Dangerous play maker Ben Smith returns to the Highlanders side at fullback for Saturday’s Super Rugby Qualifier against the Cell C Sharks in Durban.
Coach Jamie Jospeh has named his strongest possible line-up for the clash, with Smith back after an illness-enforced absence to complete a formidable backline that also includes new All Black Malakai Fekitoa at centre, dangerous flyhalf Lima Sopoaga and another, unrelated Smith danger man, scrumhalf Aaron.
Changes to the pack see Ged Robinson (hooker) and Jarrad Hoeata (lock) come back into the starting side after missing out on last week’s loss to the Crusaders.
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (co-captain), 14 Richard Buckman, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Phil Burleigh, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu (co-captain), 7 Shane Christie, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Joe Wheeler, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Chris King, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 Kane Hames.
Replacements: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Matias Diaz, 18 JP Koen, 19 Josh Bekhuis, 20 Tom Franklin, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Trent Renata, 23 Gareth Evans.
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This is a dangerous looking team…. 👿
Who was our Fullback when we lost to them earlier this season?
I have faith in SP. He is playing very well lately. Against the Cheetahs he made more running meters than Willie! Yeah! 😛
@Uli Boelie (Comment 2) : If memory serves me it was SP Marais
@Uli Boelie (Comment 2) : My memory is shite lol it was Lwazi
@Uli Boelie (Comment 2) :
Mvovo
@Another Nick (Comment 3) : 🙄 Problem is not making running meters, it’s what you do with the ball after making the meters lol
@Uli Boelie (Comment 2) :
Sweil started at 10.
Have a feeling our side will be a lot more balanced this time round.
But we need to stop Fekitoa and Smith. Those 2 are real threats.
@John Galt (Comment 8) : Don’t forget other Smith – Aaron – he can be a handful as well.
The forwards will have to win this game for us. They need to make sure that back line gets very little front foot ball.
@Bokhoring (Comment 9) :
Yep, him too. Going to be a good game methinks.
@Bokhoring (Comment 9) : We have the better pack, and that’s where we should put big pressure, you make sure they get difficult ball.
@sharks_lover (Comment 5) : It was the game where SP came on at the end only to through a tantrum on the field!!! I lost a bit of respect for him there…
@R Hayward (Comment 12) : My memory does not recollect
😆
@R Hayward (Comment 12) : @sharks_lover (Comment 13) : Yes me too, I don’t remember that, please freshen our memory 😳
Sharks team has been named
The Cell C Sharks
15. SP Marais
14. S’bura Sithole
13. JP Pietersen
12. Paul Jordaan
11. Lwazi Mvovo
10. Francois Steyn
9. Cobus Reinach
8. Ryan Kankowski
7. Willem Alberts <
6. Marcell Coetzee
5. Stephan Lewies
4. Anton Bresler
3. Jannie du Plessis
2. Bismarck du Plessis (Captain)
1. Thomas du Toit
Replacements
16. Kyle Cooper
17. Dale Chadwick
18. Lourens Adriaanse
19. Etienne Oosthuizen
20. Jean Deysel
21. Charl McLeod
22. Pat Lambie
23. Tonderai Chavhanga
Team really as expected, question was always will he start pat or bench him, question answered.
OK BRING IT ON LANDERS!!! SAAAKS by 50!
@sharks_lover (Comment 16) : I don’t know if its me but not too happy with JP at 13 🙁 S’burra looks far more menacing at 13.
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 19) : A bit of both lol, JPP and Sbura can swop around during the match anyhow,
JW has taken the correct route in my mind, you cannot change the team every week, and change a players position, specially in breaking combinations, mind you the Sharks center combo was split because of HM moving JPP to center.
who is JP Koen? sounds like an ex saffa?
@Gerhardt (Comment 22) :
“The Highlanders have included JP Koen on their bench for this match. He is a former Valke Under-19 and Under-20 front ranker who matriculated from Springs Technical High School. He moved to New Zealand a decade ago and plays his provincial rugby for Southland.”
According to SARU
SP coming along nicely. Very good under the ball. Please coach use your forwards use the line kick and maul to pressure them on their line. Let’s not chase the 3 point penalty all the time these guys can turn thing around very quickly.
Sithole and Jordaan at ceter. They are our future pair. JP and Mvovo on wing or Chavanga. Frans I like you but I think Zeilinga would have been a better choice. Then again Frans has experience and doubles as a loose forward maybe he can pressure Cruden.
Whatever happens. The boys still made me proud this year. That 13man game in Christchurch. Winners of local conference, ONLY SA team to make it to playoffs, ONLY team with a positive tour record, ONLY TEAM PERIOD.
@coolfusion (Comment 25) : Cruden will be playing for the Chiefs in Canberra on Saturday morning.
thats right sopoaga, not cruden.
@coolfusion (Comment 26) : My sentiments exactly. Well put.
@coolfusion (Comment 26) : @vanmartin (Comment 29) : They’ve made us proud…yes, but….they made us proud in 2012 when they reached the final, then in ’08 when they reached the semi-final, in ’07 having reached the final, ’01 having reached the final, ’98 (can’t remember the exact date) when they reached the final.
But no amount of pride should overshadow the fact that their record reads 4 finals, 0 wins. That is simply not good enough anymore. Time to quit celebrating the Sharks as the first loser, and expect this star studded team to once and for all deliver.
For too long have we been celebrating these failed campaigns. Enough is enough, win the SR trophy, or chalk this season up as yet another failure.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 30) : It bugs me that the Bulls already have 3 super titles, and we have ziltch. Especially with a bunch of in-laws who are huge Bulls supporters.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 30) : Relax bud, just giving credit where it’s due 🙂
@Bokhoring (Comment 31) : I am sitting in the exact same boat….just add my sister to the mix of bulls supporters to really rub me the wrong way.
@vanmartin (Comment 32) : I am relaxed, just think that we shouldn’t cut this Sharks team any more slack…they have everything required to be the best, there really isn’t a good enough reason for them to not get the silver ware.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 33) : Victory or defeat is unfortunately not dependent on whether we cut them slack or not. That’s entirely in the team’s hands. I celebrate the highs and choose not to dwell on the lows for too long. Good for the soul I tell ya.
@vanmartin (Comment 34) : I am able to compartmentalise the different areas of my life, so when the Sharks finish yet another disappointing season (not saying this will be one), the rest of my life goes on. Just the rugby compartment that feels a bit somber 🙂
@FireTheLooser (Comment 35) : Know what you mean, supporting the Sharks is not for sissies