The final game of the pre-season tour kicks off in Toulouse tonight.
Coverage is live on SuperSport 1, with a 21h45 kick-off in SA.
Toulouse: 15 Thomas Ramos ; 14 Timoci Matanavou, 13 Arthur Bonneval, 12 Jarrod Poï, 11 Alexis Palisson ; 10 Luke McAlister, 9 David Mélé ; 8 Gregory Lamboley, 7 Gillian Galan, 6 François Cros ; 5 Edwin Maka, 4 Romain Millo ; 3 Gert Muller, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Gurthro Steenkamp.
Subs(from) : Kakovin, Tolofua, Marchand, Aldegheri, Tialata, Tekori, Manukula, Harinordoquy, Tuinukuafe, Tebaldini, Bouyxou, Tolofua, Bienvenu, Rauga, Kunatani, Billard.
Sharks:
15. Willie le Roux, 14. Wandile Mjekevu , 13. Heimar Williams, 12. Johan Deysel, 11. S’bura Sithole, 10. Garth April, 9. Michael Claassens (V Capt), 8. Christiaan de Bruin, 7. Etienne Oosthuizen, 6. Marcell Coetzee (Capt), 5. Hyron Andrews, 4. Dave McDuling, 3. Lourens Adriaanse, 2. Franco Marais, 1. Juan Schoeman
Replacements: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Gerhard Engelbrecht, 18. Daniel du Preez, 19. Jean-Luc du Preez, 20. Cobus Reinach, 21. Stefan Ungerer, 22. Andre Esterhuizen, 23. Paul Jordaan, 24. Odwa Ndungane, 25. Joe Pietersen

Damn time needs to move faster lol
10 minutes and counting. Here’s to hoping it’s a good warm-up game for the boys with minimum injuries.
Good evening all…here we go!
I’m really looking forward to how our second stringers go…no pressure…hope they do well!
Time for the anthems…
Hey, nicht so schmettern, Posaunenchor… (for the German connoisseurs of brass music)!
Rob, are you going to draw attention to yourself in exotic ways so that we see you on TV?
Gurthro belting out the French Anthem…I wonder whether he knows the words?!
The marching band refused to yield…the players are ready but the band is still on the field!!
Here we go…Luke McCallister kicks off…
Good take from the kick off and exit…
Hyron Andrews penalised straight away fro no arms in the tackle…after a break by Toulouse…
Toulouse kick it to touch for the lineout…
Oosthuizen breaks up the Toulouse maul well…
Heimar Williams gathers the attacking chip well and we clear…but not out…
Nice steal by the Sharks at the breakdown and a good old run by Willie…what a try!!!!
Sburra scores!!!
Willie prominent twice in that move and a good option by Claassens. Wow…
April hooks the conversion badly…
Heimar with the last pass to put Sburra away…he had work to do…and did it brilliantly…
0-5 to the Sharks after 4 minutes…
Nice take under the high ball by Willie and he puts Claassens into a bit of space…
More nice running but then the Sharks get turned over…pity…
Another steal by the Sharks and then Willie into another half-gap…unfortunately Sburra can’t hang onto the pass…
Nice intent by the boys so far…I like…
Sharks win a penalty at scrum time…
Four South African props on the paddock…
April will take a shot at goal…
Tough attempt…and this time he pushes it. He is not striking the ball at all well…just chase it up the touch line…
Nice 22 kick off by Toulouse and they get the ball…
Willie again brilliant under the high ball. Welcome to the Sharks!!
Wow this guy can’t kick
Brilliant break out by Toulouse…and a great cover tackle by Garth April!! OK…he has learnt something about tackling since last season. Well done, Omar!
Nice lineout take by the Sharks and they clear it…but again not out…
Good positioning by April and he does find touch…
Toulouse try to get fancy and accidental offsides gives the scrum to the Sharks…
0-5 after 12 minutes…
@Seth101 (Comment 32) :
We’ve definitely established that!
Very solid scrum by the Sharks boys…I like…
Willie with another great half break, but not such a great pass…but the Sharks win a penalty…
Sharks tap it quickly and after a phase or two, knock it on…
Big up to the new coaching additions. These guys have been coached. Clear to see. Beautiful. I can go sleep. We are really in good hands. Thank you John Smit.
Lovely offload by one of the Toulouse players…
Another good turnover and then a lovely step by Deysel…he could be something!
Sharks win a penalty on the 22…time to attack…
@pastorshark (Comment 44) : Thank you so much for the great updates really appreciated
April will take another shot instead…
This time he strikes it better and it is good…0-8 to the Sharks!
@Henkb (Comment 46) : No problem!
Nice little run by de Bruin after he caught the kick off…
Great breakdown work by the Sharks…but the ref penalises us…ok?
Really aggressive at the breakdown…well done!
0-8 after 18 minutes…
Good defence against the maul!
If this was a serious game the scrummie from Toulouse would be in trouble for that boot on a Sharks player once he already had the ball!
Great defence and great work at the breakdown earns the Sharks a penalty…
That is a very impressive first quarter for our second stringers…well done!
Marais is throwing in much better today…another good lineout won…
Nice drive earns us another penalty…
Almost a brilliant kick to the corner but the Frenchman keeps it in…damn…
Sharks into the Toulouse 22…
We play through the phases and then spread it wide…
Eventually we knock it on and Toulouse score at the other end…
How was that not falling over the ball, just like he blew us 3 mins ago???
There was some poor reffing there…their guys were weel over the top and off their feet…ref indicated penalty to us but then let it go. That should have been a penalty Sharks…
@T-Shark (Comment 64) : Very poor!
The conversion is good and it is 7-8…
Terrible call by the ref there, a few minutes earlier we got blown up for not staying on our feet at the ruck, falling over.
Sburra makes serious yards when he catches the ball…and the Sharks win a penalty this time…
@sharks_lover (Comment 68) : He even indicated penalty to us, put his whistle to his lips, but then didn’t blow…really rubbish call!
try Sharks
Nice maul for the Sharks is brought down deliberately…great cross kick and try stopped by high tackle…but then back the other way and APRIL scores.!
Great stuff….
Try April after good cross-kick and then take in the air by Willie, recycled wide and pass from Willie to April in a gap
There could have been two yellows handed out in that move for some cynical defence…
April nails the conversion and it is 7-15…
Willie has been very, very good!
This Mjekevu just is not up to scratch for me
7-15 after 28 minutes…
This young tight 5 has also done well…
@sharks_lover (Comment 78) : Yeah, he just doesn’t look comfortable out there…
Toulouse win a penalty and will go for posts…
@pastorshark (Comment 75) : Must say Suburru is the guy from a year or so ago, that was hammering on the book door
The kick is over and it is now 10-15…
Nice back-heel from Willie there behind the posts…
That was a poor missed tackle by one of the Sharks and Toulouse break out…but then knock it on…
@Henkb (Comment 83) : He still needs to improve his hands…but there’s nothing wrong with him once he has caught it…
Our scrum has looked very solid…I’m basically impressed…
Mjekevu just doesn’t seem to be able to go full tilt! RUN MAN!!!
Again poor option taking by Mjekevu
Another great take and offload by Willie…I’m excited!!
We keep getting quick recycled ball…very nice…
Sharks with a brilliant passage of play…great stuff…finally Deysel loses the ball in the tackle 5m short of the line…oooohhh!!!
@pastorshark (Comment 89) : Sorry but he is useless.
Man, that was a lovely phase of play!
@pastorshark (Comment 92) : Even the commentators noted that we have fast ball.
J-L is coming on for Oosthuizen at 7…Oosthuizen has had a good game…
Love the way Marcell is talking to the ref. We need a captain that can do that.
Marcell chirping the ref about Toulouse slowing down our ball…
@T-Shark (Comment 98) : Yeah, good stuff…
Another good scrum by the Sharks…and Claassens catches his opposite number behind the scrum…
Finally Toulouse clear it, but only about 7 meters…
Sharks with an attacking lineout…a good take by the Sharks again, but somehow they spill it in the driving maul! No man…and Toulouse counter…
Good defence by the Sharks after they were under big pressure in their own 22 and they win a penalty!
We were on their line with a brilliant chance to drive it…how did we lose that ball?!
Did someone praise Garth on his tackling? Big miss there for the Toulouse break-out
Our lineouts have been really good tonight. I had the impression our second half was poor concentration last time…much better tonight!
@T-Shark (Comment 106) : Yup…he made one good one…and missed a shocker there…
Must say if the Sharks play with this intensity and attacking mindset this might be a good transitional season
Sharks win another penalty and will take a shot right on halftime…
The kick is a brilliant one by April and the Sharks lead by 8 again…
@BR (Comment 109) : Really good stuff!
10-18 after 39 minutes…
And that is halftime…
That was a very, very good half of rugby by the second stringers…
Best back definitely Willie…
Best forward Oosthuizen (wonder if he got injured…couldn’t see)…and a very competent display in all areas by our tight 5…
Our defence has not been quite as amazing as last week, with a few missed tackles…but still good…
Did the Sharks get a head coach as well? Their heads seem to be in the right place for a change. I see lots of commitment and sensible play. Much less indecisiveness. Hope they build on this!
The consistency in defence between the first and second stringers proves someone is earning their pay in the coaching box. Lovely and surprising half from a green side with so many untested combinations.
@pastorshark (Comment 117) : No, he looked fine when he ran off. Think the coaches were happy with his performance, so no need to risk injury.
Mjekevu really needs to get out of his own head and just start trusting his instincts. It’s clear his second-guessing his own decision-making.
April kind of a mixed bag – some good, some not so much: I’ll chalk it up to nerves. Sbura and Willie looking good; Deysel looking more composed than last week. It’s nice to not know how the game is going to go but still not be filled with a resigned dread of an inevitable loss. The Sharks have the confidence, the chops. It’s refreshing
So, since Marcell is leaving, should we use him as much as we can or as little as possible?
@pastorshark (Comment 117) : Oosthuisen started showing something special in last week’s game with his breakdown work and improved on that this week. The guy never looked interested last year – what a turnaround in the warm-up games.
@Letgo (Comment 124) : Surely as much as possible?
Here we go again…
@T-Shark (Comment 119) : Robert du Preez brings that, I think…
This ref is poor…that should have been a straight penalty to the Sharks…willie went down on the ball and then the Toulouse player went straight down on him…PENALTY!
Coetzee wins the turnover and we clear…but not out again!!
Sharks score!!! WOW!
Willie is adventurous in our 22…de Bruyn with a shocker of a kick that works for Mjekevu who puts Deysel in…
The conversion is good and it is 10-25 Sharks!
@vanmartin (Comment 120) : Absolutely…
What a weird try that was
Toulouse kick the restart straight out!
@vanmartin (Comment 135) :
great cross kick by de Bruyn!
@jakkalas (Comment 121) : Good…he was good!
@pastorshark (Comment 137) : Well the ref was playing advantage at least…
A few replacements on for us…Cooper…
Wandile did well there, fair play
Try from nothing! Surely we’re showing we can finish opportunities, unlike the last 4 or 5 years!
@vanmartin (Comment 122) : Yeah…just do it, man!
@vanmartin (Comment 125) : Much better…I’m impressed…build on that and we’ll all be happy…
@Letgo (Comment 124) : As much as possible, definitely…he is just a monster!
Toulouse have won a few penalties in a row now…
Our defence of the maul is just a bit worrying
10-25 after 50 minutes…
Nice tackle by the Sharks dislodges it from a storming Toulousian…Sharks scrum…
A bit of argie bargie there…
@BR (Comment 147) : We’re definitely being targeted there. Something we need to work on.
These commentators have been much better tonight, at least…
I’m streaming the game online and listening to English commentary, and apparently Toulouse was expected to smash the Sharks tonight according to these Brits.
This time our scrum gets crunched…in the first half we were on top…but with replacements we have been weaker…is Cooper’s scrumming an issue?
@vanmartin (Comment 151) : Well, I’m sure we’ll have some practice now…penalty Toulouse 8m out…
Engelbrecht coming on now…Addriaanse was good with Marais next to him, but got shunted with Cooper next to him…
Some good tackling by the Sharks and bug pressure on Toulouse wins a penalty for the Sharks…Coetzee again! But damn, he’s good…
Sharks are being quite heavily penalised in this second half…
Jeepers that was a harsh penalty…
Commentators think so too…hmm…
Ungerer on…
Esterhuizen on…
Repeated drives finally get Toulouse over…
Have they changed the maul rules again? There are mauls here where there are 5 guys in front of the ball carrier when they make contact with the first defender… 😯
17-25 after 56 minutes…
@pastorshark (Comment 164) : Was wondering about that myself.
Pietersen on…
Another penalty to Toulouse…
@pastorshark (Comment 156) : Starting front row did extremely well and great signs for the year
Great tackling by the Sharks win them a turnover and a put in into the scrum…
Would be nice if we actually got some ball.
@Kabouter (Comment 169) : Yup…I was impressed! A much, much better game for Marais tonight!
Since Cooper has come on our scrum has been much weaker…
Again we get crunched at scrum time! Penalty Toulouse…
Coetzee down injured…PLEASE don’t be serious!
Coetzee back up…phew!
Toulouse really on top now…
@pastorshark (Comment 173) : Keep in mind that Toulouse also made a front row replacement of their own which seems to have shored up their scrum
@pastorshark (Comment 172) : 200% improvement over last week. Yeah, since Cooper has come on and the Georgia bugger we have been crunched
@vanmartin (Comment 178) : Sure…I’m just trying to remember the last time our scrum looked solid when Cooper was on the field…
@pastorshark (Comment 180) : Maybe I’m being too harsh…
Sharks tackling and tackling and tackling!
These du Preez boys are monsters themselves…
This game once again illustrate the farcical selection of Gurthro as a recent Bok
That, ladies and gentlemen, was INCREDIBLE defence!!! My word, where was that last season. Take a bow Omar!!
@Kabouter (Comment 184) : That is true…
Sharks superb on defence!
17-25 after 65 minutes…
@pastorshark (Comment 182) : Omar has been a master stroke! This has aspect alone from the preseason has been so delightful
Oosthuizen on again and playing lock?
Great tackle Ungerer…that was dangerous…
Marcell wins ANOTHER turnover and penalty! He has been big…
@Kabouter (Comment 189) : Absolutely…
Jordaan about to come on…
New centre pairing on…
Oosthuizen definitely on at lock…wins the lineout…
I honestly thought our boys were dead on their feet at the 55 minute mark but they just keep on trucking
April gets the half gap but then loses the ball as a Toulouse player lays a hand on him…
Unlucky April…he stepped beautifully and then knocked the ball out of his own hands…
17-25 after 69 minutes…
Hopefully Franco’s ice pack is precautionary. Last week Cooper looked good and this week Franco. Inconsistancy of these two need to be sorted as Chilli still a while away
Good balance between attack and defense. Alot of hard work has gone into this team.
@pastorshark (Comment 198) : He’s been a mixed bag tonight. A lot of it looks like nerves though.
Schoeman off and Adriaanse back on…Schoeman was quite steady…well done…
@vanmartin (Comment 203) : There’s definitely potential there…maybe he just needs to find his feet…
Sharks finally string some phases together…
@vanmartin (Comment 203) : Based on tough SR schedule, this mostly second string side could be used against Kings and leave the first choice for Argies
Ach! A poor pass leads to a knock and Toulouse have a scrum…
Everyone is very tired now…
17-25 after 71 minutes…
@pastorshark (Comment 208) : Last scrum looked good. Let’s see this one
@pastorshark (Comment 205) : No pun there! Playing along Willie and Joe can only be beneficial for him.
Toulouse kick a free kick out directly…that was a bit silly!
Big blarney now…some how’s your father…not pretty sights here!
@Kabouter (Comment 207) : Yeah, some great rotation options available based on tonight’s performance
Fight Club!
The french reserves charge on to have a bit of the action…that’s not on!!!
@pastorshark (Comment 217) : Not cool
The Toulouse no. 18 was really silly…
Coetzee unimpressed with the ref…not amused at all…we have a free kick…
Now we have a penalty…a Frenchman gets touchy feely again and Marcell is still unimpressed. Marcell just needs to breath and calm down himself…
Apparently a Toulouse player took exception to be tackled (brilliantly I might add)
The Sharks will take a shot at goal…
The crowd boos but April nails it…
Good call by Marcell to kick for posts to cool things down. French out to win the fight…
Very niggly now…but the Sharks deservedly lead 17-28!
Marcell is all over! Surely man of the match!
@T-Shark (Comment 225) : Very good call!
@vanmartin (Comment 215) : Just hoping a proper rotation policy is followed. Adriaanse also has looked much more like a proper player. Solid in scrums, effective on defense and most pleasingly showing leadership. Hopefully he can claim his place
Sharks pressure wins them a scrum…and then Toulouse chirping hands them a penalty!
The Sharks are not supposed to be leading this late in the game and Tolouse don’t like… to lose… badam dish!!
@vanmartin (Comment 231) : Just brilliant…
@vanmartin (Comment 231) : Touché
Better play these last two games, they look more natural.
April nails another brilliant kick and it is 17-31!
Great pressure by the Sharks again! Man our defence has been great again!
April definitely has settled and looks better and full of potential
@Kabouter (Comment 237) : Lots of potential…his first two kicks were horrible but since then his kicking has been faultless…
Only 1 minute left and this one is in the bag…
Rob is that guy in the stadium whose pretty much all teeth by now.
I have to say tonight has been more of a challenge defence wise than last week, and impressed with how we held out.
Ridiculous play by the Toulouse 24…right in front of the ref, who does nothing…you’re not allowed to WWF okes!!!
Hooter goes…
We do need a backup for Marcel! 7 and 8 looks pretty well covered.
@vanmartin (Comment 240) :
WOW! Full time and it is a 17-31 win for the boys! Well done!!!
@vanmartin (Comment 240) : hahaha ja think he must be smiling a lot!!!!
@pastorshark (Comment 246) : Can’t believe it. Absolutely brilliant stuff from the second-stringers. I’m tempted to ise expletives right now.
Am I allowed to admit that this took me a little bit by surprise?
@vanmartin (Comment 248) : I’m with you…
April pulled back his kicking well, credit to him
And there wasn’t really any area of the game we were poor in…there was only that 10 minute blip in the scrums…
@pastorshark (Comment 249) : I’m completely surprised. My expectations were nowhere near a win. I thought a close scoreline would have been a great outcome for our boys.
@Seth101 (Comment 251) : He did…maybe he heard our comments after those first two kicks!
@vanmartin (Comment 253) : Me too…I was kind of wanting to see who of the second stringers would perform and push for selection…I wasn’t expecting a complete performance from them!
Based on what we have seen so far, big kudos to mgmt team for recruitment in terms of players and coaching additions.
Lots of bile was aimed at GG and JS and excellent response! Season proper still to start but heck there is a serious base to work from.
@vanmartin (Comment 248) : @pastorshark (Comment 249) : must say glad to hear the guys had a good game as it will put pressure on the other guys to perform even better. Just one question how did Adriaanse do in the scrums?
@Kabouter (Comment 256) : The most encouraging aspect is to see the evidence of decent coaching. When you see such remarkable improvements in even the second-choice players you know someone cares and they’ve convinced the team to care too.
@JD (Comment 257) : Showing signs of what earned him a Springbok cap again. Promising.
Signs of total rugby in the making … uncomprmising defense … intelligence on attack
@vanmartin (Comment 258) : Yip, probably the biggest gripe from last year was that guys never looked like a unit nor drilled.
I am sure everyone’s optimism levels have jumped based on this tour. The opisition weren’t full strength but still much better than playing a SWD, Boland or Leopards.
@vanmartin (Comment 259) : really glad to hear!!!
@byron (Comment 260) : Willie makes a massive difference and although SP is a nice guy, they are world’s apart in class.
Pressure creates diamonds and that defensive display is worth a couple Carats
We’re going to seriously miss Marcell but I’m glad we get to see him pull on the jersey for one last season. No doubt he’ll bleed for it till his last second of his last game.
@Kabouter (Comment 263) : Agreed. Willie looked uncomfortable leaving the field. Hope it’s nothing serious.
@vanmartin (Comment 253) : @pastorshark (Comment 255) : think coaches needs to get some credit for the performance as out of the comments it sounds as if the teams (last week and this week) performed as an unit and this early in a season it can only mean good things for when the season starts!!!!
@vanmartin (Comment 264) : was away from technology for a couple of hours tonight and just saw the sad news!!! Almost cried!!! Sad news indeed but two things are sure: 1 can’t blame him for going for the money and 2 yes think he will go full throttle for the rest of the season (and his career)!!!
@Kabouter (Comment 256) : Absolutely…
@JD (Comment 257) : Adriaanse – together with our whole first half front row – was very solid. In the second half there was a 10 minute patch where our scrum was crunched…but they pulled it back again after that…
@vanmartin (Comment 258) : Agreed. First up: du Preez, Mouneimne and … what’s that conditiong guy’s name again?…have all earned their keep! And Gold and Strudwick form part of what is looking like a very good management team! I love it…the season still lies ahead but the signs are very good!
@pastorshark (Comment 269) : very good news indeed and after hearing about Marcell I really needed some good news!!!!
@vanmartin (Comment 264) : He was a machine tonight! And we are going to miss him. Somebody is going to have to stand up big time to fill those shoes next year…
@vanmartin (Comment 258) : @pastorshark (Comment 270) : looking good for the season ahead!!!
@Kabouter (Comment 263) : Willie was brilliant…and I’m really glad he is at the Sharks!
@vanmartin (Comment 265) : Don’t even go there!!
sharks showed commitment on defence.just a bit worried about how long toulouse had the ball and went through the phases.
@pastorshark (Comment 274) : yes Willie is one of those talented guys that can create something out of nothing. A back three of Willie JPP and Mvovo could be very exciting indeed!!!!
call me crazy but reckon if rdp and mouneimne were part of jake white’s coaching staff in 2014 ,we would have been in the final.
@50shadesofshark (Comment 278) : Look, they’ve certainly made an impression!
@JD (Comment 277) : Definitely…
@JD (Comment 277) : willie ,sbura,mvovo and jpp at 13,or willie,jpp,sbura/mvovo and jordaan at 13.
@50shadesofshark (Comment 276) : Well, look at it this way…it was good practice…and it was only a 20 minute bit in the second half when that was the case. The rest of the game we had ball and territory and looked really good. And it was great to see our defence hand in there in that period where they had so much ball!
@50shadesofshark (Comment 281) : Nice options all around…
Mentioned it partly earlier, but Marcell also really impressed as captain.
@T-Shark (Comment 284) : Yup, he did…got very involved in game management and motivating the boys…
Rob, I hope that you enjoyed your night out in Toulouse!
Glad to hear the boys played well and by the sounds of things the second stringers aren’t looking so second string. I taped the game and well get round to watching it this weekend. On a positive note at least we have a backup 10 that can still keep the backline attacking as that has not been the case in previous years.
You can see a lot of work went into the off-season – both on attack and defense. Last year’s game vs. Toulon and the 2016 warm-up games are like chalk and cheese. When your first and second stringers all play with cohesion it points to a well-coached team, as opposed to relying on your star players to win you games.
Bearing in mind this is a preseason game i think the result tonight as well as last night is very good for the moral after last year. The players definitely have the ammo now for self belief. I didnt watch live but saw highlights and glad April had a good game after early jitters. Also glad our 2nd string stepped up and are pushing for places…thats only healthy…but they also need to be given a chance then. Well done on a successful tour, injuries aside. Looking forward to what the boys can produce back in Durbs. Just an aside on Lambie inside info…he was in Jhb yest and today having scans done to evaluate damage etc.
@Bokhoring (Comment 288) : Yup
@SheldonK (Comment 289) : Yup
Marcel was magnificent last night,best captain the Sharks have fielded since Teich.We still have a season of him,and by what I saw last night I am so grateful for that.
The time that the twins were on the field with him was everything I thought it would be,they defended like the 300,against a team that really didn’t want to lose on their home ground and threw an international attack at them.The Dupes at 20 were throwing International rugby players around like they were schoolboys,and Marcel became the kind of captain who wins trophies in his first game in charge.
How the hell that idiot Meyer could have backed Schalk Burger over this talent baffles me.I believe that if Marcel had played in the New Zealand World Cup game we would have won.
The 3 new coaches (attack, defence and conditioning) have my full unconditional support. Wow these guys. They have added a much needed dimension to the coaching team. Together with Gold’s man management or soft skills makes a very good combo. You can see everyone is on the same page and everyone is happy.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 292) : I obviously wasn’t paying attention at some point. Whose the conditioning coach now?
@The hound (Comment 291) : I tend to agree, Marcel is a bigger loss than we think. He should be captaining the side until he retires.
@The hound (Comment 291) : @Uli Boelie (Comment 294) : yes Marcell is a huge loss and will be missed!!!!!!!