The Sharks have named a 26-man squad for the upcoming pre-season fixture against Toulon in France, without too many major surprises.
A number of players who might otherwise have been expected to tour have been left out; none of Jannie du Plessis, Thomas du Toit or Willem Alberts, for instance, will make the trip but given that all three underwent rehabilitation for various ailments during the off-season, it’s perhaps to be expected that they’d not quite be match fit at this stage. Alberts’s omission, though, is somewhat of a blow since we believed he was well on the way to recovery; conservative management seems to be the name of the game, though. Etienne Oosthuizen looks set to provide loose forward cover.
Paul Perez, as was widely predicted over the weekend, has also been included in the team, at the expense of another new signing, Jack Wilson. Neither Jaco van Tonder nor Lionel Cronje has been included as fullback cover, a strong sign that the coaches aren’t really looking beyond SP Marais for the number 15 jersey at this stage.
The group includes 12 capped Springboks, with two further English internationals in Mouritz Botha and Matt Stevens. Perez, of course, has national colours for Sevens, as do S’bura Sithole and Tera Mtembu.
Sharks touring squad:
Beast Mtawarira
Dale Chadwick
Lourens Adriaanse
Matt Stevens
Bismarck du Plessis (capt)
Kyle Cooper
Monde Hadebe
Mouritz Botha
Etienne Oosthuizen
Pieter-Steph du Toit
Marco Wentzel
Marcell Coetzee
Renaldo Bothma
Tera Mtembu
Cobus Reinach
Conrad Hoffmann
Pat Lambie
Fred Zeilinga
Heimar Williams
Andre Esterhuizen
S’bura Sithole
Waylon Murray
Odwa Ndungane
Lwazi Mvovo
Paul Perez
SP Marais
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Must say some players left out which is a surprise, like no Thomas the Tank??
Gonna enjoy seeing Waylon back in his home colours.
@sharks_lover (Comment 1) : Read the article?
@sharks_lover (Comment 1) : That was the first name that I looked for and was massively bummed that he isn’t included. But I am sure he will get his shot during the SR, plus Dale has rightfully been included as Beast’s understudy.
SO Jack Wilson is then playing against the bulls?
Must say this is not a bad group. Good luck guys!!!!!!!!!! Go Sharks!!!!!!
@FireTheLooser (Comment 2) : yes I’m glad he’s getting a chance I just hope he shows good form!!!!!!
@Uli Boelie (Comment 5) : still waiting for someone to clarify that. Wilson definitely played for the Sharks last night
@robdylan (Comment 8) : Might be a situation for the Sharks to enable them to see both Perez and Wilson in action. Loaning Wilson to Saracens for the Bulls game.
15 SP, 14 Sithole/Perez/Odwa, 13 Murray/Sithole, 12 Esterhuizen/Heimar, 11 Mvovo, 10 Lambie/Zeilinga, 9 Reinach/Hoffman, 8 Mtembu, 7 Bothma/Oosthuizen, 6 Marcell, 5 PSDT/Wentzel, 4 Botha, 3 Adriaanse/Stevens, 2 Bissie/Cooper/Hadebe, 1 Beast/Chadwick
Will be interesting to see what combo runs out. hopefully they dont go with the tried and tested but rather see other combos.
@SheldonK (Comment 11) : Agreed!
@Letgo (Comment 10) : BV has stated when he was here 2013 that he sees Odwa as more of a Fullback option.
@robdylan (Comment 8) : maybe another Jack Wilson?
Cant say that squad inspires me with confidence…….weak at 3 and other than PSDT, not so great at lock.
The squad will miss Jordaan, Frans, du Toit, Jannie, Alberts and Lewies.
The exclusion of Tyler Fisher is pathetic
@Saffex (Comment 15) : what is it about Fisher, with you? You must surely be trolling.
@robdylan (Comment 16) : I can only wonder…… at least Reinach and me are in a love hate relationship, but this relationship is more of a stalker type. haha
@Uli Boelie (Comment 17) : LOL. There’s no love in your relationship with Cobus 🙂
@Saffex (Comment 15) : When last did you watch Tyler Fisher play? Just curious
@robdylan (Comment 18) : I have my days 😉 haha
Just a quick look at that squad makes me realise how short we are on quality 13s and 15s.
Fuck, literally no one of any real class in either position.
@John Galt (Comment 21) : I wouldnt be suprised to see Perez at 13 and Mvovo at 15 a bit. They banking on Sithole and Murray as first choice 13s with JP Pitersen when he back plus Esterhiuzen. Youngsters need to step up
@robdylan (Comment 16) : Quite simple, he is a class young player who should be in the squad ahead of a washed up has been like Murray or a player like Perez
@SheldonK (Comment 19) : Last season
@Saffex (Comment 24) : And based on that you think he better than Perez ,Murray and most backs? He played a few minutes against Saracens, got injured, missed most of the season. Came back and had a shocker in a few club games. If he was anyone else you would be asking why is he still under contract. Yes the guy has ability…but thats worth nothing unless he playing and proving himself.
Why is Hoffman in this squad,he must have photographs of some one at the top.
The guy was crap last year and the year before,he is never going to get better.
We have two excellent kids in Ungerer and White.
Hell I ‘m even prepared to give S.P. the benefit of the doubt,at least for for these warm up games.
But Hoffman,his ship sailed last year.
@SheldonK (Comment 25) : Thank you very much Sheldonk, at least you have time to explain the obvious, I get too upset. Some people just can’t make fact based decisions.
@SheldonK (Comment 25) : I must agree with you I do think he also needs to get some confidence back and playing Super rugby will not give him that were as Vodacom cup can just do that. He must be seen as a long term solution at 13 and give him time and I must believe this is the approach that BV and GG are taking with him.
@SheldonK (Comment 25) : Now you are speaking complete crap…..he played for the Sharks U21 on return from injury and was bloody good.
Damn right I would select him ahead of washed up Murray who could not find a starting spot in the CC competition last year and damn right ahead of nobody Perez
@Saffex (Comment 29) : Why so agro mate? Even though I agree with you re Fisher there surely is a mature way to respond to someone on a blog.
@sharks_lover (Comment 30) : ‘roid rage 😯
I’m going to stay out of the hostility around 13! Somehow I think management do actually know what they are doing. I remember way back when, when many thought Hugh Reece-Edwards was washed up and finished…and he got his head right, worked hard, got in shape, had a blinder of a season…and became a Bok! So if I’m not right there and I don’t have all the info, I rather let the blokes do their job and see what happens…
More interestingly, when I look at the squad, the loose trio looks the least well covered. Sure, Alberts and Kanko will still join the fray…but I would have thought it might be a good idea to give one of the other loosies a run?
@FireTheLooser (Comment 2) : Yeah! Welcome back Waylon!
@Uli Boelie (Comment 9) : Interesting…
@SheldonK (Comment 11) : Agreed…
@FireTheLooser (Comment 31) : troll rage
@pastorshark (Comment 32) : ja let them show what they can do on the field. Anyway it’s not as if management is sitting reading internet to see who they need to pick, they will pick the players they think can do the job cause if the players they picked don’t deliver they might lose their jobs!!!!!
@Uli Boelie (Comment 9) : @pastorshark (Comment 35) : ja well he knows their team setup so it could just work?!?!?!
@robdylan (Comment 37) : very much ne!!!!!!!!
It definitely looks as if Jack Wilson will be playing for Saracens against the Bulls…
@pastorshark (Comment 41) : He was poor for Sarries against the Bulls, I can see why he has not played much for them…..another poor signing by the Sharks….lets hope he was cheap?
@Saffex (Comment 43) : I didn’t see much of the game, so I can’t really comment…
@Saffex (Comment 42) : Quite the keyboard warrior ain’t you?? but you totally proved my point, no wonder you are thought of as the village idiot in here. but hey you are good at being that idiot so keep going….
@Saffex (Comment 45) : calm down boet!!!!!!!! You have your opinion and others will have their own opinion.
Springbok wing JP Pietersen is a champion in Japan after his side won the Japanese Top League final on Sunday.
Pietersen plays for the Panasonic Wild Knights, who secured their second consecutive Top League title, defeating Yamaha Jubilo 30-12 in the final in Tokyo.
Pietersen came on as a replacement for Australian Berrick Barnes in the 56th minute and performed adequately.
He played an influential role in the Wild Knights’ fourth try, when he gathered a loose ball and off-loaded to the wing to seal the title.
The Wild Knights are coached by former Wallaby coach Robbie Deans.
@JD (Comment 46) : JD boet, best to ignore that idiot, he is a typical Juvenile delinquent.
@sharks_lover (Comment 48) : Does anyone know whether JP was a regular starter?
Please don’t reply to Saffex’s personal attacks. I’m removing him from the site because he won’t play by the rules and his commentary adds nothing anyway.
http://instagram.com/p/yjdh-siQyO/#
@sharks_lover (Comment 46) : what position did he play as Barnes is a flyhalf/inside centre?
@robdylan (Comment 49) : and with that he’s gone!!!!!!!! 😈 😯
@JD (Comment 51) : Played center, and no JP did not always start.
@robdylan (Comment 49) : Thanks Rob, not that I wanted him kicked out, but yeah the bloke had some issues it seems.
@sharks_lover (Comment 53) : ok. Really hope he can back to form!!!!