Currie Cup: Natal Sharks - Ford Pumas (10-09-2011, 14:00 GMT)

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Kings Park, Durban (10-09-2011, 14:00 GMT)

Referee: Jaco Peyper
Last three games in Absa Currie Cup:
• 23 July 2010: The Sharks won 27-17 in Durban
• 10 September 2010: The Sharks won 14-30 in Witbank
• 22 July 2011: The Sharks won 23-22 in Nelspruit




[TABLE="class: grid"]
[TR]
[TD]Natal Sharks[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Ford Pumas[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Louis Ludik[/TD]
[TD]15[/TD]
[TD]MJ Mentz[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sibusiso Sithole[/TD]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]Wilhelm Looch[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Stefan Terblanche[/TD]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]JW Jonker[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Meyer Bosman[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]Tiaan Marx[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Lwazi Mvovo[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]Deon Scholtz[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Frédéric Michalak[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]Coenie van Wyk[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Conrad Hoffmann[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]Shaun Venter[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Keegan Daniel (c)[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]Doppies le Roux[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Marcell Coetzee[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]Corné Steenkamp (c)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Jean Deysel[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]Jaco Brouwer[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Ross Skeate[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]Marius Coetzer[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Alistair Hargreaves[/TD]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]Rudi Mathee[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Wiehahn Herbst[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]Ashley Buys[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Craig Burden[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]Pellow van der Westhuizen[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Dale Chadwick[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]Dawie Steyn[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Kyle Cooper[/TD]
[TD]16[/TD]
[TD]Torsten van Jaarsveld[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Eugene van Staden[/TD]
[TD]17[/TD]
[TD]Brett Nel[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Anton Bresler[/TD]
[TD]18[/TD]
[TD]Boela Serfontein[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Jacques Botes[/TD]
[TD]19[/TD]
[TD]JP Mostert[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Ross Cronje[/TD]
[TD]20[/TD]
[TD]Hendrik van der Nest[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Jacques-Louis Potgieter[/TD]
[TD]21[/TD]
[TD]Siviwe Magaba[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Adrian Jacobs[/TD]
[TD]22[/TD]
[TD]Johan Jackson[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[Aout]

http://www.witness.co.za/index.php?showcontent&global[_id]=67556

THE Sharks will add a dash of French flair to their rugby when they take on the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup match at Loftus on Saturday evening.

Coach John Plumtree said that French Test flyhalf Frederic Michalak had convinced him to adopt a more expansive game plan and the Sharks would tinker with their style at Loftus this weekend.

Plumtree said, "Fred has finally convinced me to play wide to wide to wide [from wing to wing] and there's going to be lots of entertainment. We are going to play more French rugby this week."

Plumtree said that Michalak is enjoying his rugby back in Durban and this is reflected in the way the Frenchman is playing.

"It was a most timely signing," said Plumtree of the decision to contract Michalak for a second time ahead of the Rugby World Cup and as a replacement for Springbok Pat Lambie.

"He's a big part of what we do and he is loving it here," he said.

Plumtree said that the Sharks did need to make adjustments.

"We aren't happy with the way things are going and we think we need to try different things without making wholesale change.

"We have a young group, particularly in the forwards and, ultimately, the best forward pack and the best defence normally wins the big trophy. We have a lot of work to do," Plumtree said.

The Sharks coach said that the team had to evolve "and keep the opposition guessing."

He said, "At the moment we're not and we're not dangerous enough on attack. That's the challenge, to try get our game going.

"It's not just about the backs, it's not about the midfield or the wings, but about the team collectively playing better.

"We think we have a good enough team and we want to play better rugby."

Michalak has been in excellent form for the Sharks with his 86% success rate in kicking at goal an added bonus.

But his chief concern at present is the improved form of the Blue Bulls. The Sharks won the first round game 35-16 in Durban, but Michalak said they would be facing a different, stronger team on Saturday.

He said, "It's a tough competition and every team is good. You have to work hard every week to try and make a difference.

"The Bulls are now much stronger with their Boks back and they have quality players. We are facing a different team in a different match and playing away from home. It is going to be tough and we're preparing for a big game."

Michalak said that the Sharks had also changed with experienced players rejoining the youngsters in the squad.

"We have to mix the two and we're working hard at that.

"But I do think we're in a good situation," he added.

While the Sharks team will be announced this morning, Blue Bulls coach Pine Pienaar was yesterday able to beef up his team for Saturday's game.

Springbok loose forward Dewald Potgieter has recovered from the broken nose and replaces Arno Botha, who will revert to the role of impact player off the bench.

Pienaar was also able to recall prolific try-scoring wing Bjorn Basson while lock Juandré Kruger, who also missed last week's clash against the Leopards, also makes a return.

Pienaar said that the Bulls, in sixth spot on the log, were still under pressure to climb into the top four on the log.

"We might have won three in a row now, but it means nothing until we have moved into the play-off positions. Our aim remains to win the Currie Cup this year and to put ourselves in that position we will have to keep on winning and beat the Sharks on the weekend.

"It is great for a coach to be able to recall players like Dewald, Bjorn and Juandré, but it is still no guarantee for success. We will still need to bring our absolute A-game if we want to beat a very good side," Pienaar said.

Sounds good !

 

[Aout]

God I'm one week too late :huh:

 

[Draggs]

Sharks team

15. Louis Ludik
14. Sibusiso Sithole
13. Stefan Terblanche
12. Meyer Bosman
11. Lwazi Mvovo
10. Frederic Michalak
9. Conrad Hoffmann
8. Keegan Daniel (Captain)
7. Marcell Coetzee
6. Jean Deysel
5. Ross Skeate
4. Alistair Hargreaves
3. Wiehahn Herbst
2. Craig Burden
1. Dale Chadwick Replacements
16. Kyle Cooper
17. Eugene van Staden
18. Anton Bresler
19. Jacques Botes
20. Ross Cronje
21. Jacques-Louis Potgieter
22. Adrian Jacobs

Was wondering what happened to JLP. Now where has Mark Richards gone?!

 

[Seaton]

Potgieter has been doing okayish for his club this season, however they got knocked out of a recent cup competition a few weeks ago so hasn't played much that I know of recently.

Richards been doing very well of late, must have 10 tries in hlaf as many games lol. Anyways, he can't really fill in at centre, and niether can any of our wings, whilst Adi can cover both, can see why we he's got the nod.

Think Daniel to 8 is a good move, got more pace than both other flanks, which he could use to good effect if we have a good scrumming day against a team that has been heavily disrupted in their tight-five in the last month. Pumas also been poor away fae home.

Enigeding minder as vyf punte sal 'n groot teleurgesteld wees.

Mon the Sharks, don't embarrass me in the middle of Boerville.

 

[Draggs]

Glad to see Daniel at 8 as well.
Is Coetzee a better flanker or eight? Too many back row options! Botes, Daniel, Alberts, Deysel, Coetzee, Kankowski.
Why can't we have this 'issue' in midfield? (Well, we do have a few centres but all rather dire at times).

 

[Seaton]

Well Coetzee spent most of his time with the age-group teams at 8, with occasional dabbles at flank.[
However this may have been done due to the good options we had at flank these last 2-3 years in the age-groups, just Coetzee was a better at 8 than the others.

There has got to be a balance, we can't be too awesome now, can we? Our current derth options at 12/ 13 balance out our greatness elsewhere, coupled with the options we have at age group level (Jordan, Lindique, Heimar Williams) for future seasons.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

The thing that bothers me the most, is that even at home against the Pumas and Leopards we won't see new guys in the midfield... Why not give Jordaan, Pienaar or Lindique a chance? Or give Jacobs 80 minutes to prove himself.

 

[Seaton]

I hear Pienaar may have joined de Kock in heading off for Europe, which seems a pity, but I haven't seen/ heared it from official sources. Holding thumbs.

Jordaan has actually spent quite a bit of time at fly-half for the u21s, and at times u19s, of late. I don't know, just trying to find the method behind Plumtree's thinking, I too would love to see Adi or a youngster in Oupa's place (still believe Bosman can produce the goods, you don't become a bad player over the course of a season)

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

both teams 22 has been confirmed and added to the topic start

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

From what I've heard, Wynand Pienaar might be joining Cardiff Blues