The sharks have made some forced and some unforced changes as they go into battle with the Waikato Chiefs this comming weekend, none more so then the flyhalf position after the shock retirement of newly aquired Flyhalf Steve Meyer.
We wish him well, sadly did not get to see the potential there was spoken of, Maybe soon there will be a reason given for this as it is known that he would have started for the Sharks the weekend.
Durban – Springbok captain John Smit leads the Sharks in Saturday’s opening Super 14 clash against the Chiefs at The Absa Stadium in Durban.
According to the Sharks website, coach John Plumtree has named Gerhard Mostert who was signed from the Lions last year along with Willem Alberts in his matchday 22. The pair will play off the bench.
Smit will start at tighthead prop in an all-Bok front row alongside Bismarck du Plessis and Tendai Mtawarira with a maturing partnership in Steven Sykes and Johann Muller in the second row.
A potentially devastating back three complete the pack while the backline has a solid, experienced look about it. Ruan Pienaar is over his pre-season surgery and has been named on the bench.
The Chiefs will have to contend with some unfriendly February weather conditions on Saturday – far removed from the temperate comfort zone of New Zealand’s premier dairy farming region – as well as a Sharks team who have faced a fair amount of criticism during their pre-season. However, Coach John Plumtree agrees that last year’s losing finalists present formidable opposition.
“If you look at the Chiefs, they’ve always had brilliant backs, very entertaining to watch even when the team isn’t doing well. Last year they got to the final and you can’t do that without a good pack, and their pack is well respected in New Zealand rugby. They are pretty good all round, missing a couple of players but plenty to back them up.”
Despite having left two important players at home, fullback Mils Muliaina and wing Lelia Masaga, they will still be a huge threat and Plumtree points out that for every player they lose, another is ready to step up to the mark.
“New Zealand has this ability to produce players with brilliant flair and I think we’ll see a few coming through in this Chiefs side,” he admits.
Despite the Chiefs often being slow starters, they will come in to the 2010 competition with a different sort of mindset and plenty of motivation. “The success of last year gave them confidence,” says The Sharks coach. “The last time they were in South Africa they got a hiding in the final, so will be wanting a really good tour which sets them up for a good season.”
Teams:
Sharks:
15-Stefan Terblanche, 14-Odwa Ndungane, 13-Waylon Murray, 12-Andries Strauss, 11-JP Pietersen, 10-Monty Dumond, 9-Rory Kockott, 8-Ryan Kankowski, 7-Jean Deysel, 6-Keegan Daniel, 5-Johann Muller, 4-Steven Sykes, 3-John Smit (captain), 2-Bismarck du Plessis, 1-Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16-Craig Burden, 17-Jannie du Plessis, 18-Gerhard Mostert, 19-Willem Alberts, 20-Jacques Botes, 21-Ruan Pienaar, 22-Adrian Jacobs
heee-ha, this team not looking so bad. In fact, I think it looks pretty good. Better than what I expected. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE SHARKS win!
Looking at the squad there on paper does not look bad except, 13,12 and 10. Think we may struggle there. Odwa has experience but I prefer Mvovo.
Good luck Sharks.
There is one question I am asking myself. What is the position of the Sharks if the court rules that the contract of Willem Alberts with the lions is still valid?
Smit at 3? Do these people never learn?
Tony Johnson (Reunion, NZ) se voorspellings volgens Rugbyzone:
Anyway here is a quick zap through prospects as I see them for the 14 franchises, in no particular order.
The Brumbies: Look the best prospect for an Australian presence in the top four after the play-offs were an Oz-free zone last year. They have pinched Australia’s best back, Matt Giteau from the Force, and their best forward Rocky Elsom from under the nose of the Waratahs. If they can’t make the top four then something will have gone horribly wrong.
The Stormers: Have also made some big name signings in Habana and Fourie, but have lost de Villiers and that quiet, unassuming fellow Luke Watson. They look good on paper, but when didn’t they look good on paper? They appeal as a much stronger prospect, but will need their skipper to be fully fit. Is he?
The Blues: A massive blow to lose Ali Williams. They certainly have plenty of talent and should go better than last year, but it’s hard to back them for a top four place because they tend to be so inconsistent. Could go either way.
The Sharks : You can never take them lightly, but I just can’t help but feel they’ve had their best chances to win in recent years and have blown them. Much will depend on Pienaar getting back to fitness after the loss of Steyn and Hernandez. I love Durbs and I’ve always been a bit of a closet Sharks fan but for once I’m not going to pick them in “the four”.
The Highlanders: Don’t appeal as title contenders but as the Bulls found out last year they will roll over for no-one. Most of last year’s defeats were by 8 points or less. They have a tough, gnarly tight five and some promising backs. Mid table prospects.
The Reds: Great to see coach Ewen McKenzie back…he’s one of the good guys, but he’s their only significant signing and they’ve had their carcass picked by the other Aussie franchises. Bottom four…make that bottom two.
The Cheetahs: Another team you would be foolish to take lightly, with their solid set piece and, in Smith and Brussow two world class flankers. Even so, hard to fancy on their past record, and with a bunch of new faces. They’ll probably go and prove me wrong against the Bulls this weekend!
The Hurricanes: Perennial contenders with an awesome midfield and outside back division. Will need good ball, but their pack looks solid. Definite chance to claim their first title, but will they have to be content with another semi?
The Lions: Have caused much fascination with the appointment of Dick Muir as coach and the signing of former New Zealand fan favourite Carlos Spencer. But they have lost too much proven talent to their fellow South African teams to be rated a chance.
Western Force: On top of Giteau, Josh Valentine and Drew Mitchell moving East, they’ve now lost Andrew Pretorius. Still have some startling talent in the likes of Pocock and O’Connor but I have a funny feeling this could be the year it all goes pear shaped for the Perth outfit.
The Bulls: Chiefs fans are still waking up in a cold sweat after their final blitz last year. Despite losing Habana, and not having Bakkies for the first month or so, they look awesome. They key is home advantage…if they get it they’ll be unstoppable. The reports out of SA suggest a potential fatigue issue…some of their big guns had an immense workload last year and that might work against them, he said, clutching at straws.
The Chiefs: Last years beaten finalists are notoriously slow starters and will be without skipper Mils Muliaina for the first three weeks as part of his NZRU deal. They too have plenty of talent, and will feature, but with most of the other NZ franchises having strengthened and the Brumbies back in contention I can’t find room for them in my top four. Happy to be proven wrong.
The Waratahs: Rugby league misfit Timana Tahu and Lote Tuqiri are gone, but they never gave them the ball anyway. In fact for all of the demands emanating from Australia for everyone to play more attacking rugby so they can get more fans through the gate, these guys bored the pants off us last year. They should be better, but can’t pick them for the top four.
The Crusaders: Have lost All Blacks Leon MacDonald, Casey Laulala and Ross Filipo, two or three other useful players, and Richie McCaw will sit out the first 3-4 weeks, and yet they look stronger this year with the return of Dan Carter and Chris Jack, and the signing of All Black winger Zac Guildford and former IRB Young Player of the Year Robbie Freuan. They will adapt to the new law implementations better than most, and I’m picking them as favourites to win an 8th title, on the proviso that they’re not playing the Bulls in Pretoria in the final!
So there it is… my top four are the Crusaders, Brumbies, Bulls and Hurricanes, but how easily I could be proven wrong. Look forward to your picks and let’s hope for another great competition.
5 – BdB, Think Saders are serious contenders again. With signing of Freuan, he is one heck of a good player. So is Zac Guildford.
eish as much as I hate to say it, young Monty might be a bit out of his depth….but the Natal boys have always been known to rise to the occasion and he has come through the academy and has had some useful rugby time coupled with the fact that he could quickly become first choice flyhalf, may see him produce a polished performance.
Anyway, here is hoping….and lets hope the Waikato ous eat something bad at the hotel and slip on a banana peel!
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