The good news for the Sharks is that a number of players that missed out on last week’s trip to Ellis Park due to injury – as well as a few that picked up niggles in the game – all appear to be fit for selection for this weekend’s game against the Bulls in Durban.
Beast Mtawarira and Jannie du Plessis should both come into the frame, after being rested last week, while Marcell Coetzee doesn’t appear to have done any lasting damage to his hand. Ryan Kankowski, who pulled out of the Ellis Park contest at the 11th hour should also be fit to play. Also back in the frame this week is JP Pietersen (he’s been out for a fortnight with a shoulder complaint) while SP Marais, who was also rested last week, will also be in contention.
The challenge for Gary Gold and his team is quite simply whether to risk disrupting the fledgling momentum built last week. We’ve seen countless occasions this season when “star-studded” Sharks teams have simply failed to pitch and while the outfit that took the field last week was nowhere near as young as the Sharks marketing department would have you think, there’s little doubt that this alternate side produced by far the most passionate and committed performance we’ve seen to date. Dare Gold risk bringing his stars back in, or must he persevere with the players who, despite being less well-known, have shown a desire to play?
Dale Chadwick suffered a little in certain scrums last week, but was otherwise very good, while Lourens Adriaanse stood his ground well (despite a bad tackle or two). Franco Marais won rave reviews for his lineout work as well and with the set piece by-and-large functioning well in Joburg, it’s really hard to justify bringing Mtawarira, du Plessis and maybe even Kyle Cooper back in for the upcoming contest. By the same token, the Sharks appear to have stumbled upon a gem loose trio in Coetzee, Willem Alberts and Renaldo Bothma and Ryan Kankowski’s lineout prowess aside, one would think that he would have to make do with a bench spot at best this week.
Among the backs it becomes even more complex. Odwa Ndungane, to my mind, was a revelation at fullback and played his best attacking game of the year from that position. While we’ve conceded that SP Marais has definitely been improving, I can’t see how he could displace Odwa at this stage; if a change is to be made, it probably needs to be at 13, but then again, can Gold really risk bringing the disinterested-seeming Pietersen straight in for Waylon Murray, after the performances the former has delivered thus far in 2015? And surely Jack Wilson must be close to a start after a few really strong cameos off the bench? Will the coaches be brave enough to make the switch that fans are clamouring for and move S’bura Sithole to centre, with either Pietersen or Wilson on the wing?
One feels it’s unlikely that the Sharks will go into this massive contest without the strongest team available to them – at least on paper. I’d like to believe that these stars, though, must be on their last warning and that another un-commited display should see them permanently benched in favour of the hungrier (if not always younger) understudies.
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Kanko has never been the same player since moving to Japan. I recon we need to stick to our loose trio as we have it and build from that, let Kanko come on the last 30 when the game becomes loose.
I’d definitely drop Murray and put JPP in, and keep Odwa at 15. Keep the pack the same, load the bench with the guys coming back. Impact in the second half should be the main focus of the guys coming back.
15. Odwa
14. JPP
13. Sithole
12. Andre
11. Lwazi
10. Zeilinga
9. Cobus
8. Bothma
7. Alberts
6. Marcell
5. Marco
4. Giant
3. Jannie
2. Marais
1. Chadwick
Reserves:
16. Cooper
17. Beast
18. Adriaanse/ Thomas
19. Oosthuizen
20. Kanko
21. Ungerer
22. Lionel
23. Wilson/ SP
That’s my team
So relieved Marcell is okay. Agreed, let’s see that loosie trio in action again!
I think it would be difficult for the coach not to pick Beast and Jannie for the Bulls game but I’d hope to see Marais given another start. Also in agreement that Odders deserves another go at fullback. Hougaard is finding some form on the wing so it makes sense to have JPP covering that channel which means Sbu needs to start at 13. Waylon wasn’t as terrible as some are making him out to be but the way he was so casually handed off by Vorster in the Lions game is concerning, no?
Just make sure Stevens is not any where near the team on Saturday and we will already have a huge chance to win. Then I will move S’bu to 13 and give Wilson a starting spot, also keep Odwa at 15. I also hope that Marais gets another opportunity, I liked the look of him. Also, I feel Giant needs to maybe start in place of Botha
Time for Gary to put his money where his mouth is…reward the guys that performed, and prove to the so-called seniors that they are indeed dispensable.
keep the frontrow the same!!!
That will be a massive confidence boost to those three guys if Gary trusts them to do the business against the bulls.
@Letgo (Comment 3) : The only worry I have is that even without Matfield the Bulls lineout is still very good. Only Marco is really a decent option under pressure in your starting pack.
Sharks for the win this weekend.
Keep Odwa at 15, Wilson at 14 and S’bu at 13 with Heimar at 12. Yes Heimar, Andre should play VC as result from his yellow.
I’d keep the front row the same and have Thomas, Jannie and Monde on the bench. If possible the loose trio should stay as they started last week and maybe just start Giant with Capt Marco 😉
@Morné (Comment 9) : Dankie Morne
@Morné (Comment 9) : You think we’ll get out defensive woes sorted that swiftly?
Cant we just get some jet shoes for Odwa somewhere?
@vanmartin (Comment 11) :
Having guys work hard to get into the right positions quickly (fitness but more attitude) while making sure they understand their roles and execute and communicate effectively can be covered in 3 sessions.
I see Strauss, Pollard, Serfontein and Lappies will be available for the Sharks game. Eish.
@Dragnipur (Comment 2) :
I agree wholeheartedly!
@Morné (Comment 13) : I’ll take your word for it, I guess I’m still concerned about the attitude part though.
@Bokhoring (Comment 14) : Wonder if they’ll shift Serfontein to 13?
@vanmartin (Comment 16) : Odendaal has actually been quite impressive, steps quite well and offers them a lot more at 12. Jan for JJ should be a no-brainer.
@Morné (Comment 9) : Hope you’re right. I’ll be at the game this weekend and this is usually a curse on the Sharks.
@Letgo (Comment 3) :
I LIKE that!
@Pokkel (Comment 18) : So we can expect bucket loads of rain too? 😈
@Dragnipur (Comment 2) : No ways, JPP is as stale as a tuckshop bun.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 20) : This time I’m in a suite so it I should be OK! 😉
My team for Saturday.
1. Beast
2. Franco
3. Jannie
4. Giant
5. Wentzel
6. Marcell
7. Alberts
8. Bothma
9. Reinach
10. Fred
11. Mvovo
12. Heimar
13. Sithole
14. Wilson
15. Odwa
16. Cooper
17. Thomas
18. Adriaanse
19. Botha
20. Kankowski
21. Ungerer
22. Lionel
23. JPP
I would like to see Cronje given a bit more game time. Zeilinga was good on Sat (bar a few missed kicks), but we are still a few weeks without General Pat and we can not be playing Fred for 80mins week after week.
@Letgo (Comment 3) : Can Thomas play tighthead? If he can, why hasn’t he?
@Ben (Comment 23) : On second thought, Botha should get a rest. I’d play Oosthuizen off the bench in his place.
Those calling for Murray to be dropped for his defense also clearly forgot about the plenty missed tackles from Sithole. In my view none are the answer at 13- although at least Murray passes the all. JPP seems bored with life so he too wouldnt be my answer. Although food for thought- is the problem in the the 13 defense channel a result of a very naiive 12?? Id slip Jack Wilson in at 13- will never happen but I would. Odwa did ok at 15 but wow he is slow-when Vorster broke through Odwa didnt get close to him. Id play SP or even JPP there. I def think Giant needs to start with Wentzel. With Botha/Oosthizen bench along with Kanko and leave Coetzee/Alberts and Bothma to start. Reinach/Zeilinga didnt gel at all really so id play Reinach off the bench.
@SheldonK (Comment 27) : the whole team was shit on defence, let’s be fair.
Waylon offers nothing on attack either and I think that’s probably why many are calling for his head. Let’s be fair, he’s also in his 30s, whereas Sbura is still very young.
@SheldonK (Comment 27) : after his lacklustre showing in Joburg, Oosthuizen heads to George with the Vodacom Cup. That’s what would happen if I were picking the team.
@SheldonK (Comment 27) : Do you think Paul Jordaan is our only answer at 13?
@robdylan (Comment 28) : No look fair comment regarding Murray- but for some to say drop him and bring in Sithole cos of defense is kinda the pot calling kettle black. Sithole whilst better with ball in hand has no idea how to pass the ball. At least Murray passes. Thats why Wilson would be my pick- he has looked hungry when coming on. But we both kno JPP will be at 13 this weekend.
@robdylan (Comment 29) : Oosthiuzen did look off the pace- did he play VC prior to last sat to get match fit, I cant remember? Judging by the way he played it doesnt seem like id. Ive said before id prefer Dan Dupreez or Majola off the bench
@Ben (Comment 30) : Considering Jordaan prob wont play rugby this year id dont consider him an option anywhere at the moment. Purely judging on what ive seen my 2 preferred combos would be Williams/Esterhuizen…or Esterhuizen/Wilson. This is assuming Steyn is banned
@Ben (Comment 30) : Jordaan showed in the Currie Cup that he’s NOT the answer at 13. The kid plays like an outside back
@SheldonK (Comment 31) : I saw Murray pass once. Admittedly a very nice pass, but yeah.
@SheldonK (Comment 32) : he played two VC games, yeah. But he just looked nowhere against the Lions.
@SheldonK (Comment 31) : Fair point on the two player’s defending. I guess Murray’s hand-off simply stood out to me. I didn’t really see Sbu missing tackles but I take your word for it as I also happened to be wrangling a very busy 8 month old at the time. Ultimately it comes down to Murray been given a few chances and now I’d like to see Sbu being offered the same.
@robdylan (Comment 35) : haha yeh look after the first 10min we didnt exactly get the ball to our outside backs anyway. I still think Esterhuizen would be better suited to 13. AT 12 he has to be very switched on in terms of attack and defense…and no disrespect to the guy but he seems more rugby player than rocket scientist to me
@vanmartin (Comment 37) : The unfortunate thing for Murray is that the tackles he slipped led to linebreaks as his inside defense was snoozing. Sithole shot up and missed quite a few but at the time the inside defense worked hard and cover tackled- but that often led to someone being offside etc. Like i said id back neither. Sithole is an out and out wing- but if he plays there he sulks. Not someone id like in my team im afraid- personal opinion
@robdylan (Comment 35) : Decent passing/offloading seems to be a by-product of the Sharks playing with confidence. It disappears as soon as they doubt. There was some really impressive handling, the like of which we haven’t seen all season, that just seemed to come from nowhere in the first half of the Lions game.
I remember witnessing this exact phenomenon in the 2013 Currie Cup. Fred also happened to be playing, he threw a few beautiful passes that created some space and suddenly the whole team (forwards too) were offloading. Wish I can remember against who that game was.
@vanmartin (Comment 40) : Well some food for thought- list the team vs the Lions or even our no.1 side with all the Boks etc. Now go through that team and list next to each player which ones are good passes of the rugby ball (passing including offloading). But be honest….result will be scary
@SheldonK (Comment 33) : @robdylan (Comment 34) : I think Paul will make a good impact player off the bench covering 13 and wing. I feel Sithole is our long term answer to 13. He obviously hasn’t perfected his game yet, but the sooner he starts, the better.
@SheldonK (Comment 39) : I would also sulk if I played 13 in 2014,did a superb job at it,got called up to the Bok squad and then 2 other guys gets afforded the opportunity to make that place their own?Both of whom have not done nearly enough to warrant their continued selection?
@Ben (Comment 42) : @BarendL (Comment 43) : I tend to disagree but open to be convinced. What attributes do you guys feel Sithole has that make him the perfect fit for 13? And look perhaps what we want in a 13 is different. Just my point of view- he is good with ball in hand with speed and running straight and beating players 1v1. He isnt a distributor or good on defense which is why i say he is a wing. So what have i missed?
@SheldonK (Comment 44) : I’m mainly looking towards what he achieved last year,in a team that struggled to score tries,he did break the line quite often,defensively he was sound(that said he formed the midfield with Frans at that stage) he is explosive off the mark,normaly drawing 2 players,as he was one of the ONLY 13 during the SR that ran for the gap,not trying to run through someone.Yes his tackling needs a bit of work,but I reckon thats more technique than the will to commit? JPP at 14 is way better,tackles well with the touchline to help,cramping their space,not a very good 1on1 defender,as soon as someone passes JP,he hardly chased this year?Waylon falls off alot of tackles,tries to crashball mostly,hardly see him running through gaps. If I was the coach I would give Sithole the same opportunity that have been given to JPP and Waylon,start him in at least 5 consecutive games,he would come good more often than not,imho……also,we currently have 13’s that cant stop tries,but also cant score any,in Sithole we have a tryscorer at 13 and he creates opportunities(2014),passing and that is something GG could talk to him about if the situation arises,being able to spot your teammate is in a better situation comes with exposure?
@BarendL (Comment 45) : Ok so Sithole at 13 not necessarily because he has all the attributes but more because he has slightly more than JPP and Murray…which is fair. I wouldnt pick any of the 3. I do agree on tackle technique tho…his commitment is there. Apart from tackle technique m biggest issue is his passing/offloading ability- he takes the contact more often than not when he gets the ball. And look in the Sharks team the 13 doesnt often get the ball so perhaps its a non-issue
@SheldonK (Comment 46) : In the past couple of years a Sharks 13 mostly must tackle and chase kicks. Anything else is optional.
@Bokhoring (Comment 47) : Hard to argue with that…mayb if we play Stevens there in 1 game he will get fit?
Keep all the guys from last week with maybe a few exceptions.
Cronje in for Odwa on 15
Sithole to center instead of Murray
Oosthuizen at 12 but If Heimar Williams is an option bring him in at 12
Start Thomas du Toit instead of Chadwick
Wilson on wing with Mvovo on opposite wing.
Odwa from the bench for wing or 15 replacement.
Giant to start instead of Botha.
Mat Stevens nowhere near the bench, in fact buy him a movie ticket so he can do something else during the game.
Also if you MUST use JPP use him on the wing NOT center. How much less must he do before you can see he adds 0 value to that position?
@SheldonK (Comment 46) : I guess its more like that yeah,hehe…also I think that at the Sharks we tend to have young guys starting in one position,then have an opportunity to develope in a different position(lambie started at 15 then 12 and now the Bok 10,Steyn from 15 to 10 now 12,Burden from Wing to hooker) and I guess when you see them perform in a different position with distinction,in particular myself,I want them to be afforded the chance to really make that position their own,but I feel sorry for S’bu,he was genuinely superb last year,until HM chose JPP at 13(which imho was a crap move) and then S’bu kind of became the forgotten man?
@BarendL (Comment 50) : Yeh I get what you saying- i also thin k JPP is an emergency centre not a first choice there. I just prefer a Steyn/Esterhuizen or William/Esterhuizen combo…but perhaps also Sithole will look betetr outside Williams or Steyn than he would outside Esterhuizen
@SheldonK (Comment 46) : I think the point here is to pick a player with some potential in the hope that continuity and backing will help him develop into something special.
Because as you say, nothing we currently have is the finished article anyway.
@SheldonK (Comment 51) : Esterhuizen looks a tad slow and cumbersome for 13.
@coolfusion (Comment 49) : As much as Oosthuizen would prob love playing 12…i think he more suited to flank or lock in my view
@SheldonK (Comment 51) : you’re pushing really hard for Andre at 13. I’m really not sure what evidence that’s based on.
@coolfusion (Comment 49) : start the same 15 guys with 7 exceptions 🙂
@SheldonK (Comment 54) : based on last week, he’s more suited to sitting on the bench to stop it blowing away
@robdylan (Comment 52) : Thats a fair point. This current coaching crops seems to disagree with Sithole at 13 though as much as we like the idea.
@robdylan (Comment 52) : I think that is my hope in any way!
@SheldonK (Comment 51) : I also think he would fit in better beside one of Williams or Frans,Esterhuizen,although big and strong,does not seem to be a distributing 12,more like a crash ball 12,he would be sublime if he could offload in the tackle situation to a running 13,drawing 2 players a putting S’bu away?
@robdylan (Comment 55) : Just based on wanting someone a bit more creative at 12…and then he can run hard and wild at 13. I really do think he is better suited at the moment to 13 than 12. @robdylan (Comment 57) : With Stevens on the bench it aint going anywhere
@SheldonK (Comment 58) : Sadly probably not,we might have a better chance of seeing Oosthuizen at 12!hehe
Jordaan is the future at 13. I would play Sithole there for now but that is no way going to be his position going forward unless he is happy playing second fiddle to Jordaan, who in my mind is undoubtedly the best option
@robdylan (Comment 28) : I cant believe im going to do this . Waylon is only turning 29 in 11 days 😛 he is the same age as me . we are NOT in our 30’s yet . close but not yet 😛
@woody (Comment 62) : Based on Jordaan’s bad luck with injuries, we can then expect Sithole (if the coaches will select him there) to get a lot of opportunity at 13.
@Bokhoring (Comment 64) : Yeah I suppose but just because he has had bad luck in the past doesn’t mean that will always be the case. Duane Vermuelen used to always be injured and look where he is now. Point is though, we can’t base the future of Sitholes rugby career on whether Jordaan is injured or not
I don’t mind SP; but I think he has been lucky to be chosen to start at 15 so many times and I am glad Odwa finally get’s a chance there because he impressed at 15 a few seasons ago.
15. Odwa
14. JP
13. Sithole
12. Andre
11. Lwazi
10. Fred
9. Cobus
8. Kanko
7. Alberts
6. Marcell
5. Marco
4. Giant
3. Jannie
2. Cooper
1. Beast
Reserves:
16. Marais
17. Chadwick
18. Thomas
19. Oosthuizen
20. Bothma
21. Ungerer
22. Butch
23. SP
@robdylan (Comment 52) : Exactly what I’m trying to say.
@Shred (Comment 66) : Butch, wow what am I missing
😆
I really like Sbu….but he missed many a tackle last week and I was wanting him to make a statement!. …
@Shred (Comment 66) : did you fall for the April Fools joke?
@robdylan (Comment 55) : Bastaro of France! Can’t see him being any faster than Andre!?!?
@RedSharkUtd82 (Comment 68) : GLORY GLORY MAN UNITED!!!
@robdylan (Comment 70) :
Ah damn I guess I did 😆 😉
@JD (Comment 71) : yes, but he plays 90% of his games in a bog
@JD (Comment 72) : What a game on Sunday!!! Now the noisy neighbours can shut the hell up
😉
@RedSharkUtd82 (Comment 75) : Man City have fallen out of the bus.
Should be a good game on Saturday. Go Blues!
@Ben (Comment 76) : Definitely will be a good one 😉 Speaking of a bus – I’m sure Mourinho will park it this weekend against us.. And the Reds go marching On On On!!!!
@RedSharkUtd82 (Comment 77) : That’s a cheap shot! 😆
Slow your roll old chap, Chelsea are still 8 points ahead of you guys with a game in hand. 😉
My biggest concern for Saturday is having a decent striker that is fit. Both Remy and Costa are injured. 🙁
@Ben (Comment 78) : Lol I couldn’t resist
Nah don’t think we in the race for title (2nd at best, need you to lose at least 3 games and I can’t see that happening now) – just need to secure Top 4 for CL next season. And then maybe try again next yr – things slowly falling into place under LvG 😉
The less strikers you have the better for us
@RedSharkUtd82 (Comment 79) : I guess you guys don’t miss David Moyes then? 😆
@Ben (Comment 80) : Hahaha hell no!!!
@RedSharkUtd82 (Comment 79) : yes 100% correct. Think second is the best we can hope for but even that is 1000 times better than last year!!!!!
@Ben (Comment 80) : that’s almost the same as thinking Sharks would wanna have white back!!!!!!
@JD (Comment 82) : Yeah can’t agree more!!
For what it’s worth: NEWCASTLE UNITED!! 😎