The Sharks play their final pool game this Saturday which should present to be a thrilling encounter between the 2 sides, this derby will no doubt be a match of huge proportions, with the result probably seeing one of the 2 sides not going through to the final stages of the series.
Although one could talk about the other matches being played elsewhere and what effect that would have on the Sharks or Bulls, one would expect the 2 teams to rather take matters in their own hands to determine their own fate.
As I had suggested earlier in the week, Eugene Van Staden drops out of the squad altogether with the return of Jannie du Plessis as he makes his way into the starting 15, as expected also returning is the 2 strong men, Jean Deysel and Willem Alberts, who will without doubt bulk and strengthen the pack and its ball carrying effectiveness. Lastly onto the bench in place of the injured lock Steven Sykes comes Ross Skeate as Alistair Hargreaves goes into the starting 15.
One would have thought after the Bulls whipping of the Sharks in Durban just under a month ago , John Plumtree would maybe have started with Alberts as well, but not so, he has stuck with the 2 faster loose forwards in Ryan Kankowski and Keegan Daniel, with Alberts coming off the bench. In another surprise move John Plumtree has opted to play Patrick Lambie at fullback with Freddy Michalak starting at flyhalf in an attempt to achieve a more attacking platform, which has been lacking in the Sharks play this season.
It is however a surprise that again the center pairing of Meyer Bosman and Stefan Terblanche has been retained and that is probably been their weakest area thus far, but it is also to be expected that the coach would also try not to make too many changes and totally disrupt the team, one can also understand the retention of Stefan as he takes over the captaincy each time that John Smit makes way for Bismark du Plessis who joins his brother in the front row alongside the Beast.
Coach John Plumtree has opted for a 5-2 split, weighed heavily towards forwards for what is expected to be a massive physical battle up front.
Plumtree admits that The Sharks are most likely the underdogs for this match, with the Bulls chasing a seventh straight victory. “We have plenty to lose and don’t want to be knocked out of this competition. We don’t want to worry about the Brumbies-Waratahs score, although I guess we will keep a close eye on it. We’ll know what we need to do before the game.
“From the Bulls’ perspective, there is a lot of emotion, a few of their guys having their last game [at Loftus]. But we’re a proud bunch of guys, we don’t want to go up there and roll over and die for the Bulls. We want to play some good rugby, that’s our aim. We need to get our strategy right and make sure that everything else in terms of attitude and commitment is there and we can give them a good go.”
He adds that there couldn’t be a bigger challenge for his team as they travel, to take on the champions who have rediscovered their form after a slower start than usual. “They’re a great side with some great leaders and they’ve found some real momentum,” he says.
The Sharks
1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. Jannie du Plessis
4. Gerhard Mostert
5. Alistair Hargreaves
6. Keegan Daniel
7. Jean Deysel
8. Ryan Kankowski
9. Charl McLeod
10. Frederic Michalak
11. Lwazi Mvovo
12. Meyer Bosman
13. Stefan Terblanche (Captain)
14. JP Pietersen
15. Patrick Lambie
Replacements
16. John Smit
17. Wiehahn Herbst
18. Ross Skeate
19. Willem Alberts
20. Marcell Coetzee
21. Adrian Jacobs
22. Louis Ludik
Good team and glad most injuries are over accept for Hoffman, sykes and Odwa it seems
I would have preffered Adi to start with stefan at 15 and lambie at 12
and yes i would have had deysel at 6 and alberts at 7 with daniel off the bench for that final 20 min , but other the n that cant complain
one can also suggest that just maybe the team that starts for the sharks might not be 100% as above when starting
one could very well still find alberts starting in place of daniel, or lambie at 12 with stefan at 15 , who knows, bulls firm favourites , but hey rugby is a strange old game
@ sharky_forever:
Yes looks like a reasonable team, when one sees the opposition team anounced you realize how the nerves are building up for Saturday, going to be a tough one. Although there is a 5-2 bench split the versatility of Michalak and Lambie mean that if your centres are not doing well you can’re-jig’ your backline with only needing the 2, ie. Lambie to flyhalf, Michalak to centre, Adi on at centre and Ludik at 15. But what happens if your scrumhalf breaks down or is having a poor game to me that position is so important you want someone who can play scrumhalf on the bench? Would you maybe put Michalak at scrumhalf and keep Terblanche on at centre instead, I guess that is more like the backup plan. What position does Marcel Coetzee play?
Am pleased that Adi is not starting, hopefully he doesn’t get too much time, I rate him and feel he maybe doesn’t always get the recognition for how he creates opportunities when he is on and that too much focus is on his perceived defensive frailties.
@ Bullscot:
Hiyas BS, As for Michalak , he will move to 9 if Mcleod got injured, it is also where he played quite a few games earlier this year in Europe,and Marcell Coetzee is a 19 year old 8thman from Natal schools , now at the academy, very very good player , strong fast big defender with great ball skills, can however also play flank if needed
This is a good team. I don’t like the moving of Lambie to 15….what message are we effectively giving him…”you are not good enough to be compared to the French International flyhalf”. He will soon start getting hacked off about being moved around, just like Ruan did. I don’t agree with this at all. Ludik could ahve started at fullback with Michalak on the bench and with Ludick getting a stiff talking to for his lacklustre performance last week. I don’t think Plumtree has got this right.
Rest of the team, no complaints.
The Sharks are going DOWNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN this weekend!
4@ sharky_forever:
Hi ya Sharky, yes thats what I thought about Michalak, actually answered my own question as I was typing, really need to go get more sleep 🙂 Interesting info about Coetzee thanks, being so far away its always good to get news from guys much nearer the teams, will keep an eye on the net and see how he gets on then in time, sounds like one to watch. Hopefully he doesn’t have much of a debut to write home about though 😉
@ grootblousmile:
jou gat man, Bulls se blou balle gaan goed geskop word!!
On the serious side, one can see how Plumtree wants to play this one…. as loose as possible, stretching the Bulls wide as often as possible.
Michalak is an excellent distributor of te ball… and with the revised Sharks back 3 they will be very dangerous at the back and out wide.
Bulls must do exactly what they did against the Sharks last time and that is to force the Bulls pattern on the Sharks, to nail the Sharks in the lineouts and to chase ground ball very hard…. and retain possession for as long as possible.
Gooooooooooooooo Bulllssssssssssssssss!
@ 4man:
boet i agree but also dont agree
Ludick is showing no attacking flair , nor is stefan or bosman ,we need options which we have not had before
as for lambie he just wants to play and for now if coach needs him at 15 he will do it , it is afterall where he started his career
i however would have prefered lambie at 12 with adi at 13 stefan at 15 bench bosman and ludick, then you could have also had freddy and lambie inter changing during the match
@ grootblousmile:
Yep, I reckon your assessment is good GBS, but if the Sharks go ahead a couple of scores, it puts pressure on the Bulls to catchup and then they will probably have to play our game and us lifeguards could always run faster than you plonkers….its all that training in the soft sand…now I’ve let the secret out about sneak training.
One thing we are bound to get is a ballws to the wall full on effort from both. Will the Waratahs result be in by the time this game starts, it should be?
@ grootblousmile:
agreed this is why i am surprised we have alberts on the bench , i would prefer a touogher loose trio to absorb everything the bulls through at us with coetzee and daniel causing their own havock in the final 20
but not to be,
AND GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SHARKSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
@ sharky_forever:
What about Michalak at inside centre, that has the same effect and takes away our “supposed” problem. If we had more ball alst week we would ahve seen the centres doing more, as it is when you have to make 50 tackles, you are bound to miss one or two and the other team has to make 10 tackles. Our loosies nearly cost us the game last week. Lambie hasn’t put a foot wrong at flyhalf and he is bound to go to WC in that role and Butch as the utility, so why fiddle with it now. Ludick must get a wake up call is all, he is just the moer in that he is not considered for WC. JMHO
I wonder if this Frenchman wont disrupt the Sharks more than helping them? If he starts fumbling the Bulls must put foot on the accelarator and demolish them before they can regroup.
@ superBul:
Super, he is better than ever, like a good wine, matures with age. I watched him in Europe this year and he is a much more serious character and not prone to those surges and dips in form. But he came here to fill a gap, we should be putting the responsibility in Lambies hands. The Captain did not do his job last week, its not a flyhalfs job to rally all the troops, particularly not one of 20 years old that still calls people Sir. But when it comes to rugby he has a wise head on his shoulders, you can see his Dad talks to him a lot.
With FDP starting at the Bulls I would be more worried about him….very shaky lately and on this form and his ability to moan and gripe should not be considered for the Bok job. I see Hougie tweaked his ankle, so you have problems in that dept.
4man wrote:
i agree with you, Lambie is well settled in the no 10 position, i would not take a chance with him at 15
11@ 4man:
Bulls and Sharks are playing at 17:05… the Waratahs and Brumbies at 11:40… so yes, the result will be in and the teams will be well aware what they HAVE TO achieve, both ways.
It’s going to be very hard….
The only game after the Bulls / Guppies game is the Cheetahs / Stormpoppies (19:10), thereafter only 6 sides are left…..
@ grootblousmile:
Its Fathers day here, so they know I must be brought cold beers and snacks all day and I will be watching rugby, I cut everything in the garden this week that needed cutting. I also cracked 7% ROC with Forex online trading up to today. So ek is rustig.
16@ 4man:
Fourie du Preez is on the bench, Hougie starting!
19@ 4man:
Fark, I’m at a wedding on Saturday afternoon… have to leave here at about 12:30… the wedding is in Parys, Vrystaat… at 15:00.
Who in their right minds plans a wedding for a rugby day like this?
@ grootblousmile:
So when his ankle goes you can bring on the moaner and we’ll take 10 all day.
@ grootblousmile:
As die ou n vriend van jou is, dan moet jy gou reassess want dinge gaat nou verander met die nuwe baas in die huis. Meskien moet hy af jou vriend lys kom. n Ou moet Sondag trou wanneer daar geen rugby is, of Vrydag aand, laat in die aand as die rugby oor is.
ok guys, nice talking I have to do an online tutorial now, so later and if we don’t talk, may the best team win and “Good guys wear Black”.
23@ 4man:
Dis ‘n jong man wat vir my werk, ek is soos sy 2de pa…. en het hom baie dinge in die lewe en in besigheid en in die IT bedryf geleer (behalwe hy het seker maar self leer spyker iewers)… so ek kan nie die troue mis nie.
Ek noem hom Ou Kruppel-Jan… of Skieppie…
@ grootblousmile:
😆
Build scenarios on Superbru
http://superbru.com/sh/?k=R0VSJGsp
@ 4man:
How is the “Hair and Beauty” course going these days? 😉
@ Blue Bird:
The hair is going well, never did anything about the beauty….its too late, but as you know I am beautiful inside 😉
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