Andre Esterhuizen and Thomas du Toit have been called up to start against a desperate Bulls team who may face relegation if they loose by more than 7 points. Curwin Bosch is still unavailable so Boeta Chamberlain gets another chance after a very impressive Currie Cup debut.
New Shark Andisa Ntsila have been selected as loose forward replacement.
- Thomas du Toit
- Kerron van Vuuren
- Coenie Oosthuizen
- Ruben van Heerden
- Hyron Andrews
- Phepsi Buthelezi
- Jacques Vermeulen
- Tera Mtembu (c)
- Sanele Nohamba
- Boeta Chamberlain
- Lwazi Mvovo
- Andre Esterhuizen
- Jeremy Ward (c)
- Kobus van Wyk
- Aphelele Fassi
- Dylan Richardson
- Mzamo Majola
- John-Hubert Meyer
- Gideon Koegelenberg
- Andisa Ntsila
- Cameron Wright
- Rhyno Smith
- JP Pietersen
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15 Divan Rossouw, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Dylan Sage, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Ivan van Zyl (captain), 8 Tim Agaba, 7 Wian Vosloo, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Lizo Gqoboka
Substitutes: 16 Corne Els, 17 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Jean Droste, 20 Ruan Steenkamp, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Vaughen Isaacs, 23 Stedman Gans
That looks to be a pretty good Bulls side…how have they lost so much this season?!
@pastorshark (Comment 2) : It is a good side on paper, but like the Sharks in super rugby they just making a lot of mistakes which opposition have taken advantage of
CELL C SHARKS UNDER 21’s
1. James Scott
2. Cullen van der Merwe
3. Hanru Jacobs
4. JJ van der Mescht
5. Emile van Heerden
6. Adam Mountford (c)
7. Jeandre Labuschagne
8. Evan Roos
9. Jaden Hendrikse
10. Rynhardt Jonker
11. Caleb Dingaan
12. Murray Koster
13. Donald Falconer
14. Asanda Kunene
15. Thaakir Abrahams
Replacements
16. Mark Venter
17. Sean Barnes
18. Cleopas Kuniana
19. Dylan Weideman
20. Jacques Ackerman
21. Xavier Swartbooi
22. Le Roux Malan
23. Onke Jiba
Some quality players there, hopeful to see some progress through and gave the super side some fresh impetus next year
I’m gonna stick my neck out and say it’s good to see JP dropped to the bench, maybe we’ll see some better defense and less penalties?
Penalty try there ref!!!
@Original Pierre (Comment 5) : our defence hasn’t been great so far…
And as I say that, the Bulls score their second. Both tries just a bit soft with pretty ordinary defence!
14-6 after 20 minutes…not a great first quarter. Wake up boys…or you’ll be dumped out!
A determined du Toit scores! That was better…
Turned down an easy 3 points there…and scored the 7…good move…
14-13 Bulls after 27 minutes…
72 missed tackles on Speckman!! Come on, man!!
Try saving tackle by Ward there…finally!
But Bulls score…our backline defence is just looking poorly organised! Just rubbish, man…
Sharks defense is abysmal tonight. Everytime the Bulls have the ball they make inroads. Shocking
Sharks hit right back! Vermeulen in. Great work by Fassi…
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 16) : agreed…just looks weak and disorganized…
21-20 after 34 minutes…
Must be yellow… Make that red
Contact with head no arms
Red card surely…
Shocker…
There’s the red card…no choice there…
And Gavin Cowley bloody laughed when it happened! What a doos…
One really good thing about the Sharks…only one penalty conceded…great discipline…
@pastorshark (Comment 24) : and a ban me thinks
Nice try by Sharks after the halftime hooter … Good play by rookie flyhalf
Sharks steal the lineout after the hooter and great play by Chamberlain puts Esterhuizen in…
27-21 to sharks at halftime
One more try and we are through…
@pastorshark (Comment 31) : Can even loose the game by 50 points
Really impressed by Chamberlain
And theres the BP…
That was a beauty
Turning into a game of touch rugby now
Sharks may want to practice sorting out their defense for next week
Richardson on for van Vuuren
Chamberlain’s kicking game is really good – finds grass almost all the time
Thomas dutoit is faster than JP wtf
Ref looking to “even” the game
It’s just a knock-on ref? Wtf
@byron (Comment 40) : JP looks very unfit
@Bokhoring (Comment 43) : I think I’m fitter than JP atm
Sharks have forgotten that they havent won the game yet, and they have a man extra…
Chamberlain you beauty
Jeepers, but Chamberlain is good…
@pastorshark (Comment 47) : Smart player
Ai, but our defence was super kak today!
Fassi MOTM…could just as easily have been van Wyk. It was his best game in a while…
@pastorshark (Comment 50) : Absolutely. Kobus best game in a very long time. Hope he continues to play like this.
@sudhir (Comment 51) : Kobus, nahamba, Pepsi and fassi were amazing. Jp was a waste of space. He didn’t even attempt to do anything
@sudhir (Comment 51) : And chamberlain, young man has a bright future
Chamberlain and Nohamba were very promising, Fassi too obviously. I think the back line as a whole looks ok for next year, particularly as the youngsters will be a year older. Some tough decisions to make at scrum half – as Hendrikse is there as well – Wright, Schreuder, Nohamba and him – you can’t keep them all happy. The pack needs some reinforcements – Vermeulen won’t be there next year will he – and they need go forward. The defence needs work but the attacking slice to harder to coach into players so all looks like it’s hesding the right way. But if they’re going the route of investing in the youngsters, we’ll have to be patient – won’t happen overnight,
I see we have signed Notshe, and Werner Kok from Weepee, hope it was a buy 1 get 1 free…
@morne1 (Comment 55) : if that’s true, and the Venter rumour too – with Ntsila – sounds like we’ve restocked the back row. I haven’t seen enough of some of them to know if those address the ball carrier concern. Kok’s a great ball player and the signings make it look like we’re going to play a faster game but not really sure where that leaves the existing centres (particularly Ward who’s shaping up well)
@JR (Comment 56) : Man, I rate Kok, but I imagine he’ll be away on 7s duty at some point. I think in a pinch he’d be awesome as a flank!
It really is great to see the youngsters step up and to see them get credit from many here. Nohamba is amazing. However all that being said, compliments for Chamberlain seem to be an afterthought. The young man was thrust into the starting position with zero senior rugby experience and has done superbly, he has an old head, doesn’t seem to get flustered, kicks so well out of hand, and his slick hands were the direct cause of two tries last evening. I almost feel safer with him at 10 than Bosch (ducking from the incoming attacks).
@Karl (Comment 57) : Nobody seems to enjoy rugby more than Kok, and he is just a straight up good person and nice guy, and a strong leader. I would take him and find a place for him on the field. By far my favorite 7s player.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 58) : On the Chamberlain issue. I never managed to see him play yet, but any idea where he’s positioned on defense? I noticed against the Cheetahs that Bosch defends in the traditional 9 spot (inside the tram lines) at line outs
@morne1 (Comment 55) : Add Ox Nche to that list… Yesss!
@Dancing Bear (Comment 58) : Best kicking out of hand from any Sharks flyhalf in a long time – seems to find grass almost every time.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 58) : Certainly not an afterthought from me…I am very impressed. We had supper with some friends last night and Chamberlain and Nohamba were the most talked about players…everyone is very impressed…
@morne1 (Comment 55) : I saw it was Ox Nche and Kok ?
@Karl (Comment 61) : So Notshe and Nche? Only Nche mentioned in the articles I’ve read.
I try to teach my children not to indulge in schadenfreude. Province and the Bulls not making the semis is sorely testing my principles through… 😈
@coolfusion (Comment 65) : I’m not sure. Haven’t read any confirmation about Notshe, but Morné reckons it’s confirmed. I have read about Ox
Going to be an interesting selection decision when Bosch is fit as the team has looked good with Chamberlain at 10, he isn’t afraid to take the ball to the line and take a tackle. Sharks seem to be working on their counter attack and scoring off opposition kicking the ball away. We do need to improve our defence and our props collapsing at scrum time way too often for my liking.
I don’t see us progressing further than this but I will still consider this currie cup season to have been a success. We have exposed the following youngsters Buthelezi,Nohamaba Chamberlain as well as Richardson and Roos who have had a taste and Johnnie has played decent minutes.
I think Cam Wright was given a shot and didn’t really take it so he will most likely move on. We still short a couple guys but we have at least bought in Ntshila.
We have played a nice brand of rugby and we seem to be heading in the right direction Ox will be a good buy although I would have tried to see if Beast couldn’t give us a season more. We need a top lock to go with Ruben. Hyron is an excellent line out forward but we so light from 5-8 it scares me.
@Byron Wright (Comment 69) : Hyron Andrews has been a disappointment for me. There was a stage where every lineout he would go up and compete and really disrupt opposition. But towards end of Super Rugby and this CC he has hardly competed on opposition ball which therefore means he becomes very ineffective as he isn’t a good ball carrier and doesn’t make big offense hits on defence. Id rather see Van Heerdan and Koelenberg partner up with Van Der Mescht on the bench.
@Karl (Comment 67) : Me too only see Ox and Werner
@coolfusion (Comment 71) : I do see that he van dyk and kriel are leaving stormers but no news where to.
TH is a concern for Super Rugby. Thomas will be first choice but the back up is a concern as Meyer has not been good in the CC and Coenie will be in England. Hanro Jacobs is similar to Coenie style of play but is still very young. That leaves only Mchunu as a viable alternative. Maybe need to loan someone from Griquas or Plumas.
Also need to give Muller Du Plessis a run at Fullback or wing especially with Ryno leaving.
Ox is a good addition, I have been hoping for the last 2 years that we can get him from the cheetahs. Does anyone know which position Thomas will play next year? I know he played TH this year behind Coenie, but he was selected at LH for the boks and played there again for us over the weekend. He needs to pick a position and stick to it!
@coolfusion (Comment 71) : There was speculation about a week ago regarding Notshe, but I’m not sure what’s come of that
@SheldonK (Comment 70) : he competed very well in the last game…
@pastorshark (Comment 77) : and against the Lions as well? At the moment, he reminds me of Albert vd Bergh
@HeinF (Comment 75) :
You do understand that it was the coached who moved Thomas from loosehead to tighthead…………if he said no they would probably not have chosen to play.
Having said that it has been detrimental to his career, much like what happened to Coenie.
@Loosehead (Comment 79) : Yes, I know. Although I am not sure if it was our coach or the coaches at the Boks, or a combined effort! Which why I hope he can stick to a position next year, he deserves better than to be moved around like this
I know there is a CC semi final but looking ahead to Super rugby next year id actually be interested to see what Everitt could do with this lineup as he does seem to promote a ball in hand approach with players given freedom to make decisions.
1. DuToit 2. Van Vuuren 3. Oosthuizen 4. Van Heerden 5. Koegelenberg 6. Ntsila 7. Andrews 8. Buthelezi 9. Schreuder 10. Bosch 11. Mapimpi 12. Esterhuizen 13. Am 14. Nkosi 15. Fassi
Bench: Beast, Richardson, Meyer,Van Der Mescht, Vermuelen , Nohamba, Chamberlain, Ward
@SheldonK (Comment 81) : Isn’t Coenie leaving as after CC? If you are looking to spread the ball, I might rather consider playing Ward at 12.
@SheldonK (Comment 81) : I’m pretty sure both Coenie and Jacques Vermeulen are leaving at the end of the Currie Cup. There is/was also some uncertainty regarding Schreuder, but whether he stays or goes is immaterial; I’d rather we take our chances with Nohamba if we want to play a fast-paced game.
@HeinF (Comment 82) : @Culling Song (Comment 83) : Oh yes of course Coenie is going, the other have left already so I forgot. so DuToit possibly to tighthead with the possibility of Nche being signed pointing to that. Would be tough to leave Esterhuizen out, that’s if he stays. Although Ward and Am would be interesting.
@SheldonK (Comment 84) : I still stand by my contention that an Am/Ward combo would work best as Am = 12, Ward = 13.
@Culling Song (Comment 85) : They could comfortably interchange as well
@SheldonK (Comment 81) : back row looks unbalanced? Tyler Paul when fit at 7, Andrews off the bench as old school impact sub. Like Andrews a lot as a player but think Tyler Paul is hugely under-rated.
I’d also love to see them run with the kids at scrum half. Won’t be perfect every game but massively worth investing in. Chamberlain on the very little i’ve seen, ditto although Bosch has earned the right to be first choice
@JR (Comment 87) : I forgot about Tyler Paul, he is solid but is a bit slow around the park. I did think He played his best rugby at 4. I just prefer my tight 5 to offer more grunt hence the shift of Andrews to 7. I think the loose forward combination selection could be interesting going forward as nobody really established themselves in a jersey
@SheldonK (Comment 89) : You don’t think Andrews is too slight of frame for 7? Can’t see him doing the hard yards through solid defences a la PSDT, Willem Alberts, etc.
@Culling Song (Comment 90) : But those are the things he would be needed to do at lock anyway? Surely we cant play a lock just to jump in the odd lineout? Reason for me at 7 is he is quite mobile, makes a good few tackles, and then as an added bonus can really disrupt a lineout-especially if he is jumping at the back. Whether he is at 5 or 7 he isn’t going to carry the ball much. I guess its a personal preference to have a hard grafting tight 5 with more of a mobile ball playing loose trio.
I see Bosch is fit again and back into the starting 15 @ 10
@Choochi (Comment 92) : Boeta covered well, but I suppose it’s Bosch’s spot. Hope he and Nohamba can find the gaps. We’ll find out soon enough.
@SeanJeff (Comment 93) : Yes, I am looking forward to this combo. Just hope the defense holds out. Last game was not good in that dpt. But this is a do or die semi, so fingers crossed
@Culling Song (Comment 66) : 😆
And did I hear correctly that the Bulls did not manage to win a single home game this CC competition. 😯 
😛
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 95) : But they DID manage to secure their places in the semi final at Ellis Park. On the halfway line, apparently. 3 or 4 rows back. Decent seats those!
😆 😀 😀