The good news for the Sharks, ahead of this weekend’s Currie Cup clash with the Lions, is that Lwazi Mvovo will be available for selection.
The poor bugger should consider changing his name to “Myoyo” given how regularly he bobs in and out of the Bok picture. Having been released for game time this past weekend (even though the Sharks had a bye), he clearly impressed Allister Coetzee enough (by not playing) to earn a recall, only to be once again cut loose a few days later. With Odwa Ndungane and S’bura Sithole both struggling with injuries, though, Robert du Preez certainly won’t look this particular gift horse in the mouth.
The bad news is twofold. Pat Lambie has been cleared fit to play for the Boks this weekend and thus won’t see any action for the Sharks. Worse, fiery Lions hooker Malcolm Marx has been also been released, as has Western Province midfielder Damian de Allende. Marx proved somewhat wanting as a test hooker in Christchurch a fortnight ago, but should certainly add plenty to the Lions pack a few levels down the competitive scale. Here’s hoping he at least manages to provide Ruan Botha with some decent lineout ball on Friday!
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Here’s hoping he at least manages to provide Ruan Botha with some decent lineout ball on Friday! Very clever one Rob, had glimpses of the test in Christchurch
Mvovo is clearly surplus to requirements at the Boks- they really should leave him to get regular game time with the Sharks. Not sure what to make of the Marx axe- clearly his lack of basics costing him and he really should invest a lot of time in that as he is needed on the field. De Allende is another that just needs to be playing and figure out his own game so he also needs gametime. Interesting to see how AC employs Lambie and Willie Le Roux…
I hope Lewies plays on saterday, I’m sure he would love a few gift balls from Marx
Think the lineout is an area the Sharks need to focus putting pressure on all match. Yes we may not win every contest but the more we contest the more pressure is put on Marx and the more chance we have of unsettling him and getting those wayward throws. If we can unsettle him early on we may win 2 or 3 against the throw and that can be a big key to winning this match.
@Hulk (Comment 4) : Yeah his confidence must have taken a huge knock, so if we can steal an early lineout or two, then it would create serious doubt in Marx and would help us sooo much in preventing the Lions some serious momentum
So Mvovo finally gets some game time, hope he is actually match fit after all the time off from the game. When last did he play, in Super Rugby?
With Mvovo released, I won’t be surprised to see Willie on the wing, especially with the Goosen experiment proving somewhat successful.
Feel for Marx, but that showing he had in NZ was poor, if only other poor showings resulted in players being returned to their Unions…..
@Hulk (Comment 4) : @KingRiaan (Comment 5) : for sure Sharks needs to compete at every line out!!! And with Adriaanse also back Sharks must also try to put pressure on the Lions scrum!!!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 6) : think he must be use to it by now as he almost had the same treatment from HM.
@JD (Comment 7) : Yeah, with Adriaanse back and Tom at loosehead, we should be able to give their scrum a real go.
@KingRiaan (Comment 9) : yes and Meyer on the bench will add nice cover.
@JD (Comment 8) :
True that.. He has never been given a real chance to make a name for himself, so rather leave him and let the Sharks utilise him..
Well, I for one am not as confident as some of you with regards to Marx playing, I think this is a massive plus for the Lions. He is an absolute beast around the field and at scrum time, he is the next Bismark! Sure, his lineout work was not great against the AB’s, but let us put that into perspective, it was his first test at 22 yrs old against the best team in the world. I for one do not think he will have any of those nerves against the Sharks – Ackerman must be over the moon and SA showing once again why we so kak – you take a remarkable talent, who had a storming loose game against the AB and you immediately drop him – great man management that.
AC is genuinely clueless. One wonders what made him so successful at WP for such a long time. Must have been Rassie and Mallets influence.
@Vonno13 (Comment 12) : When it comes to your front row, they don’t mean sh*t if they don’t do their basics well
@Uli Boelie (Comment 13) : First Rassie and then Gert Small’s input
@KingRiaan (Comment 14) : Correct…perhaps if Marx is at hooker we should go old school and let the wing throw in the lineout…
@Uli Boelie (Comment 13)
: i reckon it was Robbie Fleck and Jabba the hut wakefield
@KingRiaan (Comment 15) : Ah yes that’s correct, I knew there was someone else other than Rassie there.
@Vonno13 (Comment 12) : Post of the week so far,couldn’t have expressed it better for me.That guy is a brick shithouse,just look at the two quality hookers he is keeping out of the team
@The hound (Comment 17) : Darn right 😆
@Uli Boelie (Comment 18) : Nienaber as well
@The hound (Comment 21) : AC will be the worst coach we have ever had by the end of this season.
@Vonno13 (Comment 12) :
You make a valid point. Yes his basics were off, but he was superb in the loose and did some great things with ball in hand. He stood out above even Kriel in that department.
Give the guy some time on the International scene, don’t just drop him from the squad. Bongi isn’t flash, so the message to the players is that Strauss simply will not come off the field during the next two games..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 23) : Or Bongi is going to start.
@The hound (Comment 24) :
Hahaha… You are funny…
@Uli Boelie (Comment 13) : Jacques Nienaber, AC’s / Stormers / WP’s crutch.
@The hound (Comment 21) : Ditto, sorry didnt see your post.
@Vonno13 (Comment 12) : Agreed he will be a strong addition to the Lions team but his lineout throwing is his weak point and as you said at 22 he is susceptible to self doubt. What the Sharks need to do is get that doubt to resurface early on. With his throw ins causing him trouble he may be frustrated or try to hard in other areas and infringe where he usually wouldn’t and bingo we get a penalty. If we let him settle and don’t compete he’ll play well and lets face it we don’t want to let that happen.
@Hulk (Comment 28) : i think first scrum we are going to back peddle so fast that his tail will be up like a rooster.
This boy is seriously good,as is that youngster Dylan Smith.Our front row was smashed by the Cheetahs and W.P.
@Hulk (Comment 28) : Hard to judge him on one game can’t remember his throwing being a problem before,he’s only 22and he was throwing in an AB’S test against Rettalick,Whitlock and Read,hard task.
@The hound (Comment 29) : No our starting pack will be good enough to have an even scrum against the Lions, I’m worried for second half when the replacements start coming on.
sorry ladies … Robbie Coetzee is starting .
@Vonno13 (Comment 12) : @KingRiaan (Comment 14) : @Richard Ferguson (Comment 23) : looking for positives! With or without Marx it will be a tough game!!!
@The hound (Comment 29) : @The hound (Comment 29) : Yes and you dont get to run the AB as easily as he did if as you say he is not seriously good,i think he should rather stay home
@The hound (Comment 30) : I do not doubt how good he is but not having a very good game against NZ then being dropped from the team can not do his confidence any good. I feel whilst he is analysing his throwing (I’m sure it’s an area he himself will want to improve) we must try spark that flicker of doubt. I point this out because he is a big player for them and if he does fire we could have trouble shutting him down so lets try to cast doubt in his mind. It’s the best way to nullify promising young players.
That being said, I look forward to his progress as he looks like he can become a very strong capable player for many years. I just don’t want him to be that this weekend.
@Hulk (Comment 35) : Trust AC the Clueless to send him back to the Lions now and call Bambie up when Sharks need him most,eish
@benji (Comment 36) : Indeed. Was the plan to make the Sharks weaker and Lions stronger?
@benji (Comment 36) : AC is hoping like hell Lambie is going to save his arse,bet if Pat was only 60% ready he would have played him.As you say he is clueless,look at his handling of Willie,dropped him like a hotcake,now he races him back in again.
If he half knew what he was doing he would have called up Frans Steyn and JPP.
@The hound (Comment 38) : and Bismark… Mind you he should also ask Matfield to come out of retirement to try and save his arse.
I see Catrakilis looks set to leave Montpelier at end of the season and is set to return to SA. Wouldnt be the worst buy for a team…
@Uli Boelie (Comment 39) : Bismark is crocked at the moment,but lets get serious for a minute can you see Bismarck being coached how to play rugby by AC,Proudfoot and Stick,
@SheldonK (Comment 40) : Wouldn’t mind seeing Hernandez back for a second shot or Sanchez.
@The hound (Comment 42) : Think all the rugby and age catching up with Hernandez…he is injured often. Sanchez is quality but cant see him leaving Arg/Jags. I wouldnt mind signing Ruan Pienaar as a flyhalf to end his career…he is 32 now
@SheldonK (Comment 43) : I just threw up in my mouth,but then re read it,and yes as a flyhallf, but please not as a scrum half,John Smit was quicker from the base of the scrum than him.
@The hound (Comment 44) : He wasnt a bad scrumhalf at the Sharks but we have a few young guys there and they could be guided by Pienaar at 10- still think he played his best rugby at 10. We also wouldnt need him to stand on the wing and hide on defense.
@SheldonK (Comment 45) : never mind that have you seen the Lions team from our match Friday?? I reckon we in shyte.
@sharks_lover (Comment 46) : Its pretty much their same team they have had all CC…they have blown hot and cold. All depends on the quality of defense they are faced with. If opposition miss simple 1on1 tackles and allow Lions to run free then they look amazing. But if they get hit hard in the tackle like the Bulls did to them they look pretty average…
That’s the problem though, our defense has gone backwards There back line is a very good one.
@sharks_lover (Comment 48) : Rugby is a pretty simple game…if you miss tackles and defend badly then you lose more often than not. Is Sharks want to win and make the semi then they need to make their tackles…if they over this comp and want a rest then tackle like the Kings did last week.
@SheldonK (Comment 45) : Pienaar has already signed with Montpellier for the next 3 years
@Uli Boelie (Comment 50) : There were rumours but hadnt heard anything definitive. Interesting considering the 9s already at Montpelier. Perhaps Catrakilis leaving is a sign that he may play 10
@SheldonK (Comment 51) : Possibly
@sharks_lover (Comment 46) : can’t find the Lions team.
@JD (Comment 53) : Wait i’ll post it for you here
Golden Lions – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Koch Marx, 13 Jaques Nel, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Ruaan Lerm, 7 Ruan Ackermann, 6 Kwagga Smith (c), 5 Bobby de Wee, 4 JP du Preez, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Dylan Smith.
Subs: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Fabian Booysen, 19 Cyle Brink, 20 Dillon Smit, 21 Howard Mnisi, 22 Sylvian Mahuza.
@sharks_lover (Comment 55) : thanx good team but think the Sharks could beat them but for that the Sharks forwards will need to step up and perform!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 6) : Don’t be surprised if you see Goosen moved to 10 Willie to 15 and Pat the cover for both. Or Goosen the cover for both with Pat at 10.
@coolfusion (Comment 57) : think Pat and Willie will start.
@JD (Comment 58) : If I remember correctly AC stated if a player was 50/50 with injury he would prefer to start him. So at least he could be sub him. In my books Pat falls into that category.
@JD (Comment 58) : You think AC will drop Goosen ? I think he did fairly well in the games he played and his exit kicking is miles(literally) better than Willie’s. We do need someone to spark our attack though.
@sharks_lover (Comment 55) : That’s a pretty good team, think the game will be won or lost at the front.
@JD (Comment 56) : Yeah, forwards are going to have a huge role to play! Can’t wait for the Sharks game again and I’m very keen to see how Pat goes if he gets a start at the Boks considering he’s only had 20mins of rugby since June.
@Quintin (Comment 60) : think so he’s desperate for things to chance.
@Quintin (Comment 61) : yes can’t wait for the game.
@Quintin (Comment 60) : I think AC still hoping for a miracle. He includes hougaard for “x factor” probably the same think with Willie. I agree Goosen would be my first choice 15 he is safe and calm but has some really genial moments. He would also do better with some tactical kicking pressure removed from his shoulders.
@Uli Boelie (Comment 39) : Could also call Craig burden in.
@coolfusion (Comment 65) : @The hound (Comment 38) : he will not call up any of them and to be honest can’t see Burden and Frans Steyn answering his calls!!!
@The hound (Comment 38) : could not agree more
@The hound (Comment 42) : what about one last spin with French Freddie,he did take Sharks to final
@benji (Comment 68) : Nit a bad idea. Seeing he can provide 10 and 9 with cover.
@Uli Boelie (Comment 13) : would you please assist if you can?? Mallet before the Boks and AC before the Stomers??
@Uli Boelie (Comment 13) : how successful was he at WP? Never won Super rugby geez did they even play in more than one final?
@Tumza (Comment 70) : they can both go where ever they want just as long as they stay far away from the Sharks!!!