The Sharks team to face the Bulls at Loftus has been named with a number of rotational changes.
Andre Esterhuizen comes in for Heimar Williams and Ryan Kankowski, back from Japan and fit to play, for Tera Mtembu in straight swaps. While on the bench another two replacements come in, with Lourens Adriaanse replacing Matt Stevens and Jack Wilson taking Esterhuizen’s place on the bench. Wilson will make his Super Rugby debut if he gets a chance to take the field. Lionel Cronje has also been bracketed with Fred Zeilinga, indicating that Zeilinga might be carrying a niggle.
Coach Paul Anthony spoke about the matchup this weekend.
“What is ideal is that we put in a better performance against the Lions after losing to the Cheetahs. We want our players to be accountable for how they perform. That game we lost, as with the Bulls against the Hurricanes, those were both literally millimetres away from victories.
“Without a doubt the players felt accountable after the Cheetahs loss. They knew that they weren’t on par, they were disappointed with themselves. In one-on-ones afterwards, regarding the effort level, I didn’t have to say anything; they showed the lack of effort and were all accountable. But they all lifted their performances markedly and we’re hoping to lift it even more, game after game.”
Sharks:
15. SP Marais
14. Odwa Ndungane
13. Waylon Murray
12. Andre Esterhuizen
11. Lwazi Mvovo
10. Patrick Lambie
9. Cobus Reinach
8. Ryan Kankowski
7. Renaldo Bothma
6. Marcell Coetzee
5. Pieter-Steph du Toit
4. Lubabalo Mtyanda
3. Jannie du Plessis
2. Bismarck du Plessis (C)
1. Dale Chadwick
Replacements
16. Kyle Cooper
17. Thomas du Toit
18. Lourens Adriaanse
19. Marco Wentzel
20. Jean Deysel
21. Conrad Hoffmann
22. Fred Zeilinga/Lionel Cronje
23. Jack Wilson
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If only Heimar was a touch quicker. Just a yard or two extra pace would do him nicely as a 13 I reckon.
Hes certainly got the distribution skill and vision for a 13.
Defensively sound as well.
Still a very good team.
Someone mentioned in an earlier thread that Keegan always did well against the Bulls. I wonder if Ryan is expected to fulfill a similar sort of linking/roving roll against them this weekend?
Good to see Giant given another start. Go Sharks!!
Glad Giant gets another shot.
@John Galt (Comment 1) :
Is he any slower than Jan Serfontein, the current Bok 13?
I’m actually asking, I’m not sure, but they seem pretty much the same to me. Actually they have a few similarities in how they play also.
Jan is a 12 though, so it doesn’t really support the argument for Heimar at 13, just saying, although I also like a 13 with a little more pace and agility.
I get a warm and fuzzy feeling seeing kanko back!
Kank straight back in at 8, wow ok. 😯 The coaches must be satisfied with his strength and fitness levels then. Keen to see how he performs. Thought they would rather ease him in from the bench. But hey, no better time for him to stake his claim than against the Bulls at Loftus.
Glad to see the rest of the pack is unchanged.. especially for Giant! Time to moer that “blou masjien” 😛
@Letgo (Comment 5) : I think it’s pretty obvious that he’s only playing 13 for the Boks because he plays for a provincial team wearing blue. We all know who that is, right?
@Ben (Comment 4) :
He did really well, so is Bothma. Two good signings.
@Ben (Comment 8) : @Ben (Comment 8) : I like Serfontein as a player. I just think the Bulls style of play is killing him. He performed well for the Boks.
@Pokkel (Comment 10) : Serf is actually one of the few Bulls player that I rate and like. But like you said, the style of play at the Blou is not really doing him any favours.
@Ben (Comment 8) :
He’s playing 13 for the Boks, because HM didn’t find proper cover at 13 in place of the now retired JF.
He might be part of the Bok setup because of his provincial colors.
We should have played a specialist 13.
Happy with the team and although Odwa is getting long in the tooth he never disappoints.
I am concerned that there is no sign of Sithole. It was announced he had an injury but as far as I’m aware they never elaborated on that and now he’s not even in the 23 a week later. Hope he hasn’t been overlooked because of an average showing on opening night at wing where he has never thrived.
@Letgo (Comment 12) : He couldn’t find proper cover because the Bulls didn’t have any 13’s left.
@Michael (Comment 13) :
You have to remember that the current Sharks management is working on a rotational system, so since he has a niggle, there is no reason to play him right now. Rather bring him back later when he is fully fit and it is time to give one of the backs a rest. I don’t that he as been dropped. Mouritz Botha is probably also ready to play again, but since Giant did so well and we might need Botha’s experience when PSDT is rested, he may as well recover fully.
I like the way things are being managed now.
@Another Nick (Comment 7) : Seems like times are changing in Japan. Deysel came back and started playing almost straight away. Kankowski’s been back for about 2 weeks and now he’s playing. Also rumour has it Frans Steyn is in great shape.
@Pokkel (Comment 10) : No problem with him as a player but he should only play 12. I really rate Juan de Jong as a 13.
I would be really afraid of playing against our pack if they are all up to full strength, with names like Beast, Giant and Bismarck the battleship
@Letgo (Comment 9) : I don’t think we’ve signed Giant yet…
@KingRiaan (Comment 18) : Add Thomas “The Tank”…scary stuff 😆
@Michael (Comment 13) : Sbura is out for the next fortnight due to injury.
@Ben (Comment 16) : Great news if that is the case. Must be honest, Deysel looked very sharp since he came back, so possibly a good sign of things to come?
Say, does anyone know when Alberts is due back? It looks like he is training with the team.. so hopefully soon.
@robdylan (Comment 21) :
Good to know… or bad 🙂
But then by the time he gets back he can team up with Steyn in the midfield.
@robdylan (Comment 21) :
Say Rob, what’s happened to those nice injury updates that we got there for a while. It would be nice to know how guys like Lewies are progressing. I get that they might not be selected right away when fit, but still, with so many guys not playing now, which of them are injured. What is the extent of Oosthuizen’s injury. He’s a good guy to have around.
I understand they’re just being very careful with Willem, but we haven’t heard much news about the other guys?
Good team,bit dissapointed Tera not playing,but looking forward to see what Kanko can do!As long as we make Spies feel like a little girl,I’ll be happy!
I reckon JS must sit Giant down and offer him a 4 year contrack,lock that lock down!
@Letgo (Comment 25) : Very good idea! Would like to know the same..
Pretty decent side. Glad Giant starts. Only concern is who is next in line should SP Marais go down with an injury etc. Kanko will offer a bit of speed in the loose trio which is needed as well as being a very solid lineout option. Want to see what DuToit, Adriaanse and Cooper can offer off the bench
@Letgo (Comment 25) : I’m sure Rob is a busy dude. Use this. I find it helpful sometimes.
http://www.google.com
😀
So we’ll have to rest a couple of guys next week or all against the Cheetahs. Although it’s a little unclear who the guys are that is required to be rested every 5 games.
As far as I know, it’s only the contracted Boks that falls under this list, which is:
Alberts, Coetzee, Bismarck, Jannie and Patrick.
The rest of the guys can be managed as our coaches thinks best, although, I think the Bok management might have added a few of their own names to the list they wish to be managed according their stipulations.
@Ben (Comment 29) :
I have been. I’m actually wondering why the Sharks haven’t been updating us more lately.
While he’s not officially one of the captains, pretty obvious that Deysel is one of them
@Ben (Comment 16) : The Japanese league is constantly getting better with better players and coaching so only natural that players conditioning will improve. There is no shortage of money to thrw into conditioning programs etc. Plus how fattening can fish and rice be 😉
So happy to see Ryan back in the starting team.
@Ben (Comment 29) :
If it was on the web, I would have found it. I found a website with a list of all Super Rugby injuries. This list gets updated about twice a week. The Sharks’s list reads:
Sharks:
Tendai Mtawarira – Calf Strain (Round 4-5)
@Letgo (Comment 35) : Yeah, probably just covering in-season injuries.
@Letgo (Comment 35) :
So I was hoping the Sharks could give us a little info on:
Ettienne Oosthuizen, who seemingly picked up an injury against Toulon.
Sburu Sithole, who was left out of the team against Lions because of injury picked up in Round 1.
Mouritz Botha, same as Sburu.
Stephan Lewies, struggling with an injury, but when is he expected to be ready to play?
Willem Alberts, I know he is being managed back to full fitness careful, but how is he doing, any setbacks? Does he look on track to play in a week or 2, 3?
And even though I know Paul Jordaan will be out for another while, I wouldn’t mind the Sharks giving us a few updates every now and again, just so we know how things are going with him.
Did I leave anything out, oh…
And since we have a number of Japan players, why not give us some sort of indication of when they will return and when they do, give us a fitness assessment on them.
You know, keep us in the loop, unless there is some reason why they’d rather not give us that much information, if they want to keep some of it under wraps???
@Ben (Comment 36) :
What about Oosthuizen, Sburu, Mouritz?
Here’s what they have for the Stormers:
Ruan Botha – Ankle (TBC)
Manuel Carrizza – Shoulder (Round 3)
Rynhardt Elstadt – Fractured Fibula (Indefinite)
Eben Etzebeth – Chest (Round 3)
Jean de Villiers – ACL (Season)
Jean Kleyn – Knee (Round 2)
Siya Kolisi – Hamstring (Test)
Frans Malherbe – Ankle (Test)
Jaco Taute – Knee (Round 4)
Kobus van Wyk – Calf Strain (Test)
Kanko also makes sense to counteract Spies at the back of the lineouts. For all his many faults Spies has always been a very good lineout operator.
@Ben (Comment 36) :
Reds:
Quade Cooper – Broken Collarbone (Round 7-10)
Greg Holmes – Torn Thumb Ligament (Round 7)
James Horwill – Hand (TBC)
Karmichael Hunt – Unavailable (Indefinite)
Eddie Quirk – Knee (TBC)
Duncan Paia’aua – Concussion (Round 4)
Beau Robinson – Calf (TBC)
Rob Simmons – Shoulder (Round 4)
Ben Tapuai – Hamstring (TBC)
Jamie-Jerry Taulagi – MCL Strain (Round 8-10)
@Bokhoring (Comment 39) : Yeah, I didn’t say they do it well. 😆
@Ben (Comment 36) :
For the Force they had Nick Cummins to return (Round 3) club responsibilities, indicating when he will be back from Japan. He’s injured now, so it’s updated:
Force:
Nick Cummins – Ankle (Round 4)
Dane Haylett-Petty – Feactured Foot (Round 6-7)
Matt Hodgson – Hamstring (Round 9)
Francois van Wyk – Torn Pectoral (Season)
@Ben (Comment 41) :
Maybe the Sharks are just to focused on managing these players to even care to update the media.
But is is kinda frustrating, for me at least.
@Ben (Comment 41) :
Last one,
I haven’t even seen anything anywhere about why Zeilinga has been bracketed. How about just saying, he’s twisted his ankle and have a slight sprain that we’ll be looking at closely and give as much as possible time to heal. Cronje is more than capable replacement who has been training with the group and will slot in seamlessly if needed.
It’s obvious that something is up, but what?
@Letgo (Comment 43) : The Sharks have always been like that. Haven’t they?
@Another Nick (Comment 23) : should be fit for selection next week.
@Ben (Comment 45) : yup.
@Another Nick (Comment 7) : He has been back for two weeks now. So the coaches have had plenty of time to bring him up to speed and check him out.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 48) :
One of my favorite Sharks players Kanko. In top form, he’s one of the best in his position, IMO. 08/09/10/11 – probably he’s best years, with 08 probably the best.
The Bok coaches during those years never game him much opportunity to prove he could be just as devastating at international level. He was good for us during 2012 too, especially leading up to the play-off stages and during that run to the final.
@Letgo (Comment 44) : Don’t worry. I was only pulling your leg.
But I’m sure Rob is a busy guy. I’m also sure he will report any and all injury updates if and when he gets it. No need to put extra pressure on him. 😉
@Letgo (Comment 37) : you’re upsetting Ludz by calling S’bura Sburu.
He’s not a car 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 51) :
😆
so anyway, to pick up on Letgo’s point rather than skirting around it as I’ve been doing for the last hour… 🙂
It’s notoriously difficult to get regular rehab updates from the Sharks. I’ve kind of given up on trying.
I don’t know what Stephan’s situation is but I believe he had a pretty big shoulder op and is likely to be out for some time still.
Ettas hurt his knee quite badly against Toulon and I think faces about another month on the sidelines.
S’bura, as I said, should be back by round 5 or so.
Botha, Alberts probably both good for next week, while Beast might be as well.
@vanmartin (Comment 3) : @Ben (Comment 4) : Also happy that Giant gets another shot…
Was Botha fit for selection?
@pastorshark (Comment 54) : Don’t think so. Not sure…
@Pokkel (Comment 10) : I also like what Serfontein has done for the Boks. I think he is clearly a better 12 than 13. To be fair, there is not really another 13 putting his hand up for Bok selection…and Serfontein spent a lot of time at 12 for the Boks, even though he wore 13…
@BarendL (Comment 26) : Agreed…
@pastorshark (Comment 54) : I think probably touch and go, but why risk him?
@robdylan (Comment 51) :
Really! Thanks for pointing that out. I’ve been doing it wrong all this time. What does S’bura stand for? Do you know? Is it a common nick name for Sibusiso.
@Letgo (Comment 59) : now that I don’t know.
I’m sure Ludz will enlighten us.
@pastorshark (Comment 56) : Juan de Jongh is invisible to Heyneke.
@robdylan (Comment 46) : @robdylan (Comment 53) : Thanks Rob. Good to know.
Good team. Very surprised Kanko starts before Deysel, but anyway #GOSHARKS
@Ben (Comment 61) : most players that does not play for that team is invisible to him.
@pastorshark (Comment 56) : ja think he’s a better player than some people think. Just hope they don’t turn him into a battering ram.