Keegan Daniel will make his 100th appearance for the Sharks in Super Rugby against the Highlanders on Friday night.
Daniel, who will leave the Sharks at the end of the season to continue his career in Japan, start for a second week at number 8, ahead of Ryan Kankowski, in a forward outfit unchanged after Saturday’s victory over the Cheetahs. Jean Deysel, who shares a birthday with Daniel and will also leave for Japan after Super Rugby, continues at blindside flank, with Willem Alberts deputising in the second row after injuries have ruled out Pieter-Steph du Toit and Anton Bresler for extended periods.
Changes have been made to the outside back division this week, with Odwa Ndungane failing to recover from his shoulder injury as expected and Tonderai Chavanga ruled out due to a hamstring complaint. Fortunately, both JP Pietersen and Paul Jordaan have been passed fit, with the former taking over at right wing from Jaco van Tonder, who came in as a late replacement ahead of last week’s game. Jordaan returns to the number 13 shirt, with S’bura Sithole shifting to left wing to replace Chavanga.
Lwazi Mvovo remains at fullback, with SP Marais providing cover off the bench. Likewise, Tim Swiel will start at flyhalf for a second week.
The Cell C Sharks
15. Lwazi Mvovo (Ricoh PMB Collegians)
14. JP Pietersen (Thanda Zululand Rhinos)
13. Paul Jordaan (Varsity College RFC)
12. Frans Steyn (SA Home Loans Durban Collegians)
11. S’bura Sithole (UKZN Impi)
10. Tim Swiel (UKZN Impi)
9. Charl McLeod (Varsity College RFC)
8. Keegan Daniel (Jonsson College Rovers)
7. Jean Deysel (Marshall Security Crusaders)
6. Marcell Coetzee (SA Home Loans Durban Collegians)
5. Stephan Lewies (Amanzimtoti Rugby Club)
4. Willem Alberts (SA Home Loans Durban Collegians)
3. Jannie du Plessis (Marshall Security Crusaders)
2. Bismarck du Plessis (Captain) (Marshall Security Crusaders)
1. Tendai Mtawarira (Jonsson College Rovers)
Replacements
16. Kyle Cooper (Jonsson College Rovers)
17. Dale Chadwick (Ricoh PMB Collegians)
18. Lourens Adriaanse (Amanzimtoti Rugby Club)
19. Etienne Oosthuizen (UKZN Impi)
20. Ryan Kankowski (Amanzimtoti Rugby Club)
21. Stefan Ungerer (Ricoh PMB Collegians)
22. Heimar Williams (SA Home Loans Durban Collegians)
23. SP Marais (Marshall Security Crusaders)
Tweet
Good team, good to see Jordaan back and involved. I hope we do more running and less kicking with this backline.
And congrats for Keegan.
Second week for Kanko on the bench – is this rotation or simply allowing Keegan to start his 100th?
Good to see JPP back..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 3) : Kanko was good off the bench, both good players, I personally feel we don’t lose or gain with either starting.
I do think it is time to rotate Alberts / Oosthuyzen and Jannie / Adriaanse. Jake must be careful not to Alistair his players.
Also congrats to KD – great servant of Sharks rugby.
@Bokhoring (Comment 5) :
Agree, we need Oosthuizen to play at least 40 minutes this weekend, similarly Adriaanse.
Did I miss player ratings? @rob
Big congrats to Keegan glad you made it to 100 caps!!!!!!!!! Good team hope they nail the Landers with 4 or more tries!!!!!!!!!
Another good team…good for sticking with Swiel!!!
I just hope their approach is VASTLY different!! The team was right last week, but the gameplan was NOT!!
Congratulations Keegan!
Interesting to see that Sithole is moved to wing. Surely must mean that White rates Jordaan higher as a 13; otherwise why not start him at wing instead.
I would have liked to see Sithole get another shot at 13 given his performances to date.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 3) : did I also miss the player ratings thread?
Well done Keegan Sharks must have the most ton up boys in the competition!!
Good team this. Glad Swiel is kept at 10. A question though, would it not make more sense to move Mvovo to 11, S’bu 13 and SP at 15 with Jordaan coming off the bench? Easing him in after his injury…
@truthbetold (Comment 7) : no, you didn’t. I did.
And here are the reasons:
1) Sky Sports didn’t show the game live. I ended up watching via a very dodgy, low quality feed, which made it hard to tell hte players apart, much less rate them.
2) I downloaded a HD recording of the game, but jinne… it was such an awful game I couldn’t bring myself to watch it a second time from start to finish.
3) Because of the long weekend and short turnaround, I thought I’d rather not dwell too much on last week and would rather focus on Friday’s game.
4) Doing ratings after a dull game is very hard and you know that I prefer to not do negative pieces if I can avoid it.
@Another Nick (Comment 13) : Also, congrats Keegs! Well done! Hope you have a cracker of a game! 😎
@Big Fish (Comment 10) : At this stage Jordaan is more devastating with ball in hand at 13 than Sithole. Sithole is still learning how to play 13 and will also find a way to make himself deadly at 13. Sithole needs to follow Jordaan well as there are many tries up for grabs outside Jordaan. With Sithole’s pace I would have made the same change if I was Jake. There’s a fine act between developing players and winning games, I think Jake has made the right call. Good luck, pray the injury demon stays away.
@Big Fish (Comment 10) :
Agree with you, Sithole has been great at 13 and I am not sure Jordaan will be able to click back into gear as well as Sithole would have played here.
There must have been no other wing available for the selection to go the way it has, but Jordaan could easily have shifted to wing.
But in Jake we trust..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 17) : Don’t understand. Jordaan scored a brilliant try first match of the season.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 18) :
He’s also struggled to find players outside him with his passing and is not as physical as Sithole on defence.
Jordaan is a talented kid, but he was not a resounding success at 13 last year by any means. My point is simply that it is not a foregone conclusion as to which of the 2 is a better 13.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 18) :
But he has been out injured since?
A player does not simply walk back into the team and is immediately on the same level as everybody else
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 17) :
In Jake we trust.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 17) : think during second and third phase i’m sure Sithole will get closer to the game even if he’s picked at 11.
@JD (Comment 22) :
I really hope so..
He is one of the better centre prospects we have seen in a few years..
Congrats Keegan!
I like the look of the team and am happy with how the backline has been shuffled.
Ok, so Tim has been given another chance – please, please, please – can we see this backline get a chance to show what they have got instead of the dour ping-pong kicking game that we saw last week. 🙄
Well done Keegan, my boy! I hope you have a blinder on Friday!
I’m very chuffed that JPP is fit!!
I’m glad that Tim Swiel gets another go…no need to be so nervous, son…go out there and enjoy yourself…you’re good enough!
Final question that I wanted to ask (because I wasn’t at the game last Saturday, nor did I watch it, nor was I in or around Durbs…but nobody has mentioned it in the threads at all): was the 3pm start a factor that contributed to a lethargic game filled with handling errors? Personally I think that unless its the dead of winter and snowing in Maritzburg, there should never be a 3pm kick off in Durbs!!
Apparently Tim Swiel has pace to burn ???? so if you had this backline
10. Swiel
11. Chavanga
12. Jordaan
13. Sithole
14. JP
15. Mvovo
that would be the fastest backline EVER ????
Not that i would take Frans out tho
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 23) : yes what I do like about him is he seems to always look to keep the ball alive.
@pastorshark (Comment 25) :
It was really, really hot … even from in the stands where I was sitting, I was quite exhausted after the game. I thought it was sitting through the snooze fest the Sharks delivered, but later realized it must have been the heat.
@JD (Comment 28) :
My one big criticism of Jordaan in the first few games, was that he made the meters, but almost always lost the ball in contact. Sithole have been able to link up with players, or keep the ball alive in the tackle when he is taken down.
Hope Jordaan has kept a good eye on Sithole. It doesn’t count if the ball dies after your break.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 20) : Richie Mccaw, Heinrich Brussow…..? We all saw what he did to us last Saturday.
@pastorshark (Comment 25) :
I am a Durbanite, have been all my life, and the weather definitely played a role.
In the week building up, we thought that winter had finally arrived, but come Saturday, it was a monster day with temps into the 30’s.
A 3pm game in Durban is never a great idea as the entire East stand sit and watches the game with the sun directly in front of them.
Congrats to Keegan. So happy he could get his ton before leaving the Sharks!
I’m happy that Jake is sticking with Swiel. I saw quite a few negative comments about his play but after finally managing to watch the game I’m pretty impressed with his performance. I think he’ll improve with each game.
@Maria Delport (Comment 30) : Agree.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 31) :
He had an impact because the Sharks allowed him to, not that it helped their cause at all.
I agree that he is a special player and made an impact in the Cheetahs team, but he didn’t replace anybody that was doing his job already, they simply did not have a fetcher previously.
But a valid point nonetheless
Here is a question:
After Swiel’s two misses on Saturday, do we all agree that Steyn should be taking the shots at goal, to ease the pressure on Swiel?
@Maria Delport (Comment 30) : hope more players than just Jordaan looked at how Sithole plays and always keeps the ball alive!!!!!!!!!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 36) : no. Timo needs to get back on the horse as soon as possible.
Congrats Keegan, great milestone, well done.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 36) : I’m afraid it may create an over-reliance on Frans Steyn. Swiel will need to find his kicking confidence at some point in time. I’d rather it happen sooner than later.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 36) : Agree with Rob, he needs to get his confidence back at some stage.
I believe he was kicking really well for the Vodacom Cup side?
@GreatSharksays (Comment 31) : wow yes 4 tunovers and a yellow card for repeated penalties at the break down?!?!?!?!?! What a superhero!!!!!!!!!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 36) : With you on this one – always go with your inform player.
@stevovo (Comment 41) : Not consistently, he missed a few sitters against Boland as well.
Maybe he should be putting in after hours practice sessions with a dedicated kicking coach.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 36) : If Steyn was not hobbling around after every kick – I would have agreed with you. Swiel looks to be a ball of nerves at the moment – so kicking just adds the extra pressure.
@Bokhoring (Comment 45) : if Steyn was fit he must kick, if Steyn’s 50/50 Swiel must step up and take the presure of kicking.
@Seth101 (Comment 1) : I think they need to stick to the territorial game plan, wait for mistakes in the oppo half, and then pounce. The tactical kicking just need to be better, and likewise the kick chase.
The team still struggles to create opportunities under defensive pressure. That will come with time.
If only we had Lambie, this would be the best backline we’ve fielded this year!
Congratulations to Keegan 🙂
@Bokhoring (Comment 45) : He does seem nervous and a bit scared. There was however an improvement in the nervousness from the Bulls game. He needs to find his feet…. quickly
@Bokhoring (Comment 47) : that worked so far so why change, like you said just kick better.
I’m happy to give Swiel another go and he should do the goal kicking. Better he kicks while we have a backup if things go wrong.
@Son Of Mayhem (Comment 51) : I would rather he plays his game without the pressure of taking pressure kicks (which is what they have become to him) weighing at the back of his mind. Let him gain his confidence and then let him have a go. If Steyn (or anyone for that matter) is kicking at 80%+ why must someone else even be considered?
@Gordon Gecko (Comment 26) : Add Kobus to that and its all out pace! 😈
@Gordon Gecko (Comment 26) : Put Frans back in and it becomes the fourth fastest backline ever.
Congrats on your ton Keegan! Hope you have a great game!
good team this, Add Reinach and Lambie to that and its dynamite. well of course PSDT and Bresler, Although Lewies is doing a great job.
As for people calling for JW to just give some fringe players more game time will not happen, JW admitted already in an earlier match that his wholesale changes with reserves nearly caused huge problems, he made the changes not because it was needed but because it was pre planned.
Changes must come as per what’s happening on the field at the time and not because we feel it is time to give some players more game time.
As for Swiel? I like Richard also feel he could cost us with these mistakes, but I also agree with Rob that we should push through with him and grow his confidence, he is a talented player.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 52) : Many do not realise it but Paul Jordaan is a good kicker, he played 10 for a long time and can also help out to take pressure off Steyn too who one sees in pain after every kick!
@SeanyJMc (Comment 48) : Even without Lambie if they Gel this backline could cause havock, Swiel like Jordaan is damn fast and fast off the mark.
@Salmonoid : What if Steyn gets injured? Did you not see how he was in pain everytime after a kick? Rather we score tries then kicking penalties the whole time. If it takes penalties to win then so be it, but I’d still rather have Steyn in the team than not.
@Son Of Mayhem (Comment 59) : Problem is tries do not always come easy, we sit on top of the log because of great kicking, for me someone like Jordaan can help with the kicking duties if Swiel is off like the weekend.
I seriously hope he works on his kicking as one always needs back up
I’m sure it was just nerves, he will come right if given the chance. But not letting him kick wont help his confidence.
Swiel has a truck load of talent. He is a flyhalf and flyhalfs kick at goal. It is his job and should be trusted with it. Not allowing him to kick will not settle him, it will worsen the situation and he’ll stay out of the competition for longer. Hookers throw it in, scrummies put it in. LOL.
He needs to deal with a miss in his own mind and so he shall. If he wants to play here he must show BMT. I trust him to rise to the occasion. He must work on positional kicking. This is were he lacked in both games.
I like the combination of this weeks backline, I think we must just believe in Swiel as much as JW does, remember a couple of years ago, we had a new rookie that we thought would not cut it, and today he is THE Patrick Lambie, sure we miss him currently and could have been much better if Swiel was his back up, but I don’t think we need to be to harsh on Tim, it was his 1st start, think this week we will se a huge improvement, I really like the way he attacks the gain line, and try to get the players outside him away
@Son Of Mayhem (Comment 59) : Im assuming that Steyn is fully fit. Steyn, if in the condition he was last week, should probably not even be on the field and then Swiel can kick away to his hearts (or nerves) content, or as @sharks_lover (Comment 57) : says let Jordaan have a few shots as well.
This is a good side but i do feel that Adriaanse,Oosthuizen, Ungerer need some significant game time or they could be pretty rusty come tour time. Will be interesting to see if and when JW rests Frans Steyn as he surely cant play every game.
@Son Of Mayhem (Comment 61) : @KILLER SHARK (Comment 62) : Are you saying that you are happy to lose a game by 1 or 2 points so that someone short on kicking confidence can maybe regain that confidence and that because he wears a 10 on the back of his shirt he must take the kicks. All this while there is someone slotting them from all over the park. Makes no sense to me.
Has anyone got Swiels kicking stats from last season – maybe he is just an inconsistent kicker, sometimes firing and other times not.
@SheldonK (Comment 65) : can’t see JW resting Steyn before Pat or maybe Fred is back.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 66) : I do think to help Steyn who looked in pain after kicking, than Swiel must start and only if he miss Jordaan or Steyn must do the kicking.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 66) : nobody who looked at Lambie’s kicking stats from the last 2-3 seasons would ever even consider picking him as starting goal-kicker, based on that logic.
@JD (Comment 67) : Yeh I think you are right there. @robdylan (Comment 69) : So hoping it deosnt happen but knowing the sharks it could. Should both Swiel and Steyn collide and both go off…who wud then kick? I wouldnt put it past Bissie having a shot himself
@SheldonK (Comment 70) : I think Jordaan and Marais would both back themselves within the 22.
Maybe even Heimar Williams?
Most of these guys can probably do a reasonable job as a kicker if they have to.
@robdylan (Comment 69) : @Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 66) : That’s why there is Fred Z,he is more complete at 10 and brings more to the party than both Bambie and TS,the last time I saw a player kick with such confidence was Kockett
@robdylan (Comment 71) : yeh you are right. Jordaan has kicked for poles before. They should just score tries, makes life so much easier haha. One does wonder how rugby would be if there werent 3 points for a penalty but only 1 point.
@benji (Comment 72) : if he’s that good, why does he get injured?
@robdylan (Comment 74) : He is only human after all
@robdylan (Comment 69) : Was anyone in the team kicking better than him at the time? What is the logic in giving the kicks to someone that is struggling while there is a guy nailing them standing right next to him. Is that not why Steyn had to bite the bullet and take over the kicking duties on Saturday last.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 76) : I think the point you’re missing is that it was Steyn’s own decision to give Tim the kicking tee, because he felt it would boost the youngster’s confidence, rather than the other way round.
@benji (Comment 72) : Ahh Benji, that Zelinga guy is really special, and to me so are “Bambie” and Swiel is getting there as well.
@robdylan (Comment 77) : I thought the coach would decide such things. Good of Steyn on that call then. I just hope that he didnt dent Swiels confidence further by taking the kicking duties away from him then. 😈
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 79) : yes well… Jake made that call at half time.
I wouldn’t have taken the kicks away from him after just 2 misses…. then again, tight game and we really needed to break the shackles. Right call in hindsight.
@robdylan (Comment 80) : The big problem with those misses is that they were actually sitters and should have been nailed. Nail them and all is good, miss them and your confidence goes for a ball.
Anyway if Swiel kicks on Friday he will be flawless.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 66) : if I had the ability to predict the final score of the game, maybe not. But I don’t. Neither Steyn nor Lambie has the greatest success ratio I would guess. But I would back the selection to get BMT. When you trust someone with responsibility they normally blossom. Swiel has played some serious rugby up to now and exposure to ample situations where he was entrusted to swing the game. This is just a natural continuation of his process. Fred rose quickly, Lambie took some time and Swiel shall have to show his BMT this week. His natural game is brilliant! His goal kicking on standard. His positional kicks sucked but this boy has got the complete package. I would stake my reputation on this boy.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 81) : no kick is a sitter. No golf putt is a sure thing. I was fortunate to be assisted by Naas as a school boy and have learned that rule at a young age.
LOL. The saying goes:Goal kicking is easy if you do the first 10 things absolutely perfect.
@KILLER SHARK (Comment 83) : @KILLER SHARK (Comment 84) : yes agree under game situations no kicks may be sitters but if you’re playing Super rugby kicks from in front of the poles can’t be missed no matter how you look at it.
Congrats to Keegan on this achievement!
@KILLER SHARK (Comment 83) : Id say a sitter is a kick from right in front of the poles or at a slight angle from the poles, windless, a good surface and easily within the kickers range – something any kicker should be nailing at any level, especially at the highest level. I think Naas was talking about a sure thing – and the past few weeks have been proof that a sitter is not a sure thing.
well done Keegan. I will never forget that try 19 secs into the game against the Blues in Durban when the try was scored 20 m from me.LOL