Cell C Sharks director of rugby, Jake White, has named a 39-man squad that will contest the 2014 Super Rugby tournament, which includes 17 Springboks.
White has insisted that having one of the best squads in Super Rugby means little if his team cannot transfer the weight of expectancy into results.
rugbyweek
The Durban franchise will kick off the 2014 competition this weekend as one of the favourites considering the large number of Springboks on their books, coupled by the addition of the former national coach during the off season.
“One thing I’ve chatted to the players about is reputations,” 2007 World Cup-winner White said.
“Reputations mean nothing, it doesn’t matter what people think and it doesn’t matter how many Springboks you have, you’re not going to win with reputations. I’m not trying to play down the fact that we have a talented squad — we have, but the challenge is making sure that everything is aligned.”
White on Tuesday announced a 39-man squad for the southern hemisphere’s premier club competition, which they kick-off against three-time champions the Vodacom Bulls at Kings Park on Saturday.
There are 17 Springboks on the list, who are mixed with young talents like Andre Esterhuizen and Tyler Fisher.
“I’m very happy with the depth we have here,” White said.
“The talent here is phenomenal and I can compare apples with apples. Comparing a side like the Brumbies (his former team) who came second last year, to a franchise like the Sharks, I can say that there is unbelievable talent here…from 19-year-olds right up to Springboks.”
The Sharks have never won the title, although they have 4 runners-up medals.
White admits they will be in unfamiliar territory as one of the competition favourites.
“It’s unique for this group and not many South African sides get given the favourites’ tag,” he said.
“In fact, in a lot of ways, South Africans like to be the under-dog, both internationally as well as at a franchise level. That’s just the way it is.”
Cell C Sharks squad for the 2014 Super Rugby season:
Lourens Adriaanse
Willem Alberts
Jacques Botes
Anton Bresler
Dale Chadwick
Marcell Coetzee
Kyle Cooper
Tonderai Chavhanga
Keegan Daniel
Jean Deysel
Bismarck du Plessis (Captain)
Jannie du Plessis
Pieter-Steph du Toit
Thomas du Toit
Andre Esterhuizen
Tyler Fisher
Hansie Graaf
Monde Hadebe
Paul Jordaan
Ryan Kankowski
Patrick Lambie
Stephan Lewies
Peet Marais
SP Marais
Charl McLeod
Tendai Mtawarira
Tera Mtembu
Lwazi Mvovo
Odwa Ndungane
Etienne Oosthuizen
JP Pietersen
Cobus Reinach
S’bura Sithole
Francois Steyn
Tim Swiel
Stefan Ungerer
Jaco van Tonder
Heimar Williams
Fred Zeilinga
(Capped Springboks in BOLD)
Cheetahs have already announced their team for the weekend, but the tournament favourites can only announce a squad.
Dik swak!
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FRybpuJemre&h=aAQE08VlP&enc=AZPxK6gZcYVP4LqHGShWA1q4joWWvNyFCFczDFE0cWfaV5cCIR_yGTP-hE3meqBgm4MKldWTHigBHjT6mD4k7Rm-zeE4kBAfZPzmX2AGBN2k_7furof78UabyJ38ngpqskYMKayGhp1zSHFoN8znf6D6&s=1
Ou Keegan Cullen looks like a poor imitation of John Holmes
Loosehead wrote:
Die Vrystaat provinsie is gewoonlik so ver agter die res van die land, is dit nie dalk die 2011 SR span wat nou bekend gemaak is nie?
Loosehead wrote:
Sharks het altyd lomtrent heel laaste besluit op hul span. Nou het hul boonop Jake daar net so sly dubious character in my eyes, maar nou ja dit is hoe dinge daar gedoen word. Span wat aangekondig word is nie noodwendig die een wat opdraf nie. Dat hulle moet rely on the surprise is flippen belaglik.
Excellent squad, though wonder where Herbst is? I know he did have a op in the off season just maybe he has not recovered fully yet.
Sharks will probably only announce there team tomorrow or Thursday for this weeks game.
Only player missing for this week is JPP he still has to fly back from Japan.
Can’t wait for this game to see how we go under Jake. The weather forecast for Saturday is very hot around 33 and high humidity. That too nothing unusual for this time of year, though very tough to play in those conditions.
GO SHARKS………
@ Puma:
Good grief brudda where the hell you been? and how the heck are you doing??
To answer you re Herbst? he had an op so still out for a while,
AND YES, GOOOOOOO SHARKSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
7 @ Sharks_forever:
Howzit bro, how you doing? Hope well.
I took a break from blogging when I had my Scots mates here. They were here for two months. Nov and Dec went back to Scotland early Jan. So hardly blogged while they were here. Now will be back in full force to support our Sharks here… 🙂
Great that Herbst is only out because of the op as I really think he deserves to be part of the squad. Remember he can scrum on both sides as well. So he is very handy to have and he was good for us last year.
6 @ Puma:
Really excited for this season with our Sharks under Jake. Can’t wait to see how they go. Watch the game against Sarries plenty positives to take out of that game. The game on Saturday was not on tv so only read on Sharksworld how it went. Seems Sithole was terrific at outside centre. What are your thoughts of him playing there?
9 @ Puma:
Bro my post 9 was meant for you. Hell I am backward with the blogging after not blogging for so long….hahahaha.
@ Puma:
lol Thanks bro and all good here, yeah cant wait for Saturday,
I gotta laugh because most in here thought you got angry with the Lambie bashers in here and stopped blogging HAhahahahahahahahaha
@ Puma:
Jake is showing one or 2 concerns but for the most its very positive,
11 @ Sharks_forever:
Hahahaha. Well they would would…. hehehe. Nope blame it on my Scot mates…hehehe.
I will be here now so any Lambie bashing I will klap the lot….
12 @ Sharks_forever:
Who is Thomas Du Toit?
11 @ Sharks_forever:
My only concern for Saturday is the heat and humidity. Was bloody hot and humid here today and think it is forecast for hotter on Saturday. Hope not to see too many handling errors because of the humidity.
With JPP still in Japland, this is more or less the team I think Jake will select for the Bulls match.
15 SP
14 Odwa
13 Jordaan
12 Steyn
11 Mvovo
10 Lambie
09 Reinach
08 Alberts4
07 Deysel
06 Marcell
05 PSDT
04 Bresler
03 Jannie
02 Bissy (C)
01 Beast
16 Cooper
17 Adriaanse
18 Chadwick
19 Lewies
20 Kanko
21 Mcleod
22 Swiel Not that I would agree with this, Prefer Zeilinga
23 Fisher
@ Puma:
@ Puma:
Well I am off to bed bro, catch up tomorrow, have a good one.
As for my team that I think? the surprise could well be Sbura starting at 13 or on the bench with Swiel falling out.
16 @ Sharks_forever:
Good team that, but I would have liked Mcleod to start this one. He was excellent for us in the Currie Cup and I feel Lambie plays better with McLeod than Cobus.
I think Tera might start with probably Alberts at 7 and Deysel at 6. Not sure just thinking. Though Jake rates Kanko highly but think he needs more game time before he starts.
18 @ Sharks_forever</b
I have a feeling that Sithole will start as well. I think Fred will be on the bench and not Swiel. Swiel never impressed me against Sarries. I would have had Swiel covering at fb though it seems Jake wants a bigger fb.
18 @ Sharks_forever:
Yip I am off to bed as well. Great to catch up with you brudda. Have not spoken to you forever on this site. You must be busy I take it.
Okay catch up later this week.
Cheers bro.
@ Puma:
Agree, just putting the team the way I think JW will go.
Macwolkie as Rudi call him is the better scrummy right now for me.
@ Puma:
Cheers!!!!
22 @ Sharks_forever:
Yeah McLeod is better I think. Jake will see I am sure he is a smart coach so if Cobus does not perform expect McLeod to start the next game.
Okay off to bed bro. Really good to catch up with you here again.
Sharks should do well this year, but as we’ve seen before critical injuries can upstage any campaign.
Jake White finally giving Lambie the oppertunity to play flyhalf. For the seventeenth game in a row?
eish opportunity
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