles and other commitments will surely also come back into the fold. As the game will not be quite as strictly “official” as the Saracens fixture was, it’s hoped that White will be able to use more than just 23 players and perhaps give some completely new combinations a run in the second half.
The tight five is unlikely to differ from last weekend’s combination, with fit-again Anton Bresler possibly in line for a second-half cameo at best, since White is unlikely to pick him above Etienne Oosthuizen at this stage. Marcell Coetzee and Ryan Kankowski (who arrives back in Durban on Monday) will probably bolster the starting back row and with Willem Alberts, Jean Deysel and Jacques Botes also very much in the picture, it remains to be seen whether White will be able to find room for Keegan Daniel and Tera Mtembu in the squad he takes up to Johannesburg.
One man who we know will not be there is reserve hooker Kyle Cooper, since he’ll be on honeymoon. Monde Hadebe was a late addition to the London tour squad, but didn’t get onto the park, so will enjoy the opportunity of a hit out against the Lions. He’s a player who appears to have bulked up a fair bit during the last year or so, so it will be interesting to see what he can bring to the party.
Pat Lambie and Frans Steyn should both be in action too, with Charl McLeod presumably set to start as well. Reuniting his first-choice attacking axis ahead of the Bulls game will, I’m sure, be a priority for White and the chances that their understudies will get much time on the park against the Lions will probably depend on how quickly those key men gel. Paul Jordaan and Tyler Fisher will probably reprise their roles at 13 and 15 respectively, while it remains to be seen what White’s thinking is at wing, where Lwazi Mvovo’s concussion may keep him out of action. S’bura Sithole is the man one fancies would most likely come into the equation.
Again, much depends on how big the bench is for this clash, but one fancies that Dale Chadwick, Hadebe, Bresler, Lourens Adriaanse, Cobus Reinach and Andre Esterhuizen, at least, can be sure of their places on it. Trying to shoehorn the supporting “cast of thousands” into the few remaining places will be a tough ask indeed.
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Does anybody know if Esterhuizen can play 13? He reminds me a bit of Yannick Jauzion and I’d love to see him and Steyn combine together in midfield. That would be quite a devastating partnership!!
When will JPP be back?
@ChrisS (Comment 1) : feedback I’ve heard is that Esterhuizen is considered not quick enough for 13.
So Pat to start, Zeilinga to bench and Swiel/Fisher 15? Chances?
@KingsArmy (Comment 2) : I’m not sure, but it sounds like probably not in time for the Bulls match
@SheldonK (Comment 4) : I really don’t know
@robdylan (Comment 6) : Thats probably a good thing Rob – you were seeming all too knowledgeable for the start of a year! haha It is quite interesting that most of the SA super rugby sides can really mix and match when it comes to selection- depth is being created, well except at the Cheetahs
@robdylan (Comment 3) : That’s a pity. I hope that they rotate him with Steyn then at 12. Steyn must be protected for the Bok cause and I’d love to see Esterhuizen get a fair shot at earning Bok honours. He appears to have the potential to play at a higher level but time will tell.
Likewise, I hope that we rotate all of our players, especially Alberts and Deysel. Their style of play means that they need more rest than other players. Maybe 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off would work…
@ChrisS (Comment 8) : Esterhuizen is just freshly 20…. I’m happy if he gets a gentle introduction to Super Rugby and then gets the jersey full time in Currie Cup
Bressler has not played rugby in a year. He should play a game or two Vodacom Cup and then play. Peet will probably be given a chance or is he out of contention ?
@ChrisS (Comment 8) : White seems to be a huge fan of both Deysel and Alberts, so don’t know how he can avoid rotating them. He’s definitely going to pick Kankowski and will, I’m sure, include Tera and Marcell in his thinking too.
@robdylan (Comment 3) : How about Heimar?
@Observer (Comment 10) : I agree that Anton probably isn’t ready for Super Rugby just yet, but given how late Vodacom starts, it would be a wasted opportunity not to at least give him a run next weekend.
@vanmartin (Comment 12) : again, has never been considered a speed merchant…. don’t read too much into the fact that he ended up at wing over the weekend.
Given the names that have not made the S15. The Vodacom Cup side must be awesome. Any news or info Sir. This might be the first Cup we win this year !
WTF I have two stars !
There is so much depth coming through it is crazy, we could even loan players out to the cheetahs if need be
@Dunx (Comment 17) : You mean send them home? haha
So many choices. I hope nobody leaves!
So many choices. Exciting!
Looks like we might have 3 Westville boys on the field against the Lions at some point. 🙂
The European agents are scouting. We are bound to loose most senior players that is totally out the mix. That is life !
@Observer (Comment 16) : well done
@robdylan (Comment 14) : It’s just that we may possibly have three quality options at 12 at the moment (heck, four if you count Tim). Would be a shame to have them on the bench while we struggle to find decent depth at 13. I’m not a fan of using JPP there when he one of the best wingers in the world. A little speed may need to be sacrificed.
Hey Shrien – papa wag vir jou…
@SheldonK (Comment 7) : In what positions do you see the Cheetahs lacking depth?
Perceptions are different, I don’t see many depth issues.
LH: Nyakane, Caylib Oosthuizen, van Dyk
Hkr: Strauss, Barnes, Liebenberg, Bezuidenhout
Locks: Lood, Uys, Landman, Ferreira
Flanks: Brüssow, Cook, Lappies, Prinsloo, vd Walt
SH Venter, Sarel, Tiaan Meyer
FH Goosen, Watts, Smit
Centre: Venter, Sadie, Mnisi, Lindeque
Wings: Hendricks, Rhule, Benjamin,
FB: Le Roux, Daniller.
All theses players bar Hendricks and Mnisi have S15 experience, and Hendricks is a 7’s veteran.
Sharks have lots of talent, but a few guys are having their 11st S15 season proper. Zeilinga, Esterhuizen, Fisher,and Sithole. Odwa is way too old, so your wing options are limited should Mvovo or JPP go down. Centre combinations untested, with more 12’s than 13’s.
Also thin at lock if PSDT goes down. Marco Wentzel really??
@KingCheetah (Comment 26) : Put the sharks options on paper next to the cheetahs options and you see the difference. The Cheetahs problem is quality depth. If they lose a few key players they are in trouble. Front 5 is thin. Goosen hasnt played more than 3 games in a row in years.
@KingCheetah (Comment 26) : Thats like saying the Kings have depth and naming a whole bunch of random club players 😆
Cheetahs are looking better in this regard than other seasons though…
Omit Keegan at your own peril. Keegan has to be there, he’s a game changer.
Kings 12-19 Lions
Blue Bulls 24-26 Golden Lions (Vodacom Cup/2nd teams)
Some work to be done before SR kicks off. Friday’s practice match against the Sharks is going to be tough
Only 2 weeks to go!!!!!!!!! GO SHARKS!!!!!!!
@vanmartin (Comment 24) : There is also the option of Fisher at 13.
Question: this esterhuisen, is it the same esterhuisen that was drop from the Pumas craven week team because of racial slurs??……
@KingsArmy (Comment 33) : there was an incident, but that’s in the past and as you well know, we do not discuss such matters here.
@markp (Comment 32) : All indications to date seem to point to White considering as a fullback instead.
@Dunx (Comment 17) : Which players could you loan us, that would be better than the ones we already have? Note it would obviously not be any of your 1st 23.
Cheetahs have a pretty strong team themselves. Don’t be to deluded by big names.
I am really interested to see you think will improve our team?
@SheldonK (Comment 27) : The problem is, and the Sharks supporters should realise this by now, is that rugby is a) not played on paper, and b) the sum of the parts are more effective than the parts themselves.
Beast vs Coenie – Not much difference bar experience. Both have their strong points.
Strauss vs Bissie – Again not much to choose. bissie more robust, Strauss more accurate.
Nyakane vs Jannie – Jannie edges it, but is getting along in years. Nyakane still a pup.
Uys vs Oosthuizen – Uys has the experience but I won’t make a call yet
Lood vs Steph du Toit – Both fine prospects
Cook vs Deysel – Cook is playing well and so is Deysel
Lappies vs Alberts – Alberts is the ok incumbent all power, Lappies hard grafter and has better hands
vd Walt vs Kanko – even stebven vd Walt is a very under rated player
Sarel vs Mc Leod – Both have their strengths
Goosen vs Lambie – A fit Goosen is dynamite, Lambie more consistent. Goosen fits in well with Cheetahs game plan
Rhule vs Odd One – Noo contest Odd one is the Terblanche of Sharks rugby
Venter vs Steyn – Steyn on form, but he hasn’t been for yonks
Sadie vs Jordaan – Sadie anyday
Cornak Hendricks vs Mvov – Hendricks a S15 rookie, but he is going to be a handful. at the moment Mvovo
Willie vs Fisher/van Tonder/Swiel – only one winner here!
Barnes vs Cooper – I like Cooper, but Barnes is very solid too
Maks v Dyk vsAdriaanse- Adriaanse
Oosthuizen vs Chadwick – equally average
Landman vs Bresler/Marais – Evens
Prinsloo vs Botes/Mthembu – Evens
Shaun Venter vs Reinach – Reinach of 2012, but he hasn’t shown that form yet
Watts vs Zeilanga/Swiel – Sharks boys, but Watts is a wily competitor that plays well in our setup
Smit/Lindeque/Daniller vs ?? Open season.
So it comes down to combinations and form on the day. Sharks have the better squad no doubt, but so did they last year, by some margin, and we all know how that ended.
We don’t have as many stars, but somehow Naka gets the best out of them. Our squad is a tad better than last year. Greater depth in the backline with Hendrick, Mnisi, Lindeque and Francois Venter.
Jean Cook has slotted in well which gives a loose trio that was good last year a better balance, and with Brüssow due back by the end of our overseas leg it might get even better.
So we will see how it goes. In summary none of your 2nd stringers are so much better than ours, for us to want them.
@Talent (Comment 28) : Well aren’t you going to look silly when this list of club players exceed expectations?
@KingCheetah (Comment 38) : this really is a bit of a pointless exercise, but you seem to be enjoying it, so do carry on 🙂
Isn’t that quite the purpose of your blog Rob? Or would you prefer no posts??
A bit of healthy banter between opposing supporters is fun no?
@KingCheetah (Comment 40) : as I said, your enjoyment is my primary concern 🙂
@KingCheetah (Comment 40) : the bit that makes it pointless is that you and Talent (as equally rabid fans on different sides of a very high fence) are unlikely to make much progress towards consensus 🙂
I would love to say something, but I won’t…..lol
Both my teams have taken some hits……and the season is only starting…..yip! Its going to be a long one.