Michael Horak has named a pretty strong Sharks XV team for Friday night’s Currie Cup Qualifying round opener against the Boland Cavaliers, drawing heavily on experienced Super Rugby squad members who find themselves currently surplus to requirements.
Loose forward Khaya Majola leads the team from the open side flank position and will need to ensure his charges settle quickly in the unfamiliar surroundings of the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Claremont. Majola’s namesake Mzamo (or “Jerry” to his teammates) will play loose head prop, in a front row comprising fellow under 21 team-mates Andy du Plessis and Ruan Kramer. Wian Vosloo plays lock alongside Namibian international Tjiuee Uanivi, who starts for the Sharks for the first time in a competitive fixture.
Completing the back row are two “younger brothers” from the under 21 ranks – blind side Johan du Toit is the sibling of Stormers lock Pieter-Steph, while Retief Marais (of Jandre and Peet fame) will start at number 8.
Westvillian Dylan Marcus is the scrumhalf and will seek to provide quick ball the destroyer-in-chief Inny-Christian Radebe in the number 10 shirt. The three-quarter line has a definite Super Rugby feel to it, with Heimar Williams, Wandi Mjekevu and S’bura Sithole all experienced at that level. Left wing Neil Maritz and fullback Alrin Eksteen are also from the Sharks age-group ranks and the commitment to youth is clear in that only Uanivi (from the starting fifteen) has not played for the Sharks at under 21 level.
For some unfathomable reason, the bench comprises only 7 players in this competition. Horak has gone with two props in Super Rugby regulars Dale Chadwick and Thomas du Toit, with Aussie Dave McDuling set to cover both second and third rows. Stephan Coetzee, a former WP age-group hooker who has actually sat on the bench for the Stormers, seems to have joined the Sharks and will play in the number 17 jersey.
Among the backs, local boys Matt Alborough and Tristan Tedder cover the halfback positions, with Legend Marwana the final backline reserve.
The game kicks off at 19h00 on Friday.
Cell C Sharks XV
1. Mzamo Majola
2. Andrew Du Plessis
3. Ruan Kramer
4. Wian Vosloo
5. Tjiuee Uanivi
6. Khaya Majola (c)
7. Johan Du Toit
8. Retief Marais
9. Dylan Marcus
10. Inny-Christian Radebe
11. Niel Maritz
12. Heimar Williams
13. Wandile Mjekevu
14. S’bura Sithole
15. Alrin Eksteen
16. Dale Chadwick
17. Stephan Coetzee
18. Thomas du Toit
19. Dave McDuling
20. Matt Alborough
21. Tristan Tedder
22. Nkululeko Marwana
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S’bura Sithole to score 4 tries and FORCE his way into contention for the Sharks next week
I’m glad that Inny is there. I’d like to see him force his way into Super rugby contention.
@robdylan (Comment 1) : Sounds good
I’m really glad that they’ve kept last year’s under 21 pack pretty much intact. A few injuries (Schramm, Geldenhuys) and a couple of guys who need to come back from Impi as well, but laying a good foundation.
A bit worried about the Super Rugby backline…. would rather see the youngsters, but again, maybe need to wait for the Impi fiasco to completely unwind before we see whose really in the mix there.
When is this 7 player bench going to go away? Who exactly benefits from this? I can’t think of a single reason other than smaller teams saying its unfair as bigger teams can put more quality players on the bench. Obvious counter would be its better for smaller teams to have an extra pair of fresh legs to draw on.
Pretty decent if young team. Dont think many will have played together so i wouldnt expect the most fluid play. This team pretty much suggests the Sharks super rugby side will be as is with probably only Keegan Daniel playing off the bench for Phillip Van Der Walt
@robdylan (Comment 4) : think that maybe they want to give some of them a run before the tour as they need game time.
@gregkaos (Comment 5) : well as the small teams run SARU I can’t see it end soon!!!
@SheldonK (Comment 6) : after the rest week I can’t see a lot of changes this week maybe they will start rotations on or after the tour!
Televised??
cool to see Wandile Mjekevu getting a run at outside centre, sithole should be in the SR squad
will this game be broadcast ?
@revolverocelot (Comment 11) : think they want to give Sithole game time before the tour.
@Poisy (Comment 10) : @JD (Comment 12) : seems not, as they have the Bulls against WP on the CC qualifiers at 16:00 and after that only highlights of the Super rugby games from earlier
@Henkb (Comment 13) : did not think that Sharks cc game would be shown!
@JD (Comment 14) : Thought so too, as we are playing the Griffins, SS will rather televise a game with two big unions to get the viewer ratings, but it sure is a pity as I would have loved to see some of these guys in action again
Is Ungerer injured, or with the SR squad?
@Henkb (Comment 15) : ja would have also liked to see them play.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 16) : I recall seeing something about him picking up a niggle
@Henkb (Comment 15) : Cavaliers…but your point is spot on…
Now that is a transformed team all through merit,well done sharks.
How are log points scored in this competion, 4 tries = bonus point or will it be the 3 and more than the opposition = a bonus point.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 21) : Still 4 tries = bonus point i think. 1 point losing within 7
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 21) : @SheldonK (Comment 22) : if they can’t change to match day teams to 23 players I can’t see them change the bonus point structure!!!
@JD (Comment 23) : Actually, that crossed my mind while asking the question.
@JD (Comment 23) : very true
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 24) : @SheldonK (Comment 25) : smaller unions have the power and they will not change it as it does not give them any advantage!
@JD (Comment 26) : Its expensive to have another jersey made 😉
@JD (Comment 26) : More that is pathetic in the land of the game that I love…
I see the CC champs lost to Border
@nortie (Comment 29) : ouch. That’s gotta sting
@robdylan (Comment 30) :
😆 yep, and it will really hurt if they go 0/2 this weekend
@nortie (Comment 29) : A few things of interest for that game:
1. The game was a home game for the Lions!
2. The Bulldogs outscored the Lions 3 tries to 2…
3. Looking at the Lions lineup, it didn’t look like the worst side…
4. THE MOST MINDBOGGLING STAT…THE OFFICIAL ATTENDANCE FIGURE…wait for it…120!!!!!!!!
@pastorshark (Comment 32) : And this is not stated to make a political point or to make it a point of discussion on this thread, but I do think it is noteworthy that the Bulldogs side had 12 black players in their starting line up and 17 in the match 22. Well done…
I see Timmy Whitehead scored for Western Province. 20-16 in Cape Town for Western Province against the Bulls at the moment…
Province nail a penalty to make it 23-16 after 53 minutes…
The Bulls have been reduced to 14 with a yellow card…
@SheldonK (Comment 27) : ja boet that twenty third jersey really breaks the bank!!!
@pastorshark (Comment 32) : The Lions had come back to take the lead 3 minutes from the end but Border scored a try to clinch it!
@pastorshark (Comment 28) : that’s what really pisses me off as their decisions is not in the interest of the game but just for the sake of their own little dung heap!!!!
Western Province win 30-16…10-0 in the second half…
@nortie (Comment 29) : @robdylan (Comment 30) : eina!!! Just hope the Sharks can do better!
Hinyane Shimange busy with Supersport duties again…you’d have thought he needed to focus a bit more on his UCT team. That must have been a real issue for them this year. Can anyone see him keeping his job?
@pastorshark (Comment 32) : at 120 spectators it seems as if even the players families did not attend the match?!?!
@JD (Comment 41) : I’m sure we will get more than 120 people together for the game in Clermont! GO SHARKIES!
@pastorshark (Comment 42) : not at UCT but then again stranger things has happened!
@pastorshark (Comment 44) : really hope so.
@pastorshark (Comment 32) :
Wow, just shows what a farce the CC has become.
Such a pity, this trophy meant the world up to a few years ago, really sad to see it relegated to something below the Vodacom Cup
@nortie (Comment 47) : Yup…interesting that the SARU rugby site doesn’t call this the Currie Cup, but rather “The Provincial Cup”…marketing people would have mare if you aren’t consistent in what you call something…but anyway. All in all, it is as sad as you say…
@nortie (Comment 47) : @pastorshark (Comment 48) : would also prefer it if that’s silly competition be called something else as it’s totally idiotic!!! There is absolutely no deference between this first part and Vodacom Cup!!!
@pastorshark (Comment 33) : a comment like that could easy snowball into a discussion not allowed on the site.
@pastorshark (Comment 48) :
Yep, it’s a prelim to see which 3 goes through to the “CC proper”
The 6 SR franchises have automatic entry.
@JD (Comment 49) :
Yes, even when this prelim is done, the CC itself will still be like a Vodacom Cup
@50shadesofshark (Comment 50) : As I made clear in my comment, that was not the intention. I view that as a wonderful development and believe it deserves acknowledgement. If it is not allowed, I am happy if the comment is removed…
@nortie (Comment 51) : I know…but it has clearly been called Currie Cup all along by everyone…so now I am curious what the actual official name of this competition is…
@nortie (Comment 51) : yes unfortunately the Currie cup has been downgraded to just a bit better than Vodacom cup!
No updates on the Sharks game anywhere?