The Sharks team announcement for the Kwas game had to be delayed due to a player testing positive for Covid. The player and two others who had close contact are in isolation, and we wish him/them well to recover fully from the virus.
Anthony Volminck gets a chance for his new union by starting in the 15 jersey with Manie Libbok moving to the bench. Dan Jooste and JJ van der Mescht swap starting places with Kerron van Vuuren and Ruben van Heerden respectively, and Dylan Richardson drops to the bench with James Venter taking the 6 jersey. Kwezi Mona may also make a debut for his new union and Cameron Wright covers the 9 from the bench. Thembelani Bholi will start in place of Henco Venter who misses out on squad selection.
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Injuries to Lukhanyo Am (hand) and Sbu Nkosi (slight niggle) has required Sean Everitt to make some changes to the side that beat the Pumas. Jeremy Ward takes over the 13 jersey while Yaw Penxe will feature in the 14. Sikhumbuzo Notshe makes a welcome return on the bench with Werner Kok covering the back line along with Grant Williams. Henco Venter will captain the team in Am’s absence.
The Cheetahs are playing excellent rugby and will be a formidable opponent in Durban on Friday. The Sharks will need to continue the progress made last weekend.
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Thomas du Toit, James Venter (ankle) and Sikhumbuzo Notshe (hamstring strain) are all not available for Saturday’s away game against the Pumas. Dylan Richardson moves to open side and is replaced at hooker by Dan Jooste. Jonny Meyer takes over the tight head with debutant Michael Kumbirai moving onto the bench.
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Sbu Nkosi makes a welcome return for the Sharks along with Kerron van Vuuren and Henco Venter on the bench. Yaw Penxe will make his debut for the Sharks should he come on as a replacement.
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Sean Everitt has selected 13 players that featured in the Springbok Green vs. Gold match for Friday’s game against the Lions. The match definitely did the Sharks no harm, as a couple of these players who were very rusty against the Bulls looked a lot sharper in the Bok game.
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The Sharks are getting ready to resume training but supporters will still have to wait a while before seeing our team on a rugby field.
At least there will be some live rugby (with crowds) on TV this weekend. Super Rugby Aotearoa kicks off with the 5 Kiwi franchises playing each other home and away. Whoever tops the log at the end of the tournament wins!
In other news:
Louis Schreuder is reported to have been released from his contract and will be leaving the Sharks with immediate effect
In a sign of the importance of the local derby against the Stormers, Sean Everitt has selected exactly the same team from last week’s match. In the current Super Rugby format a team will firstly want to top the conference log.
If the ever improving Sharks pack can hold their own against a highly rated Stormers pack, the dangerous Sharks backs and loose forwards can take the chances on offer. The Stormers will be smarting after a shock loss to the Blues at home and will be very motivated for this match. South African derbies are generally hard fought battles of attrition but if the Sharks team can put together the same performance as in the first half against the Jaguares this team should have the ammunition to edge the Stormers.
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If what is said in the media is true then Saturdays home game at Jonsson Kings Park versus the Jaguares is a very important game for the Cell C Sharks. After a really good tour this game could show us if the team can perform under pressure and deliver a solid performance at home in the Tank!!! […]
Sean Everitt is clearly not a coach who believes in starting his preferred 15 for every possible match. Lukhanyo Am is back to captain the team, but Makazole Mapimpi, Tyler Paul and James Venter have all been rested.
Dylan Richardson and Henco Venter takes over the 6 and 7 jerseys and Lwazi Mvovo takes over the 11 jersey. Louis Schreuder and Sanele Nohamba swaps places.
The Reds will be full of confidence after the 10 try 64-5 demolition of the Sunwolves last weekend. Brad Thorn has been quietly building up a strong squad and especially a decent tight five. The Sharks forwards showed much improvement last week, but still need to up their game especially in the lineouts.
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Lukhanyo Am is rested and replaced by Jeremy Ward in the starting lineup. Andre Esterhuizen will take over the captaincy.
Sanele Nohamba gets a chance to start at 9, after doing exceptionally well as an emergency fly half. Mapimpi has recovered from his head knock and will hopefully get the chance to torment the Rebels with ball in hand.
Thomas and Ox are back in the starting lineup. The Sharks have the backs and loose forwards to cause problems for any opponent, but the forwards will need to start fronting up at scrum and line out time. A repeat of last weeks performance will see the Sharks get zero log points from this game.
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Curwin Bosch had to fly home due a family bereavement and Boeta Chamberlain has been promoted to the 10 jersey. Sean Everitt went with a 6-2 split on the bench with only Sanele Nohamba and Jeremy Ward covering the back line. I would assume in case of Chamberlain needing to be replaced Mohamba could take over the place kicking from 9 and Andre can deputize at fly half.
Dylan Richardson comes in on the bench as a loose forward replacement.
This is definitely a match the Sharks can win, but the Canes will be the Sharks’ most difficult challenge thus far. The Canes will be back after a hectic travel schedule, but the Kiwi teams do seem to shake off travel fatigue when they arrive back home.
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In the only change from the curse breaking team from last week, Madosh Tambwe replaces Sbu Nkosi who has a slight niggle. Lukhanyo Am will start his 50th Super Rugby game for the Sharks and Craig Burden (surprisingly only now) should get his 50th Super Rugby cap when he replaces Kerron van Vuuren later in the game.
This will the Highlanders first game of the season having had a bye last week. The Sharks will have a very short turnaround from last week’s game, but should stand a good chance of taking a win here.
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With the dramatic Bok win against the English in the World Cup Final last year still fresh in our minds and hearts, it does feel a bit surreal that the Super Rugby season kicks off this Friday. And what a kickoff it will be for a Sharks team under new management with a couple of new faces in the team.
The Sharks have an absolutely atrocious record against the Bulls. We have not beaten them in a Super Rugby match since 15 Feb 2014. Apart from a draw in 2016 we have been beaten by our cousins from Snor Dorp in every single match since then. For crying out loud, we have a better record against the champion Crusaders.
Come on boys – time to change this sorry state of affairs!
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Sean Everitt has included all his Boks in the 28 man squad for the Super Hero Sunday game against the Stormers. This is effectively the Sharks’ last warm up game before the Bulls game on the 31st January.
A number of the Sharks’ new signings announced last year has been included in the squad as well as giant lock Le Roux Roets who has joined the Sharks from the Pumas.
Being a warmup game the focus should be more about getting the team to gel and integrating the new players into the Sharks’ structures, but expect a hard game with no quarter given by either team. SA teams do not like to loose to each other – even in warmup games.
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The Sharks are keeping a bit of interest going during the off season by announcing their nine new player signings one day at a time. […]
