Dale Chadwick and Matt Stevens will start in the front row for the Cell C Sharks against the Cheetahs this weekend.
The pair will replace Thomas du Toit and Lourens Adriaanse and loose and tight head respectively, with both of the latter included on a rather strange bench. The Sharks have opted to go with two props in a 4/3 split, meaning only one man covering both lock and loose forward.
Etienne Oosthuizen moves back into his more familiar number 4 jersey this week, in place of the injured JC Astle, with Francois Kleinhans handed a first Currie Cup start in two seasons, on the blind side flank. The rest of the starting team (and specifically the entire back line) remains unchanged from the unit that recorded a bonus-point victory over the Pumas last Friday.
The bench is a different story; Franco Marais is given an opportunity ahead of Monde Hadebe as reserve hooker – a strange selection given Hadebe’s maiden try last week – while either Stephan Lewies or Plank Meyer will operate as a utility forward in the number 19 jersey. This obviously depends on Lewies’ fitness, who missed out on the Pumas game due to wear and tear.
Among the backs, Heimar Williams takes the bench spot vacated by Pat Lambie, while Conrad Hoffmann, presumably fit again, replaces Hanco Venter as reserve scrumhalf.
Cell C Sharks: 15. SP Marais, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. S’bura Sithole, 12. Paul Jordaan , 11. Tonderai Chavhanga , 10. Fred Zeilinga , 9. Cameron Wright , 8. Tera Mtembu (Captain) , 7. Francois Kleinhans , 6. Jacques Botes, 5. Marco Wentzel , 4. Etienne Oosthuizen , 3. Matt Stevens , 2. Kyle Cooper , 1. Dale Chadwick
Replacements: 16. Franco Marais, 17. Thomas du Toit , 18. Lourens Adriaanse , 19. Stephan Lewies / Johan Meyer , 20. Conrad Hoffmann , 21. Heimar Williams , 22. Lionel Cronje
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Francois Kleinhans get’s a start 😎
Where’s Hadebe?
Not a bad team. But we are a bit lacking in ball carrying blind side flanks. Maybe there is a big signing on the way to cover for that?
Im glad Etienne is moved to lock, he’s much more effective there.
Ain’t nobody beating Rob to the post this week 😈
@FireTheLooser (Comment 4) : damn right
nothing pisses me off more than when people post the Sharks team as a comment before I’ve had the chance to put up an article. It’s disrespectful to the work I do.
/rant
Conrad Hoffman 🙄
@robdylan (Comment 6) : Congrats bud.
Good to see Chadwick and Stevens rotated in as they have been good off the bench. Ive never been a Hadebe fan (just personal pref i guess) so glad to see Marais given a shot. Interesting combo on the bench reg the backs..hope they all given some good game time so we can assess. Id like to see more of Lionel Cronje…im still one of those that thinks he can offer a lot
@FireTheLooser (Comment 4) :
I had actually posted the team on the other thread, deleted when I saw him post, edited 😛 😆
Has anyone seen Hoffman play recently? With all the young talent we have, I really wonder why did we bring him back. Last time he didn’t really do much to convince me we should spend more money on him!
@HeinF (Comment 11) : He does a stellar job at keeping the bench nice and warm 😉
@HeinF (Comment 11) : To be fair on the guy he was injury prone last time he was here so didnt get much game time. I dont think he was too expensive so think Sharks jumped in to have a look as they obviously saw something previously. he isnt that old either.
@HeinF (Comment 11) : I liked our two new SH, they play exciting rugby
@robdylan (Comment 6) : I suppose folks forget that you do have a day job, and therefore you might not always be able to post the team sheet immediately….blame it on our Microwave-Oven world of instant-everything. 🙂
@FireTheLooser (Comment 12) : If that is the criteria to be a SH…I played hockey, but I will be willing to keep the bench warm for a fraction of his salary and for the privelege of having a great seat!
@KingRiaan (Comment 2) : I’ve mentioned this before but I hope there isn’t. We’ve become far too predictable in our over-reliance on a big, ball carrying seven. “If in doubt, pass to Willem Alberts” has become as useful as an aimless kick.
@vanmartin (Comment 17) : Perhaps now guys will run into the space and look to offload before the tackle. Kleinhans will need to improve his discipline as has been a walking penalty sometimes.
Really disappointing to see Lionel Cronje effectively taking Tim Swiels place-was looking forward to a Currie cup with fred and tim getting rotated maybe-really makes you wonder why we signed swiel
@FireTheLooser (Comment 12) : the bench in the physio’s office
@SheldonK (Comment 18) : Sean Everitt did hint at this during his interview with Rob but obviously there’s still some refining to do.
This one is for the Sharks to lose. Too many rookies in that Cheetahs 22. A Cheetahs win would be a major upset.
@ robdylan (Comment 6) : Then get up Out of bed faster 😉
@robdylan (Comment 20) :
(Culling Song should really not be missing this)
@vanmartin (Comment 21) : True, i also recall that. New ideas take time to implement…its hard to change bad habits 😉
@Bok-Clyde-Kiwi (Comment 19) : I share your sentiments, swiel played a few swak games in the S15, but this is what CC is for, to iron out his shortcomings, isn’t it? I was looking forward to Swiel and Fred as well, could have made for great competition between them there. When it was initially revealed that Swiel would be joining us from the cape, someone raved on here about what a brilliant guy he is… can’t remember who, but do you think that the move to the shark tank was a bad move for his career, much like Adriaanse’s move? I reckon Adriaanse could have cemented his spot at the Boks had he moved to the bulls or cheetahs rather than come here. I think he has a lot to offer and last year he was fantastic with the cheetah’s so great he got a bok call-up, then came sharks… and the guy hardly started a single game, which effectively ruled him out of bok contention..
@Stiko85 (Comment 26) : I would tend to agree on both players. Adriaanse was a good buy for the Sharks but coaches seem scared not to play Jannie.
@Stiko85 (Comment 26) : Swiel looked a bit lost in the u/21 match vs. the Cheetahs u/21 too. Maybe the hype got to him.
@KingCheetah (Comment 22) :
You make me snigger
@KingCheetah (Comment 28) : The whole team looked a bit lost
@vanmartin (Comment 30) : They clearly had prepared for a game on Saturday
@robdylan (Comment 31) : couldn’t figure out why they were getting so badly f*cked up at captains practice
@vanmartin (Comment 17) : A blind side flanker can be big and skillful ala Juan Smith and now Jacque Potgieter at the ‘Tahs. But you need to have balance in your loose trio, a fetcher, a bruiser and a mix of the two at 8.
@Robdylan, can we post memes?
@vanmartin (Comment 30) :
Any statement including the word “lost” is probably pertinent to that team and that performance.
@robdylan (Comment 32) : 😈
@KingRiaan (Comment 33) : Definitely, just think it’s good for the Sharks to have the option of a big ball carrier at 7 removed for a while to force some out-of-the-box thinking.
Jeez but we’re battling at 7 all of a sudden.
From having 2 world class 7s now to having none in the CC.
Kleinhans is good but he aint no 7.
@Big Fish (Comment 35) : ja let’s rather leave it in the past.
@Big Fish (Comment 35) : “Things can only get better” should also not be considered hyperbole in this particular context.
@Talent (Comment 34) : within reason I guess….. nothing stopping you from including an img tag in a comment.
Just watch the size. And the content of course
@robdylan (Comment 40) : Ill behave haha
@vanmartin (Comment 36) : Yup I agree. It’s definitely forcing the Sharks hand to the benefit of our backs.
@robdylan (Comment 40) : sometimes I feel as if an internet meme is the only way to display my thoughts on certain matters 😯
@vanmartin (Comment 36) : True, it is forcing them to change the tactics a bit, but it leaves you a bit vulnerable in the tight exchanges, especially with this team in the CC. None of the guys we have in the forwards now is renowned for their muscle like a Beast, Bismarck or Alberts. But we should be able to overcome that at CC level.
@vanmartin (Comment 39) :
Neither should “things must get better or else” be considered an idle threat to those guys…
@Talent (Comment 43) :
Which is the equivalent of saying that your preferred medium for conveying your most profound thoughts is via crayons and a a torn out jotter page…
@Big Fish (Comment 46) : Lighten up 😆
Where is Lambie? ❓ Is he part of the Bok squad in Argentina?
@KingRiaan (Comment 44) : Good point. We’ll have to play very smartly against the Lions. Try and take their forwards out of the equation.
@Big Fish (Comment 45) : Can only hope that one of the coaches has uttered those exact words.
@swan (Comment 48) : Yup
@swan (Comment 48) : On HM sponsored holiday 🙄
@swan (Comment 48) : He is searching the internet for old KKNK Afrikaans T-shirts.
where is Lambie?
Guess who is back, jip i am back in action.. For only this weekend, Hos ja!!
@silver_fox (Comment 52) : with the Boks
I should call you Jon Snow….
@Windgat101 (Comment 53) : ja welcome back if only for the week.
@robdylan (Comment 54) : where is Lambie?
@Stiko85 (Comment 26) : can’t agree more-imho if swiel stayed at wp he would’ve gotten more games-and in the under21 game last week he didn’t even play 10 he played 15 with future shark centre Andre Esterhuizen starting at flank…..what is going on?
@robdylan (Comment 54) : You know nothing, Jon Snow.
@silver_fox (Comment 52) : Based on your username, are you a Steven Erikson fan by any chance?
@silver_fox (Comment 52) : you are so slow
@FireTheLooser (Comment 12) : @robdylan (Comment 20) : @vanmartin (Comment 24) : Personally, I’d be happier if he was warming the bench at the Greyhound station. I’ll happily sponsor the ticket to a destination of his choice outside of KZN
@Culling Song (Comment 61) : Do you feel strongly enough to pay for a first class ticket? 😆
@Bokhoring (Comment 62) :
Should be ok if he doesn’t pass through Pietermaritzburg station…
Yeah, good starting line-up especially our hooker! That Adriaanse is nt staring is a good one, I like that boys Stevens he showed gud moves against Pumas last week! About Monde, I never knew that rugby is almost da same as soccer, funny. The boy played well last bt relegated to third choice! Wonders shall never end… Said Nigerians movie stars!