Paul Anthony and Ricardo Loubscher will have wanted the benefit of maximum continuity going into this week’s crunch Supersport Rugby Challenge match against Griquas in Kimberley, but instead have been hit by injuries that have necessitated changes to the Sharks XV team.
Key tight forwards John-Hubert Meyer and Jean Droste will miss out on the trip, with Thierry Kounga and Wian Vosloo replacing them in the pack. Vosloo moves from blindside flank into the number 4 jersey, with Jacques Vermeulen recovering from last week’s knock to take over at number 7.
At the back, Odwa Ndungane is also out, with Ilunga Mukendi taking over on the wing and number 8 Keegan Daniel assuming the captaincy. Garth April moves from flyhalf to fullback, with Benhard Janse van Rensburg operating at pivot this week.
Sharks XV: 15 Garth April, 14 Ilunga Mukendi, 13 S’bura Sithole, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Sbusiso Nkosi, 10 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 9 Rowan Gouws, 8 Keegan Daniel (capt), 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Khaya Majola, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Wian Vosloo, 3 Thierry Kounga, 2 Stephan Coetzee, 1 Juan Schoeman
Subs: 16 Andrew du Plessis, 17 Gerhard Engelbrecht, 18 Rikus Zwart, 19 Bandisa Ndlovu, 20 Hanco Venter, 21 Tristan Blewett, 22 Cournet Winnaar
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I hear there is a possibility of Rob jnr coming back to the sharks, almost seems like a done deal if the rumour mill has anything to say
@Dunx (Comment 1) : except the Sharks just refuted it
@robdylan (Comment 2) : So definitely true then. 😈 😉
@McLovin (Comment 3) : it makes sense to me.
@robdylan (Comment 2) : Maybe the Dup family havent let them know yet.
@robdylan (Comment 2) : 😆 😆 😆
@Dunx (Comment 1) : Wouldn’t make much sense for him to do that since that queue us pretty full at the sharks. Why would he give up a starting berth?
@coolfusion (Comment 7) : It does depend on who coach Rob sees as flyhalves versus fullbacks who can cover flyhalf (Bosch & April). We don’t have special insight into his opinion on that but, and I don’t say state this in a mean-spirited way, the Sharks must be realistic and ask themselves how many full SR seasons Lambie has played. Bringing in extra cover for flyhalf is almost a necessity at this point. A number of people have also suggested that Rob could make a really good 12. If he does move back to the Sharks we’ll find a way to accommodate without too much disruption I suspect.
@coolfusion (Comment 7) : It’s a interesting development, speculation that of Louie Schroeder joining us turned out to be true.
Would love it if we got him.
You make a good point though, at WP/streamers, Rob jr is fighting it out with Jean-Luc du Plessis the first choose fh spot, behind them are coleman who is really good but never really had a sustained spell of play due to injuries and lose of form. Thomson who is hyped but has found the going tough with injuries and competition for places. then theres Damian Willemse who im pressed at inside centre at the jnr wc for the baby boks, but at 19 will the play him consistently at sr very soon. and they play Dillyn Leyds at fh at times.
We dont lack depth either, Lambie, bosch, april all can play fh and fb at a high level.
Ben and Inny are really talented youngsters.
at inside centre theres andre the giant, ward and deysel
In relation to the Sharks XV
Nice to see the Sithole and Andre combo in get more game time, thats likely our SR centre pair after the break.
interesting that Thierry Kounga is a tight head and that he jumped Gerhard Engelbrecht in the peaking order already.
I noticed young burly loose head prop Majola in our sharks XV team this year and then on the bench for the kings in their last SR fixture. @Rob, has he been loaned to the kings ?
would be interesting to see the Griqua squad, will clinton swarts be back for them. watch out for Fraser at 8.
I still feel we should be favourites for this game.
@revolverocelot (Comment 9) : But would you guys rate rob juniors running game and attack sense against April and Bosch? They both seem more exciting in that aspect.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 5) : He hasn’t read his email from pappa bear yet.
@revolverocelot (Comment 9) : Interestingly Jean-Luc du Plessis is having surgery on his hip and is out for the rest of 2017. Rob du Preez has a torn pectoral and will be out for 3 months. Wonder who will finish their season at 10 for them?
@coolfusion (Comment 11) : thats what I was thinking, both bosch and april are so good on attack, lets see how things work out.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 13) : hate to see good young players get injured, but love seeing the streamers suffer.
I figure coleman will start at fh after the break, and depending on his performances that will dictate if one of the other players that are still fit will take over, so he should be looking over his shoulder for thomson and the others. streamers to get knocked out in the quarter final at newlands anyway :), maybe by us. so who starts at fh is inconsequential :).
@coolfusion (Comment 11) : Yah I must say, RdPz jr does not excite me a whole lot….CC star at best.
we drew 28 all
heres the Griquas team for insight
Marius Fourie
AJ Le Roux
Ewald vd Westhuizen
Shaun McDonald
Pieter van Vuren
Wendal Wehr
Sias Koen
Jason Fraser
Renier Botha
Andre Swarts
Koch Marx
Tertius Kruger
Kyle Steyn
Ederies Arendse
AJ Coertzen
bench
Wilmar Arnoldi
Mthunzi Moloi
Jonathan JV Rensburg
RJ Liebenberg
Christiaan Meyer
George Whitehead
Eric Zana
@FireTheLooser (Comment 16) : he has looked good at times, and did look more attacking focused when playing for the barbarians.
@revolverocelot (Comment 18) : Inconsistent springs to mind, a tall version of Fred Zeilinga.
@coolfusion (Comment 11) : There is nothing wrong with Du Preez’s attacking game, maybe not the jinking, light footed wisp that April and Bosch offer but he will attack and break the gain line as well. He has a mean pass, can play inside centre and you dont have to shift him onto the wing for certain plays – he will look after his channel all day long.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 16) : Yep, I think thats what got him his Barbarians slot, and man of the match performances.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 21) : Didn’t see the game so can’t comment on how well he played.
I remember him killing us in 2016 cc match at Newlands, but then crumble under pressure when he needed a cool head.
Lambie, Bosch, April, Ben10…..then du Preez. But hey, maybe he proves me wrong.