It’s very nearly Dubai Sevens time, with the fantastically festive showcase event for sevens rugby taking place from 3-5 December this year. There are a number of different tournaments taking place simultaneously during the event and while all eyes will, of course, be on the Blitzobkke in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, a particular team in the men’s International Invitation division should also attract the attention of Sharks fans.
Sharks under 21 backline coach AB Zondagh – son of slightly-more-well-know Alan Zondagh – will get to showcase his coaching prowess as part of the Newcastle Wailers invitational side coaching team. What’s more, AB has secured the services of a host of Sharks age group stars to make the trip with him. With the nomadic Wailers team recently joining forces with the Newcastle Falcons, hence the renaming of the side, one wonders if it wouldn’t be more apt for them to play as the “Durban Wailers” in this year’s tournament.
Sharks under 21 captain Marius Louw leads the contingent of players, with fellow centres Legend Marwana and Sandile Khubeka also in the mix. Wingers Neil Maritz and Marcel Coetzee and scrumhalf Lotter Pretorius will also make the trip, as will flanker Dylan Nel, who has returned from a stint in New Zealand. Also featuring is a former Sharks under 21 player who has not been seen in a while, Glenwood old boy Ian Adendirff (whose brother Shaun played for the Junior Boks in 2012). Ian has represented South Africa in sevens and should add some good leadership to the youngster around him.
Rudi Dames, another who is well-known on the Durban coaching team, will assist. He is currently Glenwood head coach, but has worked with the Sharks under 21 side in the past.
Congrats to all the boys selected and good luck to them (and to AB and Rudi as well).
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8 sharks in the squad of 12.(Is the physio called speedo baker?i knew a studa baker).
Ian Ardendorff was pure quality. Unfortunate successive knee injuries pretty much ending his chances of playing pro rugby. Ask anyone he has played against and they will tell you he is one of the fittest and strongest guys they have played against with an incredible skillset. Its not by chance he was playing 1st side at Collegians straight out of school…
Would be interesting to see how they do!!!!
I see Rudi Dames is also there as a coach. Current Glenwood High 1st Team coach, isn’t he?
@SheldonK (Comment 2) : His brother was a beast of a flank!!! Is he still involved with the SA 7’s team? I don’t know why the Bulls didn’t use him more.
@StevieS (Comment 4) : yes. I missed his name at first… just edited the article.
@robdylan (Comment 6) : let me rephrase – I thought I had edited the article. Missed the part where I click the “update” button…. it’s done now.
@robdylan (Comment 6) : Our former landlord. A really great guy!
@robdylan (Comment 7) : Will you be getting updates of their progress during the tournament?
@robdylan (Comment 7) : 😆 I’ve done that type of thing many a time.
Thanks for the article, interesting read. How did our local boys get involved with the Wailers, considering they’re in Newcastle now.
@robdylan (Comment 7) : if at first you don’t succeed try and try again!!!!!! 😈 Push the Button Rob!!!!!!!!!!!!
@StevieS (Comment 10) : easy Newcastle is in KZN!! hahahaha 😈 😀
I see Legend Marwana is still around. What happened to Gareth Meikle (I think? thats the right name)?
@Big Fish (Comment 13) : back in Zim and playing polo if you can believe it.
@ChrisS (Comment 9) : Dubai 7s are televised…. I’m hoping to watch most of the games.
@robdylan (Comment 15) : me to!!!!!!!!!!
@robdylan (Comment 15) : I’m definitely going to watch as well. I meant the tournament the Wailers will be in though.
Will that be streamed or televised at all?
@ChrisS (Comment 17) : oh ja, good point…. I see a lot of the games overlap. Not sure which ones will be shown.
@robdylan (Comment 18) : I’ll try and find something. It would be interesting to follow the Wailers’ progress.
@ChrisS (Comment 5) : Yeh he is with the Emerging 7s side
@robdylan (Comment 14) :
Wow. Unexpected. 😯
@Big Fish (Comment 21) : ja – I don’t really know what happened there. I guess with Fisher and Esterhuizen on the books there wasn’t room for him. It was a pity, because he was a very good prospect.
off the topic….seems Mitchell to be unveiled as Stormers coach on a 4 year deal…..and A Coetsee to take Bok job in December …
@grant10 (Comment 23) : I think one of those is a potentially very good (and perhaps even long overdue) appointment. I’ll let you figure out which one.
@robdylan (Comment 24) : I wonder which one 😆
@robdylan (Comment 7) : hey Rob
Can you tell me, Does winger Sizo Maseko now belong to the Leopards ?
I know we loaned him and venter the scrummie to them for the duration of the currie cup
If you dont know for certain could you find out
@robdylan (Comment 24) : I am happy with both….well ecstatic about Mitchell to be honest …Not a huge AC fan, but he knows his limitations and improved when Gert was appointed….I hope AC will surround himself with strong attack minded assistants ….to be honest I would have gladly had any number of coaches in place of Heyneke….
@grant10 (Comment 27) : Grant, Coetzee is not the right choice, Coetzee in 4 to 5 years did absolutely nothing with WP.
I would prefer a combo, Plumtree with Ackerman and Swys de Bruin would have been far better.
Or a Mitchell with Ackerman and De bruin as a combo
@sharks_lover (Comment 28) : AC not my 1 st choice…..I would have gone with Mallet….Mitchell …Plumtree….B Venter….E Jones …Ackermann…..then AC….in that order…
BUT……Far rather AC than Heyneke…..any day of the week…..
Heyneke damaged the Boks beyond belief in 2015…..
@revolverocelot (Comment 26) : I can find out.
@grant10 (Comment 30) : Agree, what I like about Plumtree or Mitchell is they also know the SA ad bok culture, both experienced I also think as assistants to him is the Build a Ackermann and a Swys de Bruin who is very good on attacking rugby
@revolverocelot (Comment 26) : Venter is currently training with the Sharks – I know because I see pictures of him. Not named in the Super Rugby squad, though, so I would imagine he’d be ripe for a move elsewhere, with the Leopards being the most likely destination. I think Maseko is still with the Leopards but will try to confirm.
@sharks_lover (Comment 33) : A Coetsee MUST make sure he has top class assistants….I also rate Swys from the Lions…
@grant10 (Comment 34) : I don’t know how the Sharks let Swys go! He is the brains at the Lions imho.
Would be a valuable asset to the Boks.
@grant10 (Comment 34) : @Bump (Comment 35) : Interesting that a lot of guys now rate Swys as he has got a couple decent results with the Lions but his time in Durban didnt prove very successful at all. His Wildebeest sides he coached were not that hot at all. Guess as they say the environment makes a difference.
@Bump (Comment 36) : Yes…however…I believe Sharks are going to surprise next year…In Ruan Botha and Lewies [ if fit ] 2 really top class youngsters….and solid loosies….Thomas Du Toit will become better as well…..and Lambie is going to prove he deserves a better bok deal….I am wary of the Sharks…
@SheldonK (Comment 36) : Too true! If you’re happy and feel supported in your work environment then you can produce better results.
It also depends on what resources you’re given to work with (players AND other coaches).
@grant10 (Comment 37) : I’m feeling confident for next year. I REALLY hope though that we’ll play Sithole at 13 as I feel that that’s his best position. He just doesn’t have the same impact on the wing!
I also want to see Lwazi used more at 15.
@ChrisS (Comment 38) : 100% it depends on the environment. Its why saying if a coach is successful in 1 environment he will be successful in another is not necessarily correct. There are a lot of factors at play and an environment change may see improvement or regression.
@ChrisS (Comment 39) : on attack from 2nd phase sharks play willie 10 , lambie 12 and mvovo goes to 15?even do it from first phase at times?
Boks 7s squad for dubai and ct tournaments: Chris Dry Philip Snyman Francois Hougaard Kwagga Smith Werner Kok Kyle Brown Cheslin Kolbe Ryno Benjamin Justin Geduld Cecil Afrika Seabelo Senatla Juan de Jongh
@50shadesofshark (Comment 41) : Sounds good to me. On defence they can have Lambie at 10 to cut down anything in the 10 channel, put Willie on the wing and have Mvovo at 15. Esterhuizen can start on the wing and move to centre on defence. He and Lambie can be a brick wall the way Butch and Frans Steyn were.
@SheldonK (Comment 40) : This raises the question…How do we suit our coaches to the right environments?
Surely that’s as important to bring the best out of them as it is to fit players to the right environment to bring the best out of them.
@ChrisS (Comment 44) : Thats a very tricky question. Especially when you move up levels from club to provincial to national.
@ChrisS (Comment 43) : To be honest im not a fan of players switching every time on attack/defense. It just asks for trouble and disorganisation. So yes on the odd occassion on attack perhaps…but def more the exception than the norm