The Sharks Thread

[TRF_stormer2010]

Are we talking about JJ Engelbrecht here?

The young Engelbrecht's:

Jacques - flank/8th man apparently looking to sign with the Sharks according to JJR
JJ - promising WP wing
Pieter - Lions centre who played for UCT and WP at youth level - big centre with pace; kinda reminds me of Jacque Fourie

Everyone has their opinion and i said at round one of the Currie Cup 2010 that the final would be Sharks v WP in Durbs and it happened...not saying that i know what is going to happen, but i would bet my Honda motorbike on The Sharks at least finishing top 2 in our conference. I will say it now...a Sharks v Bulls final just like in 2007.

I hera you. I'll go for an all SA fianl as well but Bulls vs Stormers at Newlands in a reversal of 2010 (with the Sharks and Reds narrowly missing out to the Crusaders and Waratahs in the QF's and the latter succumbing to the Stormers at Newlands and Bulls winning upsetting the Crusaders at home to set up the final of the ages - what an imagination! LOL).

Lambie is the victim of his own qualities. Just like Francois Steyn and Ruan Pienaar earlier with the Sharks, this guy can play in 3 positions. That is what will hold him back from being a World Class player. He should focus on 1 position and I would prefer it to be fly-half with JLP as a backup. We have Bosman and Terblanche for the center position with Swanepoel and Jacobs as backup.

I hope your right because SA rugby needs a good 10 and although I'm not convinced its Lambie's best position he certainly has what it takes. People say Frans and Pienaar are overrated and to an extent that is true but I feel they did have and do have it in them but need to settle in one position. Hopefully their stints overseas sees them grow into a position although it looks like Frans is playing all over the place for racing as well as I've seen him in the no 15 jersey as well.

 

[JJR]

That's okay but you said JJ was a Lions centre

Think i confused JJ with Petrus Engelbrecht who has played for the Lions before, but now plays SA Sevens...my mistake. JJ Engelbrecht for WP is average anyway...just had to catch and put the ball down in the game u talking about.

 

[JJR]

The young Engelbrecht's:

Jacques - flank/8th man apparently looking to sign with the Sharks according to JJR
JJ - promising WP wing
Pieter - Lions centre who played for UCT and WP at youth level - big centre with pace; kinda reminds me of Jacque Fourie

Pieter has been really good 4 our sevens team...his size is a real help when we need some go forward ball. Cecil is also back in the sevens side in las vegas...would be shweet to see Cecil and Young Shark Paul Jordaan combine, they both awesome finishers.

 

[JJR]

Team i think would be the best 22 The Sharks have available:

1.Beast
2.John...in a lot better shape this year.
3.Jannie
4.Sykes
5.Hargreaves
6.Keegan
7.Jean Deysel
8.Willem Alberts
9.Charl
10.Lambie
11.Mvovo
12.Bosman
13.Stef
14.JPP
15.Odwa

16.Bissie
17.Van Staden
18.Mostert
19.Kankowski/Jacques Engelbrecht/Botes....depends on opposition and weather conditions.
20.Hoffman
21.JLP
22.Adrian Jacobs.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Team i think would be the best 22 The Sharks have available:

1.Beast
2.John...in a lot better shape this year.
3.Jannie
4.Sykes
5.Hargreaves
6.Keegan
7.Jean Deysel
8.Willem Alberts
9.Charl
10.Lambie
11.Mvovo
12.Bosman
13.Stef
14.JPP
15.Odwa

16.Bissie
17.Van Staden
18.Mostert
19.Kankowski/Jacques Engelbrecht/Botes....depends on opposition and weather conditions.
20.Hoffman
21.JLP
22.Adrian Jacobs.

No Ludik? That is a good squad. It just seems like such a waste to have Bissie on the bench. Well, I guess in a RWC year it might be good to have them rotate much like I expect center rotation in the Stormers squad between JdJ, Fourie and JdV. Also, the 3 players mentioned at 19 just shows the perverse depth the Sharks have in the backrow. FFS, encourage one of them to go to the Lions. Or Stormers :b

If Ludik is available I'd at least have him on the bench in Jacobs' place to cover the back three as JLP is able replacement in the centers.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Why put Ndungane at full-back?

 

[Seaton]

Why put Ndungane at full-back?

Odwa actually played 15 in the Stormers friendly, and surprisingly played really, really well. Well enough that he could actually could be considered the first choice back-up to Ludik this season. Rarely set a foot wrong

I think it was supposed to be a list of players who are fit to play, hence the "Team i think would be the best 22 The Sharks have available"- however Deysel is the glaring exception there

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Well, Ndungane misses the real pace and skill for a winger so if he has a good boot, maybe full-back is not such a bad idea then.

 

[JJR]

Everytime Odwa has played fullback he has been superb i have seen him play around 4 times there 4 The Sharks and i have been very impressed. His attack also improves because he has the space to time his handoff which lately seems to be very effective. Ludik is good, btu does not quite have the attacking abilities of Odwa in my opinion...he is solid on defence though.

 

[JJR]

No Ludik? That is a good squad. It just seems like such a waste to have Bissie on the bench. Well, I guess in a RWC year it might be good to have them rotate much like I expect center rotation in the Stormers squad between JdJ, Fourie and JdV. Also, the 3 players mentioned at 19 just shows the perverse depth the Sharks have in the backrow. FFS, encourage one of them to go to the Lions. Or Stormers :b

If Ludik is available I'd at least have him on the bench in Jacobs' place to cover the back three as JLP is able replacement in the centers.

Having Depth is not a problem for players today because of the extended superugby tournament and when you are part of a team with a lot of Boks you will have a very good and long run playing Currie Cup; also John Plumtree likes to rotate players to keep them fresh when depth is available. eg. Deysel and Alberts, keegan and Botes...the front row also changed quite often in last years Super 14. I think plum will do the same at halfback and 13 this year...solid player management of the squad is the name of the game this year and will be the case for all the years to come; because Superugby will continue to grow to at least 16 teams in the next few years.
Plum might also juggle the locks around depending on who we play. Once someone becomes a Shark they either don't ever want to leave or they are released from contract, but having a big squad won't be an issue for those "non starters" they will get plenty of gametime with Plum in charge and there are lots of games to play this year...Dis flippin lekker om in Durbs te wees!!!

We don't need outside backs on the bench Stef has played back 3 most of his life so we have cover there, but 13...we need specialist backup...yes JLP can play there, but it is not ideal when you have a springbok 13 in the squad in Adi. Also at centre they take more knocks and the chances of going off are higher...outside backs don't really get taken off, they don't take as much contact as the guys in the middle do.

 

[Draggs]

Not a bad team JJR, I'd still put Kanko in at 8 over Alberts.
Alberts made a great impact sub in Europe last year and could do the same for the Sharks.

Ludik v Ndungane at 15 would really depend on the type of game we want to play. I still see Ludik as the Springbok fullback once Kirchner goes away.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

I am a huge Kankowski fan but it depends on the opponent which player is best suited for the 8-position. Being an 8-man myself, I admire Kankowski for his variety of play but when we play teams with a massive scrumpack, I prefer Alberts with his strength. Kankowski can play better against teams who are more playing the running game like the Crusaders. Alberts can play against the Bulls and Lions.

Also, Alberts can make an impact at 6 or 7.

 

[JJR]

I choose Alberts at 8 over kanko because he has the huge size to dominate physical teams like The Bulls and still has very good mobility in order to play an open game too...Deysel and Alberts are my two most favourite Sharks of all time...they both awesome! Odwa offers a bit more on attack for me than Ludik...i love attacking rugby...it also suits The Sharks way of play, sharks have also been physically conditioned to be able to play all brands of rugby.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Alberts as your all-time favourite Shark? That's quick after only a year

 

[Amobokoboko]

Normally Alberts should get more game time as Kano will need to rest for the RWC.

 

[JJR]

He has done a lot more in 1 year than some have done in 5...Alberts and Deysel make a great positive impact for us everytime they play; that is why they are my favourites.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Not judging you

I admire Alberts too. He is the perfect addition we needed. I prefer Kankowski at 8, Alberts and Deysel as flankers with Daniel/Botes as a backup

 

[Draggs]

Again, depends on the game you want to play, regarding Kanko/Alberts and Odwa/Ludik. While Odwa might have the edgen in attacking, Ludik could be a better defender. Lets give Ludik a good injury-free run and see what he can do.

 

[JJR]

Sharks XV (Vodacom Cup team) Trial squads for today.

Sharks Vodacom cup coach Sean Everitt will put his charges through their paces in a trial game tomorrow afternoon, aimed to help him finalise his best XV ahead of the competition. At the request of the John Plumtree, a number of players in the Super Rugby squad deemed short of game time will be given a run as well.
Among the latter group are the names of Adi Jacobs, Riaan Swanepoel, Conrad Hoffman and the once-again on-trial SWD Eagles loose forward, Jacques Engelbrecht. All of these players have been included in one team, while the other team includes those players that, at this stage, look most likely to be Everitt's probables for the Vodacom Cup. A number of interesting positional selections have been made, with Dan Adonga at lock and Piet Lindeque on the wing.
A pair of other "on trial" players will play for the other team, in prop Phil Nel and winger Piet Peens.
Vodacom Cup probables:
15 Kobus de Kock, 14 Mark Richards, 13 Trompie Pretorius, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Piet Lindeque, 10 Guy Cronje, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Marcell Coetzee, 7 Lambert Groenewald, 6 Farncois Kleinhans, 5 Dan Adonga, 4 Jandre Marais, 3 Francois Hanekom, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Sabelo Nhlapo
Others:
15 Wynand Pienaar, 14 Piet Peens, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Riaan Swanepoel, 11 Rosco Speckman, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Conrad Hoffman, 8 Jacques Engelbrecht, 7 Lee Thompson, 6 Cam Dunlop, 5 Kene Okafor, 4 Byron Egan, 3 Phil Nel, 2 Hannes Snyman, 1 Rob Harris
Reserves will be shared amongst the two teams. The following players are on the combined bench:
Dale Chadwick, Monde Hadebe, Jody Jenneker, Shaun Malton, Johan Schoonbee, Cobus Reinach, Willie du Plessis, Dwayne Jenner, Luzuko Vulindlu, Heimar Williams, Jaco van Tonder, Gouws Prinsloo

Original- Sharksworld.co.za , done by Rob Otto.

 

[JJR]

Youngsters to look out for from the Sharks XV-

Wynand pienaar, Fred Zeilinga, Kene Okafor, Obviously Dan Adonga, Francois Kleinhans, Kyle Cooper, Sabelo Nhlapo, Marcell Coetzee and Cobus Reinach.