The Sharks have named their side to face the Force in Durban this weekend, with Jean Deysel returning to fitness at an ideal time to lead the side.
The big flanker, who picked up an ankle injury against the Bulls in round 3, comes in to start at blindside flank, with Renaldo Bothma shifting to the open side in place of the rested Marcell Coetzee. Kyle Cooper start at hooker in the only other change to the starting pack this week.
Frans Steyn, as predicted, move to flyhalf this week to allow Pat Lambie a break; he is partnered by Conrad Hoffmann who starts at scrumhalf for the first time. Steyn’s move out of midfield creates an opportunity for Andre Esterhuizen to gain a second start at inside centre.
Wholesale changes on the bench see Monde Hadebe, Thomas du Toit, Stefan Ungerer and Fred Zeilinga – all of whom played for the Sharks XV against Border last week – come into the match 23.
Sharks:
15. SP Marais
14. Odwa Ndungane
13. JP Pietersen
12. Andre Esterhuizen
11. Lwazi Mvovo
10. Frans Steyn
9. Conrad Hoffmann
8. Ryan Kankowski
7. Jean Deysel (Captain)
6. Renaldo Bothma
5. Marco Wentzel
4. Mouritz Botha
3. Jannie du Plessis
2. Kyle Cooper
1. Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements
16. Monde Hadebe
17. Thomas du Toit
18. Lourens Adriaanse
19. Lubabalo Mtyanda
20. Daniel du Preez
21. Stefan Ungerer
22. Fred Zeilinga
23. Waylon Murray
Tweet
Surely any possible ban for Frans will only be effective from next weekend?
Lost interest when I saw Steyn’s name at 10. No Sithole? 🙄
Mmm – no Sbu on the bench?
Anxiously awaiting Culling Song’s reaction on the starting scrumhalf.
Can’t see Fred staying at the Sharks for much longer. 🙄
Deysel! Of course! Never even thought of him.. well played Sharks! 😛 Would have liked to see Fred have a start, but Morne’s reasoning have me thinking Frans at 10 is not a bad option at all.
@Ben (Comment 5) : He has the entire CC ahead of him…where else will he get that opportunity?
Didn’t expect to see Deysel back and starting as captain, though he is an excellent choice (barring his temper flare-up against the Saders last year, I’m sure he’ll take his captaincy serious)
Timely return for Deysel, as player and captain.
Would of preferred Fred at flyhalf to Steyn. Hopefully he gets a chance off the bench and shows what he is capable of.
Also feel for Van Tonder who had a blinder in the Vodacom side last week and at least should of had a look in on the bench.
I don’t think the coaches considered any more changes than the ones they had to make.
Sithole will need to wait until the team is settled again.
As for Frans at 10. He did well enough for us last year when Pat and Fred was injured. I also like Morne’s argument that he feels Pat and Steyn should switch between the 10/12 position when they play together anyway and this will give Frans the confidence to do so.
There’s also just something about Frans giving the ball to Esterhuizen that really intrigues me. Andre is so similar in built to Frans and he might just know exactly how to get young man over the advantage line. Not to mention JPP still on his outside. That’s an imposing 10/12/13 axis, difficult to breach and tough to defend your line, which I’m sure will be under fire all night with big straight runs.
If these guys can draw defenders, there might just be some space on the outside for our outside backs to run with.
Super happy with the timely return of Deysel. It’s great to have him back in that back row.
@Pokkel (Comment 4) : I was with Culling Song regarding Hoffman, but thus far this season he has slowly impressed me.
I’m actually excited to see what he can bring when given 60mins.
Ok good team that should be able to beat the Force.
@Bokhoring (Comment 3) : Yeah that is quite strange – unless he has a new injury?
@Ben (Comment 5) : Yeah me too and then we will cry long tears when he is gone – the Sharks way – like Uli mentioned in another thread the other day. And like our tight head problems when we let all those young guys go.
Very happy to see Deysel back and sommer captain as well 🙂 – good choice!!
@Another Nick (Comment 6) : Ja I would have preferred Fred but as you say Morne made a good case for Steyn at 10 – so lets hope it works 😉
#GoSHARKS
@Letgo (Comment 9) : I would still have had Sithole on the bench before Murray. Frans at 10 I can sort of understand.
@Pokkel (Comment 1) :
You would think that is the most logical thing to do, but who says SANZAR has logic?
Steyn to play an absolute blinder on saturday and be crowned motm. you saw it here first
I dont think Sanzar will try to ban Steyn any further. Remember he was chased off the field already. I think they are aiming at reinstating the red card on his record. Which is probably fair.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 10) : What exactly has he done to impress you,has been remarkably insignificant so far.
But then like SP. when he manages to get thru a match under the radar ,people automatically . think they are playing well.
Somebody has a vested interest in these two mediocre players,and if neither of them fires this weekend they should go.
Enough is enough give some of the local grown talent a chance,they can hardly be worse.
I hope they aren’t forcing Deysel back too soon. It would make my day if Frans destroys the Force on his own and shows a big finger to the SA representatives of SANZAR for not having his back.
I am very happy about Deysel being back! Keen to see what this loose trio will do!
@FireTheLooser (Comment 10) : I can’t even remember seeing him on the field. He couldn’t have played more that a combined 15 minutes the whole season…..or I was to drunk to remember the times he came on.
I’m quite happy with Steyn at 10. He was good there for the most part last year. They will have talked to Fred about this…he will get his chance. I see it like this…they had to choose between Fred and Andre as to who got their chance this week. They chose Andre. I hope Fred gives it horns off the bench!
The only reason I am not too unhappy to have Frans at 10 is that it gives him the opportunity to play an absolute blinder and silence all of his critics.
Zeilinga to come on with 20 minutes to go and run rings around the Force defenders.
@West Indies Cricket Board (Comment 14) : Wouldn’t that be Terrific!
First time I ever saw Frans Steyn play,it was a cold and filthy night at K.P.
We were playing the very fancied W.P.,they brought on this 19 year old freshly back from Murray Mexted’s academy in N.Z. and he probably played the best game of rugby I have ever seen in my many years at K.P
He was Dan Carter,Lem,Butch,Naas,Danie Gerber and Christian Cullen, all in one,and that was before he started kicking.
I have never been able to understand why they ever moved him from 10.
Think it was Dick Muir who first did that.
Im not convinced about Deysel- if he is being rushed back he has been known to break down again quickly after an injury. In terms of Frans over Fred- Fred was pretty ave in CC last year so needs to earn the right to play, and that doesnt come after 1 decent VC game against the hapless Border. Im keen to see if Hoffman can step it up in a full game- his defense late on in games has been good. I have no problem with Murray over Sithole- Sithole been pretty ave and injured. Murray hasnt been spectacular but neither has any Shark barring Lambie. But Murray has been very solid and has added calmness and decent defense. As for Van Tonder- must earn his right to play like Fred. Why change just for the sake of it
@The hound (Comment 23) : I remember that game very well. He had a fantastic step on him even in the wet. Reminds me a bit of Damian McKenzie.
@The hound (Comment 23) : Yup, I remember that well.
Am I the only one who thinks that the backline bench players are better than those that are starting ahead of them in their respective positions?
UNgerer better than Hoffman
Fred better than Steyn at 10
Waylon better than JP at 13 who should be at 14 in place of ‘The Snail’
@John Galt (Comment 27) : ‘The Snail’ has probably been the 2nd best back for the Sharks this year bar Lambie.
I’ve called for his retirement before but he’s been a rock in the backline this year.
I would perhaps move him to fullback and give SP a rest if you want to make those changes to the backline.
@The hound (Comment 16) : @Pokkel (Comment 19) : Crisp clean fast service to his fh…he stopped looking like a disinterested deer caught in the headlights…to me, that is a major improvement. 😀
@Pokkel (Comment 28) :
That may be but JP is still better at 14. Does all the defensive work that Ndungane does but also has the actual ability to do a wings main job, be a finisher.
Will be interesting how Botma will play at openside. Will he try and play to the ball, or just play his normal game?
@John Galt (Comment 30) : I see your point but with Murray at 13 the wings never have any space to work with.
Mvovo has been very quite this year which is a concern…..not that our outside backs have been giving space with the ball much this season.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 29) : This game should answer that,same S.P.shape up or ship out.
I would have preferred to see Ungerer and van Tonder
@Pokkel (Comment 32) :
Yeah I think the main concern is your last point that our outside backs haven’t been given much ball.
Still very much playing a 10 man game although I think the intention is to play a little wider, just no opportunity to do so properly yet.
@Letgo (Comment 9) : You are so right,Frans,Esterhuizen and J.P 10,12,13, what a dream combination.
@The hound (Comment 33) : Ungerer is definitely the future scrummie (would have loved to see him start a few weeks ago already), but I can live with Hoffman as long as he does his basics well.
@John Galt (Comment 27) : Are you and the “faithful” going to the game or is the boycott still on?
early in the week I questioned and said if he was ready he would be suitable for capt
my dream came true 😆
@FireTheLooser (Comment 7) : So what about Lionel Cronje and Tim Swiel then in the Currie Cup?
@Ben (Comment 39) : Well, Swiel seems to be MIA…maybe he’s hoping for a call from JW.
Cronje and Zeilinga will rotate during CC.
@sharks_lover (Comment 38) : Deysel could easily have taken the captaincy ahead of Bismarck last year already.
We basically have 4 flyhalves on our books – Lambie, Fred, Cronje and Swiel (don’t think he has joined us yet though), but still we opt to switch Steyn from 12 to 10. What kind of message does that send to our 10’s? No wonder the Sharks can’t hold onto their young up and coming players. 🙄
In Deysel atleast we have a solid 7 but he also does the fetching role where needed, It was one area of concern to me, Bothma not really a fetcha and with Bismark out that was a huge problem.
@sharks_lover (Comment 43) : Deysel is pretty good at turning over / slowing down ball, but he is not really fast enough to cover enough of the field to really be an open side.
Very happy on the other hand that Deysel is playing and captaining. Didn’t want Steyn to captain.
@Bokhoring (Comment 44) : You’re right. He moves that big body of his very slowly.
@sharks_lover (Comment 43) : But at least still someone in the pack that has some smarts at the breakdown.
@Pokkel (Comment 28) : Agree. After Lambie, Odwa would be the second name on my team sheet every time. If JPP had to move to wing I would play Odwa over SP at 15.
I wonder if his actions against the Saders last year swung the captaincy issue in his favour. 😈
@Bokhoring (Comment 44) : @Bokhoring (Comment 47) : yup agree boet
Also in Steyn, Esterhuizen, JP we have 3 huge backs to hit the defense hard with.
Very big backline in total to be honest, maybe only Hoffman not that big.
Negative of that though is a slow backline, so the calling on defense has to be spot on.
@sharks_lover (Comment 53) : JPP is a lot faster than he looks.
I don’t see Fred leaving The Sharks anytime soon, contrary to what some of the fans say, or think. Fred plays a huge part for this team, and after having a great game for the XV team, its good that he gets a chance off the bench, also I don’t think its as much to do with Fred as it is to do with Andre Esterhuizen, he is the natural successor to Frans and needs prime game time to learn the ropes – having Frans at 12 means that Andre would be on the bench, and the temptation to have 3 game-breakers playing next to each other is too great (Frans, Andre, JPP). I am content with this position, and with Francois big boot leading the charge we will be okay. I rate his distribution game, I rate him very very highly. Fred will get his time. I don’t doubt it.
Super chuffed that Deysel is back and that he is skipper, he is a great skipper, and the team responds to his leadership, a big boon that he is match ready! Feeling a lot more positive about this game. As it is Thursday, and the team has been named SANZAR cannot call back Steyn. Did I say I was chuffed for Deysel?
@FireTheLooser (Comment 41) : For sure Boet, only negative though is Deysel is injured quite a lot and also competes for 7 birth with Alberts.
@Bokhoring (Comment 54) : Unfortunately not quick off the mark or quick to turn. Takes a bit of team to get into speed.
@Richard (Comment 56) : @Richard (Comment 56) : Agree on all counts with you, Other thing about Esterhuisen is he too possesses a massive left boot, gives many options.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 37) :
Don’t you worry about me my man, Ill be there.
Cant say that for a couple of the others though.
@sharks_lover (Comment 59) : He does indeed have a booming boot, I am excited to how they get on against The Force. Steyn is world class, JPP is world class and Esterhuizen has oodles of potential, so not so sure about the sour grapes? Steyn won us the bulk of our games from 10 last season, we won the conference with Steyn playing at 10 – so only understandable that a player who has won a World Cup, a Currie Cup, a British Lions, a Tri-Nations and many a test match where he actually played 10. Great decision. Who would you rather have running at you? Fred, Steyn and JPP or Steyn, Esterhuizen and JPP. Simple logic. And another thing, the game time that Conrad Hoffman has received has been well used – he hasn’t put a foot wrong, it seems reputation and past performance (the past) dictates our blogging, not current form. If I was perpetually judged on my past, how could I possibly succeed?
@Richard (Comment 61) : Agree 100%
@Richard (Comment 61) : some are born sour mate,
@John Galt (Comment 60) : Good, sweet talk the others to join you – it will get better.
@Richard (Comment 61) : I was looking at some youtube clips earlier and Charl McCleod popped up and I immedeiately thought back to the emotions he used to get going from some bloggers.
@sharks_lover (Comment 63) : That they are, we win a game but flip that oke was kak, we win a game with a bonus point, but geeze that was kak. I understand we all have opinions, (says a very opinionated Richard), but it is impossible to have the perfect game, you are playing against another team who in turn are trying to enforce their will. Its a game of 80 minutes where you need to win as many contestable elements as possible building up to the final whistle. I’m sure Gary Gold didn’t sit down with Brendan Venter and John Smit and say this is the team for this week, I am not starting Fred and I’m starting Conrad just to piss off the fans. And in all fairness, Matt Stevens dropped himself, no ways he could justify a place. Breath, Wooooosaaaaaa… Haha!
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 65) : Yeah, the Scrumhalf position has been a thorn in our side for quite some time, Ruan Pienaar VS Rory Kockett VS Charl McLeod VS Conrad Hoffmann VS Cameron White VS Stefan Ungerer – such a vital position and we have had so many different playing philosophies – that’s why I like the look of Cameron White and why an inform Conrad Hoffmann are good to the cause, they, like Aaron Smith are natural distributors of the ball, their first instinct is to deliver quality ball, then either territory or tactical kick, and lastly individual brilliance – sometimes our 9s have been arse about face.
@Richard (Comment 66) : Amen bro, my view exactly, Imagine we played against ourselves
😆
@Richard (Comment 67) : The one thing people tend to forget! and that is that a player does not select himself.
@Richard (Comment 67) : Cameron White is an Australian cricketer. Maybe you are talking about Cameron Wright. 😉
@Ben (Comment 70) : You are right big Ben I’m still in cricket mode too! 👿
Our Pack has certainly not been weakened and should give the force a run … Backs not the most creative but geez run at them at your peril. Three solid back 3 players
@sharks_lover (Comment 68) : Imagine the hate if a Sharksworld blogger was able to select a Sharks team or a Bok team. Or worse Andre Snyman! haha! 😆
@byron (Comment 72) : And great to see Thomas Du Toit back in the 23. Will add great value!
@Richard (Comment 73) : 😆
So nice to see positive blogging is back on Sharksworld
😆
@West Indies Cricket Board (Comment 15) : Umm no, SANZAR are a bunch of liars. They don’t want to punish Messam for a clear infringement as they don’t want to set a precedent at this level, precedent for what…being honest and fair? But they will HAPPILY set a precedent AT THIS LEVEL for appealing their OWN judgement and trying Steyn for the same offence twice! And we all happily accept their inconsistency and bias agains non-new zealanders…yup very fair….probably…
Personally I would move SBU into 13 next to Esterhuizen and JPP on wing for Odwa. I can’t say JP has impressed me on center plus Odwa also needs a rest he has been giving it his all this season. Personally I would have had Fred in at 10 and Steyn out to 15. JP at wing and Sburra at 13.
@sharks_lover (Comment 75) : Andre Snyman’s Sharks first team:
15. Andre Joubert
14. James Small
13. Andre Snyman
12. Trevor Halstead
11. Stefan Terblanche
10. Butch James
9. Robert Du Preez
8. Shaun Sowerby
(wait, what!)
Just glad we picked Adriaanse ahead of Stevens.
@coolfusion (Comment 78) : Sbu Sithole is still injured. Frans won us the conference from 10 last season. JPP gets the ball more at 13 than 14 and is more solid on defence than Sbu.
@coolfusion (Comment 80) : Stevens has been dropped well and proper, needs to up his game and match fitness before he can get a look in, we need Adriaanse to up his game a level or two more as well, he hasn’t been looking that good come scrum time, and he was quite an expensive purchase.
@Richard (Comment 67) : Also like Cameron Wright. If he can just work on his distribution consistency.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 83) : Yeah, he has a lot to offer – I would have liked to have seen more of him this season, we have quite a lot of scrummies and with Claasens set to join the fray, one might say too many! But it is a very technical position and I think Claasens can impart a lot of wisdom and experience, plus he is immensely combative and competitive so people will need to show much hunger to get a spot, can’t go with the flow.
@Richard (Comment 79) : I would differ from him on that one, for me Lem at 10/12
@Richard (Comment 81) : Injured again?
@Richard (Comment 84) : Must say I prefer Ungerer, but Wright also a good option and also still young.
@Ben (Comment 86) : Came off early in the VC match last weekend, maybe still not totally over the injury he has.
@Richard (Comment 84) : Yeah maybe Claasens can coach our young scrummies a bit??
@sharks_lover (Comment 85) : Lem is a legend. Still farming out there near Mooiriver, that was not his team, I was just being silly – long weekend ahead of me and all. Jeremy Thompson and Dick Muir with Robert Du Preez and Henry Honiball, James Small, Cabous and Andre Joubert – what a bloody fantastic backline!
@Ben (Comment 86) : Niggle, not ready yet. Frustrating for him, and us, but Odwa has been great! Odwa is still a very viable fullback option if Sbu can force his place into the team.
@sharks_lover (Comment 87) : Ungerer is bloody good, he needs some game time of note, he has been plagued by injuries the poor bugger. Cameron has that Rory vibe about him, but without doubt he and Stefan and Cobus are the way forward, and yep Claasens would be a fantastic mentor!
@Richard (Comment 81) : Slightly better on defense than SBU but what attacking flair? 0 so far. I don’t agree that he is the better option. Plus looking at how he resonds to Lambie’s cross kicks and overlaps you can see the man is a finisher and that’s what he wants to do, I don’t see him breaking the line, creating and exploiting opportunities. I do however think Sbura could be that guy.
@Richard (Comment 90) : 😆
@coolfusion (Comment 93) : So you’re saying he should swap with JPP and be 13? Look I rate Sbu highly, and I see his future at 13, if he can work on his defense and distribution he can truly warrant a place at 13, but his skills are too much like a 14 still. He seeks contact before distribution, and needs more space to get away. But yeah, a boon to the team if and when he is fit.
I say for a while: (the rest takes care of itself)
15. Odwa
14. Sbu
13. JPP
@Richard (Comment 81) : Not so sure about JPP at 13 more solid on defence than Sbu. At 14 definitely.
@Bokhoring (Comment 96) : Yes and no, but Sbu IS the answer going forward. He needs to learn a bit more of the nuances of 13 – distribution, defense, utilization of space, seeking contact – he is not a Super Rugby 13 yet. And we must not forget there is still Paul Jordaan? We are blessed come to think of it.
@sharks_lover (Comment 88) : @Richard (Comment 91) : Thanks. I would still prefer seeing JPP moved to 14 and Sithole playing 13.
@Pokkel (Comment 4) : I’m taking the mature “if you can’t say something nice about someone and you can’t sell them to the Bulls, then don’t say anything at all” approach
@Ben (Comment 98) : And when Paul Jordaan is fit and JPP has left after this season?
@Richard (Comment 97) : What has JPP done to prove that he is in fact a Super Rugby 13?
@Ben (Comment 101) : nothing! 😆 😆
@Richard (Comment 100) : When Jordaan is fit. 😆
@Ben (Comment 98) : Yup me too. But I must also say that experience in the midfield also comes into play especially since Frans will be at 10 which leaves the newbie Esterhuizen at mid? I also wish Jordaan was back but what about Heimar?
@Ben (Comment 103) : true 😈
@Richard (Comment 100) : @Ben (Comment 103) : I like your sense of humour.
They are still saying that Frans could be banned on Friday before the game, this may be why he was selected at 10, less disruption to slot Fred in and call up Lionel Cronje. Gives a chance for the centres to have practiced together all week, Frans is not yet in the clear.
@coolfusion (Comment 104) : @Richard (Comment 105) : At least Sithole is playing 13 in the Vodacom Cup. Shows that the Sharks see him as a 13 for the future.
@Ben (Comment 106) : Have to have a sense of humour to be a sport fan, or you’ll end up in the loonie bin like my uncle.
@Ben (Comment 108) : Unless they really had nobody else to play at 13 of course. 😆
@Ben (Comment 108) : Indeed, given the physical demands of 13, I think they see Paul Jordaan as a wing going forward, Sbu can take it, Paul sadly is a bit injury prone to be a threat at 13. Hard position.
I have no interest in watching this team play…only a South African public would consider Steyn-Esterhuizen an exciting 10/12 axis. There is absolutely squat nothing in terms of creativity and brains – let alone BMT in that combo. Not to mention there is no pace either…And don’t get me started on JPP at 13!!
And for those to say “ah but remember back when Steyn was 18 and pumped Province in the rain…”
You know what – Ricky Januarie won us our first game in NZ in years….I don’t see us raving about him now???
@pienaar111 (Comment 112) : Hello Sunshine! 😆
@Richard (Comment 111) : I really wanted Sithole to play 13 this year because I felt it would have given him a good chance to go to the world Cup. We are really thin at 13 in SA.
@Ben (Comment 114) : Yep, the ship is sailing for Sbu to get a World Cup spot, HM won’t select an unblooded player – our centres are Serfontein, De Allende, JDV, possibly Engelbrecht and Juan De Jongh – agreed, not exactly scary stuff. However I say this often, I rate Jan Serfontein highly, and I begrudgingly admit that De Allende is in good form.
@Richard (Comment 115) : Serfontein is a good 12. Shouldn’t play 13 in my opinion.
de Allende is in some splendid form at the moment. I don’t think Heyneke will select de Jongh because of his size, which would leave the door wide open for Sithole. JJ Engelbrecht – no comment. 🙄
@pienaar111 (Comment 112) : on a lighter note….the end of the world is near 😈
I feel JPP should play 14 for us in the world cup. I really don’t rate Hendricks.
@Richard (Comment 107) : Steyn’s hearing have been moved to Tuesday 08:00 SA time,so he is good to go for Saturday and then Lambie back for next week…according to News24
@FireTheLooser (Comment 117) : it would be less painful to watch though 😉
@Bokhoring (Comment 12) :
Hhmm, yes, I didn’t spot that one. I too would have preferred to see Sithole on the bench in place of Murray.
Maybe because Murray can cover 12/13?
But then Frans can cover 10/12?
I think maybe it’s an experience thing. Let’s hope we’ll see Sithole back very soon and that this is not a case that the coaches just doesn’t rate him that highly. Maybe they thought it better to give him another run and Vodacom Cup?
15 Steyn
14 JPP
13 Jack Wilson
12 Esterhuizen
11 Mvovo
10 Zelinga
9 Ungerer
it is quite disturbing that our tackle success ratio is the lowest in the comp and we have been in the lower tier in this stat consistently over the past few years
@The hound (Comment 23) :
They moved him away from 10 because the Bok coaches didn’t want to back him at 10, but wanted him in their team.
Massive debate about which is his best position, but had he stuck with one, that would probably eventually become it, since he is immensely talented.
@coolfusion (Comment 122) : Cant think that Esterhuizen can unseat Steyn as a 12?Or is it because of SP?
@pienaar111 (Comment 123) : Only the Cheetahs and the Force have leaked more points in the comp so far…even the Blues and the Reds have been more thrifty…then again we have scored the 2nd most points behind the Brumbies… 😯
@BarendL (Comment 125) : SP is the reason. Steyn has good hands and a great boot and can tackle. He would be valuable at 15. Zeilinga is a good 10. Heimar Williams at 12 Murray at 13 if SBU cannot play. JPP at 14 Mvovo at 11? I don’t know for me Esterhuizen is still very hit and miss (not that Murray has convinced me either)
@coolfusion (Comment 127) : I would probably consider Odwa or Mvovo at 15 before I move Steyn from 12,prefer Sbu at 13,can remember him and Steyn working great in the midfield before Lambie and Fred got injured last year,offloads and Steyn sending him into gaps,to me JPP is an extremely lazy 13
Would have liked Fred at 10 for tomorrow as well?
@Richard (Comment 115) : PLease no JJ for the Boks. The only true 13 out of the lot is JdJ. The others are mostly inside centers although I would not mind JDV at 13.
@BarendL (Comment 128) : Yes JP not very creative. A finisher as I said. Hey maybe we can get Willie le roux to come fill in at 12 or 13? But jokes aside Lionel Cronje strikes me as the kind of guy always trying to create something maybe we should work out his niggles and get him groomed for 15? Whatever happened to the “promising” Tim Swiel (he said jokingly) I though he had a short stint in England and was now back in the mix?
@Richard (Comment 73) : 😆
@Bokhoring (Comment 129) : JJ should be playing wing. He does not have the defensive skills a center should have. He would make a large fast wing speed is about all he has going for him.
@pienaar111 (Comment 112) : Ok now that you have thrown your toys out the Cot and Stamped your feet in a silent tantrum? no one is forcing you to watch, 😉 😆
@coolfusion (Comment 130) : haha,yeah cant say that I’m sad that Swiel is not back yet,agree on Cronje,doesn’t come off often,but he did look like he wanted stuff to happen..Jp defends well with the touch lines helping him,he has good spacial awareness in that regard,but 1 on 1 as is required from a 13 he’s kinda crappy,turns slowly and gets stepped a bit too easily.
@coolfusion (Comment 132) : He would make quite a good understudy for wing,needs to work on 2 things though….kicking and attitude (that look of someone owes him something is damn irratating) 😆
@BarendL (Comment 119) : Excellent! Thanks Barend! Good news.
@Letgo (Comment 9) : Bud those wings and FB aren’t gonna see any ball at all. Frans and Esterhuizen? Good luck. The back three will be reduced to defending.
I have a GREAT 💡 💡 💡 , why do we not see how our 10/12/13 go in the match before we 😥 ❓
@coolfusion (Comment 130) : He wants to stay in London and play for England. Not quite in favor, we lost a lot of talent bringing him to Durban, and now, he doesn’t much want to be there.
@BarendL (Comment 119) : Maybe Sanzar is just being proactive.
Im sure you die hards watched the VC vs Border game. Did Sbura set the world alight in that game?
@sharks_lover (Comment 137) : Revolutionary thinking!
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 140) : Got injured. Off early, that’s why I said in earlier comments he’s not available for selection.
@Richard (Comment 135) : @Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 139) : Apparently nobody was available on Friday,great news for the Sharks!
Sanzar proactive?Didn’t even realise they where active! 😈
@Richard (Comment 61) : Given the Sharks tactics of bash rugby, definitely Frans. That said the image polishers have been telling us all season that the Sharks want to play it wider?
@coolfusion (Comment 132) : That’s exactly where Province played him. Could make a stake for wing from next year when the likes of JPP, Habana etc retire from international rugby. That said Habana will play until 40 if selected.
@Richard (Comment 141) :
@byron (Comment 72) : Yes, agreed, beware of another SPEAR!!
@Richard (Comment 74) : Good player that lad.
@KingCheetah (Comment 144) : Wanting to play wide and being able to play wide are two different discussions. We don’t have the game to do that yet, too many chefs, not enough cooks. Will take a few seasons to get that right, winning pretty rugby doesn’t happen in 1 preseason, also depends on the pressure from the public and stakeholders on Mr. Gary Gold – after losing so many games – we stuck our head in the sand and said win at all costs. So yes, Frans – the outside backs aren’t going to see ball on attack – only on counterattack (unless we are in for a shock) – that said the weather in Durban has been horrible.
@coolfusion (Comment 132) : He also needs to learn to catch.
@KingCheetah (Comment 144) : Ou tjietaaitjie, jy worrie verskriklik oor die Sharks???? spaar n bietjie van daai worries vir jou Span, hulle le immers ver onder 😉
😆
@sharks_lover (Comment 146) : the sour birth thing you mentioned earlier. Us couch experts, if only this and that, if I were him this, and that. How could he this and that. Call me up to the team, 30 years old, fit enough, well built – I’d last about thirty seconds, puke up a bar one, a litre of energade and ask the doc to check my ribs that are cracked (he insists I get up) it was just the cheerleaders Pom Pom.
@pienaar111 (Comment 112) : Actually just the current crop of Sharks fans that have evolved from enjoying running rugby, to dour bash, and kick.
@KingCheetah (Comment 148) : Huge future for Thomas the Tank. Needs a quality TH partner and the future is blink!
@Richard (Comment 145) : JPP is 28 dude.
@KingCheetah (Comment 144) : Rugby field, it turns out, isn’t wide enough… 😆
…maybe the boys should try a cricket field, seeing as the kiwis are allowed to play their cricket on a rugby field. 😈
@Richard (Comment 149) : Do not explain to much bro, you will confuse poor Tjietaaitjie 😆
@Ben (Comment 155) : En ‘n geld wolf – hy is meer lus vir geld en sushi. Kan jy vir my se dat hy meer die passie he om nog ‘n Bok te bly na die Wereld Beker? Ek sal verbaas wees.
@Richard (Comment 154) : He had that TH partner in Herbst 😥
@coolfusion (Comment 130) : Dunno what is the issue with Lionel Cronje…. oodles of talent, but he just doesn’t seem to settle down. How many unions has he been at already? Free State, WP, Bulls, Lions, Brumbies, and now Sharks!
@sharks_lover (Comment 159) : Don’t, just don’t… 🙁 that is a very eina discussion. 👿
And JP scores a hatrick 😯
😆 , wanna hear you okes whining come MONDAY? hahahaha
@Richard (Comment 161) :
@sharks_lover (Comment 162) : @sharks_lover (Comment 162) : Best centre ever, needs to play 13 for the Boks in the World Cup final. Definitely. Haha!
@Richard (Comment 164) : 😆
@BarendL (Comment 143) : Lol, ditto
@sharks_lover (Comment 165) : Fans have amnesia, we aren’t stats driven introverts we are the ruthless crowds of the Colosseum, we are driven by visceral emotion and passion. last week doesn’t matter, because that oke is a DOOS! (example) – like me with anyone who doesn’t play for the Sharks. “Geeze Rich did you see what Etzebeth did to Bissie.” “Ja bro, I did, but he is a doos.”
@Richard (Comment 158) : Hopefully the Boks will have a proper coach (not Heyneke) for the next World Cup and that will convince him to keep going. 😈
Our (as in South Africa’s) inability to select/groom an outside centre reminds me of the days when we couldn’t care to play a fetcher.
We are still bringing up the rear… 🙄
@Ben (Comment 168) : Then I owe you a case of beer or a ticket to a rugby game. You’re on! I heard P. Divvy is looking for work! 😆
@Richard (Comment 149) : I think the Sharks have the players to play it wide. A solid pack, with guys like Reinach, Lambie, Mvovo and JPP.
Problem is the coaches insist on playing JPP at centre, and Frans is a great crash baller and goal kicker, but he seems to have lost any ability to create/distribute.
More interested in being the bad guy of late.
@BarendL (Comment 143) : I thought maybe they were thinking of having 2 hearings in one. 😉
@FireTheLooser (Comment 169) : Yep. You’d think that we would’ve learned from a Tim Horan / Jason Little combo. Walter Little / Frank Bunce. We have had amazing indviduals but I doubt we will see a JDV / Jacque Fourie for quite some time. I see Serfontein as a 13 and we need a quality inside centre – could De Allende and Serfontein form a combo?
@sharks_lover (Comment 151) : Lol, Sure they do, but things can change in a few weeks. A few weeks ago the situation was reversed lol.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 156) : Lol, maybe you can suggest that.
@KingCheetah (Comment 171) : a bit harsh, the team needs to click and we have been rocked by injury, bad start to the season and some really kak rugby. If you can’t win up front and dominate the collision and set-piece you can’t do much. A slick backline needs front foot ball, that said The Chiefs are streets ahead of most teams living off the scraps, but they have a settled coach in Rennie who knows the players better than his wife. (better than he knows his wife, not his wife knowing the players). that would be weird.
@sharks_lover (Comment 157) : Play nicely now. Tjietatjie doesn’t get confused. You know what happens when you make assumptions, don’t you?
@KingCheetah (Comment 177) : Die Haai was genaai toe naai hy weer, rugby is ‘n game van seer kry.
@Richard (Comment 142) : Thanks, saw that but how did he play until he got injured?
@Richard (Comment 176) : Harsh yes, but you guys seriously have the players to play an exciting brand of rugby…. they just seems to be an inclination to rather kick and bash!
In the first match vs. the Cheetahs in Durban, there were some great phases of backline play, but then they reverted back into their shells.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 179) : Not too bad, a bit rusty, not match ready in my humble opinion.
@Richard (Comment 178) : Ja, maar as jy nie into BDSM is nie, raak dit ongemaklik.
@KingCheetah (Comment 180) : Winning breeds confidence had a few results swung our way I think the confidence to give it a crack would’ve been there. We lost our way a bit, absolutely, we now need to settle on a plan. And I think the exciting rugby has been put on the back burner to get a few more results in the bag.
@KingCheetah (Comment 177) : Give him your address! 😆 😉
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 182) : Find me a rugby fan who doesn’t like a bit of pain and doesn’t like giving it. But if my wife arrives with a strap on and a whip, nah mate, I’m out the window!
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 182) : 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
@KingCheetah (Comment 171) : I agree with you on this mate. And I don’t think it makes you the “bad guy” mate.
@Richard (Comment 170) : I don’t drink and I would have to fly 9800km to go watch a game. But you’re on anyway. I’d take PDivy over Heyneke! 😈
@Richard (Comment 181) : Thanks.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 189) : Sorry first off. Didn’t mean to come across bluntly. Sbu is a bit unlucky at the moment.
@Ben (Comment 188) : Oh yes, of course – you’re overseas, and yeah, didn’t realise you didn’t drink – good for you! Lets see who the next coach is, if HM wins the cup he will be the coach again, no one is really standing up, unless Gert Smal creates a dream team.
@Richard (Comment 191) : I’m afraid our next coach will have to come from overseas.
@Richard (Comment 191) : I would become a full blown alcoholic if HM’s contract gets extended and eat my half empty beer bottle if he wins the WC!
@Ben (Comment 192) : Does Jimmy Stonehouse count?
@Ben (Comment 192) : I think I agree. A NZ coach, imagine the Irish Coach. Joe Schmidt. But SA doesn’t do well with foreign coaches, and therein lies our problem. We have the best players, but we don’t have the best coaches.
@BarendL (Comment 193) : I am a full blown alcoholic and would most probably become sober – hopefully sanity will prevail so I can spend the rest of my life in a boozy haze.
@Richard (Comment 196) : The only difference between you and me is that I’m not admitting yet to my “problem” 😆
@Richard (Comment 195) : The biggest problem in SA thus far, has been an over-reliance on the sheer number of players available.
So for the coach, if player A fails, he can simply move on to players B, C, D, E, F etc.
These other countries have realised that, unless they coach the players at their disposal, they will run out of players to select from.
Judging from what Morné has said is being done by SARU in conjunction with the unions these days, it seems as though that mentality is finally being addressed.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 198) : sorry bud you lost me there,are you talking some kind of code,read it four times and still can’t get past player A
@FireTheLooser (Comment 198) : Agreed fully squire – we sit with a conundrum – and hopefully we can address, elite players need to be identified, groomed, coached and be part of a high performance centre. Relying on numbers is like an army full of cannon fodder VS Leonidas’ Brave 300. Skills will out match brawn time and again, and our skill levels, spatial awareness and plans of attack are sadly very outdated, SARU have their work cut out for them. Our Sharks team management has nous, and intelligence, so the future doesn’t look gloomy, but look at the likes of the Blue Bulls. You can copy and paste this as Ludeke’s verbatim pre-match, half-time and post-match interviews:
“We need to be accurate, we need to show patience, we need to dominate the set-piece, be positive.”
@BarendL (Comment 197) : haha! 😆
@The hound (Comment 199) : 😆
In essence, for every position on the field, we would theoretically have 10 players to select from. So if player number 1 fails, there’s still 9 other players to select from.
Hope that makes sense. 😉
@Richard (Comment 190) : All 😎 .
So Frans’ retrial has been moved to next Tuesday…meaning he will definitely play this weekend.
http://www.rugby365.com/article/65238-steyn-will-play-this-weekend
@FireTheLooser (Comment 198) : Agreed,its like a hit and miss carnival,in the end it makes the jersey cheaper!Thats one thing that SA is quite far behind with and that is skills,shockingly basic skills,its a wonder we are competitive at all,in the long run talent isn’t enough!But like Morne said,hopefully the SARU will be implementing those ideas sooner rather than later
@West Indies Cricket Board (Comment 14) : Same feeling here 🙂
@Richard (Comment 176) : 😆
@Ben (Comment 184) : Lol, Actually missed that one, until you drew my attention to it ha ha. Nah, he has that one spot on.
Despite everything that has been said about boring terrible rugby and not wanting to go to the game anymore…I find myself with that excited feeling in the pit of my stomach at finally being able to go to my first game this season on Saturday! Come on…
Lots of “big names” in the team, but must say I don’t like it all that much. Don’t like Steyn at 10 and JPP at 13. Just feel there is no player in the backs to “create” an opening and be the spark that could set the Sharks on fire. would have preferred if Fred, Heimar or Sithole could have been in the backline.
@JD (Comment 210) : Only one that really can create in those you mention is Fred, Jordaan is the only creative 13 we have. before that was Whitehead.
@sharks_lover (Comment 211) : the current back line is full of players that can run over players not one of them can step and create space for the players next to them. I do think all three of the players I mentioned can do it, anyway better than the starting players.
@JD (Comment 212) : Im with you on this boet, that backline doesn’t make me feel excited. So much for the rotation that was preached before hand. Only time Fred will start is when lambie and steyn is injured. But hey thats just my opinion 😉
@JD (Comment 212) : So just imagine how suprised the opposition will be when one of those three does decide to sidestep, instant try
Seriously, why all the negativity people? Geez! We are fifth on the log, and that so far with only three wins. It could have been so much worse, I mean we could have been Cheetah supporters
@KingRiaan (Comment 215) : We are lucky that all the other teams have been inconsistent.
@JD (Comment 210) : Agree 100%
This is the backline I would love to see.
9. Reinach (if he can get the basics right)
10. Lambie
11. Mvovo
12. Steyn
13. Sithole
14. JPP
15. Odwa
@KingRiaan (Comment 214) : think the only one there who knows what a sidestep is must be Steyn but I can’t remember when last I saw him doing one. 😈
@KingRiaan (Comment 215) : not negative just not excited as in the past.
@JD (Comment 219) : He is just keeping it for a special occasion
@KingRiaan (Comment 215) : Your point being what exactly? Yes we got smashed last week, but Sharks have played three, lost three.
Given the quality in the Sharks team that is hardly anything to yodel about, plus the antics of your captain haven’t exactly covered the season thus far in glory.
Season isn’t won/lost in March.
@KingCheetah (Comment 222) : Wow dude, do you get an email notifying you every time someone mentions the Cheetahs? 😆
@KingCheetah (Comment 222) : Dude take a chill pill. have you never heard of the term ‘friendly banter’? Geez
My problem with Deysel as captain is,if you have a 100% fully fit team Alberts,Coetzee,Bothma,Mthembu,Kanko,Oosthuizen,does he even make the bench.
I am a firm believer in pick your captain first then pick the team around him.
We need a long term captain,Bismark doesn’t need the burden,it can only inhibit his game.
You pick him for his balls to the wall playing style,always on the edge of illegal,thats what works for him.,and thats what works for us
The captaincy is like a muzzle on a pit bull. People are demanding he restrain himself and curb his natural game.
He is much more valuable as a player than a captain
Two guys who could be doing the job for us are Big Al Hargreaves,who is doing a wonderful job captaining a team of Internationals including an ex England captain at Saracens.
And then Steven Sykes,I wonder how many people noticed how he rallied the shell shocked Cheetahs in that last game.Brussow was lost in a selfish sulk ,Sykes pulled those youngsters together and got them through that game.
@Ben (Comment 223) : LMFAO
@The hound (Comment 225) : Lambie will be captain from next week on. Deysel has been selected as one off captain because Lambie has to rest. Don’t read too much into it.
I hope in the future PSdT and Lambie will be captain and vice captain respectively.
@Ben (Comment 227) : Lambie is another one who shouldn’t be a captain,too quiet and introspective.It is not in his nature and will inhibit his game
I punted PSDT weeks ago and was told he was too young,funny that Folley is the same age.
Best captains for me have always been forwards,Teich,Pienaar,Martin Johnson,John Eales,McCaw,Fitz, can’t remember a lot of 10’s who did it.,
@The hound (Comment 228) : Naas?
@KingRiaan (Comment 229) : Doesn’t that prove my point.
@The hound (Comment 230) : It’s actually weird, because if you think about it, on paper the flyhalf is the perfect guy to captain the team, he makes most of the calls on the field in any case, has one of the best views on the pitch and doesn’t get buried under rucks and mauls as often as the forwards does.
@KingRiaan (Comment 231) : Depends on what you expect from a captain.
For me he’s a guy you want to go into the trenches with,
I remember after they won the World Cup in Aussie ,Woodward said that he chose Martin Johnson as his captain,because when he went around to the opposition change room for the toss,the first face he wanted the opposition to see would be Johnson’s
Can’t imagine too many teams being intimidated by Patrick.
Do you think if we gave the Lions back Deysel that they would return Whitely.
@Ben (Comment 223) : Whatsapp notification! Ask Rob to activate yours
@KingRiaan (Comment 224) : Oh I amn’t upset.
@KingCheetah (Comment 233) : Will do!