The 4th and Article in the set discussing the Sharks Super Rugby players for 2012.

In this Article we look at the contenders for LOOSEFORWARDS in the Sharks 2012 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.

The Contenders:

Name: Willem Alberts

Date of Birth: 11/05/1984
Place of Birth: Pretoria
Position: Eighthman/Flank
Height: 1.92 m
Weight: 119 kg
High School: Monument Hoer Skool
Club: Acer Durban Collegians

Alberts made his professional debut for the Golden Lions in 2007. In that same year he was awarded his debut in the Super 14, playing against the Waratahs. He moved to the Sharks in 2010. In October 2010, Willem was selected to the Springbok squad of 39 players to prepare for the November tour of Europe.

He is known for his punishing runs (often requiring more than one tackler to stop him) and his rock solid defence. Due to his colossal mass (119 kg) Alberts’ bruising runs and bone crunching tackling, that often comprise of “big hit’s”, have made him a crowd favorite which has earned him a large following.

During the 2010 Currie Cup Semi – Final against the Vodacom Blue Bulls Alberts was awarded “Man of the match” after he put in a solid performance consisting of 21 ball carries gaining 144 metres. It is after a string of monumental performances for the Sharks that Alberts was named as part of the Springbok squad ahead of the 2010 Northern Hemisphere grand slam tour.

Alberts made his debut for South Africa off the bench and scored a try against Wales. Many believe that Albert’s impact was so great off the bench that he alone swung the game in the Boks favor and pulled them through.

He won his second Springbok cap against Scotland, when he once again came on off the bench and scored a powerful try after plucking the ball from the air in a line out and driving over the whitewash. However, his exploits were not enough and the Boks disastrously lost the game in shocking conditions.

His third cap came the following weekend against England at Twickenham. Alberts would come onto the field once more in the number 19 jersey and would score another try, this time in the corner which buried the English side and Alberts was branded “Super Sub”.

Willem Alberts made his run on debut against the Barbarians at Twickenham in the unfamiliar open side flanker birth. Although he did not score a try the test did not count as an official cap and Alberts returned to South Africa with a 100% try scoring record on his debut tour. An astonishing feat.

Willem’s move to The Sharks in 2010 marked the elevation of his career and tasted Absa Currie Cup success, as well as capping off 2010 with a call-up to the Springboks, scoring a try on international debut. He continued this form to become an important member of The Sharks before making the Bok Rugby World Cup squad in 2011. It is his brutal running and huge hits that mark him as a colossal and highly respected performer.

Tours: British Isles & Ireland, 2010; RWC in New Zealand, 2011.
Honours: Lions U20 2004
Lions Vodacom Cup 2005
Lions Absa Currie Cup 2005
Golden Lions U21 2005
UJ National Club Champs 2006
Lions Currie Cup 2008

Name: Jacques Botes

Date of Birth: 28/11/1980
Place of Birth: Nelspruit
Position: Flank
Height: 1.82m
Weight: 99kg
High School: Potch Gymnasium
Club: Varsity College Old Boys

Jacques made his Provincial debut in 2002 for the Pumas against the SWD Eagles and his Super Rugby debut for the Sharks against the Stormers in 2005.

A consistently high class performer who last missed a game for the Sharks back in 2006. The hard-working flank earned a century of caps for the Sharks last year, playing every single game of the season. Botes mixes tight play with strong running in the loose and with an eye for the try line, is regularly amongst the top try-scorers in the tournaments he participates in.

This hard-working flank goes into the 2012 season as the most experienced campaigner in the squad, earning his 100th Currie Cup cap in 2011 and approaches the magic 100 Super Rugby game as well. His vision and commitment makes him the consummate team player – and professional – while he adds leadership and an uncanny knack for scoring tries.

Name: Keegan Daniel

Date of Birth: 05/03/1985
Place of Birth: Humansdorp
Position: Flank (loose forward)
Height: 1.88 m
Weight: 94 kg
High School: Dale College
Club: Jonsson College Rovers

Born in the rural farming town of Humansdorp, Daniel started his education at Gonubie Primary before moving off to one of South Africa’s best known rugby nurseries, Dale College Boy’s High School.

Daniel played Craven Week for the Border rugby team in 2003 and was recruited afterwards by the Natal Rugby Academy.

Daniel came onto the provincial scene in the Super Rugby competition which earned him a place in the South African under 21 team. Daniel played well in the tournament with the South African under 21 team at the IRB u21 World Cup in France where South Africa lost in the final. He was nominated for player of the tournament and went on to claim the South African u21 player of the year for 2006. He has the ability to play flanker, wing, fly-half and fullback because of his blistering speed and kicking ability

Since then, Daniel has starred for the Sharks at Super Rugby level. In the 2008 season he earned man of the match awards in consecutive games against 2007 winners the Vodacom Blue Bulls and the high-flying Auckland Blues, scoring 3 tries in the process. His first try against the Blues came after just 16 seconds in the game – a record at Super 14 level.

On 30 October, Keegen was selected to tour with the Springboks in their November tour of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. He was not selected as a part of the initial squad of 39 but was later added after his performances in the Currie Cup semi-final and final.

On the 16th of Janiuary 2012, Sharks’ coach John Plumtree appointed Daniel Sharks captain for the 2012 Super Rugby season. Bismarck du Plesis who was widely anticipated to be appointed captain was made vice captain.

He is fast becoming one of the Sharks favourite sons and was last year appointed campaign captain for the Currie Cup, missing just 65 of their 1200 minutes over the course of the tournament. An athletic, play-making loose-forward who consistently punches well above his weight, finally earning his deserved – but belated – Springbok colours.

Name: Jean Deysel

Date of Birth: 05/03/1985
Place of Birth: Free State
Position: Flank
Height: 1.91 m
Weight: 112 kg
High School: Hentie Cilliers
Club: Goss & Balfe Crusaders

He was born in Virginia, Free State, South Africa and plays on the blindside flank but some suggest he might make a very good modern No 4 lock. Deysel is known for his bruising running with ball in hand, often “bumping” the first defender.

Whether it is running over, through or handing off his would-be tacklers, he is a devastating ball-carrier and attacking weapon in The Sharks arsenal. Jean proved his versatility starting at lock in the latter stages of The Sharks’ Currie Cup campaign, but it is at loose forward where he presents the most danger with ball in hand, using himself as a battering ram to break opposition defences and together with his physicality on defence, these attributes make him a formidable opponent.

Tours: France, Italy, Ireland & England, 2009

SQUAD LIST Sharks XV Vodacom Cup – 2011 Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – 2010 The Sharks Vodacom Super 14 – 2010 South Africa Vodacom Outgoing Tours – 2009 Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – 2009 Sharks Invitational XV Absa Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies – 2009 Emerging Springboks British & Irish Lions Tour – 2009 Sharks British & Irish Lions Tour – 2009 The Sharks Vodacom Super 14 – 2009 Sharks MTN test – 2009 The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Div – 2008 The Sharks Absa Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies – 2008 Wildebeest Vodacom Cup – 2008 The Sharks Vodacom Super 14 – 2008 Sharks XV Absa Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies – 2007 The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Div – 2007 Lions Vodacom Cup – 2007 Lions ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – 2006 Lions Vodacom Cup – 2006 Golden Lions ABSA Under 21 Competition – 2006 Golden Lions ABSA Under 21 Competition – 2005 Lions ABSA Currie Cup Qualifying Round – 2005 Golden Lions Vodacom Cup – 2005 Golden Lions ABSA U20 Competition Section A – 2004 Griffons U/19 U19 Competition – 2002.

Name: Ryan Kankowski

Date of Birth: 14/10/1985
Place of Birth: Port Elizabeth
Position: Eighthman
Height: 1.93m
Weight: 107 kg
High School: St Andrews College (Grahamstown)
Club: Jonsson College Rovers

Kankowski is a tall, strong, yet pacey and skilled Number eight. He is also capable of playing as an Openside Flanker. He has a natural flair on attack, breaking the line with powerful runs from the back of the scrum, whilst he is unrelenting on defense. He is also an incredibly dangerous runner in open play. His game is reminiscent of that of Zinzan Brooke and, with maturity and leadership qualities that belie his age.

Kankowski was first selected to represent South Africa during the Springboks 2007 end of year tour to Wales & England. He made a try-scoring test debut on the tour as a substitute during South Africa’s resounding 34–12 victory over Wales at the Millennium Stadium on 24 November 2007, crossing the line for his team’s 5th try as the Springboks got their reign as World Champions of to a winning start. Although possessing the undoubted skills and talent to be a regular international, he has faced stiff opposition from Pierre Spies and the controversial Luke Watson for the Bok number 8 jersey. And with the recent emergence of the young and talented Duane Vermeulen, there is set to be even more competition for the Bok number 8 jersey in the future. As a result, he has mostly been an impact player, with 9 of his 15 Test Caps coming as a substitute. His most productive year was in 2008, when he received multiple nominations for his performances at Super Rugby and provincial level and was subsequently rewarded by being part of the Springboks Incoming Tour, their Tri Nations squad and their end of year Outgoing Tour. He was also part of the Springbok squad selected to play 3 Tests against the British and Irish Lions on their tour of South Africa in 2009.

He received one of his nicknames, “Definite”, from his close friends as they believed he would definitely be a Springbok rugby player at some stage. He is also affectionately known as “The Hoff”, referring to his similar looks to the actor, David Hasslehoff from Knight Rider and Bay Watch fame.

The rangy eighthman is a superb athlete, quick off the mark and able to get into his considerable stride rapidly. On attack, there are few forwards (or backs for that matter) quite as devastatingly quick or dangerous with the ball and his dynamic but powerful running style make him a difficult player to bring down. Consequently, he is a major strike force for The Sharks either scoring or making tries.

Name: Marcell Coetzee

Date of Birth: 08/05/1991
Place of Birth: Potchefstroom
Position: Eighthman/flank
Height: 1.91m
Weight: 106kg
High School: Port Natal
Club: Acer Durban Collegians

A locally schooled young man, Coetzee had an outstanding debut season for The Sharks when he was called in during the middle of last year’s Super Rugby tournament before featuring in every game in their Currie Cup campaign. He is a powerful-runner, hard-working and athletic loose-forward who is very accurate on both attack and defence and adds huge value and energy whenever he plays.

Name: Lubabalu Mtembu

Date of Birth: 09/12/1990
Place of Birth: King Williams Town
Position: Flank/Eighthman
Height: 1.87 m
Weight: 102 kg
High School: Dale College
Club: Jonsson College Rovers

Another junior player who has represented himself well in the junior ranks. He brings a good mixture of athleticism and power at loose-forward, adding depth top this critical area of the team. A quality player with a good future beckoning.

Starters:

I expect Keegan Daniel (Captain), Jean Deysel & Willem Alberts to be the 3 premier starters, but Ryan Kankowski and Jacques Botes should also get a decent run. We will not see Jean Deysel and Willem Alberts in the first week or 2 of the competition, seeing as they are still in recovery from injury, therfore Marcell Coetzee or Lubabalu Mtembu might get a little run from the bench, early on in the competition.

The Sharks are extremely well-covered at Looseforward and should be very competative in this department… as they always are.

This was the FOURTH article in the range dealing with the Sharks, the SCRUMHALVES will be up next.