[2015 Super Rugby] Sharks vs. Rebels (Round 16) 29/05/2015

[TRF_heineken]

Growthpoint Kings Park, Durban

19:10 CAT (SA, GMT+2)

Referee - Jaco van Heerden

AR1 - Rodney Boneparte

AR2 - Ben Crouse

TMO - Marius Jonker​

Teams

Sharks: 15. Lwazi Mvovo, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. JP Pietersen, 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 11. S'bura Sithole, 10. Lionel Cronje, 9. Stefan Ungerer, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Willem Alberts / Etienne Oosthuizen, 6. Renaldo Bothma, 5. Marco Wentzel (captain), 4. Mouritz Botha, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 1. Tendai Mtawarira

Substitutes: 16. Franco Marais, 17. Matt Stevens, 18. Lourens Adriaanse, 19. Lubabalo Mtyanda, 20. Etienne Oosthuizen / Khaya Majola, 21. Conrad Hoffmann, 22. Fred Zeilinga, 23. Heimar Williams

Rebels: 15 Mike Harris, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Sefanaia Naivalu, 12 Mitch Inman, 11 Tom English, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Scott Higginbotham (captain), 7 Colby Fainga'a, 6 Sean McMahon, 5 Lopeti Timani, 4 Luke Jones, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Pat Leafa, 1 Toby Smith

Substitutes: 16 Tom Sexton, 17 Cruze Ah-Nau, 18 Paul Alo-Emile, 19 Cadeyrn Neville, 20 Scott Fuglistaller, 21 Nic Stirzaker, 22 Jordy Reid, 23 Bryce Hegarty

 

[InsaneAsylum]

Rebels will win I don't know how but I know

 

[TRF_heineken]

Rebels will win I don't know how but I know

Lol, they are the only Aussie team that has never won on SA soil...

 

[InsaneAsylum]

Lol, they are the only Aussie team that has never won on SA soil...

interesting trivia question Heineken, who are the others?

 

[TRF_heineken]

interesting trivia question Heineken, who are the others?

I think it's just them.

 

[Amobokoboko]

I also hope the Rebels will win. Sharks are having a shaky season and Rebels do play some decent rugby this year.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

15. Lwazi Mvovo , 14. Odwa Ndungane , 13. JP Pietersen , 12. Andre Esterhuizen , 11. S'bura Sithole , 10. Lionel Cronje , 9. Stefan Ungerer , 8. Ryan Kankowski , 7. Etienne Oosthuizen , 6. Renaldo Bothma , 5. Marco Wentzel (Captain) , 4. Mouritz Botha , 3. Jannie du Plessis , 2. Bismarck du Plessis , 1. Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements : 16. Franco Marais , 17. Matt Stevens , 18. Lourens Adriaanse , 19. Lubabalo Mtyanda , 20. Etienne Oosthuizen / Khaya Majola , 21. Conrad Hoffmann , 22. Fred Zeilinga , 23. Heimar Williamsly

So the Sharks are only taking the field with their front as first choice. That is kind of crazy and I suppose sums up their season quite neatly. I am not counting JPP and Mvovo out of position though. If I were to pick a Sharks XV with everyone available it'd look very different:

15 Marais, 14 JPP, 13 Jordaan, 12 Steyn, 11 Mvovo, 10 Lambie, 9 Reinach, 8 Bothma, 7 Alberts, 6 Coetzee, 5 PSdT, 4 Lewies, and then the front row they are fielding with maybe Adriaanse ahead of JdP for me but that's nt saying much. So all of 12 first choice players injured (worryingly 7 Springboks- will they be in contention for the Bokke?- here I am not counting JPP and Mvovo though of course)...

Rebels in with a real chance of breaking their duck on SA soil as we've seen them play some good rugby and the Sharks have been taking a few beatings this year from enterprising teams.