Cameron Wright gets a rare start for the Sharks. Hopefully he can convince Rob Sr to afford him a few more over the remainder of the season. Bosch moves to 10 with Fassi taking the 15 jersey. Ruan Botha and Akker will be back in action from the bench. Beast captains the team with Schreuder on the bench.
Am and Mapimpi should add a bit of guile and finishing to the backline. A loose trio of Van der Walt and the Dup twins get their first start, although I do think the Sharks will miss the speed that Stringer adds to combination.
15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Philip van der Walt, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Tendai Mtawarira (C).
Subs: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Ruan Botha, 20 Jacques Vermeulen, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Robert du Preez, 23 Marius Louw.
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Hope Paul isnt injured again we need him at 4. I would have played Mvovo at 15 Fassi hasn’t been at his best.
On the other hand old bok Stringer brings more than just speed. He adds momentum and go forward which Ginger lately doesn’t. Always nice to work behind a forward mobile pack and cycling on the move. Ginger likes straight lines and dead stop walls.
Is Stringer injured? I’ve been very impressed with him and Jacques Vermeulen this season, where Ginger seems to be annoyed and not at his best.
Stringer plays like a Siya Kolisi clone and Vermeulen gets through a ton of donkey work.
Well the changes to 9 & 10 come as a total surprise. Didn’t think coach Rob would change both in a single game
@Byron Wright (Comment 1) : Also have to agree with Mvovo at 15. Fassi is talented but still young and needs to be eased in.
Mvovo wasn’t the same after taking the knock to the head last week. Maybe slightly concussed and rested this week. Luke Stringer should be starting at 6 unless he is injured. Adds a different dimension to the loose trio and does a lot of the donkey work.
Rob du Preez has been average his last few games. His kicking has been average and his defense terrible. He also doesn’t add much on attack. It’s a pity as I thought he might be a great fly half
@sudhir (Comment 6) : I would not attribute donkey work to him. To me he is an intelligent runner with a very good work rate and gets to the ball much quicker than Ginger who is satisfied with the donkey stuff straight hard carries and the occasional ruck inspection if he gets there in time. I hope he finds form again soon though….
@josefgremlin (Comment 3) : Nope just dropped out to make space.
@coolfusion (Comment 9) : That’s disappointing. I rate Philip van der Walt, but he hasn’t done enough, in my view, to earn a starting place in the team. Also something we don’t talk about enough in SA, and with respect to the twins and the ginger, we’re short of intelligence in that back row.
I do rate Stringer though. He’s been playing a looser role at 6 where he’s free to make decisions and go where he is needed; much like Siya Kolisi or Scott Higinbotham play. He’s smart, fast and has a real future in this game.
@josefgremlin (Comment 10) : Agree
@coolfusion (Comment 11) : Although it must be said Dan has been carrying more than his share. Hope we can hang on to the twins but unlikely.
@coolfusion (Comment 8) : I didn’t mean donkey work in the negative connotation. Luke Stringer is always competing at rucks, tackling and linking as a support runner with the backs. High work rate is what I meant. Agree with you on the rest.
@jakkalas (Comment 7) : wondering now how much of Rob jnrs substandard play is down to him spending the time after the cc playing in England instead of on a beach somewhere catching some sun and resting his body and mind and there after participating in pre season with the sharks?
@sudhir (Comment 13) : No worries I thought as much…
And fir this still in denial that sharks have both mental and management issues let’s wait and see how many experienced people need to come out and confirm before anyone pays attention. https://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/super-rugby/natal-legend-tony-watson-pens-open-letter-sharks-in-free-fall-21920449
@coolfusion (Comment 16) : Even if by some luck they manage to win one this weekend. I refuse to be optimistic again till we can do it for 3 matches in a row.
@coolfusion (Comment 16) : He’s not wrong…….
@coolfusion (Comment 16) : @jdolivier (Comment 18) : he is actually spot on and could even go further with the lack of information shared with supporters! At times it almost seems as it’s a bother for the Sharks to share information like injury updates with supporters. To me it seems as if they’re only interested in sharing photos and information of “new business partnerships” to “advertise” products. Don’t get me wrong I know those “partnerships” bring in much needed money for the Sharks but balance is needed!
@revolverocelot (Comment 14) : Exactly
@coolfusion (Comment 16) : Nice letter by Tony. A number of issues that we as supporters are also very concerned about.
I would just love to know how long is left on Du Preez’s contract? I thought this was his final year but Province Fan, who is usually correct, says he has a year left after this one.
anyone know where I can find the teams sheets for the cheetahs vs sharks 15 Super sport rugby challenge (SR reserve league basically), as per usual the official website (not this one, this is the supporters site) doesn’t have any mention of it
@coolfusion (Comment 16) : Et tu Tony, put the dagger in Teich’s back, thrust up and twist – Seems like Tony is angling for a spot on the board, maybe he has CEO aspirations.
One gem from this is that Rob du Preez’s defence at 10 is being targeted by the opposition, and that the answer to this is that Curwin should play there – as if he is not going to be targeted and will be defensively more effective.
The really good news is that it seems as if Brian van Zyl is back at the Sharks in some capacity or other. That one must be putting some noses out but he should never have been shafted in the first place.
@revolverocelot (Comment 22) : Seriously frustrating.
Cell C Sharks XV
Gugu Lelani
Cullen Collopy
Khutha Mchunu (VC)
Dylan Weideman
Andrew Evans
Adam Mountfort
Wian Vosloo
Kwanda Dimaza
Grant Williams
Murray Koster
Leolin Zas
Jeremy Ward (Capt)
DJ Falconer
Sicelo Tole
Rhyno Smith
Replacements
Nthutuko Thembu
Roger Zondi
MB Lusaseni
Vian Fourie
Zee Makabela
Inny Radebe
Charles Mayeza
Inny Radebe is back at the Sharks?
@NamShark4Life (Comment 25) : Inny back at the Sharks, I seem to remember him remember him leaving under a bit of a cloud.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 26) : Ok, not really a cloud, just that he wanted an early release so that he could pursue other options with Curwin, Rob jnr and Ben 10 at the Sharks hampering his progress.
@NamShark4Life (Comment 25) : Excuse my manners – thank you for the team sheet.
@jdolivier (Comment 18) : @JD (Comment 19) : My thoughts exactly
they do some good stuff at times (for example the dancing vids during the currie cup, we are the only sa team with a kiss cam to the best of my knowledge) with social media but the basics are lacking in terms of engaging with their supporters, when a guy disappears we have no idea if his hurt, rested or dropped, I don’t need indepth detail about what injury it is I dont even need a exact time frame, is it one person updating the official website and running all the social media platforms? take on some unpaid interns, if i lived in durbs while I was in varsity or high school I would have gladly interned for free or access to the games etc, but alas i don’t have time for that now
I do see that they have posted the team on the official site now though
@NamShark4Life (Comment 25) : none the less thank you, this is a very interesting read, will summarize some thoughts about it a bit later
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 26) : Kinda, but he really wanted to play, then he failed the med at the lions who where keen on his skill set from what I’ve been told but they have a strict protocal on signing players with serious existing injuries
https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/radebe-ready-to-find-a-new-home-20180110-3
lots of the Sharks u19 CC Champs from last year
15 Thaakir Abrahams, 14 Marnus Potgieter, 13 Jay Cee Nel, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Caleb Dingaan, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Francke Horn (co-c), 7 Phendulani Buthelezi (co-c), 6 Dylan Richardson, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 JJ van der Mescht, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Fezokuhle Mbatha, 1 Nkosikhona Masuku.
Subs: 16 Dameon Venter, 17 Thabiso Mdletshe, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Jaco Labuschagne, 21 Sibusiso Sangweni, 22 Andrew Kota, 23 Sanele Nohamba.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 26) : He left to lions didn’t get officially signed was injured and they changed their minds…
Surprised not to see JJ an der Mescht in that team
@Bokhoring (Comment 32) : He is away with the Bok under 20’s.
@coolfusion (Comment 31) : Thats right, good of the Sharks taking him back after he asked for the early release.
@Bokhoring (Comment 32) : JJ is in jr boks
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 34) : Ja look he’s young frustrated so he made a rash decision. Nice of the Sharks, you’re right. But then we do love helping out lits of charity cases, retirees lost souls…so why not?
@coolfusion (Comment 35) : Of course – with Pepsi as well
@Bokhoring (Comment 37) : And Fez Mbatha.
So mo’unga definitely one of the three all black flyhalves after this morning.
They should just hand crusaders the cup now and let us get on with rwc and cc. They’re about the only team who look like they belong at this level.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 34) : @coolfusion (Comment 36) : after his unsuccessful attempt to join the Lions he played club rugby. this year he’s playing for College Rovers in Durban and as a result of some decent performances he got selected again. Don’t think he’s on a Sharks contact (yet).
@JD (Comment 41) : Maybe not on a contract but at least on their radar. Who knows?
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 42) : I must say I am not sure about his ability. He hasn’t had opportunities at higher levels and if he was somewhat special why wasn’t there more if a fight for him? I’m sure WP or Cheetahs would have spoken up if he did have a great deal of promise. Maybe I’m wrong.
@coolfusion (Comment 40) : Bahhh humbug, Sharks had better points difference against Lions at their homeground. Sharks to take the final in Christchurch. 😆 😈
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 44) : Yeah, but that game clearly was not played by the Sharks, but by some alien Gauteng life forms that occupied their bodies for 90 minutes. That is the only sane way I can explain what we saw on that day.
You know guys.. we had some of our best attack play when Garth April played 10 for us. Wasn’t liked by Rob snr… Could it be that he saw him as competition for his son?
@GreatSharksays (Comment 46) : We actually executed our best attack in probably 5 years with Junior at 10. April could in one game do two brilliant things followed by at least as many atrocious plays.
I think you seeing too many conspiracies at the Sharks – Junior is awful at the moment because the Sharks management allowed him to play in the UK in the off season after he played pretty much every minute of every game last year. Even Dan Carter would suck eggs after such a schedule.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 44) : I know huh? Makes you wonder if the players at the sharks were sending a coded message to the fans. We can do it we choose not to. Maybe it’s a silent protest saying well do it for a stalwart comrade but not for this regime…..
@Bokhoring (Comment 45) : I’m sticking to my earthbound conspiracy theory…
@coolfusion (Comment 49) : Now if we can find one to involve the government we would have the complete set.
I think this article affirms what most of us feel. https://www.iol.co.za/sport/opinion/why-sharks-will-beat-waratahs-in-sydney-21984577
@Bokhoring (Comment 47) : Also not sure that in troubled times you would want someone who can’t be bothered to commit to practice to help lift the game and morale.
Tahs on the board 3-0
So the first 6 is an improvement, ref is out to nail the breakdown hard, hope we can adapt.
Dan played off the ball in front of the linesman …. #wtf
So 14 waratahs knocks on into gingers hands and he gives them the scrum, wow not a good reffing display thus far
That must be a yellow
Dan dup under the sticks for a try
@jdolivier (Comment 56) : Saw that too…
7-3 sharks
Good patience, better hands and rock solid defense, might just be our one in 4 good games
Horrible performance by Cameron so far! Let’s hope he settles down now.
Only saw the ball lost in contact once in 20 mins. Already a positive.
Ozzie’s collapse every scrum
Ozzie player on his knees ref!!!!!!
These ozzy commentators are even more one eyed than Joel the dick stransky
Just some patience boys. Two players miss the same pass?
Both fassi and Bosch have learned to tackle
Caught napping on the blindsided. Tahs score a try. 10 -7 Tahs lead
@jdolivier (Comment 68) : riv Dupree has just set the bar so low recently
@byron (Comment 70) : Fassi has made 3 monster tackles for his small frame, but yes pedophile mustache hasn’t really been the norm on defence
I’m yet to see a waratahs player join a ruck from the gates every ruck miles from the side
Well first half is a definite improvement from the last two games. We butchered 3 opportunities if they stick in the 2nd, this might just be a win
Cam is really disappointing he looks like a Louis clone today
So that forward pass is spotted, we are not being done in be the reffing squad, they are just kak
How is that yellow
Players are held every ruck …
Always thought that retaliation bore the offense
That was a long deliberation. Halloway hits Thomas in the face in front if the camera.
My word…Bosch is kicking so poorly in this second half…it’s cost us the lead…
Run it. Don’t kick
@pastorshark (Comment 80) : Yup. Why I said we should run it that’s 3 now is it?
What a horrible crowd, the booing is worse than Newlands
Waratahs down to 13…come on, boys! Now!!!
Now you put Schreuder on for Cam? What are you doing Rob?
@pastorshark (Comment 80) : That booing is really uncalled for, he is under immense pressure to retain the jersey
How did Esterhuizen not get that down…sigh…
It is grounded…try time!
Yes please…
I see some fight in these boys. Get Ruan on for Hyron we can use muscle now.
I hope Schreuder doesn’t slow us down. And keep Rob on the bench please.
Geez that’s a bonus penalty for waratahs
Ref being petty now
@coolfusion (Comment 93) : Very
@jdolivier (Comment 74) : the guy had played 15 minutes off the bench for like a year….if he could only have a chance to settle in at the position!
@Julesgr8ter (Comment 95) : And rdp snr brain farts that
What the hell was that penalty for?!
Hes not pinned… He has dived over and not rolled
Sharks must not give an inch at breakdowns. They have to commit more men which they don’t have.
Rdp cum dumpster jnr fucks up on his first chance. Thanks snr what a brilliant substitute
Great defence by beale denies mapimpi
Forward!!!!!
Tackles back and passed to player at ruck wtf ref
For pete’s bloody sake, Sharks!!
What about that meter forward pass right in front of the ref
Chucking tries like that is just the biggest cost to us all season long…
Sigh!
like a Bosch……nice kick Curwin!
Great kick Bosch…
20-10…12 minutes to go…
Good tighthead scrum. Majola must square his shoulder more though.
Why go for posts 9 minutes dominating the entire half, go for tries
@jdolivier (Comment 111) : Well there’s a buffer now and we probably won’t make bonus in this time left.
Time for the ref to start playing for his team now.
About the only thing the ref not doing for them is carrying the ball.
@coolfusion (Comment 114) : Well he is running obstruction for them
Missed a neckroll in majola
Great defence Nkosi
@byron (Comment 117) : 2 millimeters lower and he was gone
Nice! Penalty
@jdolivier (Comment 118) : I dont think he even knew he knocked it
@jdolivier (Comment 118) : He couldn’t decide if wanted ball or man. Still ended well for him.
Another forward
Geez that’s squeue
Well it’s too late for the ref to win now. We could have won better, but the game is way better than the last two. Really hope they can build this. Rob surely must pick this starting side again.
Ref gave the wahs that last try
Well the ref deserves his Consolation try
Missed! Some justice…
@jdolivier (Comment 126) : You have to give it to the ref he was a great replacement for Halloway…
@coolfusion (Comment 124) : Rob jnr should just ask for early release, Bosch and fassi did very well against a dangerous backline. Our wingers were also on fire. Bad decision making cost us 3 tries unfortunately
@coolfusion (Comment 128) : Motm performance from him in the 2nd half
Well done, boys. Not perfect but much better. That was a good win!
@pastorshark (Comment 131) : Maybe Beast should be captain?
@coolfusion (Comment 132) : Seconded
@coolfusion (Comment 132) : NO! You forget his last stint
@coolfusion (Comment 128) : The ref was waratahs motm
@byron (Comment 134) : Maybe his on field manner with the ref had some problems. But the guys want to play for him. Also Schreuder may not be coping.
@coolfusion (Comment 136) : Beast is respected, hence has better interaction with refs, Louis tends to react emotionally and we never get the rub of the green after that
@byron (Comment 135) : Damn straight
@coolfusion (Comment 127) : I enjoyed the commitment by the chasers, putting pressure on Foley after the game is won. Says a lot about the team’s character and intention.
@Rienke36 (Comment 139) : Also the work at breakdowns second half tackling them back and using leg drives to win back a metre or so. If every inch is valuable to them they fight harder to keep it. Yes on the whole I think they did much better. But I won’t have any comfort till I see them able to repeat and ultimately perfect. One thing I must say is that this starting squad must be allowed to return and given a chance to settle. I would like to see Stringer and Kerron be part of the matchday and Botha to come back in.
Kerron is apparently a good flanker too. I would like to see how he goes there sometime just for interest sake.
Good result. Much better defensive effort. JLDP made a huge difference able to make metres on the tight and putting in offensive tackles.
Good to see Fassi and Bosch putting in the tackles.
Same team should start next week. Need to cut down on giving the ball away just before the tryline.
@coolfusion (Comment 141) : He should start at hooker
@coolfusion (Comment 141) : He is definitely going to be better than akker and Marx in the next 2 or 3 seasons. He should remain at hooker.
Bulls VS stormers is really showing how RSA sides should attack. Defence on both sides is dodgy though
When is Burden ready for duty?
Well done on the win guys. Let’s take the confidence built today and hand the Crusaders their 1st home loss on Friday.
@jdolivier (Comment 144) : Already better than Akker in his primary duties, although Akker is still more difficult to stop with ball in hand
@sudhir (Comment 147) : Hear hear.
@Bokhoring (Comment 148) : Ja but he will put on some more muscle in the next year or two. But he runs very nicely. Always good to have very mobile hooker. His technique can not be faulted. And such a worker.
Well one thing is achingly clear, we play better away from KP, maybe finish the season off playing at Moses Mabida
Eish…. The silence on this site after a good game. It makes me nauseous.
@Rienke36 (Comment 152) : ebbs and flows
Tough game up next Friday morning at 9:45
SR very unpredictable this year
Our reserve team came up short against the Cheetahs reserve team in bloem after a strong start
@Rienke36 (Comment 152) : We can’t get too excited. We need to see if they can do it again for three games. The argument was never whether they could play well. It’s whether they could do it consistently.
@jdolivier (Comment 151) : Some recon there’s issues with kicking at that stadium? Whatever it is, needs to be sorted as that is the future I agree. The sooner the better.
Good win by the boys. Great intesity. Hyron Andrews played very well and leads the lineout well. Akker made a good impact but his basics are not as good as van vuuren. Bosch had a good game. Dont know what i would try against the crusaders. Rush hard and try to be pysical but to be honest they a class above everyone at the moment. Cam needs to play regularly because his decision making remains poor and the only way it will improve is to play.
@Byron Wright (Comment 156) : The only game that has delivered good results for us so far is a strong and fast attack quick cycle and let the backline make the metres not the forwards so much. We will get slowed down and shut down if we try a forwards only push. Like you said Crusaders are class they will see that crashball and 1 St channel game and effectively close it down. We need to work on ball retention too many balls still being lost in contact a good side will exploit that. We must also ensure a tight and disciplined set piece. Apart from that patience good decisions (not taking too much time on decisions either) a good communication and understanding of the agreed tactics and alternatives.
The win against the Waratahs is a very much needed one, but playing Friday like we played yesterday will result in another loss. To have any chance to beat the Crusaders at home the players will cut poor decisions and mistakes to the level displayed against the Lions.
Also the scrum will have to improve dramatically – we have not managed to put together dominant scrums against teams who are not renowned for scrumming. Lineout with Kerron and Hyron is actually working pretty well.
@Byron Wright (Comment 156) : van Heerden also worked hard with 18 completed tackles. JL had an absolute monster! 17 tackles (none missed), good caries (more than 5m per carry on average) and he offloaded very well. It did look like he had some discomfort with his ankle though, hope it isn’t serious. PvdW was like OMO, cleaning the ruks like nobody’s business and also putting in 11 tackles (also 100% completion). I was also impressed by the defence the wings put in, they held on by hook or by crook. Cam didn’t have the best game, but I agree with a previous comment, give the guy a break! He’ll get his rhythm back with time on the field. It actually goes for all the players coming into the team after a long lay-off, either selection or injury. These guys aren’t robots. Professionals, yes. But human after all. The best way to regain for is a little faith and time on the track.
@coolfusion (Comment 154) : we’re top of the SA log at the moment. It isn’t all doom and gloom.
@Byron Wright (Comment 156) : Unfortunately Hyron has not and probably will not ever compete in a ruck. RG Snyman, Eben, Ruan Botha, Koeggies all examples of forwards who do it all. I agree with you that he is good at line out time and always looking to carry in open space. Against a team like the crusaders, each man has to run like a wing, pass like a scrumhalf, tackle like a flank and steal the ball like a government employee
@Rienke36 (Comment 160) : No one is implying any gloom. Bulls we’re top also. This changes weekly not really a big or lasting accomplishment in our pool at the moment. I’ll reserve my applause till I see some consistent form. We did also win against an error ridden 14 man team. We need to see more before we break out the champagne.
@jdolivier (Comment 161) : Hyron is putting in the tackles though – second in total after Dan. He is also the player after Dan that racked up second most playing minutes = but still at a respectable tackle completed every 10.2 minutes
Great game by the twins, probably first time they have played together both fit for a long long time.
Give Jean Luc another couple games to hit peak match sharpness and there’ll be very few teams to match them.
Its worth noting that Waratahs 7 was Michael Folley ,Wallabies captain one of best 7’s in world and Jean Luc with his first game back completely out played him.Not my words but the Parochial and biased Aussie commentators words.
Really pleased with Botha’s performance and am looking forward to Ward’s return.
Cam got better as game went on and must start instead of the camel .
@The hound (Comment 164) : Agree 100% about JLDP – very impressive first start of the season, and also on Cam needing more game time.
Just one correction – Michael Hooper plays 7 which for the rest of the world is the open side flank, i.e. you would have to compare his with Philip – not Jean-Luc
The second team lost to the cheetahs second team after a fast start from us from match reports, I did no see any SSRC games broadcast
Lets look at who actually played
Cell C Sharks XV
Gugu Lelani ??
Cullen Collopy ??
Khutha Mchunu (VC) has had a few currie cup games, very mobile, still learning the dark art of scrumming at 21
Dylan Weideman ??
Andrew Evans promising signs at 22 years of age
Adam Mountfort ??
Wian Vosloo played for us at all levels in multiple forward positions, amazingly still only 24
Kwanda Dimaza burst on the scene last year for the sharks SSRC team, 22 years old, very tall at 195cm, but light at just 95kgs, looks thin too but fast on his feet, athletic and surprisingly willing to mix it up and take contact and tackle dispite slight frame, will need to bulk up none the less
Grant Williams No intro needed, class act
Murray Koster ??
Leolin Zas (give it Zas, quality option to have in reserve for the SR team)
Jeremy Ward (Capt) No intro needed Class act
DJ Falconer ??
Sicelo Tole ??
Rhyno Smith the personification of class
Replacements
Nthutuko Thembu??
Roger Zondi??
MB Lusaseni (oh wow this is one that made me sit you, I loved this guys game at the lions, then they announce that he was leaving but not why or where and when I contacted the lions Facebook page they said that he had left the game all together to go into the craft beer arena, and his with us, hope he still has it)
Vian Fourie ??
Zee Makabela (former youth team product back from the cheetahs, victim of the glut of quality scrummies in SA)
Inny Radebe No intro need, welcome back
Charles Mayeza (back from Boland, former squad player, very quiet got going for us)
So this is what awaits after our SR team
Ward is about done with suspension isn’t he? Be nice to get him back at some point. Has anyone seen any injury reports? Thomas was holding onto his face for a while after that dirty play by Halloway. Beast also limping a bit. Haven’t seen any bad news regarding injury, but then again this is the sharks communication m.o. namely…none.
@coolfusion (Comment 157) : I think the lions forwards are so weak that it enabled us to play at the speed we did. I agree though that one off runners are not going to achieve anything. I do think though that we must be prepared to win the game with very little possession and rely on our D and kicking sort of how the boks beat the all blacks. As you say the error rate needs to drop
@Byron Wright (Comment 168) : I think you need to attack at max speed when attack is on, but be aware to switch to defensive mode immediately if someone turns over the ball. But we need to vary the game plan with either judicious contestable kicks or kicks that find grass.
@Bokhoring (Comment 169) : Or have Jake White coach….
But can you guys imagine what it would do to the team if they actually beat the crusaders at home?
@coolfusion (Comment 171) : We would almost certainly then take the rest of the season off mentally.
@coolfusion (Comment 167) : Ward captained the team on Saturday, so I would assume his suspension is over already
@Byron Wright (Comment 172) : Don’t joke….that might just happen…
@coolfusion (Comment 174) : I would almost be willing to bet my left nut that won’t happen…would have resulted in some pain in 2014…but this year…just don’t see the Crusaders having an off day at home.
@SeanJeff (Comment 175) : And while we’re betting. I have sneaky that we will see Schreuder and Rob Jnr starting again.
@coolfusion (Comment 176) : In fact I’m willing to bet your other nut on it…
@coolfusion (Comment 177) : Always easier when it’s someone else’s nut
@Bokhoring (Comment 178) : What I want to know is where do you cash these damn things in? Who buys them?
@coolfusion (Comment 179) : I can only guess, but I would assume with a large squirrel called Cyril
@coolfusion (Comment 176) : Na I think we going to see Bosch again he wouldn’t put his boy back in a game we are likely to lose. Rob will be back next week against the chiefs.
I also expect him to rest other key players this week and target the chiefs game with Rob at 10.
@Byron Wright (Comment 181) : Rob Sr has an uncanny faith in Louis Schreuder and Rob Jr.
@Bokhoring (Comment 182) : Yes, that’s my take as well. Guess we’ll know on Thursday.
Nice win Sharks, first win over the Tahs in Aussie since 2000, it showed character and a backbone for a team that has been under siege lately.
@Rienke36 (Comment 152) : You should be here when we lose, many seemingly take more pleasure in that than when we win.
@SeanJeff (Comment 175) : @coolfusion (Comment 177) : Gents, u don’t have to lose two many body parts….Team against Crusaders
Cell C Sharks
15. Aphelele Fassi
14. Sbu Nkosi
13. Lukhanyo Am
12. Andre Esterhuizen
11. Makazole Mapimpi
10. Curwin Bosch
9. Louis Schreuder (c)
8. Daniel du Preez
7. Jean-Luc du Preez
6. Philip van der Walt
5. Ruan Botha
4. Ruben van Heerden
3. Coenie Oosthuizen
2. Kerron van Vuuren
1. Thomas du Toit
Replacements
16. Akker van der Merwe
17. Mzamo Majola
18. John-Hubert Meyer
19. Hyron Andrews
20. Jacques Vermeulen
21. Cameron Wright
22. Robert du Preez
23. Marius Louw
@Julesgr8ter (Comment 186) : Mostly agree with your side but I would also change louw at 12 for Andre, Cam to get another start, Philip to 8 and Vermuelen to start With Stringer on the bench.
That is still a good side and we are keeping Andre, Dan, Hyron, Beast fresh. We may also want to give the warthog at least 30
Beast out of the tour with suspected MCL tear. Bad news when you consider that we have lost schoeman as well.
@Byron Wright (Comment 188) : So now? Tommy to cover loose and include Johnny Meyer on the list? If he’s not injured. I don’t trust Majola for NZ he can be Tommie’s understudy.
Just an fyi. Halloway got 3 weeks ban for hitting Thomas in the face with his elbow on Saturday.
Yip Thomas to 1 and johhny on the bench. They flying Mchunu out who looks promising but I thought he was a TH? Majola I am not convinced about but I suppose he is third choice and we cant expect much until he gets enough experience and game time.
I guess another injury at LH sees Coenie covering LH and Johnny Starting at TH
@Byron Wright (Comment 191) : Wasn’t he going to jr boks?
@coolfusion (Comment 192) : Nope sorry I’m misinformed. Well I think if we can get away with minimal or no injury and Beast is not too serious we can cope for now?