With a number of injury concerns after Friday night’s win in Toulon, Gary Gold faces some interesting selection challenges ahead of Thursday’s clash with Stade Toulousain.
Bearing in mind that this is a meaningless pre-season fixture, it’s possible that Gold will opt to make do without a number of front-line players, particularly those Springboks who are subject to game-time restrictions throughout the season. Pat Lambie, of course, definitely won’t play, but it’s looking increasingly likely that Beast Mtawarira, Coenie Oosthuizen and Lwazi Mvovo could also miss out.
Marcell Coetzee and Willie le Roux have both joined up with the team and it’s expected that both will start, with the former, in particular, set to play a key role as captain of the team. Whether we’ll see the much-hoped-for Coetzee-du Preez-du Preez combination in the back row remains to be seen; a potentially serious injury to Francois Kleinhans limits the loose forward options, but with Giant Mtayanda and Ruan Botha also looking doubtful, there’s little chance of a back row switch for Etienne Oosthuizen.
Expect Hyron Andrews to have a big role to play this week, with Christiaan de Bruin also sure to feature prominently in some way or other. At the back, Gold has the luxury of a completely changed three-quarter line as well and we should hopefully get to see S’bura Sithole, Wandi Mjekevu, Heimar Williams and Johan Deysel get a decent run. Mike Claassens is another due for a run and he could well start the game alongside Joe Pietersen. Stefan Ungerer and Garth April would presumably also need to spend some time on the park, though.
The Sharks side for the Toulouse game will be announced tomorrow.
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Although one cannot necessarily expect the same sort of performance as we saw on Friday simply because a lot of the second string combinations are largely untested and inexperienced, I’m still hoping to see that same discipline during defence. Hopefully the loosies will also wreck more havoc during the game. Much to look forward to despite our injury gloom.
Is this televised or are we going to have to wait until last minute for supersport again >.>
@Seth101 (Comment 2) : It is live on Supersport
Giant and Botha? Anything serious?!
@robdylan (Comment 3) : Awesome, Thank you.
@pastorshark (Comment 4) : Giant has a facial fracture. Botha a hip issue. Don’t think Botha is too serious but giant won’t play for a while.
guys, I was looking forward to seeing friday nights game on youtube today (like you see all the 6 nations games) but no luck 🙁
I was unable to watch it live on SS 😥
Anyoe know where I can view/download it ?
@robdylan (Comment 6) : Wtf….fracture on the face. Flip, how long will he be out for?
@robdylan (Comment 6) : Whats the news on Lewies???
@revolverocelot (Comment 7) : https://mega.nz/#!EEow1QTa
key
!oAGgW56PYnRC5TV3Z5Aw_2zAvGUxDfeKcA3aMJgKQBI
So injuries to Lambie, Kleinhans, Giant and Botha. Claasens didnt play fri because of an injury so i assume that was just precaution and he can play. This could be a very interesting team selection and could just be about testing depth than anything.
This could be a brave team selection…depending who Toulouse play. Schoeman, Marais,Engelbrecht, E Oosthuizen, Andrews, Coetzee, DuPreez,DuPreez, Claasens, Pieterson, Sithole, Williams, Deysel,Mjekevu, LeRoux…bench who ever is left
So the Jaguares will have been in SA for 4 weeks when they take us on and will have played against the Stormers, Lions and Cheetahs on consecutive weekends. Will this be a disadvantage or an advantage to them?
@GreatSharksays (Comment 12) : Well we saw how well they did last time they spent a few weeks playing in one place 😉 (the world cup)
@GreatSharksays (Comment 12) : Hopefully they will be roughed up a bit. But then again they could feel refreshed returning home after that. Hard to say either way
@revolverocelot (Comment 7) : I do know that Supersport are currently playing the entire game again. it was a 1pm replay. Have a look it should rerun again
Don’t worry guys Sky Tshabalala is there to cover for Giant.
@SheldonK (Comment 11) : That’s my exact lineup
Botha and Kleinhans are already back in SA.
@robdylan (Comment 17) : Barring that lineup who else is left in France to make up the bench? Beast, Cooper,Coenie,McDuling,De Bruyn, Reinach, Ungerer,April,Jordaan, Esterhuizen, Mvovo, Odwa…bit light up front
@SheldonK (Comment 19) : Sky Tshabalala
@JD (Comment 20) : Yes, wasn’t he supposed to play?
@Seth101 (Comment 10) : thanks bud, your a god send 😀
My not be in HD, but atleast I get too watch the game
Does anyone know of a 720p version of the game somewhere on the internet ?
@JD (Comment 20) : Maybe he can run out with the match ball…
@revolverocelot (Comment 22) : acrossthetasman.net seems to have an HD torrent of the game. French commentary, mind you.
I actually just found a HD (720pixels) copy of the game on youtube, only thing is the commentory is in french which by all accounts is less inportant that picture quality. so thanks again too Seth, i appreciate your efforts in helping me today, cant wait to watch this later
hey – what did you guys think of McDuling?
will be interesting to see how engelbrecht goes at tighthead.
@robdylan (Comment 26) : he looked much better than the little we saw last year even with the injuries the stock still looks okay for start of season with Ettiene, Potgieter, McDuling, Lewies and Andrews but Uniavi would add the 5 guile.
He looks to me a better lock / loosie option than Ettiene as he is more needed as a 4 and he definitely looked more like the terror he was against the Saders in that win
@robdylan (Comment 26) : To be honest I didn’t see him at all…but I didn’t pay attention to him at all either…
@Southern_Shark (Comment 21) : only “playing” in second game.
Anyone got a score for the Impi game?
@FireTheLooser (Comment 31) : It just started at 18:30…
@pastorshark (Comment 32) : Thanx Pastor….looked on R365 and they seem to think their times for all games should be sonething other than CAT 🙄
@FireTheLooser (Comment 33) : Haha…I’m updating every now and then on the Varsity Cup thread…8-0 to the Impi…
@pastorshark (Comment 34) : Cool let me pop over there.
impi team:1Andrew Acton 2Mikyle Webster,3Johnny Meyer 4Rikus Swart 5Adam Wessels 6Sanele Malwane 7Kerron v Vuuren 8Zwela Zondi
9Wikus Badenhorst 10Tristan Tedder 11Sbu Nkosi 12Marius Louw 13Grant Rattray 14Thobekani Buthelezi 15Morne Joubert
subs:16Pierre vd Walt 17Erich Kankowski 18Christie vd Merwe 19Michael Meyer 20Langa Shange 21Spa Dube 22Tristan Blewitt 23Lindo Radebe
8-5 to the impi
@50shadesofshark (Comment 36) : I wonder why Curwin Bosch is not playing?
@pastorshark (Comment 38) : yes,immediately picked up on that,too.perhaps an injury from the wits game?think he had medical attention twice in that game?
@50shadesofshark (Comment 36) : @pastorshark (Comment 38) : Bosch must be injured as he’s not even on the bench.
These friendlies are high risk. Especially when you pick top performing clubs to step out against. Too much too soon?
@coolfusion (Comment 41) : That is an almost impossible question to answer…if you look across the entire warm-up spectrum most sides are picking tough opposition for their first games…most of them have no injuries to report. I tend to be a bit more philosophical about it…injuries happen. Sometimes they will happen against tough opposition, sometimes against mild opposition and sometimes when you’re taking your dog for a run…
@pastorshark (Comment 42) : So, for example, the Kings picked up 3 injuries in the “light-weight” opener against SWD…
http://www.rugby365.com/tournaments/super-rugby/71131-injuries-cast-doubts-over-kings
@coolfusion (Comment 41) : @pastorshark (Comment 42) : rugby is a contact sport and injuries is a fact of life. Teams and coaches needs to deal with it and must ensure that they have enough cover to compensate for the injuries.
@SheldonK (Comment 11) : hope the sharks select that team.will like to see the heimar/deysel combo.
@50shadesofshark (Comment 45) : Yeh could be interesting
And in other news, Handre Pollard has been ruled out of Super Rugby and the mid-year tests.
@Culling Song (Comment 47) : I assume he is then having the op that they werent trying to avoid. Will be tough for the Bulls
@SheldonK (Comment 48) : From what I read, he passed a ball and tore the ligaments in his knee…
@Culling Song (Comment 49) : Dodgey Loftus fields 😉
@Culling Song (Comment 49) : Happens to the best of the Bulls’ flyhalves. That’s why Naas never risked it.
@Culling Song (Comment 49) : @SheldonK (Comment 50) : @vanmartin (Comment 51) : geez you guys are Naasty!!!!!!!!!! 😈
Interesting Sharks team named…
@SheldonK (Comment 53) : yes interesting indeed!!!! Seems they rate Sithole as a wing and will not use him at 13.