Under fire coach John Plumtree released his team that will take on the Waratahs this weekend.
The Sharks are desperate for a win which sees them currently 0 from 3.
With this in mind it was expected Plumtree might make a few changes which he duly did – with some surprises at hand.
Andy Goode starts at 10 for the Sharks this weekend after a disappointing debut for the franchise last weekend against the Crusaders where he got a yellow card before even breaking a sweat.
This crucially sees Ruan Pienaar, a guy Plumtree backs as the best 9 at the Sharks, take duty at scrumhalf with Rory Kockett moving to the bench.
Waylon Murray also finds himself on the bench again with Adi Jacobs at 13, and Riaan Swannepoel doing duty in the 12 jersey.
Jean Deysel finds himself on the bench again with Keegan Daniel preferred in the 6 jersey, partnered by Willem Alberts at 7 and the only forward in any decent form, Kankowski at 8.
Another crucial selection is John Smit back in the number 2 jersey as he continues his musical chairs routine with Bismarck du Plessis who is back on the bench.
Bismarck’s brother Jannie takes over the number 3 jersey, while the Beast is also relegated to the bench in place of Deon Carstens who starts at loosehead.
Sharks team:
15. Stefan Terblanche
14. Odwa Ndungane
13. Adrian Jacobs
12. Riaan Swanepoel
11. JP Pietersen (50th cap)
10. Andrew Goode
9. Ruan Pienaar
8. Ryan Kankowski
7. Willem Alberts
6. Keegan Daniel
5. Johann Muller
4. Steven Sykes
3. Jannie du Plessis
2. John Smit ©
1. Deon Carstens
Replacements
16. Bismarck du Plessis
17. Tendai Mtawarira
18. Wilhelm Steenkamp
19. Jean Deysel
20. Jacques Botes
21. Rory Kockott
22. Waylon Murray
This is what another blogger on a different site had to say about the Tjarks, I found it quite interesting…
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After almost 30 years of involment in relatively high-level rugby (the latest as attack and strategic coach in UK National Legue 1) and recently having called it a day – retiring to my Tanzanian game- lodge (under construction), I very rarely post comments anymore.
BUT, as a born and bred Shark (Banana Boy in my days) I feel it necessary to issue a heartfelt yet stark caution to the Sharks management concerning the general man-management of players and the balance within the squad.
The Sharks are not just struggling with the various individual issues being mentioned by all and sundry, i.e. the fly-half problem (real though that is); the front-row balance (and therefor implied captaincy issue); the exigencies of fitting in with “national strategy”; the second-row issues, the loose trio combination, the lack of penetration, and so on and so forth.
The real problem, in fact critical danger, is much more insidious – for we have seen MANY a good side slide into VERY long (and expensive) slumps due to this before – is that the coaching (and acquisitons) MANAGEMENT is getting the BALANCE of the overall squad wrong.
This is caused by two factors: Firstly they have allowed (or been unable to resist) KEY players to depart (sadly, often in frustration – and I do have this first hand). Secondly they have failed to identify and groom reliable and especially “like-for-like” replacements for those!
Part of the reason for the departures is due to player mismanagement (and I say that with apologies to some VERY GOOD coaches). This mismanagement has occured over some years (both under Dick and more recently by John). Much of this is due to their (morally proper) attempts at “fitting-in” with national strategy.
This “loss of players” now has particular effect upon the fly-half issue.
Butch James, (great player that he remains – observe Bath, with and without him), was always going to move on for the strenth of the European currencies, albeit towards the end of his career.
BUT Francois (Steyn) was an absolutely KEY player for the future – and was absolutely mismanaged (by Sharks – and National – coaching staff alike)!
Had they had the vision of being patient and carefully honing the young Steyn as a pivot, and NOT shifting him about incessantly, THEN they would NOT now be scratching about for a fly-half – and be doing precisely the same with Pienaar.
Pienaar, on the other hand is personally, and talent-wise, more inclined and suited to the scrumhalf position, JUST as STEYN was inclined to the fly-half position (despite his occasional gaffe’s there – albeit at 19, 20 and 21 years of age)!
I know that the average blogger gets bored with long analyses – but it is abslotely crucial that the Sharks remedy this balance in the SQUAD, not so much just focussing upon slavaging the situation as it is now (the horse has bolted). In short their immediate and future identification, acquisition and development of talent in the RIGHT positions is absolutely critical and imperative!
My serious advice to Pienaar is to move elsewhere very, very soon – NOT out of spite, but to save his career (think Gawie Visagie, Gaffie du Toit et all)! Obviously Kockott could do the same – but I feel the latter fits in better with the Shark’s overall strategy at present. It will thus suit his career better than that of Peinaar’s to remain with the Sharks.
Pienaar should (ideally) be looking at the Bulls, or the Stormers (maybe even the Cheetahs) – and then as a scrum-half! Being shifted about and thus unsettled is going to permanently harm his career prospects, including as an international!
Equally so the Sharks need to resolve the front-row issues. They simply have to decide what THEY want (as opposed to the experimental demands of the national squad)! In short, what do they need, is it a functioning scummaging unit, or one that makes way for a brilliant captain, but sacrifices forward domination?
Actually the same applies to the National Sqaud. The point is that, in this respect, they simply HAVE to make a decision that will WORK! They cannot try “for the best of both worlds” – and then have neither! The World Cup is but one and a half full seasons away!
If the Sharks continue to vacillate in this fashion (on both the above issues) – then the inevitable results are already clear! And that will become entrenched and difficult to resolve.
Much the same applies to the national squad – but remove the second-row issues and replace that with third-row problems!
31@ Blouste – He could have said it much better, he could simply have stated that the Sharks must stop the “Rondflok”!
… and I differ strongly about Fransie as a No 10, he is a fullback first and foremost, but makes a good make-shift inside centre too, where he could have alleviated the impotency on attack so far.
The big weakness in the Sharks team still remain. This team was selected with the purpose of John Smit to move to tighthead later in the game. The real change regarding John Smit will be if he plays only hooker or only tighthead. Keep on rotating him between hooker and tighthead will ensure a weak scrum.
31 – Blouste, I read that on voldy. Yip he does make a lot of sense only don’t agree with him on Steyn being a FH.
Steyn would have been the Boks best ever FB had he stayed in this country. Also he is a heck of a player at inside centre. Would never ever want him to tackle me that is for sure.
GBS, Yes Fransie was great last year at FB for the Boks, had he stayed in SA I have no doubt he would have become our best ever in the FB position. Then I differ with you on Fransie at inside centre, he is not make shift one. He played superb there in 2007 WC was shoved there quick when JdV got injured and done a dame fine job there. Sharks sure could have done with him there this year. That was a HUGE loss to Sharks losing him. Should have gone all out to keeping him.
Okay back later. Need to go out.
Yes, I dont want to see FS on fly either…
Have got my Noonoo’s to winby 8, just cant go against my team.
I would have liked Mcleod to start at scrummie for a change, am so not keen on Ruan in any position, think he sends out a bad vibe to the whole team, would also have preferred Deysel on ahead of Daniels and Mvovo ahead of Odwa.
Am thrilled Smit is back at 2, and hope the Brothers Grimm can try not to loose their tempers and give away stupid penaltys, if they loose it, they should have to pay some kind of penalty because that is not a mistake just a pointless F*%@ up.
I liked Francie at center, fullback was fine as well, but at center his defence was good and he always gained ground. Flyhalf he was awefull.
So in a nutshell….
Two bottom of the log dwellers to struggle it out this weekend… 😆
Sharks se dae is getel vir eers, sal moet oor begin. Beste span is seker maar die Bulls op die oomblik maar dinge draai vinnig
Dia dhuit ar maidin all!!!
Just come on to offer my support to the Sharks! As Puma just said The weekend is going to be a Goode one – 😉
I think Morne’s picks are spot on! Well I hope so, except I’m hoping the Sharks win, but didn’t go with them against the Tahs. Watched the highlights yesterday and must say the Tahs are one super team – BUT – the Bulls are champs.
A Team can turn the corner by the flick of a wrist, it’s early days in the Super 14 yet, let’s hope the Sharks sort themselves out!
By flick of the wrist I mean, truly they can, as evident by the Bulls in 2008. Frans Ludeke started, following in Heyneke Meyer’s sizable foot steps and the players in the team were initially hesitant to buy into Frans’s philosophy… and also hesitant to accept the ELV’s….. they started the season on a disasterous note, eventually getting it right and winning their last 4 consecutive Super 14 matches… and now, Frans has got a Super 14 title, a Currie Cup Title and looks like a world beater.
So, maybe we’re very tough on Plumtree and very tough on Muir, maybe just too hasty…. maybe we should only slowly start judging and slowly only start sharpening the knives after the 1st half of the whole Super 14 Tournament.
Just looked at the Sharks team. Who is Riaan Swanepoel?
44@ Oirish – Riaan Swanepoel is quite a solid inside centre, played some Super 14 last year too. To my mind an improvement since last week’s Sharks team.
“Side-crab” Waylon Murray, deserves the chop… and the Sharks will be better for it.
Inside center 😆
Disa @40: “Sharks se dae is getel vir eers, sal moet oor begin. Beste span is seker maar die Bulls op die oomblik maar dinge draai vinnig”
Nie soos die Stormers teen die Brumbies gespeel het nie! Jou span moet hierdie games wen!
Bulls kan dalk van die wa afval, maar vir die Stormers om bo te kom gaan hart vat. En teen die Brumbies het hulle dit nie gehad nie. So moenie worry oor die Bulls die beste is of nie. Die Stormers spelers moet nou hul kant bring. Hulle het van die beste spelers in die wereld in hulle geledere. Stormers hoort in die semi-finals!
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