The Sharks Thread

[JJR]

Sharks have Lambie back, Hargreaves still out for a few more weeks. It seems Plum has changed his story again, regarding Deysel...he always "two weeks"...then again, "Two Weeks". If none of our loosies get injured, Plum only wants to Bring Deysel back after our 2nd Bye or after he has played another 2 games for Vodacom Cup side. Deysel is fine; but they want to make sure he is 100% match fit before they bring him back to Superugby after his long Layoff. Sharks XV next game is against Wp on 30 April and Deysel should captain the side again in this quarter final at Newlands.
B.Du Plessis also has a shoulder knock that has not fully recovered...not much info other than that.

 

[JJR]

It seems PLum has changed his mind again...it seems that Deysel will do some hard Conditioning work this week and be considered for The Stormers game next week.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Well, we need to win in Cape Town, which is hard enough as it is. If we can use Deysel to do it, I'd see, take him with you, put him on the bench and crush those Stormers

 

[JJR]

Well, we need to win in Cape Town, which is hard enough as it is. If we can use Deysel to do it, I'd see, take him with you, put him on the bench and crush those Stormers

Deysel will help to keep a high physical intensity towards the end of the game...he can come off the bench for around 20 minutes, and if we leading just give him the ball and he can cart it up and eventually gaps will open for those outside him. Deysel will also allow Alberts and Kanko to run a bit wider, eg. Centre channels because of the space Deysel will create outwide after smashing through about 3-4 guys a time around the fringes or Flyhalf channel.

 

[JJR]

Sharks: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Stefan Terblanche, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Eugene van Staden, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Gerhard Mostert, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 Conrad Hoffmann, 21 Adrian Jacobs, 22 Odwa Ndungane

Date: Saturday, April 23
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 15.05 (17.05 GMT)
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Mvovo, Botes, Skeate, van Staden and Smit (at hooker) in the starting XV. Now there's a couple of surprises.

 

[JJR]

Think mostly rotation; but a bit more than what i expected...i feel The Sharks have one eye on the Stormers game next week knowing that they will be coming off a bye. So we probably also want to keep the guys fresh for that game. Bissie will be back, Deysel back in the selection frame, Jannie will be well rested and Ndungane too. I prefer Botes to keegan anyway; our ball security at breakdowns have been poor; Botes attends tons of Rucks, we don't need 3 running Loosies, we need one to target breakdown. Better balance with Botes in team. With Deysel back next wek will also be good; he works well at breakdown too eventhough he is such a huge guy, he gets his hands in and steals lots of ball.
Deyselnator!!!!What a Machine!!!

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

JJR,

Who do you prefer: Alberts or Deysel? I know you are a big Alberts fan but Deysel is slowly turning into a Sharks-legend

 

[JJR]

JJR,

Who do you prefer: Alberts or Deysel? I know you are a big Alberts fan but Deysel is slowly turning into a Sharks-legend

I am Biggest Deysel supporter you will get...even before he got a Sharks contract i was a fan; he was on trial and i was already raving about him. Alberts is my second favourite. Deysel is the perfect blindside flank/Bulldozer, and i really enjoy watching players like that. Alberts is a Mix between 7 and 8. Has the great pace for his size and i believe in terms of talent,conditioning and form he has the potential to become the best 8th man in the World. Similarly Deysel has the Potential to become the best Blindside in The world...Both have are great conditioned and have the perfect build for those positions if you base your game on physical domiantion and dominating the gain line. After the World Cup it will be interesting to see what happens; but with a new coach hopefully one that has not coached the Bulls before we will see Alberts at 8 in place of Spies and If we have an eye on the next world cup Deysel should be considered ahead of Juan Smith. My two favourite players ever!!! Seriously!!

Off topic: Keen to get Marius Joubert when he is done in France...he will be great for us at 13, compared to what Stef offers us there.

My Superugby Final team...if we make it of course.

1.Beast
2.Smit (C)
3.Jannie
4.Sykes
5.Hargreaves
6.Botes
7.Deysel
8.Alberts
9.Mcloed
10.Lambie...also a big favourite on mine.
11.Mvovo
12.Bosman
13.Joubert
14.JPP
15.Ndungane

16.Bissie
17.Van Staden
18.Mostert
19.Kanko...sorry, just my choice, i can't choose him over Deysel and Alberts, and Deysel at 6 won't give our backrow the right balance to compete at breakdowns (Speed to Breakdowns) if we play a team like Crusaders in Final.
20.Hoffman
21.Adrian Jacobs...my favourite centre in World Rugby.
22.Stefan Terblanche.

I believe The Sharks are going to start hitting their form this weekend. Go Boys!!!!

 

[Seaton]

No reserve scrum-half JJR?

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

A 5-2 split is soooooo Northern Hemisphere

 

[Teh Mite]

A 5-2 split is soooooo Northern Hemisphere

There are 8 subs in NH teams

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Argh, ****. I was afraid I would mess up the joke

 

[Teh Mite]

 

[JJR]

No reserve scrum-half JJR?

Oops...Stupidly forgot, made the edit...

@Ezeqs...my bad, forgot about scrummie on bench...so use to having so many guys that can play more than one position in The Sharks...scrummie is not one of those; would have been shweet if we still had Michalak.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Michalak didn't bring what was expected of him. We miss Pienaar. I wish we could get Sarel Pretorius. He is the future Bok-scrum half

When Michalak and Pienaar played, I noticed Pienaar playing more as scrum-half with Michalak at 10

 

[Seaton]

Michalak didn't bring what was expected of him. We miss Pienaar. I wish we could get Sarel Pretorius. He is the future Bok-scrum half

How about a wee wager, not of money but of face?

I wager the Houggard will be SA's first choice no. 9 regardless of coach once du Preez goes off

With regards to the game today, despite the (which I don't neccesarily see as bad, just... different) changes, I feel more confident about this game than any other game this season. There was just something about the Cheetahs ripping up their defence, which admittedly shouldn't be that poor this weekend, but you don't go from that, to a solid defence in one week

Got the DSTV Drifta this week, which means I won't miss a second of the game(s) prior and straight after the Sharks game this week

 

[JJR]

Never rated Pienaar, Mcloed is better in my opinion for The Sharks style of play. Michalak; what i meant by him is that we can have a guy on the bench that can play 9 and 10; which will allow us to have a 5:2 split on the bench. S.Pretorius will never play for the Boks...Could get a go in a Baa Baas game or if our 4 top scrummies get injured all at once; Just my opinion.
Pienaar was seriously inconsistent and he was so soft in contact and trying to make tackles; in simple terms he was a bit of a sissy and i can't handle a guy like that playing for The Sharks.
Agree with Lordhope...Hougie will take over from Du Preez; and in my opinion Mcloed will become the impact scrummie off the Bench with his quick passing game and Livewire approach.

 

[Seaton]

Never is a strong word JJR

As for the game today, it is really nice and sunny on the coast, not humid but not dry either
If it were slightly cooler, which is should be by 17:00, it would be the perfect conditions for running rugby

Cue the rain...

 

[JJR]

Never is a strong word JJR

As for the game today, it is really nice and sunny on the coast, not humid but not dry either
If it were slightly cooler, which is should be by 17:00, it would be the perfect conditions for running rugby

Cue the rain...

Thanks 4 info...rain, rain stay away...will be a great game to watch if it stays dry.