Ryan Strudwick has again been able to name a very strong Sharks XV side for Friday’s Vodacom Cup match against SWD in George and will be hoping that the big names on paper translate into a much-needed win this weekend. Stephan Lewies returns to action after a long injury absence in one of several changes to bolster the pack.
Good mates Dale Chadwick and Kyle Cooper pack down together in the front row alongside Junior Bok prop Marne Coetzee, with Lewies partnering Hyron Andrews behind them. Khaya Majola is the only loose forward to retain his place from last week, with the du Preez brothers moved to the bench to allow Johan Meyer and Johan du Toit to start. The latter makes his first Vodacom Cup appearance and bears a rather striking resemblance to his more famous older brother, Pieter-Steph.
Innocent Radebe gets another run at flyhalf outside captain Stefan Ungerer, while Heimar Williams has a new centre partner in Neil Maritz (who played wing last week). Club player Charlie Mayeza enjoys another start at left wing after a promising debut last week, with Tonderai Chavhanga making his return from injury on the other side. Alcino Izaacs continues at fullback.
New faces on the bench this week are those of young prop Mthunzi Moloi and Varsity Shield sensation, centre Marius Louw.
Preparations have again been disrupted this week due to a number of players taking part in Junior Bok training sessions in Cape Town.
Sharks XV: 15 Alcino Izaacs, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Neil Maritz, 12 Heimar Williams, 11 Charles Mayeza, 10 Innocent Radebe, 9 Stefan Ungerer (capt), 8 Johan Meyer, 7 Johan du Toit, 6 Khaya Majola, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Marne Coetzee, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Dale Chadwick
Subs: 16 Chris de Beer, 17 Mthunzi Moloi, 18 Daniel du Preez, 19 Jean-Luc du Preez, 20 Cameron Wright, 21 Marius Louw, 22 Tyler Fisher
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Welcome back Stephan. Good luck against SWD lads.
Will this game be televised?
Now that is good news.
@Ben (Comment 2) : Won’t be televised, instead Supersport will be showing the Crusaders vs Chiefs game again. 🙄
Supersport have really outdone themselves.
09:35-11:35 Crusaders vs Chiefs (live game)
12:30-13:00 Crusaders vs Chiefs (highlights)
17:45-18:15 Crusaders vs Chiefs (highlights)
18:50-18:55 Crusaders vs Chiefs (highlights)
18:55-20:40 Crusaders vs Chiefs (full game)
No time to show a Vodacom Cup game. 🙄
I wonder what the Sharks’ approach is to the Voda-cup team…are they merely using it to keep players match fit and to give youngsters a foretaste of senior rugby, or what?
They’re definitely not serious about winning the thing, judging by their results. (useless competition in any case, unless you’re not a SR team)
@FireTheLooser (Comment 6) : I think the Bulls and Stormers do it with their Vodacom Cup sides too. Their VC sides just don’t seem to suffer that much from it.
Wow that front pack almost looking better than the A team with small exceptions ;). Nice to see Lewies back in action. What’s up with Oosthuizen?
@coolfusion (Comment 8) : you mean the same Oosthuizen who’s on the bench for the Super Rugby side?
Didn’t see him there. Hope he gets some time this weekend. Bad luck getting hurt in the pre season. Competition for forward positions st the sharks being what it is no one can afford to be out too long.
@robdylan (Comment 9) : @coolfusion (Comment 8) : well the sooner both of them resume normal duty at 4 and 5 the better
Going to the game tonight. Must say, I’m a little excited.
Is the Sharks SR team, announced for tomorrow, finalized? No more changes? I still keep hoping we would exploit the obvious weakness and have Sithole on 13 to face JJ and get JPP or Wilson or even Perez on the wing opposite Hougaard.
Good to see Chavhanga back to! Huge respect for that guy.
@vanmartin (Comment 14) : Now there’s my nomination for the Andre Pretorious award,really love to his match fit /in rehab stats.
@The hound (Comment 15) : Er you mean PRITTorius…cause thats what he was stuck together with…also Goosen should have similar award.
Jack Wilson not in Super rugby or VC side…waste of a player. Stevens cant make the VC side, another waste
@Southern_Shark (Comment 12) : the Vodies game? Will you keep us posted?
22 Tyler Fisher 😯
If only Saffex could speak…he’d be giving Gold an ear full as to why the future RWC winning phenom that is Fisher, is being defiled by sitting on the bench of the no-talent voda-cup team. 😈
Am i right in seeing no real flyhalf backup to Radebe? Guess its 80min for him
@The hound (Comment 15) : He has indeed really struggled with injury but that’s where my respect for the guy comes from. He has an amazing attitude about it.
@vanmartin (Comment 21) : Pretorius would have been a great asset if not for all the injuries. Had a good tactical head. What was his downfall? Pushed too early too far and unhealed injuries just caught up with his body?
@coolfusion (Comment 22) : Not enough milk. Strong bones need milk
@vanmartin (Comment 23) : Replaced the Milk with juice at too early an age
@robdylan (Comment 18) : Will do.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 19) :
@vanmartin (Comment 23) : If I remember correctly his big problem was hamsting related, what do you need to drink for that? 😕
@Southern_Shark (Comment 26) : Q20 😉
We have a little late kickoff. Don’t know why, but it’s been moved to 19h30.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 27) : 😆
OK, warm-ups done. Let’s get it on!
@Southern_Shark (Comment 28) : it’s because the Sharks arrived without their jerseys 🙂
Oh dear, Sharks jerseys did not arrive so they are playing in Eagle’s away kit.
Wow Rob! You are on it!
Missed penalty to Eagles
Try Eagles. Some sloppy existing of 22
Wow! Shit defence! Eagles easy from halfway too 5m out
Well done Lewies! Try Chavanga
Eagles 7 – 7 Sharks
@robdylan (Comment 31) : @Southern_Shark (Comment 32) : No wonder they made a 22 million financial turnaround. Not buying jerseys.
Again sloppy at the kick receive
Very lucky in our 22
Maritz down the touchline, but into touch
@Southern_Shark (Comment 42) : you’re doing a great job, keep it up
@Ben (Comment 39) : 🙂
Penalty Sharks, 3 more!
Much better exit
Innocent not kicking out a penalty, back in our half
Pass Dale! Damn it. Luckily the knock. Classic prop sidestep!
Heimar getting handed off to easily. Luckily another forward pass
Great scrum, penalty!
Penalty 13 – 7
Who is leading
Damn… Try Eagles. Defense is a unfortunately a issue
Eagles 14 – 13 Sharks
@JarsonX (Comment 52) : it was us – now it’s them
I guess it can be quite confusing to play in other jerseys than what you’re used to.
Thank you Sir
We got hammered in that scrum.
Eagles with attacking line out
Good defense that time, Innocent clears
Good cover defense by Chavanga
@Southern_Shark (Comment 60) : I like that kid
He is doing well
Damn penalty Eagles 17 – 13
We don’t look like a unit I’m afraid.
Halftime
@Southern_Shark (Comment 66) : Thanks for the updates!
@Southern_Shark (Comment 66) : Who are the the standout players for the Sharks in the first half?
@Southern_Shark (Comment 65) : the structure here is bollocks.
I bet you that at least 12 players from the match 22 spent no time at all this week training with the other 10.
Okes dropped from Super Rugby would only have pitched up for captains. Guys from Junior Boks probably only met the team in George today.
It’s very frustrating to watch. The intent is there. They haven’t really got going.
Kickoff and brilliance by the younger du Toit. Penalty Sharks. But a miss from Innocent
Nice passing but a knock in contact from the our 11,forgot his name.
@Southern_Shark (Comment 72) : Charlie Mayeza
@vanmartin (Comment 68) : Lewies, Ungerer and Innocent are doing well.
Good covering by Ungerer, but no support
Try Eagles. Little lucky, but bad mistake by Chavanga
Lewies off, du Preez on. Don’t worry not a injury
Game over! Fisher on…;)
Our scrum is bad.
@Southern_Shark (Comment 78) : Has he scored 3 tries yet?
[email protected]&k! Another try Eagles. 29-13
4 phases. The longest play we had…and a knock…
@Southern_Shark (Comment 81) : Thanks for the updates!
Wright on for Innocent, Ungerer to flyhalf
@Southern_Shark (Comment 84) : 😯
Maritz almost scores in the corner
The du Preez twins are looking good. Marcus low has had a good run or two, but we just can’t keep the ball!
@Southern_Shark (Comment 87) : Marius Louw
Try Eagles
36-13
Oh dear…
Ouch! 🙁
The woes in the scrum don’t sound like the best way for Cooper to play himself back into the senior side…
Sums up the evening, forward pass to end a promising move…
Thank goodness it’s over
Awful. 🙄
Well, the most disturbing thing was the scrum. Next was the inability to keep the ball, through unforced errors or poor kicking. The lack of cohesion greatly contributed to this. Thirdly our defense was “soft”, giving them too much space and they gained metres almost at will. There was no urgency and thus very little positive tackles were made.
Of the forwards, Lewies and the young du Toit stood out in the first half and the du Preez twins brought some much needed physicality in the second half. Everybody else, most notably our Superugby players, were invisible at best. The backs were arguably worse. Kicking possession away, knocking on and passing forward halting any resemblance of momentum. Shining lights were Neil Maritz and Marius Louw. They were a handful on attack but received little support. Innocent started good, but his kicking out of hand was poor.
How is it that the Tsietas, bulls, lions and wp are able to be competitive in Voda-Cup, but our boys are too big to give a damn about representing the franchise (and themselves) on the field.
Do they have no pride? Do they feel no shame? Do they not realise that these performances reflect on them personally?
How the heck are the Sharks supposed to build a squad system, when nobody cares to take any pride in their personal abilities?
@FireTheLooser (Comment 98) : this!
Well this simply shows that some of the players in this team that do play for the Sharks from time to time are simply not good enough are they and surely not for SR
@benji (Comment 100) : despite the smoke blowing about them
What’s the reason for the jerseys not arriving??
@Ice (Comment 102) : we’re not sure