The Sharks are well represented in Allister Coetzee’s Springbok Rugby Championship squad named this evening, with uncapped players Daniel du Preez and Curwin Bosch among six players selected to the 34-man group.
Injuries at number 8 and flyhalf – where the likes of Warrren Whiteley, Duane Vermeulen and Pat Lambie are all unavailable – have opened the door for the Sharks pair. Other Sharks players included are props Beast Mtawarira and Coenie Oosthuizen, hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle and flank Jean-Luc du Preez.
The other uncapped player in the team is exciting Bulls fullback Warrock Gelant.
Here is the full squad.
Forwards (19):
Uzair Cassiem (flank/No 8), Toyota Cheetahs – 1 cap, 5 points (1 try)
Lood de Jager (lock), Vodacom Bulls – 29 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Dan du Preez (No 8), Cell C Sharks – uncapped
Jean-Luc du Preez (loose forward), Cell C Sharks – 4 caps, 0 points
Pieter-Steph du Toit (lock), DHL Stormers – 23 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
Eben Etzebeth (lock), DHL Stormers – 57 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
Lizo Gqoboka (prop), Vodacom Bulls – uncapped
Steven Kitshoff (prop), DHL Stormers – 13 caps, 0 points
Siya Kolisi (flank), DHL Stormers – 19 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Jaco Kriel (loose forward), Emirates Lions/Kubota Spears (Jap) – 8 caps, 0 points
Frans Malherbe (prop), DHL Stormers – 17 caps, 0 points
Malcolm Marx (hooker), Emirates Lions – 5 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Bongi Mbonambi (hooker), DHL Stormers – 8 caps; 0 points
Oupa Mohoje (loose forward), Toyota Cheetahs – 17 tests, 0 points
Franco Mostert (lock), Emirates Lions/Ricoh Black Rams (Jap) – 10 caps, 0 points
Tendai Mtawarira (prop), Cell C Sharks – 90 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Trevor Nyakane (prop), Vodacom Bulls – 28 – 5 points (1 try)
Coenie Oosthuizen (prop), Cell C Sharks – 26 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Chiliboy Ralepelle (hooker), Cell C Sharks – 22 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Backs (15):
Curwin Bosch (flyhalf), Cell C Sharks – uncapped
Andries Coetzee (fullback), Emirates Lions – 3 caps, 0 points
Ross Cronje (scrumhalf), Emirates Lions – 2 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Damian de Allende (centre), DHL Stormers – 22 Caps, 15 points (3 tries)
Warrick Gelant (fullback), Vodacom Bulls – uncapped
Francois Hougaard (scrumhalf), Worcester (England) – 42 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
Elton Jantjies (flyhalf), Emirates Lions/NTT Shining Arcs (Jap) – 14 caps, 130 points (1 try, 22 conversions, 27 penalties)
Jesse Kriel (centre), Vodacom Bulls – 19 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
Dillyn Leyds (utility back), DHL Stormers – 3 caps, 0 points
Rudy Paige (scrumhalf), Vodacom Bulls – 8 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Handré Pollard (flyhalf), Vodacom Bulls – 20 caps, 188 points (2 tries, 29 con, 37 pen, 3 dropkicks)
Raymond Rhule (wing), Toyota Cheetahs – 3 caps 0 points
Jan Serfontein (centre), Vodacom Bulls – 29 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Courtnall Skosan (wing), Emirates Lions – 3 caps 0 pints
Francois Venter (centre), Toyota Cheetahs – 3 caps, 0 points
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What does he need 3 hookers for? Can’t he leave Chiliboy alone? Keegan had better like regular game time, and dishing out the hurt on other teams
@SeanJeff (Comment 1) : He needs another hooker because Bongi can’t hit a bloody barn door
I believe we have another hooker coming our way for Currie Cup. And it’s one you guys will like.
Very good “oak”
@robdylan (Comment 3) : Akker ?? be still my beating heart
Ellendig ahead of Am??
@robdylan (Comment 3) : I see what you did there…
I’m chuffed for Curwin and Dan and bummed we lose them for the Currie Cup…
I’m bummed for Am and chuffed we keep him for the Currie Cup…
So for Currie Cup we look something like this:
– front row very fine
– locks pretty much fine
– loosies thinner than yesterday…
– scrummies fine (please give CW a start)
– flyhalves a bit less fine than yesterday
– centres very fine
– wings very fine
– fulllback ok…unless April moves to flyhalf…then what?
All in all looking quite good…
I’m guessing Curwin is there more for the experience…is Pollard ok…he certainly won’t be match fit…
Curwins, jldp and dan are a hit to our hopes of winning the CC, but they are not contracted, so we may get them back some weeks but the disruption will not help.
Inny and benji will have to step up for curwin. this is not ideal as we play the bulls mid week and then a motivated lions next weekend (not sure how many key players the lions will lose)
There is back up for Dan and JLdp as terra and keegs can step up, along with vermualen and Khaya majola
franco and our mystery hooker signing to cover for chilli.
will be interesting to see the team cheetahs put out once the pro14 starts
@pastorshark (Comment 8) : inny at fh with ben on the bench as cover.
But who plays fullback if april goes down ? ryno smith is back in a few weeks but who else
@revolverocelot (Comment 11) : Odwa, there is no one else.
@revolverocelot (Comment 10) : We knew JLdP would be gone – was therefore as good move to rest him and play Vermeulen last night. Curwin and Dan are a loss…the backups aren’t bad but depth is an issue…
@sharks_lover (Comment 12) : Yup…Odwa. Morne Joubert?
wow just noticed no ruan combrink in the bok team, surprising
Problem areas I see:
10 Ben10, Innie, Jan/Feb/Maaaaarch APRIL. lol have not been consistent,
15 Just look at the current match and see the big Bulls backline and see who we have at 10 and 15? we in KAK there
7 Nor Mtembu, Vermeulen or Keegan are big ball carriers like the Dup boys.
4 Yes Tyler Paul has been good and backup?
I wonder if Ward cannot play 10? then bring on another good center? as we have more depth there.
@sharks_lover (Comment 12) :@pastorshark (Comment 14) : good points, I love odwa but I would play Morne Joubert at this point if april or smith are not available
@sharks_lover (Comment 16) : Bulls will be missing Serfontein, Kriel and Gelant – so it evens out things a bit
@pastorshark (Comment 13) : agreed so lets see how things work out.
I did not watch the blue bulls vs lions game to night (probibly should have to scout the opposition). anyone who did, what can we expect from the bulls ? the lions will likely be much changed
@sharks_lover (Comment 16) : Vermeulen is not a bad replacement for JLDP – he has been pretty impressive
@Bokhoring (Comment 19) : Talk of Galant and he scores
Three yellow cards for the Bulls…
@Bokhoring (Comment 21) : Problem is or depth is depleted and if he gets injured?
Mtembu and Keegan not strong, yes we could use Tyler Paul at 7 but our locks also depleted.
@sharks_lover (Comment 24) : Droste could cover 7 if needed, but then we loose lock cover.
Sharks will be facing the Cheetahs on 2nd Sep, while their Pro-14 team plays in Wales on the 1st. If you think we have depth issues, imagine how the Cheetahs will manage this juggling act
@Bokhoring (Comment 26) : so Sharks Currie Cup side will play their Vodacom Cup side!?!?
Think Ackerman jnr is a bit unlucky not to get selected and the red card may have cost Kwagga his place in the squad.
@Bokhoring (Comment 26) : @JD (Comment 27) : Ideal time to repay the cheetahs for what happen to us in this years first currie cup fixture. thats games along way from now though, hopefully we are not further depleted. this 12 game regulars season is going to be a war of attrition.
@robdylan (Comment 3) : I hope it is Akkers. He would add a different dimension to our pack next year. What Mapimpi? Add Robert Jr whom I feel should really consider moving to 12. Just look at the difference a play maker at 12 makes.
@Bokhoring (Comment 26) : Exachary! Going to be a rough old year having to juggle. Cheetahs will need a bigger squad than before. How this has made the remaining SA Super squads stronger as per SARU just baffles!!
@revolverocelot (Comment 29) : Actually the Cheetahs just repaid the favour, after the cheating Guppies loaded their Supersport Challenge team with Super rugby players
Fat lot of good that did, anyway! 😆
@robdylan (Comment 3) : 😆 😆 😆
See Akker Van Der Merwe signed with the Sharks. Joining up with the team this week
@KingRiaan (Comment 34) : Is it now officially announced?
https://www.facebook.com/TheSharks/photos/a.973854392644346.1073741892.251571854872607/1814983581864752/?type=3
@KingCheetah (Comment 32) : Stir….stir…stir…
@KingCheetah (Comment 32) : lol yah we did play a super rugby team against your super sport challenge team. it was for a purpose, it gave the SR team a warm up game and helped us make the quarters of the SSRC which gave many of our young players an additional game and the experience of knock out rugby, thus I’m cool with it.
I dont blame you for killing us in round one of the CC I blame the organisers of the comp who should have given is a bye when it was clear we were in the SR quarter finals.
@KingCheetah (Comment 32) : I am not too sure how you see that as cheating. Was there any rule in place that said it was not allowed.
@BluffShark (Comment 39) : No stress, just stirring the pot a tad! Cheetahs had the opportunity to do likewise 😉
Seriously hope Sharks manage Akker’s entry into the team properly,Franco Marais is for me the most improved player in the team this year
He needs to be treated with dignity,Chilli is a spent force and is the one who must give way to Akker.
Where is Lewies,?
@The hound (Comment 41) : I’m sure they will deal with it well. I agree with you completely…
Lewies is in Japan…
@The hound (Comment 41) : Agree. Akker is a very welcome addition, but I won’t say he is better than Franco. Competition between the two will hopefully bring out the best in both players
@HeinF (Comment 43) : The sad thing is neither of these two excellent hookers are good enough for the Boys but Chilli is, makes you want to cry, or laugh.
Read Boks,for Boys.
@The hound (Comment 44) : that is the bok’s problem. AC has made a few interesting choices last 2 years. Sharks have more sense, think they see Franco as no 1. Having both Fanco and Akker for CC works great for us though
@HeinF (Comment 46) : I have been calling for Akker since January,still think the best of the three Lions hookers is Robbie Coetzee.
@The hound (Comment 47) : I have not seen Coetzee play enough, will watch out a bit more in the future. But hey, you at least got your one wish!
@HeinF (Comment 48) : Yes but Franco has got better and better each game and in the last part of Giquas game, when Ruan,went off he took over as captain and did an excellent job.
Hate to see him leave and prove to be a match winner else where like Ross Cronje,
@The hound (Comment 49) : I don’t think Franco has to leave. Every team needs two great hookers and one average one as backup. Frank and Akker ar the greats – Chili’s star is waning. I think young Kerron van Vuuren will serve as the apprentice.
@robdylan (Comment 50) : Think the reason Franco won’t leave is you can’t surf in winter in France ,Ireland or Japan.
@The hound (Comment 51) : glad his priorities are right
@The hound (Comment 51) : I believe we accommodate both f them. We did manage it with John Smit and Lucas van Biljon and Bismarck. At the lions, Akker needed to compete with both Coetzee and Marx, here he will be able to alternate with Franco
@HeinF (Comment 53) : I have been trying to think of who Akker reminds me of for ages and you just nailed it Lucas van Biljon. 😆 😆 😆
@The hound (Comment 54) : plays like him but hopefully doesn’t behave like him.
@The hound (Comment 51) : Frankly, I don’t care *why* Franco doesn’t leave, just *that* he doesn’t leave…
I thought Allister’s justification for some of the inclusions and exclusions were very interesting for example:
“Overseas based Frans Steyn was the back-up flyhalf in the series against France but was not considered for selection as a decision was made that it was in his best interests to have a proper preparation for the European season after a layoff from the game since June.” How is Francois Hougaard’s position any different from Frans’ position?
“According to Coetzee, the inclusion of Pollard in the group is designed to monitor his rehabilitation and return to play protocols”. You might then just as well have included Lambie “to monitor his rehabilitation and return to play protocols”
Noticeable, the Bulls has eight (8) players in the squad, but they performed the worst of all SA Teams in the Super rugby competition. No players have been elected from the Kings, but they not only performed better than the Bulls in the competition, but also beat them on their own field.
Smh at some of these picks.. Paige, Pollard, de allende, chilliboi. Copious amounts of booze will be needed to watch them play #idontgetit
@RedSharkUtd82 (Comment 58) : are you atleast optimistic for the European soccer season? Hope our team can do a bit better than the last two seasons!!!
@JD (Comment 59) : Definitely JD, the special 1 is building a good squad there. Hope they can do the business on the pitch though, lots more pressure this season i reckon 😉
@JD (Comment 59) : @RedSharkUtd82 (Comment 60) : NEWCASTLE UNITED!!!
@pastorshark (Comment 61) : Interested in why you support Newcastle,is it the Black and White,I found that when I lived in Melbourne all the NatalEx pat boys supported the Pies,Collingwood, in the Footie league because of the Black and White
@BluffShark (Comment 57) : Alister logic. That Houghaard outjie must be something special though.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 63) : It sounds better than the truth, i.e. Frans Steyn was frustrated to have re-joined Bok rugby only to sit on the bench for the three test series against the French, and would rather dedicate his time to his club team than waste it with the Boks.
Or perhaps, Frans Steyn’s club is unhappy with his decision to return to SA to play with the Boks and risk injury ahead of the NH season and has threatened to withhold salary if he does not return to France immediately to begin training.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 64) : I personaly think we are crediting too much to Coetzee,willing to bet Venter is calling all the shots, and Alistar gets paid millions to show up in public wearing Bok gear and thats as close as they let him get to the team.
@The hound (Comment 65) : I would agree, if you remember all the interviews with players prior and during the French series, all they could talk about was how much they had learned from Franco, how much he brought to the team, how happy they were to work with him, etc. So not so much sure it is Venter calling the shots, but I do agree Alistair is nothing more than a figurehead at this point, which is the biggest reason for the Bok success. Which just goes to show that no head coach is better than Alistair as head coach.
😈
@pastorshark (Comment 61) : hey Geordie be quite!!! 😈
GLORY GLORY MAN UNITED!!!!!!
@The hound (Comment 62) : I was a young man first introduced to football and had a friend who was a Geordie, was drawn to the black and white and then ended up really enjoying the way they played at the time…