This post could be sub-titled “while you were sleeping”… because it seems that I missed a reasonably big piece of news regarding the Sharks over the Christmas break.
Impressive Puma lock Lubabalo “Giant” Mtayanda looks to be the second member of the impressive Steval Pumas Currie Cup pack to join the Sharks for Super Rugby 2015. Mtayanda, who I’m not ashamed to say I identified as a great potential signing last year (and mentioned this fact to John Smit) seems to have slipped quietly to Durban under my very nose and apparently spent a significant portion of of the November/December pre-season period training with the side.
According to Beeld (how we love that phrase), the big lock has been summoned back to join the squad, a pretty clear indication that he’s in contention to play a role in Super Rugby. Not that he won’t have significant competition for a berth, what with Mouritz Botha also coming in to add depth to a lock cupboard that now looks well stocked. The injury to Stephan Lewies aside (which may not prove serious – we’re still awaiting information) – the Sharks also boast Pieter-Steph du Toit, Marco Wentzel, Etienne Oosthuizen, JC Astle and Wiehan Hay.
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Some serious depth issues being well addressed by the Sharks….I like the fellow, he’s also a real crowd favorite
This would be a great signing. Seems BV and JS has been working hard to cover our weakness at lock, we now have three decent 4’s (Oosthuizen, Botha and Giant) and three decent 5’s (Lewies, Pieter-Steph and Wentzel)
Yup I agree we might be going into overkill here with the front rankers. We desperately need to address FB and while I like Ungerer I don’t know if he is a Charl Macleod type injury replacement for Cobus. Maybe a more seasoned scrummie? As for wing I think Perez must be housebroken and let’s see what he can do Wilson not much of a muchness (unless he shows a huge change) It will be interesting to see what develops at center. Frans Steyn could be just the mentor and backup Esterhuyzen and Sithole need. Throw JP in the center mix and who knows?
Well done Smitty and co (and Rob for his advisory role!). Lock will be one position that I feel we won’t have a problem with. And with BV’s rotation policy, all will be kept fresh and ready to go on a weekly basis. Player management will be key to getting that trophy to Durbs.
YAY! Thanks Rob!
Now just tell us you missed another big scoop and Brad Barritt is also joining us for supers at 13…..
Great news!
@coolfusion (Comment 6) : Hah that would be terrific
Or even Fredie Michalak
Are we gonna have LMS and FL this year. The site seems to be down?
@JarsonX (Comment 10) :
OHHH !!! yes please !!!
@Zibbie (Comment 11) : @JarsonX (Comment 10) : sorry to disappoint guys, but I don’t have the time to run it this year
Rob, any insights on whether any of the locks (Etienne, Pieter-Steph) will be utilised at loose forward during the Super 15 and whether you think it is a good idea. I guess depends on injuries and final depth in loose forward department (not sure if any new signings, Keegan rumour).
Ok 😥
Whatever happened to Sandshark aka Andre
Good signing, this guy had a great CC and I liked the look of him, will be interesting to see how he does in the Sharks outfit
@robdylan (Comment 12) : ok boss 🙂
This article cant be true…locks coming into Durban? U must be mad man…we send them out only! The player afraid of competition for his place clearly isnt good enough so let them come and stake a claim and may the best play wherever they from and whoever they are. Possibilities of a seriously beefy pack on the cards…
I like what Giant dished up during the Currie Cup season, I think he will gain immense experience from this, and add value to the team. Wentzel and Botha are not spring-chickens, so this was a good move. It will be interesting to see if he can get some game time, and if he can step up to the plate. He is huge, but he is slow, Super Rugby is wickedly fast.
Lock depth…check!
Now I am just waiting for a big fullback signing!
@pastorshark (Comment 20) : Wouldn’t mind seeing more of Mvovo @ FB. Allows for additional express pace on the wing. Sithole could be set for 13 as Paul Jordaan is still in rehab – Tondi can fight it out for the 14. Lambie and Frans 10/12 axis – nice balance. Your thoughts?
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 21) : I liked Mvovo at 15 – he was very good under the high ball, good defensively and I thought his kicking game was much better than I expected. And I definitely agree with:
10 – Lambie
12 – Steyn
13 – Sithole
as the first choices in those positions. I hope SP will have a better season than last year, but squad-wise 15 now seems to be the weakest position…
Rob, does they way our new coaches have aproached new signings not given you the impression that they are building a squad where there will be a definite focus on rotating 1st choice players with quality players who could even contest for a place in the regular match 22. It seemed that before we were looking for signings in positions of lesser strength and ignored positions where we had one outstanding player but little further depth to work with.
The last couple of signings was in fact in positions where we already have world class players in the starting 15.
I’m hoping the Sharks will employ a proper rotational system this year. I think it would make a huge difference, especially if implemented with some thought and planning.
Don’t know him but if Rob rates him I’m glad the Sharks signed him.
@Letgo (Comment 23) : ja looks as if there will be some rotation indeed.
PSDT is massive. I see he to wants to give HM no choice but to include him in the Bok starting line up. Matfield se moer.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 26) : sorry to say but can’t see that happening. Please remember we are talking about HM who already lhad to drop his one love MS!!!!!
I remember seeing Giant in the Lions U20 side many moons ago and always wondered why he was never picked up and invested in.
Comment edited: Admin
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 19) : Sadly Giant is no spring chicken either
Well it looks as if our scrum will be seriously beefed up, hopefully if most will stay injury free we can see regular rotations without losing much, if anything, come scrum and line out time. A scrum that can contest, or at worst hold its own, at all times is a must and I think we are getting there.
@Letgo (Comment 23) : agree with everything you’ve said there
@pastorshark (Comment 22) : I can’t argue there Squire.
@Saffex (Comment 29) : That he isn’t, indeed, hopefully the years out of top-flight rugby makes him feel fresh. Oh, the optimism…
So a possible pack of Beast, Bissie, Jannie, Giant, PSDT, Coetzee, Alberts, Bothma…with a few lighter quicker guys on the bench
awe . that. giant played for. SWD EAGELS IN GEORGE
2 YEARS AGO . BEFORE. THE PUMAS. TOOK HIM . I KNOW HIM . hi also played for n local club in priemer leuge for progress in george . so I know him. he stands at 2,meters tall .
@SheldonK (Comment 34) : that’s actually scary. With JPP, Mvovo, Steyn and Esterhuizen in the mix, that could be the heaviest team in rugby… Pain…
backline of Cobus, lambie, Steyn,Sithole, Mvovo,Pieterson,Cronje…
@Justin Koelman (Comment 35) : good guy? He’s bloody big
@SheldonK (Comment 34) : With the exception of PSDT and Coetzee, all lumbering Cart Horses!! 😛
We will just play Caylib, Torsten, Coenie, Lood, Wegner, Brussow, Mohoje, and Britz and steal the hard won Sharks ball, and run circles around those big slow cart horses
@KingCheetah (Comment 39) : But if u scrum and lineout could be a problem. 😉 Those guys arent that immobile hey. Mohoje and Lood went missing on Bok have the Cheetahs found them yet? They were last seen wondering around in a green shirt and white pants
@SheldonK (Comment 40) : Mohoje’s stats suggest he wasn’t that absent. Think Lood is still wandering around Harrod’s! That farm boy, has never seen such a shop lol
@KingCheetah (Comment 41) : hahaha…i think Lood may still be somewhere at Heathrow distracting planes trying to land. Mahoje impressed my in local rugby but seemed nervous to take the contact etc in internationals. Cheetahs front row inexperienced so will have to stand up
I also remember Giant from when he played here for the Eagles. Can’t say I’m overly excited. Kinda reminds me of Wayne Ferreira, he had potential, all the way up to the day he retired.
@SheldonK (Comment 42) : Compared to the Sharks, inexperienced yes, but I think they can spring a surprise. Cheetahs will have to find a settled scrum. We can select from:
LH: Caylib Oosthuizen, BG Uys and Danie Mienie (ex Sharks)
Hkr: Torsten, Barnes, Bezuidenhout and Stephan Coetzee (ex WP)
TH: Coenie, Maks van Dyk, and Luan de Bruin
Locks: Lood, Uys, Carl Wegner, Lobberts and Adendorff
Flanks: Brüssow, Boom, Devin Oosthuizen, Mohoje, Cook, Willie Britz, Carel Greef and Nicky Steyn
Very thin at lock, but pretty well served in the loosies.
Quite honestly don’t know what to expect.
@KingCheetah (Comment 44) : without a new coach? Not much!!!!!!! Cheetahs needs a new coach and some management changes!!!!!!!
@JD (Comment 45) : Naka is a new coach
He went to “school” overseas in the off season lol.
Cheetahs will rock!! Have a great season bud.
@KingCheetah (Comment 46) : thanx boet! Hope you’re right and good luck for the Cheetahs too. Maybe we should get together in Bloem when our teams play.
@JD (Comment 47) : Defo a plan!
@JD (Comment 45) : Cheetahs should have offered Jimmy Stonehouse Naka’s job ages ago. Jimmy and FS would make a perfect combination imo.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 49) : ja but any team could have done with him as an attacking coach.
@KingCheetah (Comment 48) : going to try to get family to go to Bloem so we will talk closer to the game.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 49) : That sounds like a very sensible suggestion!
@KingCheetah (Comment 46) : All the best for the season…I hope the Cheetahs will be the second-best SA side this season! 🙂
@KingCheetah (Comment 44) : You think Coenie should play tighthead…or will play tighthead?
@KingCheetah (Comment 44) : Quite a few guys there need to stand up and hav big years as they overdue. Mahoje, Oosthuizen even Cook can cover lock if needed.
@pastorshark (Comment 53) : Thanks. Lol, Second after the Lions??
Good luck for the season too, and for you in your personal life.
@pastorshark (Comment 54) : Not quite sure what Coenie’s best position is. He has had an up and down season. Initially he seemed to struggle a TH, but improved towards the tail end of the season.
He is a useful player in the loose, and I understand TH is the preferred position, to extend his career. So lets hope he can master the techniques.
@SheldonK (Comment 55) : Hopefully we will be spared injuries in the secnd row, as depth is sparse indeed.
Wegner/Uys and Lood should be the starters, with Boele Serfontein, Jonothan Adendorf, Lobberts and Nepgen available as cover.
Agree, and I think Willie Britz has also played lock at the Lions, and had a stellar season last year.
@KingCheetah (Comment 57) : I’m with you…I was being a bit facetious! 🙂 I actually thought that, bar the odd scrum or two, Coenie had a decent end of year tour. I will be watching with interest…
@KingCheetah (Comment 56) : And thanks… 🙂 🙂
Well, put it this way…I do like the Lions…but not that much! I hope they end third in the SA conference…
@pastorshark (Comment 60) : Lol, ok, I have it clearly now haha.
Cheetahs have some exciting backs, but amongst the pack, quite a few promising players will need to step up.
Guys like Danie Minnie, BG Uys, Ewald vd Westhuizen and Maks at prop. Torsten and Stephan Coetzee at Hooker, Carl Wegner at lock, and there is a lot of talent amongst the loosies. Its finding the right combo.
If one of Pietersen, Watts or du Plessis can fire at FH, then the Cheetahs have the backs to cause havoc. Venter, vd Spuy, Sade, JP du Plessis, Engelbrecht and Jonker are all good centres, that can put speedsters like Rhule, Benjamin, Hendricks, Sergeal Pietersen, Willie and Coenie van Wyk into space!
@KingCheetah (Comment 61) : Happy New Year.
Not to be funny, but from a Sharks PoV, if we found we were listen Maks van Dyk and Danie Mienie amongst our first choice props, we would be in blind panic.
@KingCheetah (Comment 61) : but Maks went to Ireland anyway, didn’t he? He’s not even at the Cheetahs
@KingCheetah (Comment 57) : ja hope Coenie will be able to change to tight head if it will extend his career but he will need lots of coaching and practice to be successful.
@robdylan (Comment 62) : And to you and all the bloggers on Sharksworld. I promise to behave this year 🙂 (Even if it is badly lol)
It is what it is! Besides, they are likely to be back up. Make was highly rated by the Sharks. He was on loan to Ulster. He will be back for Super rugby season. Will be interesting to see if BG Uys and Maks can add value. Starting front row likely to be Caylib, Torsten and Coenie.
@KingCheetah (Comment 65) : yes that should be starting front row and I thinks Maks would have learned a lot in Ireland.