The Sharks have named their team for the Currie Cup opener against the Blue Bulls with former Cheetahs centre Marius Joubert making his debut for the Sharks.
The Sharks have named two other debutants in Marcell Coetzee at flank and Mark Richards starts on the wing.
Coetzee played in Super Rugbywhile replacements Jan Andre Marais, Francois Kleinhans, Jacobus Reinach and Sibusiso Sithole all have the chance to earn their first senior cap.
Other young Sharks players are scrumhalf Ross Cronje, Anton Bresler and Wiehahn Herbst have all played at both Currie Cup and Super Rugby level while Dale Chadwick and Kyle Cooper have represented the Sharks in the Currie Cup before.
While The Sharks have brought in a number of youngsters, one new face – Marius Joubert – is hardly a stranger to top flight rugby, having scored 29 tries in 30 Tests for the Springboks including a hat-trick against the All Blacks in 2004.
“We’ve got to give him time to settle in, it’s been a pretty big week for him in terms of learning, but he understands the game, it comes natural to him, he knows every move in the book, he brings real calmness to us as well,” said Plumtree on the Sharks site.
“He’s prepared to wait and bide his time and he’ll make his mark on this group. ”
“We’re lucky to have him in this competition now with us having lost a few players; he gives us that little bit of extra depth and experience.”
Aside from Mark Richards the backline is exceptionally strong and is almost identical to recent Super Rugby line ups.
Sharks:
15. Stefan Terblanche , 14. Louis Ludik , 13. Marius Joubert , 12. Meyer Bosman , 11. Mark Richards , 10. Frederic Michalak , 9. Ross Cronje , 8. Keegan Daniel (Captain) , 7. Marcell Coetzee , 6. Jacques Botes , 5. Ross Skeate , 4. Anton Bresler , 3. Wiehahn Herbst , 2. Craig Burden , 1. Eugene van Staden
Replacements: 16 .Kyle Cooper , 17. Dale Chadwick , 18. Jan Andre Marais , 19. Francois Kleinhans , 20. Jacobus Reinach , 21. Jacques-Louis Potgieter , 22. Sibusiso Sithole
Very experienced Sharks side… their depth is bloody awesome.
Going to be difficult for the Blue Bulls!
jacobus die reinach van hoort net in een rugby trui sies vir jou
Good luck Sharks.
Currie Cup is back…..heeeeeehaaaaaaaa. Love our domestic tourney. Bulls/Sharks and Stormers are gonna be well under strength with plenty players out this season. But still really looking forward to our cc. Best domestic tourney in the world.
3@ Puma:
Will be iteresting to see how Marius Joubert shapes at outside center.
@ grootblousmile:4 – Gbs,
Yeah it will be interesting to see how Joubert plays at outside centre. Think he will fit in well actually with our players. Wished he was here for the S15.
Thought that Freddie might start at 9 with JLP at fh. But with Freddie slotting in so well when he came for the S15. Probably understandable he starts at fh.
Would like to see JLP have a go at inside centre at some stage to see how he plays there. Bosman never had a great S15 only towards the end.
Going to do my picks now before I forget.
Love our domestic tourney. Pleased CC is back. Gosh, time does fly. Feels like we only watched the final about a month back. That was 9 months back almost a year gone.
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