The Sharks have confirmed that their tour party will leave Durban on Saturday morning, en route to Dunedin on a tour that also includes matches in Wellington, Sydney and Brisbane.
The 27-man squad for the tour will be announced tomorrow morning – we expect to get it up shortly after 8am.
We should probably expect the bulk of the party to come from the match 23 that featured against the Bulls, with a number of exceptions – we know, obviously, that SP Marais is out and Odwa Ndungane doubtful (although his concussion probably isn’t serious enough to warrant exclusion).
Bismarck du Plessis and Frans Steyn will come in and it remains to be seen which of his three other hookers Gary Gold opts to take with. Bank on an extra prop too (likely to Matt Stevens for utility value, since Thomas du Toit is with the Junior Boks) and possibly a third scrumhalf too (hopefully Stefan Ungerer). Stephan Lewies and JP Pietersen will also come in, while Paul Jordaan should probably be expected to play some Vodacom Cup before possibly joining the party as a replacement later on.
Tweet
I’m glad they’re leaving a little earlier – this should dispel any “travel fatigue” excuses.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 1) :
Yes! A very good thing! I hope they pull together in Aus and NZ. A great pity we are without Pat Lambie. However this is good experience for Fred. I believe in him too. I think he has just been a little shell shocked recently.
As far as I’m concerned now – we are building for the future. Not much hope in this comp any longer.
We usually do pretty well on tour, but with this disaster of a start anything can happen!
@FireTheLooser (Comment 1) : I have a feeling they can’t wait to get out of town. Hopefully the squad and coaching staff can gel together as a team.
All I want to say is: Good luck boys! Give it all…
Come on Boys! Play for the Black and White!
I have this feeling that the tour is going to go well.
@Bokhoring (Comment 4) : Agreed.
Coach Gold, although I have no idea what you’re hoping to gain out of the remainder of this Super Rugby season, I sincerely hope you do achieve what you’re aiming for.
@vanmartin (Comment 7) : We only 7 points down from the Bulls 😉
Bismark must be amped to get back on the field ,I don’t think he’s had this long a holiday since matric.
Feel sorry for the first guy he comes up against in a maul.
@vanmartin (Comment 7) : I think they should develop and build for the future.
@Uli Boelie (Comment 8) : but we played one more game!!!!!!!! and also just look at the other Conference points…. at least 5 teams with more points and less games played!!!!!!!!!!!
This season is gone build a team for Currie Cup and next year!!!!
Good luck team. I think you’re going to need it.
@The hound (Comment 9) : 😆 Very true. We may expect a Alberts-Richards type of collision. Medics on the side of the field on high alert at all times
@JD (Comment 10) : Surely the best way to develop for the future is to win every remaining game this year.
That should be their single motivation.
The fact that absolutely no one believes they can do it should be their next motivation.
@The hound (Comment 14) : Exactly…building for the future doesnt just mean throwing in new guys…its about creating a winning culture and environment that new guys can ease into
@Uli Boelie (Comment 8) : @JD (Comment 10) : It’s due to the varying expectations that I stated what I did. There are a number of different objectives that can be pursued, some in tandem while others are probably mutually exclusive. Whatever the coach opts for I wish him the best of luck, it’s probably not a simple task that lies ahead of him whatever he chooses to do.
@SheldonK (Comment 15) : However it does not mean continuing with journeymen in some positions or on the bench, when a youngster will probably do as well.
@SheldonK (Comment 15) : Now that I agree with 100%!!
@Bokhoring (Comment 17) : And that is also true…
Now combine comments 15 and 17 and you have my view…
@Bokhoring (Comment 17) : Its hard to argue for a youngster when they themsleves arent performing in their age group or comp. Not saying i agree with every selection…just seeing it from a coach trying to justify to a player
@SheldonK (Comment 21) : I have not watched any Vodacom Cup games, but it will also be difficult for a talented player to shine in a team environment where there are problems.
I am thinking mainly of Ungerer (has definite pedigree), Wright and perhaps another young flank if Tera is not available.
I will be miffed if players like Hoffman, Stevens, Botha and Murray go on tour, although I am expecting to be miffed.
@Bokhoring (Comment 22) : Your argument for young players not performing has to then apply to the older ‘journeymen’ as well. Fair is fair. Like ive said i may not agree with all selections but hard to justify dropping 1 for another based on performance
@Bokhoring (Comment 22) : Of all the rugby players on this earth, I can not understand why Hoffman would be preferred to any of Ungerer, Wright and Venter…CAN NOT UNDERSTAND IT!
Ahhh… the slow Thursday… 😐
@FireTheLooser (Comment 24) : Even with Reinach playing the worst game he has to offer, I would not replace him with Hoffman. How is it the man does not get broken on a rugby pitch? He is (as they say in America) thin as a rail…and poor muscle tone to boot.
@Southern_Shark (Comment 25) : The week before a bye….. 😛
@SheldonK (Comment 21) : This is what I said a few weeks ago. Even our current guys in our junior and Vodacom ranks aren’t the best. How do you know expect them to suddenly perform when promoted to the senior SR side?
@GreatSharksays (Comment 28) : Yeh thats my point. We just assume beacuse they are younger they will. But they have shown nothing to support that claim as yet
Aggg no not Stevens and Hoffman pls….anyone else!
@SheldonK (Comment 29) : Actually Ungerer came on as replacement in the Highlanders game last year, and had a pretty good game in a team that was generally poor.
He had one opportunity of the bench this year, and granted that did not go that well. However I would still have him on the bench in place of Hoffmann.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 26) : He is our equivalent of Jono Ross (for the bulls) and Morné Steyn (for the Boks)…he just won’t go away, and he just won’t perform – kind of like a parasite 😈
@Bokhoring (Comment 31) : I would have a random cast member from the Big Bang Theory on the bench ahead of Hoffman… But I’m sure you already knew that
@Bokhoring (Comment 31) : The only fathomable reason that I can come up with for Ungerer to stay with the VC team, is that the coaching team wants to develop him as a future leader of the senior side (as they are currently playing him as captain there).
Other than that, I can not possibly imagine.
Edit: Just saw this headline – “Monde Hadebe captains the Cell C Sharks XV against Boland Cavaliers”
This could indicate the inclusion of Ungerer on tour.
@Culling Song (Comment 33) : Please let it be Penny
@FireTheLooser (Comment 34) : He will probably go as third scrumhalf, with Hoffmann still on the bench.
@Bokhoring (Comment 36) : Sadly… 🙄
Seems Cooper will also be touring.
For the next 5 weeks, there should be no excuse for the XV Sharks not to perform, as they’ll exclusively train together….
@FireTheLooser (Comment 37) : I see Lewies will also be playing for the XV. I hope they keep a place in the touring squad for him – so that he can join them later.
@Bokhoring (Comment 38) : Come to think of it – he could still be on the plane on Sunday.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 32) : Whoa, for a moment there I thought you were describing my ex-wife.
Refuses to perform and won’t go away….
There has been no word on the sharksrugby.co.za website about the tour group and their safe arrival and other stuff that might be of interest to fans. This is the kind of stuff I’d like to know.
@SeanJeff (Comment 41) : yeah well . they are safe in Coogee, Sydney.
Heading over to Dunedin on Wednesday.
@robdylan (Comment 42) : Thanks Rob, much appreciated