The Sharks under 21 side, after a run of four unbeaten games that managed to drag them up out of the doldrums and into the semi-finals, suffered a 22-74 defeat at the hands of the Cheetahs this weekend. There’s more to this story, however and I urge that only the brave read further.
You see, it turns out that the Sharks under 21 side that turned out against the Cheetahs this weekend was, in fact, not the same Sharks under 21 side that had put together such an impressive run of results. You’d be forgiven for thinking it would be, since the team announcement on the official website on Thursday indicated that there would be no changes to the unit that beat the Leoaprds the previous week. All who read that (and shared any interest in the team and its fortunes) would have expected a strong team, in form, going all out to claim a win and perhaps, just perhaps, a home semifinal, however unlikely that latter result may seem.
Instead, the coaches opted to send a B-team like lambs to the proverbial slaughter, throwing the game in the interests of keeping their first team fresh for this weekend’s semifinal.
Fans who have been subjected to enough travesties in the black and white jersey in 2015 would question the decision to willingly and intentionally send out a side in whom there is clearly no faith of a win. I wonder if the coaches even travelled with the team on this suicide mission, or whether they too opted to rest back in Durban while Sias Koen and his squad of “expendables” attempted to do win a game that they clearly didn’t have the ammunition to even compete in. The decision itself, as you’ll gather, is not one with which I agree, but I can live with it as a tactic (albeit a very dodgy one).
What I cannot accept is the Sharks publishing the wrong team on their website. Knowingly, intentionally, duplicitously, setting out to hoodwink not only the opposition, but also the media and their own fans would seemingly be a step too far? Not in 2015, it seems. Not in 2015.
Let’s hope this wondrous plan does not backfire and that Marius Louw and his charges – none of whom I blame for this debacle and who all continue to enjoy my unwavering support – will show their coaches that they are perfectly capable of winning an away game in Bloemfontein.
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Skande 😈
Do you have the actual teamsheet?
Are the Sharks still convinced that fiddling with team-sheets and not disclosing injuries gives them some sort of tactical advantage? I read this and I imagine Sharks management holed up in a rickety tree-house somewhere in Durban with a “no girlz allowed!” sign hanging above the entrance.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 1) :
1 Johan Erasmus
2 Kerron van Vuuren
3 Mthunzi Moloi
4 Wian Vosloo
5 Petrus du Buson
6 Sias Koen (Captain)
7 Kyle Hatherell
8 Ray Williams
9 Jacques Fick
10 Colin Willemse
11 Thobekani Buthelezi
12 Nkululeko Mcuma
13 Marcel Coetzee
14 Michael Cloete
15 Kelvin Elder
16 Andrew du Plessis
17 Linda Thwala
18 Reyno du Toit
19 Matthew Alborough
20 Malcolm Cele
21 Wion Robbertse
22 Nkululeko Ndlovu
@robdylan (Comment 3) : du Plessis (16) is the only guy in that squad who is likely to start next week.
I would expect van Vuuren, Moloi, Vosloo and possibly Koen to bench.
I get the feeling I am more cross about this that the vast majority of other fans…. am I overreacting?
@robdylan (Comment 5) : I think it’s even worse Rob, we’re all just so used to this sort of thing, and so saddened by it, that now that we can’t muster the effort to add yet another comment to the already exceedingly large list of complaints this year.
@robdylan (Comment 5) : Are you more cross that they sent such a weak team or are you more upset about the way they handled the team announcement, being dishonest with both the fans and the opposition?
Personally I despise that modus operendi of playing games with team announcements.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 7) : I also didn’t like that Plum would always insist on delaying his team announcement until after the opposition made their announcement, even if that meant delaying the team announcement until Thursday night. It is a silly game to play and we gain nothing, other than instilling a lack of confidence in our players. A confident team, playing well and on a roll will just select their best team for the week and get on with the preparations, no silly games.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 7) : it’s the latter. Like I said, if they want to throw the game, that’s their thing, but they must at least have the balls to be upfront and honest about it.
@robdylan (Comment 9) : I agree with you Rob, although from a different perspective. I feel for the players that went to Bloem, they all work their hearts out and should have had the honour of having their names printed out on the Sharks Website. It is not fair that they were done the injustice of not being recognised for their hard work and achievement, namely being choosen to represent their province. To me, it is a slap in the face. I do not have too much problem with resting players, that is fine as there were a few niggles here and there, but to not name the actual side is crap. I can imagine the parents and family reading the website and thinking what the hell is going on, does my family member not deserve to be named. Having said that, this is not a players decision to make and we need to back these boys now – they can muster up some pride from a poor Sharks season
@robdylan (Comment 9) : ja must say it’s sad that coaches think it’s OK to lie to the media and supporters over a whole team!!! If I went to watch the under 21’s play and got to watch a “B side” I would have been pissed off!!!!
@Vonno13 (Comment 10) : yes 100% correct and a huge slap in the face for the players that did play on Saturday!!!!!
Management should really come forward and apologize to the players and fans for this!!!!
@Vonno13 (Comment 10) : it wasn’t just the website. I’ve just been told that the matchday program featured the wrong names as well.
And that came from a parent whose son ended up in EXACTLY the situation you just described.
Well done Sharks. Well done.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 7) : ja must say it was always irritating when coach did it as after a while you knew that in big games one or two changes will be made to the team that started the game!!!!
Id like to get my hands on a match day programme?
I wonder if they still print them on the old roneo machines in the good old OFS.
@robdylan (Comment 13) : piss poor handling of youngsters that could be the future of the union….. and the we wonder why we struggling to get a “big name” coach and why players leave?!?!!!!!
I once again say management should stand up and apologize for the poor handling of the players, nothing else than a written apology on the website will do!!!!!!!!
@JD (Comment 16) : that website has so many damn apologies on it at the moment I don’t think there is room for any more
@robdylan (Comment 17) : to be brutally honest it’s been ages since I last bothered to go to the official website!!! I don’t even have it as a bookmark on my tablet!!!!
But ja just looked at it and see what you mean!!!!
But then again another one is totally due!!!!
@robdylan (Comment 13) : Bloody shocking! What a disgrace.
Sometimes you gotta take one for the team. These guys that played in Bloem probably would have found out last Monday what the plan was. Their job was to go hard at Free State and I’m sure that given the lack of game time most including Sias Koen has had, all would have been relished the opportunity. I doubt any of these players many who still have ambitions of becoming senior pros would have been too concerned that their name didn’t appear on a website. Anyway the real deal is this weekend. Hopefully the coaches got the intel they were looking for out of Free State and hopefully the rest will benefit our A team. It would be great to see our u21s on TV in a couple of weeks seeing that Supersport hasn’t been showing u21 rugby this season.
@hashtag (Comment 20) : Do you work for Sharks management? #justwondering
I see what most of you are complaining about, but I am sure the coaches did not think there would be such a gap between first and second team. If I was in that team I would not have cared if my name was on a website I would have just gone out there and play the best I could and make a name for myself. I think we are just upset because of the season we have a had as sharks fans and are overreating alil bit, if that team had won you would all be singing a different tune. Those coaches managed to get us into the semis I will trust they know what they are doing and just support the team that is put out different team sheets and all because at the end of the day that jersey says sharks and they represent us
@hashtag (Comment 20) : Except looking at the scoreline they didn’t go very hard 👿
A 74 – 22 drubbing, can’t be seen as going hard. Giving a rampant Cheetahs team more self belief can backfire spectacularly. The Cheetahs u21 team has been scoring tries a dime a dozen. They have scored 68 tries in the round robin phase and conceded only 35!
@Poisy (Comment 22) : “If I was in that team I would not have cared if my name was on a website I would have just gone out there and play the best I could and make a name for myself.”
You’re hilarious. How are you supposed to make a name for yourself if nobody knows your name? These games aren’t televised. So most people in the stadium watching the game (excluding family members) had no idea who was really playing.
@KingCheetah (Comment 23) : Well that all depends on your definition of ‘going hard’, how many injuries did the Cheetahs team suffer? 😈
@Ben (Comment 24) :there is a number at the back that’s how and they can find out later who you are if you were really impressive
@Poisy (Comment 26) : Except that most of the people thought it’s the names on the matchday programs that were playing.
Example – matchday program says John Vorster is playing number 8, but actually it’s Nico van Tonder playing 8. Nico has a blinder and all the people go home and say, “Wow, that John Vorster boy is good”! 🙄
@Ben (Comment 27) :that programme also said number 10 innoscent radebe at yet it was Colin Willemse I don’t think they will make that mistake. All I know is if the person was impresive enough they would find out about him and someone would pick up its not the name they think.
@Poisy (Comment 28) : So why not avoid this bloody drama altogether and print the real names on the matchday programmes and on the website? It’s bullshit.
@vanmartin (Comment 2) : Calvin and Hobbes rulz!!
@Poisy (Comment 28) : I guess I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong. 🙄 😉
@Ben (Comment 29) :because it might have been a late decision to do what they did. We just don’t know all I’m saying is the reaction to this is alil over the top. Let’s trust our coaches they got us this far
@KingCheetah (Comment 23) : So you’re saying the Cheetahs weren’t trying when they got thumped 73-31 recently?
@Poisy (Comment 32) : You’re going on as if we finished the season unbeaten and on top of the log.
@Poisy (Comment 32) : And how could it be a late decision? They knew for a very long time who their opponents were and they knew for a week what the situation on the log will be. Coaches second guessing themselves then?
@Ben (Comment 34) :not at all, just think let’s reserve judgment till our team is out or we win. We need to support them instead of second guessing every decision they make. You can look at it your way and be negative or appreciate that other people got a shot and it didn’t work out and look forward to our semi
@Ben (Comment 35) :why are you being so negative bro. We are in a semi something the senior side couldn’t manage
@Poisy (Comment 36) : I’m fully behind the players (except for Etienne Oosthuizen :evil:) that play for the Sharks. It’s the people in charge of the players that I have no faith in.
@Poisy (Comment 37) : “something the senior side couldn’t manage.”
There you go. You just answered your own question for me.
@Ben (Comment 38) : you have no faith in the team in charge of the u21’s?
@Ben (Comment 39) :lol give the guys in charge a break its not like they wanted to lose. Let’s look forward to saturday and just support the sharks
How did the under 19’s go rob?
@Poisy (Comment 40) : I have no faith in anyone. From management down to the assistant coaches. It’s a bloody circus in Durban.
@Ben (Comment 43) :well I can’t say I blame you. Its been a horrible season but hopefully the people incharge start putting positive changes. As for me I will renew my season ticks and hopefully 2016 is a better year for south african rugby as a whole. The sharks are the only team I love and it hurts to see them this way but its that love that helps me be optimistic for the future, try put things into perspective we love this team we have been losing and it sucks but the people involved its also they careers and some might come to an end because of this season and a loss of income to they families and well beings, compared to something like that our pain is miniscule
@Poisy (Comment 44) : That’s the problem. It doesn’t seem like anyone is going to lose their jobs. We might as well start getting used to the mediocrity now. 🙄
@Poisy (Comment 42) : would you believe they also lost?
@Ben (Comment 45) :look people deserve a second chance and I’m willing to give one nobody wants to lose and people like john smit are hurting just as much as us if not more as he was a player and loves this team and jersey as much as anyone who came before him. We are pissed off and I’m sure he knows it and he will do his best to turn the ship around we just gotta give them they second chance and they might surprise us. I’m not so keen on getting rid of him so quickly. And gold can move on to DOR role and see how he fairs there , hang in there buddy
@robdylan (Comment 46) : well yes they only recorded they first win last week was it? How much?
@Ben (Comment 25) : Dunno to be honest, but I reckon the damage psychological must be huge.
@Poisy (Comment 47) : I’m fine buddy. You on the other hand suffer from a severe case of blind optimism. You need to get that shit checked out!
@KingCheetah (Comment 49) : Times are tough. We probably sent our second team out there to save on hotel fees. They all have parents living in Bloem already. 🙂
@Ben (Comment 50) :I did and doc wanted to give me meds but I told him I’m sure it will get better on its own
@Baylion (Comment 33) : Lol, Cheetahs didn’t deliberately send out a B-Team. They played their best available team. Yes we got hacked solid, but it was a Varsity Cup team with a few regulars, against a vastly superior and more experienced team. Felt better when WP copped a similar thrashing.
Look the Lions are the form team, and also the team with the least Super rugby players out of the team. But fair play.
Reading the comments is like watching a game of ping-pong….fans tearing into each other because the Sharks management suck – time to focus our anger towards those responsible for Sharks-gate 2015.
…and to be honest, I’m not really shocked by this – it’s almost the same as reading about all the blunders the English made in preperation of their early world cup exit….talking to horses, the mock-riot preperation.
Maybe they got these ideas from John…
@KingCheetah (Comment 53) : “also the team with the least Super rugby players out of the team” – Keep telling yourself that 🙂
@Baylion (Comment 55) : @KingCheetah (Comment 53) : Cat fight! 😉
@FireTheLooser (Comment 56) : lmfao!
@FireTheLooser (Comment 56) : 😆
@Baylion (Comment 55) : Well to be honest, I haven’t gone and counted other teams, but what I do know is that the Cheetahs had 12 players that made their CC debut this year from Varsity Cup. Big gap in experience, and a big jump up in intensity.
Teunis Nieuwoudt, Jacques du Toit, Luan de Bruyn, Reniel Hugo, Gerhard Olivier, Neil Jordan, Neil Marais, de Wet Kruger, Tertius Kruger, and Huggett.
Only players that were really regulars at CC level were Coenie van Wyk, Rhule, Pietersen, Venter, Zeilinga, Sias, Shaun Venter, Boom Prinsloo, Mohoje, BG Uys, and Benjamin.
@Poisy (Comment 47) : I like you…
@FireTheLooser (Comment 56) :
@KingCheetah (Comment 49) : LMAO!!!!!!! ja boet they must be totally devastated! !!!!
@FireTheLooser (Comment 54) : ja boet that’s why I’m not getting involved. Management must sort out the shit they caused and they better do it soon. Hiring and firing should stop!! A new head coach must be appointed and then give coaches and players time (at least a year) to settle!!!!!!
@KingCheetah (Comment 23) : I can tell you one thing if I was involved in the Cheetahs under 21 (as player or coach) I would be highly pissed off and motivated to smash the living shit out of the Sharks under 21 team!!!! For me the only thing they did is motivate the Cheetahs to show they can also beat the “A team”!!!!
maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea. Is the game being broadcast on tv ?
It is times like these that reminds me so much of a t-shirt my sister bought for me many many years ago, the statement on the shirt was:
I WAS GOING TO BE AN OPTIMIST, BUT I JUST NEVER FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO WORK OUT
😈
Glass half empty??????? Boet, there is nothing but a very small puddle of water on the table where the glass used to be. 😉
😆 The best part is I am the one that goes about my merry way knowing everything will work out just fine……I am wrong a lot, but I am also usually joyous (in a drooling idiot kind of way).
It will all be OK, I had lots of fun going to Kings Park in the 1970s to watch the Banana Boys lose, and I was even able to see them beat Transvaal once (the retirement threat by Tommy Bedford seemed to motivate the boys, and a barnstorming performance by Piston van Wyk. I still loved Natal Rugby then, and even had the stupid schoolboy notion that Natal was the best rugby province in the world (I was 6 at the time). So things really can get so much worse, but I don’t think they will. 😉 😛
How many times I remember going to Kings Park where the highlight of the entire time was the try scored by the Banana Boy with a bundle of banana leaves before the match started, and that was only when he didn’t get tackled by some drunk supporter before he could score – which was more often than not. But we still had fun, and we still loved Natal Rugby. And when the B&I Lions toured in 1974, we actually thought our Natal boys had a shot against them (until JPR viciously assaulted Tommy Bedford, not 10 feet from where I was sitting in the schoolboy seats.
And here I am……40 years later, still deriving joy from a team that won even more rarely than the 2015 Sharks. And I know if the Hound reads this he will have stories to add. So again, yes, things could be so much worse, and even if they do get that bad, there will still be many of us who will still love Natal Rugby and derive some joy.
So all in all, what I am saying is…..chill, an incredibly tiny percentage of us has any influence on what will ultimately happen with Sharks management and coaching, the rest of us should focus on enjoying the rolercoaster ride
😈 😈
Sometimes talking about the problem is enough for those who don’t have the power to fix it. As for chilling, the bunch on here are extremely passionate about the sharks. Asking them to chill is to fart against the wind….but you are right about the roller-coaster ride. I have a feeling were still very far away from calm seas.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 68) : I wonder why you called dancing bear? 😛
@KingCheetah (Comment 59) : Well the Lions also have a lot of Super Rugby players missing.
Not available for the Currie Cup but will be back for Super Rugby:
Akker vd Merwe (France)
Corne Fourie (Pumas)
Andries Ferreira (Japan)
Warwick Tecklenburg (Japan)
Robert Kruger (Leopards)
Derrick Minnie (Injured)
Faf de Klerk (Pumas)
Dillion Smit (Scrummie) (Leopards)
Elton Jantjies (Japan)
Lionel Mapoe (Japan)
Harold Vorster (Injured)
Ruan Combrink (Injured)
That is 12 Super Rugby players that is not available, furthermore Warren Whiteley was with the Boks and injured and not available for a while, at a time Jaco Kriel was also injured that was when Ross Cronje and Howard Mnisi stepped in. Other that that, players like Dillion Smit (Prop) Malcolm Marx, Lourens Erasmus, Steph de Wit, Fabian Booysen and Ruan JV Rensburg all made their Currie Cup debut for the Lions (I’m not counting the last game vs Griquas)
So the Lions have also been depleted but Ackerman planned ahead by rotating his players every game since the 2013 CC to ensure that his squad get as much game time and experience as possible.
@Poisy (Comment 70) : 😉 😎 And what a long strange trip it’s been.
@coolfusion (Comment 69) : Yeah, but that first really big downhill on a rollercoaster is always the scariest, maybe it will smooth out from here?
but more likely, we have an all day pass and are going round and round on this rollercoaster for a while now. 😈
Oh rob please do a sharksworld XV again, I remember a year or two ago you did one that helped me understand alil about the guys and gals here 😉 you ofcoz the flyhalf and rich is your scrummy 🙂 I wonder what happened to megatron
@Mutley (Comment 71) : The point here is, how many of those Lions players went straight from UJ’s Varsity Cup team into CC. Yes that is quite a few players not available, but you still had way more players with experience at this level.
@Poisy (Comment 74) : Great idea, would make some interesting reading.
@Poisy (Comment 74) : Sounds like a fun idea.
@KingCheetah (Comment 59) : And thats prob the difference in CC. Top 4 – Lions (UJ), Bulls (Tuks), WP ( Maties/Ikeys), Free State ( Kovsies)…all those sides have good varsity cup sides with players able to step up come CC time. How many of the UKZn players can step up for the Sharks??
It’s the boss man’s birthday today. Happy birthday Rob!
Happy birthday Rob
thanks guys!
@robdylan (Comment 81) : Happy happy Oom…
@FireTheLooser (Comment 82) : dankie neef!
Congratz Rob! Thanks for running the site, still the best place to find info on the sharks!
@KingCheetah (Comment 75) : That was because of Ackerman rotating his players week in and week out. Even in this years Currie Cup he continues to rotate his players so that the second and third string can easily take over if the first sting is injured. Lets not kid ourselves, most players the Lions play in the Currie Cup were second and third string players in the Super Rugby. Boshoff and vd Walt played second and third string to Elton Jantjies, Ross Cronje played second string to Faf de Klerk. Malcolm Marx was third string to Robbie Coetzee and Akker vd Merwe. Steph de Wit was not even on the super rugby radar, same with Roan jv Rensburg and Lourens Erasmus. Howard Mnisi had to battle it out with Harold Vorster and Lionel Mapoe to get game time.
Al this has shown is that Ackerman planned for the future. He knew he had to develop a group of 40-45 players to be competitive in both the Super Rugby and Currie Cup and it is starting to pay dividends.
@Mutley (Comment 85) : He has done well to rotate and give guys a chance. But it is a lot easier when you winning games. If he suffered a few losses im not sure how much rotating would happen. But i am interested if these guys can make the successful transition to competing well in super rugby
Happy, happy Rob. Hope the KZNRU have wished you appropriately.
@Mutley (Comment 85) : Agree fully. And Franco has started that process, but obviously in his first season it will take a while.
@SheldonK (Comment 86) : In Ackerman’s first season as head coach in 2013 Currie Cup, he lost more games than he won. Then in 2014 Super Rugby, he was able to win a record 7 games (for the Lions that was a lot coming out of the relegation) and made the Currie Cup final. Only loosing to the Bulls, Sharks and WP (in the pool and the final) away from home. In 2015 the Lions won 9 Super Rugby games and draw a game to finish 2nd in the SA conference, even when Ackerman was loosing in 2013, he rotated his players to see what he has in each player and now he is reaping the rewards of planning ahead and not just thinking about the current season.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 87) : a hatchet was buried yesterday, so I am having a great day indeed.
@HeinF (Comment 84) : thanks for the kind words
@robdylan (Comment 4) : Happy birthday, Hope your day and year will be awesome, and strong for the season ahead, and the next few matches for the Juniors.
@Mutley (Comment 89) : Like i said he has done well. But obviously has the support of the Board and the fans that realised it wouldnt be a quick turn around. Those guys that he showed faith in in 2013 are now helping him reap the rewards in 2015. Yes some come and go but if players see that a coach is willing to give guys a try and back them and the union backs the coach it creates a happy environment all round and guys actually look forward to training and playing.
@robdylan (Comment 90) : Who did the burying (you or them) and where – hopefully it is not mortal.
@SheldonK (Comment 93) : That is true. He believed in the players and they returned his faith. He has the support of Kevin de Klerk and Rudolph Strauli and most of all the fans knew in 2013 it was going to be rough and it was not going to get better soon but Ackerman exceeded expectations all because he stuck to the basics and instilled belief in the players. It is all about the environment he created within the Lions where players thrive.
@Mutley (Comment 95) : Its an amazing thing how an environment can change over time with a simple thing like trust. The emergence of UJ as a strong side is also definitely helping guys come through. I do feel as though the Lions lack a bit of defense especially when tested in Super rugby and thats perhaps something they can focus on. But for the moment they are taking what i call the Real Madrid approach to playing- if opposition scores 10 we will score 11.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 94) : started by them (him). And no, not mortal. All very amiable, which I think was quite an achievement
@robdylan (Comment 91) : Are you a Birthday boy today? Congrats!!!!
@robdylan (Comment 97) : glad to hear all is good in the land of Sharksworld!!!!
@SheldonK (Comment 96) : That is true. Our defense is worrying me. If another team can manage to keep us scoreless and shut down our attack, I am worried to how the Lions will adapt to the situation.
@JD (Comment 98) : thanks!
Happy birthday Boss! May all your Sharks wishes come true next year. Blessings Rob!
@vanmartin (Comment 102) : thanks mate!
Happy birthday. Thanks for all your effort in running this site.