9 Responses to Super Rugby Warm-ups: Sharks side to face Boland on Friday evening

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  1

  grootblousmile on 9 February 2012 at 6:37 pm

  A couple of weeks ago I said that the Sharks midfield and locks were their weak spots…

  They seem to have beefed up both departments.

  Bressler and Sykes will do fine as starters, whilst Rocket Seat (Ross Skeate) and Alistair Hargreaves should be able backup.

  With JP Pietersen moved to outside centre, an experiment which might just come off well, the mdfield is also better off… depending on how reliable Tim Whitehead proves to be at inside centre.
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  2

  grootblousmile on 9 February 2012 at 6:38 pm

  Starting to worry now about the Bulls opener against them on the 24th
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  3

  vanStraaten on 9 February 2012 at 7:32 pm

  Not really too worried about the Sharks to be honest. Riaan Viljoen at fullback will be a must with Lambie at fly-half and can see him making most of clearance kicks for the Sharks. The Sharks team are sporting a lot of new faces too. I’d choose Steyn every time if it was between him and Lambie. Still think Lambie is a fullback. Riaan Viljoen’s defense is a huge weakness. Can see Morne peppering him with high balls come our opening game. They’ve got a lot of new combinations too, and on raw talent we are way ahead.
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  4

  grootblousmile on 9 February 2012 at 7:44 pm

  3 @ vanStraaten:
  Look, at the same time that I’m apprehensive about the Sharks, I’m excited about the Bulls side and the rejuvenation we should see.

  The Bulls bacline suddenly looking a possibly more potent weapon… and some very lekker loosies coming through in the mix.

  Able replacements for our retirees have also been groomed and I’m very positive about things.

  I don’t think we’ll win the competition this year, seeing as it’s a rebuilding year…. but then again 14 of the 15 sides are going through rebuilding processes.
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  5

  superBul on 9 February 2012 at 9:36 pm

  Guys sorry i am almost (remember i look at it through my blue tinted dark glasses) excited by this reinventions in the Sharks camp. I always thought it was Dick the prick Muir who wanted to play players out of position. Well let them have it their way , i would love to see Michelak at no 9 against the Bulls. If it is a master move so be it , but i am willing to put a impala on it that that would be a major mistake , a total balls up.
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  6

  Loosehead on 10 February 2012 at 9:39 am

  Good team, but expect the usual snap, crackle and then POP! As the Sharks fade into nothingness.
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  7

  grootblousmile on 10 February 2012 at 9:44 am

  5 @ superBul:
  Freddy the Frog is actually a very good scrummie!
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  8

  superBul on 11 February 2012 at 2:18 am

  NSW Waratahs beat Samoa A 83-5 (halftime 38-5)

  Notable facts: Damien Fitzpatrick three tries in second half, Tom Carter a brace, Lachie Turner minor hamstring injury, 13 tries scored.
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  9

  superBul on 11 February 2012 at 3:02 am

  SOUTH AFRICAN discard Sarel Pretorius last night took the torch from Kurtley Beale as the Waratahs’ X-factor with a strong display in a trial against Samoa in Tamworth.

  Super Rugby’s leading try-scorer in 2011, the lightning-fast Pretorius did not waste any time asserting himself for his new team, barking orders and defending ardently. His exertions were greeted by raucous applause from the new Tahs coach, Michael Foley. Wherever the stocky No. 9 went he attracted defenders, often two at a time.

  The Waratahs promised they wouldn’t kick away possession in 2012, and insisted they’d put boot to ball in attacking situations. And that’s what Pretorius did in only the 15th minute, putting through a deft grubber for stand-in fullback Brackin Karauria-Henry to pounce on.

  Seven minutes later, he was at it again, rescuing the ball from a messy breakdown to get a quick pass away for wing Lachie Turner to cross out wide in heavy rain. And within another 10, having bamboozled the Samoan ruck for much of the match, Pretorius skipped across the line from the breakdown to put the Tahs out to a 31-0 lead against a relatively unknown Samoan team.