I guess it’s a bit of a symptom of the silly season (otherwise known as the boring, no-rugby season) that unsubstantiated rumours tend to become pseudo-fact and continue to waft through the ether long after their sell-by date has come and gone.
Just such a silly rumour emerged over December, with “sources in Bloemfontein” indicating Makazole Mapimpi “might be changing his mind” about his decision to join the Sharks. I cannot quite convey just how much contempt I have for this style of reporting, but hey, I guess hits is hits, after all. Needless to say, a thousand braai-side conversations over the summer would now have focused precisely on Mapimpi’s supposed cold feet and the nefarious but oh-so-cunning loophole that may be exploited to allow him to remain with the Cheetahs. Or something.
Anyway – SA Rugby Magazine, bless them, have today managed to undo some of the damage by confirming with the player that he will indeed be reporting for Sharks duty after next weekend’s Pro14 match between the Cheetahs and his previous previous side, the Kings. This confirmation strengthens the Sharks’ own assurance, issued some weeks ago, that there is quite simply no substance whatsoever to any alternative version of the truth.
You really couldn’t make this story up. Although wait – I guess somebody did.
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I went and read the article, and no where was it stated as fact, that the winger was staying in Bloem. It said that the Cheetahs were mum on the matter, but that the player was happy in Bloem, according to sources. Yes, it is just silly season speculation, but not pseudo-facts. Ultimately readers can read between the lines.
@KingCheetah (Comment 1) : can they now? In my experience the general media-consuming rugby patron is a lot less discerning than you think
with him signing with us….. any news about mvovo still in the mix or going somewhere else?
@Darius de Lange (Comment 3) : Sharks admin staff are still on leave for a week. Rather vexing!
Glad it’s sorted, all this talk of people getting out of contracts isn’t always the healthiest thing.
@Darius de Lange (Comment 3) : I’m pretty sure he’s coming back.
http://ewn.co.za/2017/08/11/mvovo-black-rugby-players-shouldn-t-be-shy-to-go-overseas
“The 31-year-old has been capped 17 times for the Springboks and says he was ready for a new challenge. He will return to the Sharks in time for Super Rugby next year.”
http://www.sarugbymag.co.za/blog/details/sharks-duo-leaves-for-japan1
“They will return for the Sharks’ next Super Rugby campaign, starting in February.”
http://www.rugby365.com/article/80345-sharks-quartet-off-to-japan
“Notable exclusions from the Currie Cup squad are Andre Esterhuizen (Sanix), Lwazi Mvovo (Canon Eagles), Philip van der Walt (Canon Eagles) and Stephan Lewies (Kamaishi Seawaves), all of whom will be playing in Japan during the Currie Cup season.
They will return to Durban in January 2018 in time for next year’s Super Rugby competition.”
so it’s widely reported that Lwazi is coming back – my only concern is that I haven’t seen a contract renewal announced
ok – end of speculation. Lwazi has signed an extension. Awaiting further details
@robdylan (Comment 10) : Awesome
@vanmartin (Comment 11) : Lwazi is with us until 2019. Probably safe to assume that he will again be in Japan for CC season this year, however.
@robdylan (Comment 12) : I don’t mind that at all, it gives new talent some opportunity… But relieved that he is still with us quality player and in my honest opinion pretty underrated, especially on international(Springbok) level
Ah, excellent…on both counts!
@DuToit04 (Comment 13) : I’m keen to see a full campaign with Lwazi at 15, TBH
@robdylan (Comment 15) : I still worry about his kicking but I guess we could have one of our wings or 12 help ease that burden.
@robdylan (Comment 2) : Also true I guess 😀
@robdylan (Comment 8) : Ginger Ninja, my favourite player for the bok 8thman berth.
I personally can’t stand SA Rugby Magazine and their race baiting articles, neither do I trust anything they say. Stoked to have Mapimpi, looking forward to a much improved backline this year!
@KingCheetah (Comment 17) : you know me, though. I write for my audience – I’d be crazy not to
RDP’s seletion of the back 3 is going to be very interesting. Also really think Schreduer could push for a Bok starting berth coming the June games vs England
We’re more than covered in the back 3, should hopefully mean rotation to keep the guys fresh and hungry. Hopefully.
@robdylan (Comment 15) : I agree Rob, I reckon the Sharks backline kind of picks itself now that all is confirmed.
15 Mvovo
14 Mapimpi/Van Wyk
13 Am
12 Andre
11 Nkosi
10 Rob Jnr
09 Schreuder
reserves 21 Wright, 22 Bosch, van wyk/Mapimpi
Then you have a huge amount of reserves so rotation far easier this year, specially at center.
Forwards is a little more difficult specially tight head and 4 lock, Loose forwards are in a good position depth wise but i still would have liked a solid fetcher in our squad,
Coenie is a huge loss for us…. 🙄
@robdylan (Comment 20) : I forgot to mention i see the ex Argie hooker that plays for us was visiting at the Sharks recently, he has his son or nephew there who is now in the academy, not sure the position the kid plays but he is quite big.
Too bad we can’t get Trump …but I hear he only plays loose head….
@sharks_lover (Comment 25) : Mendez?
@robdylan (Comment 27) : Yes, it was on Sharks TV program.
https://www.facebook.com/TheSharks/videos/1961140717249037/ this is the link.
@sharks_lover (Comment 23) : I’m in general agreement, but would rather see Louw on the bench rather than another wing (Van Wyk/Mapimpi). Mvovo and Am can both cover wing, and Bosch covers FB. With your bench, we may be in trouble if one of our centers goes down in the match.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 29) : Or Blewett who covers center and wing.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 29) : I agree but the argument can be that Van Wyk also covers 13 and wing and maybe even 15 lol fact is the depth is now better and the coach can rotate with confidence.
I recon we only need 1 more good 10 in case of injuries, other positions well covered. Forwards 3 and 2 worrying,
@robdylan (Comment 12) : awesome news!!! Thanks for once again getting the facts for us!!!
@sharks_lover (Comment 31) : LOL the fact that Am covers 11, 12, 13, and 14, we really only have to worry about who will cover 13 if Am has to cover another position. And oh by the way, he doesn’t just cover the positions, he is damn good at all of them!
@Dancing Bear (Comment 34) : It wouldn’t surprise me if Am turned out to be a pretty darn good 15 as well. He is quite simply a very good rugby player, with great skills in all facets of the game.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 35) : Oh and I am in no way advocating moving him to 15, I think he needs to stay at 13 this season, with the hopes that Andre has improved his distribution skills under King Carlos in Japan. That centre combo could be devastating.
awww crap….too late to delete those posts, now everyone will call Luk Am my love child!
😳 I do love his attitude and enthusiasm when he is on the field, I’m sure he picks up the players around him as well.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 37) : not a bad love child to have though, even if I might have to fight off robdylan.
Luk Am for Sharks and Bok captain!!! 
😛 😈
@Dancing Bear (Comment 38) : now imagine him in combination with Brad Barritt? 🙂
@Dancing Bear (Comment 36) : I have this notion that long term, Am 12 / Ward 13 could be even better. Of course, the ideal would be Am 12 / Am 13…
@Culling Song (Comment 40) : Am at both 12 and 13 would also provide us with a legitimate reason to use the phrase “it’s an Am’s race” without having to apologise profusely for our lame dad jokes.
@robdylan (Comment 12) : you know what they say about assumptions….
@robdylan (Comment 39) : 😀 At least that way I would not have to fight with you over Am as your true love child would be in the team. I still like Culling Song’s idea of an Am/Am centre combination. 😉
@Dancing Bear (Comment 43) : If Am played all the positions on the team, would Blades still mess up his name after a few beers?
😆 😈
@Dancing Bear (Comment 44) : You’ve got to give him credit: There is NOTHING that Blades can’t mess up after a few beers…
@Dancing Bear (Comment 44) : Lukhanyo…. All I’m saying
@pastorshark (Comment 45) : Whiskey isn’t it? Sure I heard a few rocks hit the walls of the tumbler a couple times while he’s at it.
So by when can we reasonably expect a team sheet anouncement?
@coolfusion (Comment 48) : for what?
Maybe we get a SR broader training squad announcement soon, or a unofficial one like last year from the photographers or people attending open pre season training, but no team sheet
@robdylan (Comment 10) : YAY! Good to have Lwazi confirmed to be in the mix. Our outside backs are rich in options, and I sincerely hope we can learn “squad” this season and keep players fresh and interested with rotation and management.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 36) : Esterhuizen will also have Muir to coach him, Andre Esterhuizen and Am is a done deal for me. Looking forward to seeing how they go this season with a few new tricks in the playbook…
@Richard (Comment 51) : could not agree more
hate it when we suffer through inconsistent years with young players only to see them leave in their prime for europe, eg: chadwick, marcel, and now it seems juan schoeman may be leaving us just as his finds consistency
Mvovo is a Ace fullback, we cant lose him now
@Richard (Comment 52) : @revolverocelot (Comment 53) : I’m most excited to see what AE has learned from his time with Spencer as he’s pretty much got everything a 12 needs except for the distribution. Plus our defense is real strong with him there and now with RDP Jr on his inside not a whole lot of teams would fancy breaking through that channel with brute force.
@robdylan (Comment 49) : For SR season. Something that puts to bed speculation about guys like Ben 10 etc. Or do they only announce at the official start of SR?
@revolverocelot (Comment 50) : Surely the sanzar guys have a cut off date by which you must make your final submission? I’m not expecting it to be right now but by when do you say this is it bar injury or special reasons for change.
@robdylan (Comment 49) : Welcome to our sharks supporters facebook page young man
@robdylan (Comment 46) : Luk…….all I’m saying…
@pastorshark (Comment 45) : @robdylan (Comment 46) : @Quintin (Comment 47) : Good ole Blades….yeah, not sure if it is whisky or beer, but either way, his pronunciation gets worse as the match progresses 😆 He reminds me of an old baseball commentator here in the US named Mike Shannon, he would start the game by betting a beer on most every play, and by the end of the game he was betting a case of Budweiser on every play 😆 Beginning of the game “I bet you a beer he strikes out on the next pitch” at the end of the game “I bet a cashe of cold froshty budweishersh that he shtrikesh out on the nexsht pitchsh!!!”
@Quintin (Comment 54) : If our back line consist of those two in the defensive line we should the opposition trying other than bashing it up against us…think we will see the chip and chase and the up & unders being used against our defence by most teams…the bounce of the old rugby ball will be crucial this year around! And its our turn for it to bounce our way 😉
So last nights Kings Cheetahs match was Mapimpi’s last, today he packs to move to the Sharks
@Quintin (Comment 54) : Absolutely agreed, our backline will be a big one this season, I am excited! Yeah you will definitely think twice taking crash ball between 10/12 axis. Am is a good defender as well, and Lwazi at Fullback as last line of defence makes me feel good about things. (I would pick Lwazi for FB) our wingers are capable defenders all, and Am, well he is just pure class.
@sharks_lover (Comment 61) : Nope, this coming weekend’s fixture in Bloem is his last match, as far as I know.
@KingCheetah (Comment 63) : ja – I got that wrong in the article. I’ll correct it
@sharks_lover (Comment 57) : Sorry. That experiment lasted about 4 hours then I left again.
I still believe a good or great boot is a must have on a fullback. Which is why I think Mvovo will always come up short as a fb. Esterhuizen on the other hand can kick and has enough speed. I would keep mvovo as sub for wings and maybe fb. But I would start Schreuder Rob jnr Am Ward van Wyk Mapimpi Esterhuizen at fullback. Nkosi should learn to play center as well so he and mvovo can cover the backline bench with Wright. Then rotate every 3rd game if possible.
@coolfusion (Comment 66) : Now why would you want one of the most promising young wingers to play centre? van Wyk already has experience of playing centre. In addition, with Dessel, Marius Louw, Blewitt, Stephan J v R (joined from Cheetahs) and Am, you already have enough centre cover, if you want to play AE at FB
I was hoping that Mafuma would grace the Cheetahs jersey, but he has gone the sevens route. Our wing cupboard is bare I am afraid.
@KingCheetah (Comment 67) : who is Stephan J v R?
@robdylan (Comment 68) : Sorry, my bad! It was to Griquas he has gone.
@KingCheetah (Comment 69) : ok no worries. I was just quite surprised because I hadn’t heard of this move at all and it also doesn’t make any sense for the Sharks to pick up more centres.
@KingCheetah (Comment 67) : I think it would ensure great rotation and ensure that everyone gets airtime. The hardest thing will be to keep these awesome backliners occupied and happy.
@KingCheetah (Comment 67) : Of course not play center as his primary. Just an expansion of his skillset. With his speed and handling and size he could make a great 13 in addition to wing.
@coolfusion (Comment 73) : Fair enough.