The Sharks have named a strong side for the match against the Cheetahs at Growthpoint Kings Park this Saturday. The side is very similar to the one that ran out against Toulon last week. Jannie du Plessis is the only change to the starting side, while Tera Mtembu returns after being withdrawn from the match late last week.
The backline remains exactly the same, which sees the return of Waylon Murray to the Sharks for the first time since 2010. Lourens Adriaanse, Etienne Oosthuizen and Andre Esterhuizen drop out of the match 23 completely. Jean Deysel, who arrived to training only recently, has been included on the bench.
Here’s what new director of rugby Gary Gold had to say:
“The Cheetahs for me are one of the most dangerous sides to play against and on their day they have the ability to beat any team. We are expecting a physical battle against a well-coached team, who have some exciting young players in their squad.
“Our guys have prepared well for the tournament and there is a fantastic spirit in the camp. We want to play an exciting brand of rugby that our fans expect and score tries. The only way to win matches is to score tries and to score tries you need to keep the ball in hand. Our players are determined and will give nothing less than 100% effort on the park.”
15. SP Marais
14. S’bura Sithole
13. Waylon Murray
12. Heimar Williams
11. Lwazi Mvovo
10. Patrick Lambie
9. Cobus Reinach
8. Tera Mtembu
7. Renaldo Bothma
6. Marcell Coetzee
5. Pieter-Steph du Toit
4. Mouritz Botha
3. Jannie du Plessis
2. Bismarck du Plessis (C)
1. Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements
16. Kyle Cooper
17. Dale Chadwick
18. Matt Stevens
19. Marco Wentzel
20. Jean Deysel
21. Conrad Hoffmann
22. Fred Zeilinga
23. Odwa Ndungane
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Good team except that 13, 15 and 21 still needs to convince me that they belong there.
Strong side! Just hope our centers doesn’t get hurt, not a lot of cover for them!
Team is pretty much as expected, but a good one nonetheless. I still feel S’bu is better utilised at 13, but who to put on the wing then? Odders or Wilson perhaps?
Really good team, just hope SP finds form again cause he is quality.
@JarsonX (Comment 1) :
Yeah, I’m holding thumbs for SP. I seriously feel like the first, let say 5 matches of this comp should be the last he has to prove himself.
Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt and say he just couldn’t flourish under JW, because he really did look like he was going to have a big 2014, as he was in some good form in the latter stages of CC 2013.
I’m actually just hoping for some consistency, nothing sublime. He can work his way up to what we expected when he arrived. For now I just don’t want to see those complete shockers from him.
Im fairly happy with the side altho i dont feel SP Marais warrants a start on his current form. Id rather have Odwa at 15…or even Tyler Fisher 😉 Hopefully our forwards gel better in the scrums.
@JarsonX (Comment 1) :
I’m also backing Waylon to make this his comeback season. I always like him as a player and think this could be his season. He’ll be solid, at the very least. I’m hoping he and Heimar can combine to create some space for our two very dangerous wings. They are both more “smart” centers rather that bashing centers.
We might see a little more creativity and less mindless loose forward like carrying, with them as a midfield combo. We’ll see. I always liked the look of Heimar at 12, he’s more Robert Ebersoh, Matt Gittau, Pat McCabe than Frans Steyn, Maá Nonu, Jamie Roberts. I think he’ll fit in nicely next to Lambie and hope they’ll give this combo a few games together to see what they can do.
@JarsonX (Comment 1) :
Maybe if Hoffman just sticks to a side and stays injury free he will also realize his potential, which he had a lot of as a youngster. The only real problem with him, has been staying healthy and in one position and one team. He’s really been all over the place, but I though he had a good Currie Cup with as last year.
Good experience on the bench, Matt Stevens needs to have a good game, most of us are worried about TH. Lourens Adriaanse has not been the signing we expected. The backline replacements make sense, Marco Wentzel has a ton of experience, and will need to play well, as Ettiene and Lewies will be knocking hard on the door. Good competition for places, and hope to see some good rotation in the pack, especially when Alberts and Kanko return. Hoffman is obviously in better form than Wright, or its last chance saloon. Sithole deserves a shot at 13, hope to see him there when JPP returns.
Great Pack.
Backline not creative enough.
If only Jake hadn’t got rid of TW. Would have been nice to see him at 13.
@Another Nick (Comment 3) : @John Galt (Comment 10) : I feel that Sithole would be better utilised coming off the bench at 13 or starting at 13. He is an option for the Boks at 13, not as a wing.
What?!?!?! No Tyler Fisher 😈
Looks like a strong team. We’ve still got JPP, Frans, Kanko and Alberts to come in, not to mention Lewies, so we’re looking good.
I just want us to see the rotation policy enforced.
At least there will be more rotation than last year so even if our favourite player didnt get this game , we can rest assured that he will get gametime soon.
I hope I’m wrong but I get the feeling we’re a little “light beer” at the back.
CHEETAHS!!!!!!!
@Southern_Shark (Comment 12) : hehe 😀
@John Galt (Comment 10) : I think TW fell out favor with BV in the 2013 cc.
@Morné (Comment 16) : Thank you! I feel a lot better about this game now!
The Tank also didnt make it this time. And Stevens should step up as well.
With some big names still set to return, we have one helluva squad available. I’ll be lying if I said that the Japanese league didn’t infuriate me, as the preseason is vital to preparation. With the likes of JPP, Francois Steyn, Kankowski and the injured Willem Alberts added to this team its start to look very merry. Embarrassment of riches at loose forward. Might see Deysel feature at 6 occasionally given his ability to play to the ball with Alberts and Kanko completing the trio when Marcel and Tera get rested with Bothma on the bench. Exciting times!
@ChrisS (Comment 11) : Thank you, my thoughts exactly. For me, Sithole is able at wing but Devastating at 13!
Nice team, but am surprised by Waylon ahead of Sithole at 13. Hope they can prove us wrong.
Also seems the coaches at the moment are going the conservative route by including a lot of ‘experience’ on the bench instead of opting to blood some younger guys that could come through.
@Another Nick (Comment 21) : Like chalk and cheese. On his form at 13 last year I expected him to get a couple of Bok caps.His defence is amazing and his attack is progressing very nicely!
Sold short by an average centre combination……wake up Gary and Brendan
It should have been 12. Esterhuizen 13. Fisher
Why doesn’t people like Williams? I really like him at inside center. I know he’s just keeping Steyn’s splace warm for him, but he’s a damn good IC. Esterhuizen is huge yes, but he’s bloody hot headed and his hands aren’t close to being solid. If he puts in the hard yards he’ll get there, but not there yet.
I think you’ll find that most don’t have a problem with Williams at 12
@PTAShark (Comment 25) : @JarsonX (Comment 26) : Williams and Esterhuizen are both good players, but 2 different types. Heimar is your creative Mauger type while Andre is your Frans Steyn type. We can use both in our squad, depends on who we’re playing against.
I am gonna fence sit on this one
, even though I do not believe we have the right 12,13 and 15, my view is it is a new combo so lets give it time to find itself in the midfield, as for 15 well imam shhhhhhhhh too as I believe we have better players
@PTAShark (Comment 2) : ????? Pat cover 12 and Sithole cover 13, how much cover do we need?
@JarsonX (Comment 19) : maybe still has a niggle or two.
I’m comfortable with Heimar at 12, he’s good player and has shown he can play at this level. I’m worried about 13 and Sbu at wing (his defence against Toulon wasn’t great).
I’m very excited about our center combo…we will see a marked improvement with distribution…these boys aren’t crash dummies, which is why Waylon never made it with the bulls.
2 simple words………………………… Gooooooooooo Sharrrrrrrrrrrrrrkssssssssssssssssss
@Morné (Comment 16) : I’ll moer you
😆
@PTAShark (Comment 25) : I like Williams but Esterhuizen is better – its that simple
@sharks_lover (Comment 34) : That’s the spirit
@robdylan (Comment 36) :
thank you kind SIR
Formidable pack. Can take on any team. Heimar is a great defender but not quite the impact and advantage gainer as Esterhuizen is. Would have liked to see Esterhuizen and Murray at 12 & 13 with maybe Mvovo at 15 with SP coming off the bench and Sithole moving to 13. Expecting a great game none the less. Lets go boys!!!
I am very surprised at no Esterhuizen that is a shocker, not even on the bench
.We really need that kid to shine,if we are going to beat the New Zealanders.
He has the potential to put the kind of fear into any opposition backline,that we haven’t had since Lem.
Williams and Murray wouldn’t frighten the D.P.H.S. second team.
Our strength in our backs is our speed out wide and with the centers we got they might actually get the ball. Plus we might see SP joining the line more often so… All I all I like this team… Power tight 5, strong loosies …… GO SHARKS
Really cannot believe that people are still making excuses for S.P ,he is piss poor, and has used up his last chance.
You can see he has lost his confidence,has the same look on his face as Tiger Woods these days.
Only cure for that is to go down a rung and work yourself back up into contention.
Never going to get it back in the pressure zone.
Not feeling the backline selections atm, but will reserve my opinions till Saturday evening.
Anyone want to take a stab at a prediction? Sharks by 5 – 7 points. If we blow them away up front we can create space out wide. Breakdown and collision points will be crucial to stay on the front foot. We need to impose ourselves on Joe Pietersen and tickle his ribs with some big hits, will put the entire backline on edge and force Willie Le Roux to try win the game alone.
@tigershark (Comment 42) : will look a little better when Frans Steyn and JPP return. That will allow for Esterhuizen to come off the bench as we will have a lot more utility cover available. Williams is a very good 12 and if Sithole and Mvovo are given some space they can eat the yards.
The continued preference of Hoffman must be because of his tactical kicking,because that is about all he can do.
I would so much rather see the 10 doing the kicking than the 9,which is the old Jake White classic game plan, but then you need a Joost or Fdupe type of 9 to do the kicking,Reinarch’s kicking is abysmal and he gets charged down too much.
I love Bissie but I’m not a big fan of him as our captain. But looking through the squad I can’t really see anyone who else we could go with.
@Ben (Comment 46) : Reason being, Bissie is a bit too short tempered to be a captain in my opinion.
This Jack Wilson guy any good? Never seen him play.
@Ben (Comment 47) : I don’t know.. It seems to me since Bissie has been given captaincy, his temper actually improved.
Wilson/Murray on wing for Mvovo, Perez on other wing, Mvovo to 15 SP to bench, Sbura to center if Wilson on wing then Murray to bench.
I would also have liked to see Esterhuizen on 12 and Heimar/Sithole outside him. With a strong 12 Waylon Murray has done well at 13 so Esterhuizen Murray could also have worked. BUT even with the selection staying as is 15 the biggest concern here. Esterhuizen,Cronje, van Tonder would have been better selections at 15.
@JarsonX (Comment 1) : and 18
I think all our 12’s offer something interesting. This is probably a horses for courses type selection. I wouldn’t read too much into this selection just yet as we’ve barely seen 10 minutes of backline play from the Sharks to date. Very interested to see what sort of game plan we use on Saturday.
Hi guys.
For those in the Secunda area looking for some entertainment, the Pumas are playing a Vodacom Cup game there on the 21st March. See below:
https://www.facebook.com/events/663297873792919/
@Ben (Comment 48) : No great shakes……could not make the Sarries squad of 23
Guys we need to remember that with heavy focus on rotation it is extremely unlikely we will see the strongest possible side selected until the end of the season.
Wanting the strongest side week in and week out is along the JW line of thinking.
@gregkaos (Comment 56) : good point also there are known quantities and some unknown quantities (murray,perez,wilson, cronje hoffman etc.) so we should expect to see those making theirt way in and out just to get a feel. I hope we will have an idea by the 4th 5th game what the squad will look like that will carry all the way through. We don’t have as much time as HM seems to have, for settling on a team ;).
@gregkaos (Comment 56) : @gregkaos (Comment 56) : So when do you choose when to play your strongest side.,against weaker opposition or against stronger opposition.
The Jake bashing here is getting a bit irritating,the man did win two world cups.
I subscribed to the school that says winning is a habit,and would like to see the best team on the park every week.
@The hound (Comment 58) : “the man did win two world cups”
Huh?
I’m fairly new to this forum, so I don’t know if this has been discussed, but I would really love to see Zeilinga getting a shot at 15. He’s a game maker, has the legs, defense is decent and may add some much needed creativity at the back.
@The hound (Comment 58) : The season hasn’t even started yet…so you might be in for a long ride if you’re already tired of the so-called “Jake bashing”. 😉
I’m tired of all the season-long negative nancy’s that continually frequent this site. I mostly choose to view them as saffex-alter-egos, whom chooses to use Sharksworld as their preferred support-group for all their pent-up anger issues.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 61) : You too would have pent up anger issues like Saffex if all you wanted to do was make sweet, sweet love to Tyler Fisher, but the impertinent brat would not even throw a glance your way…
@Ben (Comment 59) : Think he’s referring to the U20/21’s with Schalk?Could be wrong!
I kinda like this team,definately better distributors in the midfield,would have liked Esterhuizen on the bench though!
@FireTheLooser (Comment 61) : You two twats need to get a life
@Culling Song (Comment 62) : Let me guess you think Murray is a better choice than Fisher….go figure!!
@Saffex (Comment 65) : Actually, I don’t. I used to like Murray, but I have my reservations about his abilities at present. Hoping to be proven wrong, not confident that I will be.
Having said that, I also missed the test series where Tyler Fisher scored three tries against the All Blacks in consecutive games. At least, I’m assuming that is what must’ve happened, given that you hold him in the same regard the rest of us have for Danie Gerber
@Culling Song (Comment 66) : You seem to suffer from a serious case of delusion or are you just stupid?
But feel free to prove me wrong…….kindly point out where I have said anything other than Fisher deserves to start at 13 for he is the best 13 in the Sharks squad……what the hell does that have to do with the regard in which I hold this player?
You should try thinking before taping away. Wake up
Can feel the temperature rising! 😆
@Letgo (Comment 8) : And he wasn’t bad when he came on in France…
@gregkaos (Comment 56) : really now,this is Southern Hemisphere Super Rugby ,you field your medium to worse team against the Crusaders,Chiefs and Bulls,good luck
@Binetts_en_cagefighters (Comment 60) : then why not play him at 10 instead of out of position and play Van T at 15 ?
@FireTheLooser (Comment 61) : you know what that what makes this the best supporters site in the world,we traverse all aspects of support for the Sharks and come Sterday we all hope/pray for the same result
Soooo…I for one can’t wait for the party to get started!! That should hopefully answer some of the questions debated above…
@Saffex (Comment 65) : I’d love to see Fisher play Super Rugby, if for no other reason than just to judge him on his play at that level…
@coolfusion (Comment 51) : Esterhuizen will surely get his chance…I am quite excited to see what Heimar can do!!
@The hound (Comment 58) : I agree,its going to be interesting as What experience do BV and GG have of SR,its not namby pamby Northern Hemisphere CC
Heimar hasn’t let us down. Good attitude on the field, underrated by many. Great to have options along with Esterhuizen and Steyn. Always nice to have different styles.
People ignore Saffex when he gets into keyboard warrior mode!!!
Here is a little fact, we do not know why Esterhuizen was omitted, I do however remember a report on injuries after the Toulon match where it was mentioned that he was one of the injury concerns, chances are he is still injured.
Arguing over nothing is kinda silly.
@sharks_lover (Comment 78) : Au contraire, baiting the humorless troll is not silly, it’s fun!
@Culling Song (Comment 79) : Pat on the back wee man
@Culling Song (Comment 66) : don’t think he knows who Danie Gerber is, anyway ignore the trolls boet. 😈
😯
@Culling Song (Comment 79) : 😈
Regarding SP. I first saw him playing for EP, he scored 5 tries and was sublime. Always wanted to see how he’d fare in a bigger team and so far he’s been a bit disappointing. Having said that he’s still got all the tools he had in that game vs EP and perhaps just needs a bit of channelling to get the best out of him. Brendan Venter is the right guy to do that.