The Sharks team to face the Lions has been announced, with no changes being made to the starting fifteen.
Jake White has fallen back into his routine of selecting unchanged starting fifteens when he can, building momentum and continuity when injuries, or the lack thereof, allows it. This means another second row start for Willem Alberts, with Jean Deysel remaining in the starting team’s loose trio.
Fred Zeilinga is allowed to continue his partnership with the outbound Charl McLeod, with the experienced Frans Steyn outside him being touted as possible flyhalf starter this week. Zeilinga stepped into the injured Pat Lambie’s shoes two weeks ago with great aplomb, with a similar performance needed at Ellis Park for the Sharks to remain at the summit of the log.
Paul Jordaan, who has recovered from his injury, is the only change to the match 23, replacing Heimar Williams on the bench.
Cell C Sharks: 15 Lwazi Mvovo, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Sibusiso Sithole, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis (captain), 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Dale Chadwick, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Etienne Oosthuizen, 20 Keegan Daniel, 21 Stefan Ungerer, 22 Paul Jordaan, 23 SP Marais
Tweet
Pretty much as expected, it was only ever going to be Jordaan starts or is benched on his return,
Rob you might want to change your subs ? lol Jordaan is in for Williams
That backline setup can do some serious damage to the Lions.
Would like to see the current front row on the bench and the bench starting for a change. 😕
Replacements
16. Kyle Cooper
17. Dale Chadwick
18. Lourens Adriaanse
19. Etienne Oosthuizen
20. Keegan Daniel
21. Stefan Ungerer
22. Paul Jordaan
23. SP Marais
In other news, I see Heinrich Brussow is at 8 for the Free State XV in the Vodacom Cup and Robert Du Preez is starting at 12 in the game for WP.
@sharks_lover (Comment 2) :
@sharks_lover (Comment 4) :
My apologies, it was a work in progress
Very good team this. Interesting to see Mvovo at 15 again, showing that it wasn’t just a once-off experiment from Jake, but that he really believes that is where he should play. SP will have to work hard to gain a start it seems.
I am very happy with this team. Fred did so well in his first SS game and he plays so much like Pat, that I just can’t see the need to shuffle the team around.
The only thing we need now, is for this team to be in a good head space. We should beat the Lions, but also have to remember that they are a much improved team this year and have always been difficult to beat at Ellis Park (for the Sharks).
I wonder if playing Mvovo at 15 is not some play to get the opposition to kick on him, thinking they would catch him out of place, and the Sharks thus getting more possession?
Morning all, I am just confused about one thing, everyone say that it was Fred’s first SupeRugby game against the ‘Tahs, but did he not play last year against the Kings in Durban?
No need to change so good on JW. I like Alberts at 4- keep him there always. Let the Lions kick the ball onto Mvovo…i hope they follow up well or it will be a very long day for them. As always it starts up front. Their front row has been quite decent so our guys need to come into this firing. This is 1 away game we need to target for points. It def wont be easy though.
@Letgo (Comment 8) : Sharks historically struggled against perceived weaker teams…in this year’s SR, I think the perception of weak teams has become a fallacy.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 9) : Lots of of comments came out last week with surprise that the Waratah’s didn’t try do exactly that. Maybe they see him as the threat he is….then again maybe their just idiots :D.
Happy with the team. Big game this Saturday, the guys need all the support.
going to the game
in jhb for a work meeting and i have decided to stay till sunday, my boss just said ” you brought your sharks jersey along in this trip so you obviously planned to stay here for the game and if we lose im blamming you.enjoy” 😎
@KingRiaan (Comment 10) : Yes he did, you are correct Sir. I think he also scored a try if not mistaken
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 9) : That is what I though as well when we played the tahs. Truth is, they didn’t kick that much to him, and when they did, he was more than capable of receiving the ball and boot or run back at them. Also, the battle between Zeilinga and Boshoff should be a good one to watch. I feel Fred has more than enough to match him.
@SheldonK (Comment 16) : That he did. Even Supersport’s commentators kept saying it was his first game, bunch of ninkapoops
@KingRiaan (Comment 18) : Well lets be honest between Brosnihan, Nkumane and Matt Pearce i dont think there is too much thinking going on.
I approve
@KingRiaan (Comment 10) :
@KingRiaan (Comment 18) :
It was his first start, if I am not mistaken…
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 21) : Yeh he came off the bench in game last year so game against Tahs was his first start. I wonder how many Sharks flyhalves have score a try on debut…
GO SHARKS!!!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 9) : My gut feeling is that Jake wants Mvovo to run off Fred on attack. Or at least have the Lions defence concerned about that avenue of attack.
@gregkaos (Comment 24) :
Good point..
There is speed in the back three, along with plenty experience, so what those three come up with on attack may just surprise us all..
The best part of the season so far is the fact that the team is not being shuffled every week, and most of the substitutes are getting more than just a last 5 minutes on the park..
Good solid team – me thinks. As long as we don’t underestimate the Lions we should get the win. We don’t have the best of records in Jhb. Anyway, GO SHARKIES!!!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 25) : I’m also glad that he’s not chop and changing week in and week out, but I’m also worried about the extra work load it’s placing on certain players and could just leave their replacements a bit off the pace.
@JD (Comment 27) :
I think we have seen a whole bunch of injuries and players stepping in and the quality not dropping off significantly.
If you have to think about it, the only position we will really suffer in if we have an injury is hooker, as Bismarck stays on the field as he is the captain.
Perhaps scrumhalf is also a concern, but Reinach should be back before we tour, if I am not mistaken..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 28) : yeah, that’s right. Jake said they should have Cobus back in time for the tour if all continues to go well.
@robdylan (Comment 29) :
Thanks
So all in all, I think JW is smart in playing the continuity game as long as injuries allow it, and somehow he is keeping the reserves in the loop as they have been stepping in without problem.
I have a feeling the team is so set on playing in the Durban humidity (given all the home games), they have gotten into a “humidity” mindset regardless of where they play. I would be surprised if we will see an all attack game against the Lions, but mostly still a very territorial based game.
That may just work well against the Lions as we saw against the Crusaders. Keep them pinned in their half, let them try and run from their 22, and pounce on any mistakes.
@Bokhoring (Comment 31) : that’s the right way to play regardless. You don’t want to end up playing 7s against Volminck and Coetzee. Really you don’t.
@robdylan (Comment 32) :
Agree.. As much as it is frustrating to watch, the Sharks have to keep it tight and use the forwards, mauling them to death, or to a penalty, and take the points and repeat.
A win this weekend is important in setting up the little run in before the tour starts. A win coupled with 8 points from the Cheetahs and Highlanders, takes the pressure of the tour, in which we can drop points and still be in the clear..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 33) : You also want to play the game in their half. The main danger is Boshoff keeping the scoreboard ticking over with penalties and drops.
Really hoping to see the same intensity on defense evident in the Tahs game. If we can achieve that we’ll have plenty of turnovers and no humidity to hamper our handling.
Am I the only one that feels that Paul Jordan would make a better wing, as he plays very head down and not really for players outside him and he is good finisher with pace to burn, that to me is wing material ???
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 33) : exactly right.
So I’d like to see a carbon copy of what we did to them in Durban in the first half. Build that scoreboard pressure until they have no option but to try run from everywhere. That’s when they make mistakes and we score tries off them.
Ive a question, what is the significant difference between 11 and 14 (besides the obvious of left and right)…….im a deluded when for me it seems that an 11 is more pacey with stepping skills and a 14 is more of a wing / fullback hybrid with finishing skills……I don’t know hence this being a question not a statement ???????
@robdylan (Comment 37) :
Ideally, I’d like the following to come from this match:
1. A win of course, but a dominant win, not scraping home. It would be best if the game was over as a contest in 60 minutes so every single reserve could get at least 20 minutes on the park.
2. Fred Z to have another good game, building his confidence for the weeks ahead, he will be facing much tougher in the next two months.
3. Our scrum to be 100% dominant at all times in this match. This is not only aimed at the front row, but also our loosies, who have to outshine the Lions trio.
4. A bonus would be if Odwa scored in this 100th..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 39) : Those would indeed be great but the Lions have come from behind in more than one game this year and that may be weighing on Jake’s mind when making substitutions. I suspect he’ll play it safe for as long as possible. Also, with the way the scrums have been reffed to date I just don’t see number 3 happening, regardless of the quality of the Sharks’ scrummaging unit.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 39) :
And lets not forget the stands @ Elis Park will be 60% Loins to 40% Shark Fans so its like a second home to a degree,
Given the nature of the opposition game-plan, we should have gone for SP at 15. Lwazi can kick well enough to handle the Waratahs or well enough as a wing. I don’t know how well he will hold up against Boshoff.
@Gordon Gecko (Comment 41) : I like that
@Gordon Gecko (Comment 41) : nonsense at best those fickle Lions supporters will make up 30% of the total crowd,will be like a home game ,just Sharks
@benji (Comment 44) :
They not good fans in general, very rowdy obnoxious, predominantly from the far east and west rand, tho not as bad as WP fans
Worst stadium fan base in order
1.WP
2.Lions
3.Bulls
NB: This is a General observation, not a biased insult to the fans from other unions.
@Gordon Gecko (Comment 45) : Have to be honest, I’ve only had a one bad experience with an opposing team’s fans and that was at Loftus and the guy was really drunk.
@vanmartin (Comment 46) : My worst fan experience was at Newlands during and after the 2012 Super 15 semi final, those droebek, long faced Stormers fans just would not engage me.
Wow, playing around on Wikipedia Ive learnt that both Allister Coetzee and Kobus van der Merwe have been Sharks assistant coaches. I have no recollection of eithers tenure.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 48) : what?
I knew about Fester, but when was Toetie Sharks assistant?
Apparently he and Jake were assistant coaches together at the same time.