The knock-on effects of injuries within the Super Rugby squad have been felt by Sharks XV coach Deon Kayser this week, as he’s been forced into some changes to his outfit ahead of a must-win clash against SWD in the Vodacom Cup this weekend. Tim Swiel enjoys a start at flyhalf, with regular pivot Fred Zeilinga called up to start for the Super Rugby side.
Stefan Ungerer, named to start at scrumhalf last week, was a late withdrawal from the side after falling ill. He’ll be on the Sharks bench this weekend, meaning another start for Hanco Venter in the number 9 jersey. Andre Esterhuizen returns to start at inside centre, with the rest of the backline unchanged from last week.
Changes up front see Jacques Botes start in the number 8 jersey, with Marco Wentzel to prove his fitness with a start at lock. Monde Hadebe continues to captain the side from hooker.
The Cell C Sharks XV
15. Jaco van Tonder
14. Sizo Maseko
13. Sandile Kubeka
12. Andre Esterhuizen
11. Tonderai Chavhanga
10. Tim Swiel
9. Hanco Venter
8. Jacques Botes
7. Francois Kleinhans
6. Khaya Majola
5. Marco Wentzel
4. Edwin Hewitt
3. Wiehahn Herbst
2. Monde Hadebe (Captain)
1. Thomas du Toit
Replacements
16. Franco Marais
17. Kwezi Mona
18. Peet Marais
19. Johan Meyer
20. Shannon Rick
21. Neil Maritz
22. Alcino Izaacs
Tweet
Is this game being televised does anyone know?
Would dig to see this side in action as well.
@John Galt (Comment 1) :
Yes. 14:25 – 16:30 SS8
But the Bulls game kicks of at 14:30. Will have to channel jump to catch the action. 🙂
Good team on paper, let’s hope they can continue to produce the results. The importance of getting game time is emphasized with the role of injuries in Super rugby growing all the time. One has to feel for Peet Marais; played in the Currie Cup final and now on the bench for the VC side. Is he possibly thinking of joining his brother in France soon?
Geez, you have to feel for Khaya Majola. He would probably be in most Super Rugby squads by now. Obviously it’s great to have such depth at loose-forward at the Sharks, but then again, Khaya is too good to be playing Vodacom Cup for the rest of his days.
That’s a handy side! Surprising if you consider that a number of players were poached to play in the SR team.
@Greg (Comment 3) :
does he play 4 or 5 ? maybe we can use him at the Lions
Good unbeaten team that changes constantly. 😆 . Feel sorry for Peet. He is talented rugby player that Jake and Co has left in the wilderness. There is no way Jake’s boy Ettienne is better than Peet or Hewitt.
Go boys and bring us the VC. We have never won this Trophy!
@Zibbie (Comment 6) : 5, to the best of my knowledge.
@Zibbie (Comment 6) : Peet is talented and can play in both positions. He would have been a far better bench choice than Ettienne.
I would also like to see Jaco van Tonder being used in SR squad. I rate him as a good player.Khaya is another Craig Burden – great team player, but underrated & not played to his potential.
@Rvw (Comment 2) : PVR – yeah baby 😀
So this proves Jakes thinking – 1st Choice fh: SR; 2nd Choice fh: VC
Also feel for Peet.
Mtembu not here or in SR, so is he injured?
Surprised that this team has done so well given all the constant changes. personally I think this deliberate swapping between the teams is distruptive for both. Should be more consistency in selection.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 12) : I think Frans Steyn being able to cover 10 provides him with this flexibility.
Quick quiz – which rugby stadium hosted 2 fairly top flight rugby games last week on consecutive days? Hint 2 KZN teams were involved.
Swiel must be delighted.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 15) : Clive Solomon Stadium in Bloem,i watched the Rovers game,LOL
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 15) :i would take 2 extra mags for my Glock next time
@bobby 26 (Comment 17) : Yep. I found it quite interesting that a venue I had not heard of before (or had never taken notice of before) hosted games in which Rovers played and then the next day a Vodacom Cup game between the Sharks and the Cheetahs.
@bobby 26 (Comment 18) : Sorry no Glock mags available but you deserve at least a Noddy badge.
BTW How was the game experience.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 20) : Crowd was very coarse as you could expect,but as Rovers closed in on 50 points they seemed to shut up.Rovers are playing some very good rugby,well structured and at pace.Pitch was in very good shape,ja enjoyed the outing to Bloem,nice to sit back and watch the kids at work for a change.
@bobby 26 (Comment 21) : You are based in the Eastern Cape arent you, still a fair trip to take in the game. How much talent have Rovers available to them, these days it seems as if there are Rovers or Sharks academy players popping up all over the place in Varsity Cup teams and other Vodacom Cup teams.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 22) : Ja had a busy weekend,2 younger kids played in Grahamstown on Friday and then the wife and i drove up to Bloem on Saturday.This weekend my middle son is playing against KES in PE and my youngest in George at the Kwagga festival and as you know Rovers in JHB,I would watch all the games if it was possible,just love it.Will be at Kearsney in two weeks time.Rovers are running a bit thin on the ground.I spoke to beans in Bloem and he tells me the whole club is in a bit of a rebuild stage,got a very young squad playing at the moment but playing very well, i thought,nice vibe in the team.
@bobby 26 (Comment 23) : You must be seriously clued up about youth / schoolboy rugby – do you visit Beets site? Not surprising that Rovers are in a rebuilding phase considering how many of their guys are popping up all over the place. Great for them that they are still getting the results and that with a young squad too.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 24) : Blog there all the time,enjoy the inter schools banter and the shoulder slapping and cold beer after the games,win or lose.
@Observer (Comment 7) : Absolutely noway. Peet has grown in stature over the past year. And from what I’ve seen from Bressler thus far, Peet needs a looking into.
mtembu… Dam i hope he is not here because of injuries, or else imma be a sad man. That man is too good to be on the sidelines. Really glad Jean Deysel’s starting. Was starting to go mad..