This is the fourth article in the series of Cell C Sharks Squad Contenders for Super Rugby 2014. We do 2 articles per week per South African Super Rugby participating franchise.
We discuss the players IN the Super Rugby Group, and not all the options beyond that.
In this Article we look at the contenders for LOOSE FORWARDS in the Cell C Sharks 2014 Super Rugby group, and whether they could force their way into Bok contention.
The Contenders:
Name: Marcell Cornelius “Marcell” Coetzee:
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Marcell Coetzee is a product of South-Natal Primary School, Port Natal High School and the Sharks Academy.
He can play anywhere in the back row, was one of the finds of the 2012 season and underlined his massive potential by playing a role in each of the 12 Tests during that season. This versatile loose forward is a home grown product of Natal and after some impressive performances for The Sharks in the Absa Currie Cup in 2011, the young Coetzee was highly sought after by a number of other Unions in South Africa. He decided to remain in Durban, excelled in Vodacom Super Rugby for the Sharks as they went all the way to the Final, where they lost to the Chiefs.
Coetzee made his debut in Super Rugby for the Sharks against the Brumbies on Saturday 7 May 2011. He has offloading skills that have been likened to those of Sonny Bill Williams. Heyneke Meyer, Springbok coach, included him in the national squad to face England in a test series where Coetzee made his Springbok test debut on 9 June 2012 in Durban.
His playing career is as follows:
- 2010 – Sharks – ABSA Under 19 Competition
- 2011 – Sharks XV – Vodacom Cup, Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, Sharks XV – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory friendlies, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Sharks – ABSA Under 21 Competition
- 2012 – Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, Springboks – Castle Incoming Tours, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – The Rugby Championship, Springboks – Castle Outgoing Tours
- 2013 – Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, Springboks – Castle Incoming Tours, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – The Rugby Championship, Springboks – Castle Outgoing Tours
Marcell is probably rated as the prime Openside Flank at the Sharks and should get regular starts.
Name: Willem Schalk “Willem” Alberts:
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Willem Alberts is a product of Muldersdrift Primary School, Monument High School and University of Pretoria (Tuks).
He 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 (120 kg) Alberts’ bruising runs and bone-crunching tackling, that often constitute “big hits”, have made him a crowd favorite and 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 on 13 November 2010 and scored a try against Wales. Many believe that Alberts’ 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 lost the game.
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 berth. 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.
Alberts played in all 18 of the Sharks matches in the 2011 Super Rugby season. He won his first “Man-of-the-Match” award in the Super Rugby competition for the Sharks for his performance against the Cheetahs. He also scored his first Super Rugby try for the Sharks against the Western Force in a bonus point win for the Sharks. He went on to score another try against the Crusaders in a historic match held at Twickenham. He won another man of the match award against the Lions, making an impressive 18 ball carries. Alberts is the Sharks’ leading tackler in their 2011 Super Rugby campaign with an average of 10 tackles per match and is the third highest in the entire tournament with 58. Against the Hurricanes he made an imperious 23 tackles, and in such form has made him a big name in South African rugby.
Alberts made his starting capped debut for the Springboks against the All Blacks in Port Elizabeth on 10 August 2011 in the number 7 jersey. Alberts showed his grunt with 13 tackles and bruised his way into Peter de Villiers’ World Cup plans.
Alberts started against England which South Africa won 22-17. He also scored a try in the 2nd Test which South Africa won 36-27. The Springboks wrapped up the series in that win. He was injured and out for the final Test which South Africa held to a 14-14 draw against England. Potgieter replaced Alberts at blindside flanker. Alberts has a good future after South Africa won the series against England in which Alberts was a big performer.
The Year 2013 was also a stellar year for Alberts, who together with Duane Vermeulen, tackled the opposition senseless for the Springboks.
His playing career is as follows:
- 2004 – Golden Lions – ABSA U20 Competition Section A
- 2005 – Golden Lions – Vodacom Cup, Lions – ABSA Currie Cup Qualifying Round, Golden Lions – ABSA Under 21 Competition
- 2006 – UJ – National Club Championships
- 2007 – Lions – Vodacom Super 14, Golden Lions – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Golden Lions XV – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies
- 2008 – Auto & General Lions – Vodacom Super 14, Xerox Lions – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Xerox Lions – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2009 – Lions – MTN test, Auto & General Lions – Vodacom Super 14, Xerox Golden Lions – British & Irish Lions Tour, Xerox Lions – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Xerox Lions – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2010 – Sharks – Vodacom Super 14, Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – Outgoing Tours
- 2011 – Springboks – Castle Tri Nations, Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – IRB Rugby World Cup
- 2012 – Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, Springboks – Castle Incoming Tours, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – The Rugby Championship, Springboks – Castle Outgoing Tours
- 2013 – Sharks XV – Vodacom Cup, Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, Springboks – Castle Incoming Series, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – The Rugby Championship, Springboks – Castle Outgoing Tours
If Willem has one failing, it is that he is a bit injury prone, but with the amount of work and bone-crunching tackles he puts in, it is not surprising.
Name: Keegan Rhys “Keegan” Daniel:
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Keegan is a product of Gonubie Primary School, Dale College (King William’s Town and the sharks Academy.
He was 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 good 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, Keegan 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 XV season. Bismarck du Plesis who was widely anticipated to be appointed captain was made vice captain.
Twice a Currie Cup winner with the Natal Sharks in 2008 and 2010, Daniel played his 100th Currie Cup game against the Blue Bulls on 4 October 2013.
His playing career is as follows:
- 2005 – Natal – ABSA Under 21 Competition
- 2006 – KZN – ABSA Under 21 Competition, Sharks – Vodacom Super 14, Wildebeest – Vodacom Super 14odacom Cup, South Africa – IRB Under 21 World Championship, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2007 – Sharks – Vodacom Super 14, Wildebeest – Vodacom Cup, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2008 – Sharks – Vodacom Super 14, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2009 – Sharks – MTN test, Sharks – Vodacom Super 14, Sharks – British & Irish Lions Tour, Sharks Invitational XV – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2010 – Sharks – Vodacom Super 14, Sharks Invitational XV – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – Outgoing Tours
- 2011 – Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2012 – Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, Springboks – Castle Incoming Tours, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – The Rugby Championship
- 2013 – Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
Keegan is a bit of an anomaly sometimes, often brilliant and sometimes plain poor but is a stalwart in the Sharks side and should get plenty of playing opportunity in Super Rugby.
Name: Louis Jacques “Jacques” Botes:
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Jacques Botes is a product of Anton van Wouw Primary School in Pretoria, Potchefstroom Gymnasium and University of Pretoria (Tuks).
He started his long career at the Pumas, from 2002 to 2004, whereafter he moved to Natal where he has been ever since. Jacues has played all sorts of provincial rugby but never cracked the not for the Springboks.
He is now the old man amongst the loose forwards but time still has not caught up to this hard-working openside flank.
During the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division, he broke the record for the most number of Currie Cup appearances ever when he played in his 143rd match against Western Province.
His playing career is as follows:
- 2002 – Mpumalanga SA ‘A’ – SA Cup, Pumas -= Bankfin Currie Cup
- 2003 – @lantic Pumas – Vodacom Shield, @lantic Pumas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2004 – Pumas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2005 – Sharks Vodacom Super 12, Natal Wildebeest – Vodacom Cup, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Qualifying Round, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2006 – Sharks – Vodacom Super 14, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2007 – Sharks – Vodacom Super 14, Wildebeest – Vodacom Cup, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2008 – Sharks – Vodacom Super 14, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Divisionx
- 2009 – Sharks – MTN test, Sharks – Vodacom Super 14, Sharks – British & Irish Lions Tour, Emerging Springboks – British & Irish Lions Tour, Sharks Invitational XV – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2010 – Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, Sharks Invitational XV – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2011 – Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2012 – Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2013 – Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
Jacques must be close to retirement age and I doubt he’ll get many starting spots in Super Rugby 2014, but he is still a wonderful candidate to have on the bench and always gives his all for his side, a true professional.
Name: Jean Roy “Jean” Deysel:
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Jean Deysel is a product of Virginia Primary School and Hentie Cilliers High School.
He started his rugby career at the Griffons, where he played Under 19 rugby, then moved to the Golden Lions where he played Under 20 rugby, Vodacom Cup, Under 21 for 2 years (2005 & 6) and gravitated to Currie Cup rugby in 2006.
Midway through 2007 he moved to the Sharks where he immediately played Currie Cup rugby.
Only in 2008 did he debut in super Rugby. In 2009 he had the opportunity to play for the Sharks and the Emerging Springboks against the touring British & Irish Lions before representing the Springboks on the Outgoing Tours in 2009. He made his Springbok Test debut on 21 November 2009 against Italy in Udine, aged 24.
He is of the strongest ball carriers in the South African game, Jean Deysel made his mark playing for The Sharks in the last number of seasons. He made his Bok debut at the end of 2009 against Italy in Udine and has played in a further three Tests for South Africa. Deysel is a versatile loose forward who is not only strong with ball in hand, but also on defence and at the breakdowns..
His playing career is as follows:
- 2002 – Griffons – U19 Competition
- 2004 – Golden Lions – ABSA U20 Competition Section A
- 2005 – Golden Lions – Vodacom Cup, Lions – ABSA Currie Cup Qualifying Round, Golden Lions – ABSA Under 21 Competition
- 2006 – Golden Lions – ABSA Under 21 Competition, Lions – Vodacom Cup, Golden Lions – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2007 – Golden Lions – Vodacom Cup, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Sharks XV – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies
- 2008 – Sharks – Vodcom Super 14, Wildebeest – Vodacom Cup, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2009 – Sharks – MTN test, Sharks – Vodacom Super 14, Sharks – British & Irish Lions Tour, Emerging Springboks – British & Irish Lions Tour, Sharks Invitational XV – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – Vodacom Outgoing Tours
- 2010 – Sharks – Vodacom Super 14, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2011 – Sharks XV – Vodacom Cup, Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, Springboks – Castle Tri-Nations, The Sharks -ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2012 – Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, Sharks XV – Vodacom Cup, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2013 – Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
With a wealth of great Super Rugby loose forwards in the Cell C Sharks squad, I expect Jean Deysel to get limited game time, unless Willem Alberts gets rotated a lot or gets injured. Deysel is always a good option on the bench.
Name: Lubabalo Siphosethu “Tera” Mtembu:
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Tera is a product of Dale Junior and Dale College.
He came through the Border junior ranks where he represented Border at the Under 18 Craven Week in 2008 and then also represented South Africa in the Under 18 Elite Squad.
In 2009 he represented Border at Under 19 and Under 21 level.
In 2010 he represented South Africa at the IRB Junior World Championships, the Sharks at Under 21 level and was chosen to represent the Blitzbokke in the Dubai tournament.
In 2011 he made his senior debut for the Sharks XV in the Vodacom Cup and properly cut to the senior ranks by representing The Sharks in the Currie Cup Premier Division.
In 2012 he gravitated to Super Rugby for the Sharks and has now played in 7 Super Rugby games.
His playing career is as follows:
- 2008 – Border – U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week, South Africa – U18 Elite Squad
- 2009 – Border – ABSA Under 21 Competition, Border – ABSA Under 19 Competition
- 2010 – South Africa – IRB Junior World Championships, Sharks – ABSA Under 21 Competition, Blitzbokke – Dubai tournament
- 2011 – Sharks XV – Vodacom Cup, Sharks XV – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory friendlies, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Sharks – ABSA Under 21 Competition
- 2012 – Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, Sharks XV – Vodacom Cup, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2013 – Sharks XV – Vodacom Cup, Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
Tera is a wonderful talent to waste amongst the plethera of loose forwards at the Cell C Sharks.
Name: Ryan Kankowski:
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Ryan Kankowski is a product of Queens College Junior School and St Andrews College. His farther Tino, was a very able wing in his days, representing Eastern Province.
He is a tall, strong, yet pacey and skilled No 8. 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 No 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 No 8 jersey in the future. As a result, he has mostly been an impact player, with 13 of his 20 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.
In June 2012, it was announced that he would join Japanese team Toyota Verblitz for six months. He would miss the 2012 Currie Cup Premier Division season with the Natal Sharks, but would return to the Sharks for the 2013 Super Rugby season and the same applies for the 2014 season.
Awards & Nominations:
- 2008 – SA Rugby Player of the Year nominee
- 2008 – Sasol Player of the Year nominee
- 2008 – Vodacom Super 14 South African Player of the Year
- 2008 – ABSA Currie Cup – Premier Division Player of the Year nominee
His playing career is as follows:
- 2004 – KZN – ABSA U20 Competition Section A
- 2005 – Natal – ABSA Under 21 Competition
- 2006 – Wildebeest – Vodacom Cup, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2007 – Sharks – Vodacom Super 14, Wildebeest – Vodacom Cup, SA Emerging – IRB Nations Cup, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – Vodacom Outgoing Tour
- 2008 – Sharks – Vodacom Super 14, Springboks – Vodacom Incoming Tours, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks -Vodacom Tri Nations, Springboks – Vodacom Outgoing Tour
- 2009 – Sharks – Vodacom Super 14, Springboks – British & Irish Lions Tour, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks -Vodacom Tri Nations, Springboks – Vodacom Outgoing Tours
- 2010 – Sharks – Vodacom Super 14, Springboks – Vodacom Incoming Tours Tour, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks -Vodacom Tri Nations, Springboks – Outgoing Tours
- 2011 – Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, Springboks – Castle Tri Nations, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2012 – Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, Sharks XV – Vodacom Cup, Springboks – Castle Incoming Tours, Toyota Verblitz in Japan
- 2013 – Sharks XV – Vodacom Cup, Sharks Vodacom Super Rugby, Toyota Verblitz in Japan
My guess is that Ryan Kankowski has been usurped by a lot of the loose forwards at the Sharks and will play a limited role at the Sharks in 2014.
Starters:
The Sharks will probably start with Marcell Coetzee (No 6 – Openside), Willem Alberts (No 7 Blindside) and Keegan Daniel (No 8) but there will be lots of rotation, with Jean Deysel, Jacques Botes, Tera Mtembu and even Ryan Kankowski getting enough game time. The Cell C Sharks have incredible depth at loose forward, as even Pieter-Steph du Toit could play at blindside flank.
The Sharks loose forwards are almost all very injury prone, specially Jean Deysel and Willem Alberts.
The next Article in the range will deal with the Cell C Sharks’ scrumhalves.
Impressive loosies… pity that a guy like Tera Mtembu will get scant game time.
5 Springbok loosies, plus the most ever capped Currie Cup Player and a good youngster in their ranks.
The sharks have a great pack. One of the strongest in the competition.
How did Jacque Botes get to 267 points? Did he convert a try?
Keegan Daniels as well on 197. Also a conversion?
GBS , naand se.
Hoe gaan dit daar? Is jy weer voluit aan die gang?
4 @ superBul:
Hello, nee ek is weer eers in volle gang Maandag 6 Januarie
The Sharks loosies leave me underwhelmed, except for Alberts.
Be honest: Coetzee had a decent season 2 or 3 years back and hasn’t done much else. How he keeps being picked in the Bok team is a mystery. His handling skills are average, he is not a fetcher. He can tackle.
Keegans Daniels? A good S level player. Nothing else.
Botes is almost as old as Pietman.
Deysel, was once a quality player, now just a sick note.
Kankowski, flash player without any grunt. Goes missing much like a certain Bulls player.
Scarra, who?
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