After suffering an embarrassing defeat at the hands of the SWD Eagles last week, the Sharks XV Vodacom Cup team shows no fewer than nine changes to the starting side for Saturday’s clash with Boland in Empangeni.
Monde Hadebe drops down from the Sharks bench to take over at hooker from Kyle Cooper – he also takes over the captaincy from Stefan Ungerer, whose absence must surely mean a Super Rugby tour spot. Dale Chadwick also moves up, making room for retreaded flanker Barend Potgieter at loose head prop. Marne Coetzee, Hyron Andrews and Stephan Lewies all retain their places in the tight five.
Daniel and Jean-Luc du Preez start in a new-look loose trio along with stalwart Khaya Majola, replacing Johan Meyer and Johan du Toit respectively, both of whom are benched.
Positional switches are the flavour of the day amongst the backs; Inny Radebe, who played a for the Varsity Cup Dream Team on Tuesday, moves out of the squad, necessitating a shift to flyhalf for Heimar Williams. Marius Louw starts for the first time at inside centre, with Neil Maritz moving from 13 to wing to make space for Tyler Fisher in the starting team. Charlie Mayeza falls out, with Tonderari Chavhanga and Alcino Izaacs retained from last week’s back three.
Cameron Wright starts at scrumhalf in the final change to the starting team, while Hanco Venter, Sandile Kubeka and Sizo Maseko all come into the squad as backline replacements.
Sharks XV: 15. Alcino Izaacs, 14. Neil Maritz, 13. Tyler Fisher, 12. Marius Louw, 11. Tonderai Chavhanga, 10. Heimar Williams, 9. Cameron Wright, 8. Daniel du Preez, 7. Jean-Luc du Preez, 6. Khaya Majola, 5. Hyron Andrews, 4. Stephan Lewies, 3. Marne Coetzee, 2. Monde Hadebe (capt), 1. Barend Potgieter
Replacements
16. Chris de Beer, 17. Mthunzi Moloi, 18. Johan du Toit, 19. Johan Meyer, 20. Hanco Venter, 21. Sandile Kubeka, 22. Sizo Maseko
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No tour spot for Lewies then? Or will he be called up later?
@vanmartin (Comment 1) : I think he’ll leave after the game.
Interesting…are we that thin at flyhalf?
@pastorshark (Comment 3) : I’d say so – got to remember though that Lambie, Zeilinga, Cronje, Radebe and (I believe) Cope are all unavailable for this match.
Correction re the opponents – Boland instead of Border.
Glad to see Im not spamming you anymore.
Is Radebe maybe injured?. I saw him in the first half of the Varsities game but not in the second half (when I started watching again about 10 minutes in) and I didnt pick him up on the reserves seats on the side of the field. He had a very good first half.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 5) : thanks – that’s what I meant. And apologies for the stupid spam plugin
@robdylan (Comment 8) : 😎
@robdylan (Comment 8) : where’s all the Fisher fans????
Glad to see the young man back in the Black and White!!!!!
@JD (Comment 10) : They’ve all been banned 😈
@FireTheLooser (Comment 11) : All one of them 😀
Pretty brave move going into the game with no recognised flyhalf or kicker? Backing themselves to score tries it seems
@SheldonK (Comment 13) : This Boland team gave SWD a pasting in Worcester 2 weeks ago. Just saying.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 14) : I remember, i watched some of that game….eish
The boys lead Boland 19-5….
24-5. Bonus point in the bag
@robdylan (Comment 17) : Nice! 😎
I’ll take any good news
38-5
@robdylan (Comment 20) : 😎
Well done Sharks XV!
52-5
Tries (that I know of)
Louw x2
Wright
Potgieter x2
Chavhanga
Fisher (I think)
AN Other
Very nice!
Why couldn’t they play like that when I’m watching!
was
Louw x2
Potgieter x2
Majola
Wright
Chavhanga
Fisher
Amazing what Strudwick was able to achieve with a full week with his players…really impressive and well done
Probably because Stevens wasn’t playing this time.
@JarsonX (Comment 28) : Stevens didn’t play last week either
Was it televised?
@Southern_Shark (Comment 30) : no
I hear ian prior only got 3 weeks for his late tip tackle vs chiefs.
I hate to say it but i think the sa conspiracy theory might actually be true
@byron (Comment 32) : I was thinking about that and I disagree.
We need to remember that Frans actually got 4 matches. It was extended to 5 weeks because of a bye week. So in terms of sanction, we’re really comparing 3 weeks to 4.
Then, add to the fact hat Frans Steyn still has no admitted any wrongdoing for the tackle, but instead opted to fight it. They always give a reduction for an early guilty plea and apology – Frans offered neither.
So I reckon 3 weeks v 4 is actually ok.
@robdylan (Comment 33) : Yeah I think that is right.
BTW did anything happen to Nanai-Williams? That was a pretty clear punch to the face in retaliation.
Ian prior is effectively suspended for 2 weeks as the bye is included in the 3 weeks Sentence.
Half the sentence?
@byron (Comment 35) : he is due to play a club game that week as part of his injury comeback, hence it was included
@robdylan (Comment 36) : Aah, the old “club game” trick…how did the Sharks forget about that one 😈
@FireTheLooser (Comment 37) : you tell me 🙂