In the first week of discussion of Super Rugby squad contenders for 2015 (17 to 24 December), we will discuss 2 positions in seperate Articles (Props & Hookers) and also seperate the Articles of the 5 SA Super Rugby participating franchises.
That means 10 Super Rugby Articles every week from now on.
The basic idea is to discuss the players IN the Super Rugby Group, and not all the options beyond that.
In this Article we look at the contenders for PROPS in the Cell C Sharks 2015 Super Rugby group, and whether they could force their way into Bok contention.
The Contenders:
Name: Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira:
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Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira is a Zimbabwean-born South African rugby union player, is fondly known by friends and fans as “Beast”. Roars of “Beast” are shouted by spectators and fans of the Natal Sharks team whenever Mtawarira attains possession of the ball or makes a big tackle.
He completed his schooling at Peter House in Marondera, Zimbabwe after which he was accepted into the Sharks academy in Durban, where he started to play loosehead prop as he had played in the looseforward position at school.
He is a strong scrummager with great technique as well as a powerful ball-carrier. He made his Test debut against Wales at the start of the 2008 season and was a cornerstone of the Bok scrum when they won the series against the British & Irish Lions in 2009. Because of injuries he missed the start of The Sharks’ season in 2012, but since his return he has been a rock in their pack, as well as for the Springboks. Unfortunately he missed the three Tests in November 2012 because of illness.
He also missed a portion of 2013 with the same heart ailment but came back strongly in The Rugby Championhip and End Of Year Tour for the Springboks to keep and cement is starting role for the Springboks at loosehead prop.
In 2014 Beast was once again a regular in Super Rugby, to the point where he was grossly overplayed by Jake White and where attention to the need for a proper rotational policywas severely neglected. Tendai also took full part in the June Internationals, The Rugby Championship and he castle Lager Outgoing Tour for the Springboksbut started to look jaded towards the end of the year as the effects of being overplayed set in. He will have to be managed better to perform at his peak during Rugby World Cup 2015.
Rugby Career:
- 2005: Natal (ABSA Under 21 Competition)
- 2006: KZN (ABSA Under 21 Competition), Wildebeest (Vodacom Cup)
- 2007: Sharks (Vodacom Super 14), Wildebeest (Vodacom Cup), The Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 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 Tour)
- 2010: Sharks (Vodacom Super 14), Sharks Invitational XV (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsary Friendlies), Springboks (Vodacom Tri-Nations), The Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Springboks (Outgoing Tour)
- 2011: Sharks (Vodacom Super Rugby), Springboks (Castle Tri Nations), The Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Springboks (IRB Rugby World Cup)
- 2012: Sharks XV (Vodacom Cup), 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 Lager Outgoing Tour)
- 2014: Cell C Sharks (2014 Super Rugby Friendlies), Cell C Sharks (Vodacom Super Rugby), Springboks (Castle Lager Incoming Series), Springboks (The Rugby Championship), Springboks (Castle Lager Outgoing Tour)
Name: Jannie du Plessis:
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Jannie has been a real stalwart for the Sharks in the last few years as Tightheads of international standard have been hard to come by in South Africa. He started his rugby career in the Free State where he was captain of the Eastern Free State Craven Week team in 1995 and then represented the Free State at under 18 and 19 level.
He studied medicine at the University of the Free State and became a qualified doctor, making him one of the few players in the professional era of rugby union to have a career outside of the sport whilst playing professionally. He then went on to make the Free State senior team in 2003 and continued playing for the Cheetahs through the 2007 Currie Cup. Du Plessis was also named to a South African squad that faced a World XV at Ellis Park in 2006.
He was selected for the Springbok squad for the first time during the 2007 Tri-Nations, making his debut in the starting XV on 7 July against Australia during the Boks’ home leg. The match was significant for him in another way, as his younger brother, Bismarck, made his Springbok debut as a substitute in the same match while he was still on the field. This made the Du Plessis brothers the 23rd set of brothers to earn Springbok colours.
Jannie du Plessis in 2008 made his move to the Sharks where he currently still applies his trade as a professional rugby player and has represented the Sharks in all competitions on 103 occasions and has probably been at his best this past year where even having played a total of 36 matches for the year, inbetween where possible he also still performs his duties as a medical doctor. Very few people give this man credit for what he has and still achieves.
This is the kind of man doctor Jannie Du Plessis is – he received an unexpected opportunity to use his medical skills in the wake of a 2009 tragedy. In the early morning hours of 29 March, Brumbies lock Shawn Mackay was hit by a car outside a Durban nightclub, suffering a paralyzing injury. Du Plessis was at the scene because he was helping Brumbies players get back to their hotel after their match with the Sharks. He helped Mackay breathe and contacted emergency services, who stabilized him and rushed him to a hospital. However, despite all medical efforts, Mackay would die from complications of his injuries several days later.
In 2013 he was heavily overplayed, as a result of which his general enthusiasm in a game, his defence and lack of high work-rate in a game situation is starting to count against him, however he was still the preferred choice as Springbok tighthead prop.
In 2014 he was again heavily overplayed by Jake White and clearly looked very jaded towards the end of the Super Rugby season. There was no rest for the big man and he was thrust straight back into Springbok rugby duty and it was only injury on the End Of Year Tour which stopped his long season. One hopes he gets plenty of recuperation and rejuvenation time in the off-season, so that he is fresh and ready to go again in 2015.
Jannie should be one of the players who walks straight into the Springboks for the Rugby World Cup squad in 2015, but it has to be mentioned that 2014 was a year where a huge number of tighthead props came to prominence in South Africa… players like Marcel van der Merwe, Julian Redelinghuys and Ruan Dreyer and they will all attempt to push Jannie hard for a place in the Springbok squad.
Rugby Career:
- 2002: Free State (Bankfin Under 21)
- 2003: Vodacom Free State (ABSA Reserve Division A), Vodacom Cheetahs (RWC Warm-ups)
- 2004: Free State Cheetahs (Vodacom Cup), Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2005: Vodacom Cheetahs (Vodacom Cup), Vodacom Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Qualifying Round), Vodacom Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2006: Vodacom Cheetahs (Vodacom Super 14), Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2007: Vodacom Cheetahs (Vodacom Super 14), Springboks (Vodacom Tri-Nations), Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Springboks (Vodacom Outgoing Tour), Springboks (IRB Rugby World Cup)
- 2008: Sharks (Vodacom Super 14), The Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsary Friendlies), Vodacom FS Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), The Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Springboks (Vodacom Outgoing Tour)
- 2009: Sharks (MTN Test), Sharks, (Vodacom Super 14), Sharks (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), Springboks (Vodacom Tri-Nations), The Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Springboks (Outgoing Tours)
- 2011: Sharks (Vodacom Super Rugby), Springboks (Castle Tri-Nations), 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 (Vodacom Super Rugby), Springboks (Castle Lager Incoming Series), The Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Springboks (The Rugby Championship)
- 2014: Cell C Sharks (2014 Super Rugby Friendlies), Cell C Sharks (Vodacom Super Rugby), Springboks (Castle Lager Incoming Series), Springboks (The Rugby Championship), Springboks (Castle Lager Outgoing Tour)
Name: Lourens Adriaanse:
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Lourens Adriaanse was born in Cape Town and played in the Western Province youth teams. He represented Maties in the Varsity Cup in 2009 and 2010, before moving to the Griquas for the 2011 season. His domestic performances saw a quick elevation to the Cheetahs Super Rugby team and he debuted in a match against the Reds in Brisbane.
He joined the Sharks for the start of the 2014 season.
Adriaanse was called up to the Springbok squad for the 2013 June International Tests against Italy, Scotland and Samoa, but he didn’t play in any of the matches. He finally made his Springbok debut in a test against France on 23 November 2013 in Paris.
Lourens Adriaanse’s form was way down in 2014, in fact he was a huge disapointment, as many thought he might stick his hand high for Springbok honours and never did in 2014.
Lourens is still the 2nd choice tighthead prop the Cell C Sharks and should get enough game time in 2015 He definately needs a much better year than in 2014 and needs his 2013 mojo back, as many tightheads have simply passed him in 2014, to witt Marcel van der Merwe, Julian Redelinghuys, Ruan Dreyer and Frans Malherbe!
Rugby Career:
- 2004: WP (Under 16 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week)
- 2005: Investec Western Province (Under 18 Academy Week)
- 2006: Western Province (Under 18 Coca-Cola Craven Week)
- 2007: WP (ABSA Under 19 Competition)
- 2008: WP (ABSA Under 21 Competition)
- 2009: Maties (FNB Varsity Cup), Western Province (Vodacom Cup), Western Province (ABSA Under 21 Competition), SA Students
- 2010: Maties (FNB Varsity Cup)
- 2011: GWK Griquas (Vodacom Cup), Toyota Cheetahs (Vodacom Super Rugby), Griualand West (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsary Friendlies), GWK Griquas (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2012: GWK Griquas (Vodacom Cup) Toyota Cheetahs (Vodacom Super Rugby), GWK Griquas (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2013: GWK Griquas (Vodacom Cup) Toyota Cheetahs (Vodacom Super Rugby), Springboks (Castle Lager Incoming Series), (GWK Griquas (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Springboks (The Rugby Championship), GWK Griquas (ABSA Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation), Springboks (Castle Lager Outgoing Tour)
- 2014: Cell C Sharks (2014 Super Rugby Friendlies), Cell C Sharks (Vodacom Super Rugby), Cell C Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
Name: Thomas Joubert du Toit:
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Thomas the Tank Engine, errr… I mean Thomas du Toit is one for the future, a very young Loosehead propwith massive potential
He represented Boland at the Under 13 Craven Week competition in 2008 and Western Province at the 2011 Under 16 Grant Khomo Week and 2013 Under 18 Craven Week competitions. He played for the Paarl Boys’ High School first team in 2012 and 2013, also captaining the side in 2013.
In 2013, Du Toit was included in the South African Schools side that played in three matches in August of that year. He made a substitute appearance in a 19–14 victory match over England in Crawford, played the entire second match (a 17–13 victory against France in George) and was an unused substitute in their final match (a 14–13 win over Wales in Worcester).
Du Toit then opted to move to Durban to join the Natal Sharks academy for 2014.
He was included in the victorius SA Under 20 side for the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship.
With no prior first class rugby behind his name, Du Toit was a surprise inclusion in the Sharks squad for the 2014 Super Rugby season. Still finding himself behind the likes of Tendai Mtawarira in the pecking order, however, he dropped down to the Sharks XV squad for the 2014 Vodacom Cup season. He made his senior debut on 7 March 2014, against the Border Bulldogs in East London. He came on as a half-time substitute and scored his first senior try just 15 minutes after coming on. His first start came three weeks later against the Free State XV in Bloemfontein.
He represented the Cell C Sharks with distinction in the ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division in 2014.
Rugby Career:
- 2008: Boland (Under 13 Coca-Cola Craven Week)
- 2011: WP (Under 16 Grant Khomo Week)
- 2013: Western Province (Under 18 Coca-Cola Craven Week), SA Schools
- 2014: Cell C Sharks XV (Vodacom Cup), Cell C Sharks (Vodacom Super Rugby), South Africa (IRB Junior World Championship) Cell C Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
Name: Dale Chadwick:
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Dale Chadwick plays loosehead prop and is behind Tendai Mtawarira in the loosehead pecking order. He and Thomas du Toit will have to fight it out to see who should be the regular backup to Mtawarira.
Dale is a no-nonsense prop and a hard worker but realstically does not stand a chance to progress to National honours in 2015 or soon thereafter.
Rugby Career:
- 2005: Kwa-Zulu Natal (Under 16 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week)
- 2007: KZN (Under 18 Coca-Cola Craven Week), South Africa (SA Schools)
- 2008: Sharks (ABSA Under 19 Competition)
- 2009: Sharks Invitational XV (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsary Friendlies), The Sharks (ABSA Under 21 Competition), The Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2010: Sharks XV (Vodacom Cup), The Sharks (ABSA Under 21 Competition)
- 2011: Sharks XV (Vodacom Cup), The Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsary Friendlies), The Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2012: Sharks XV (Vodacom Cup), Sharks (Vodacom Super Rugby), The Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2013: Sharks (Vodacom Super Rugby), Theee Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2014: Cell C Sharks (2014 Super Rugby Friendlies), Cell C Sharks (Vodacom Super Rugby), Cell C Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
Name: Matthew John Hamilton “Matt” Stevens:
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Matt Stevens grew up in South Africa, attended Kearney College and represented Western Province at Under 18 and Under 19 levels, as well as the SA Universities side.
He then immigrated to the UK and joined Bath in September 2002. Towards the end of the season he made 5 appearances for Bath off the bench.
He progressed through the ranks and featured inBath’s drive to the top of the Zürich Premiership table in 2003 / 2004 and in March 2004 he was selected ahead of Jason Leonard as a replacement in England’s Six Nations game against Ireland at Twickenham.
Stevens was known for popping up in the back line during matches for Bath, and has quite a turn of pace for a front-rower.
In January 2008, Stevens signed a four-year contract with Bath that would have kept him at the club until the end of the 2011 / 2012 season.
However, on 20 January 2009 it was confirmed Stevens had failed a drug test after Bath’s Heineken Cup match against Glasgow the previous month. He was withdrawn from the England SIX Nations squad for the 2009 tournament and suspended by Bath RFC. He was banned from rugby for two years on 26 February 2009 after testing positive for cocaine, and on 5 March announced that he was quitting his club before they sacked him.
In January 2010, it was announced that Stevens would sign for Saracens upon the completion of his ban. In his first season back, Stevens started for the Sarries side that defeated Leicester Tigers in the 2010 / 2011 Aviva Premiership final.
In February 2014, it was revealed that Stevens would return to South Africa after the conclusion of the 2013 / 2014 English Premiership season to join the Natal Sharks in August on a two-year deal.
Matt Stevens has vast International experience and has represented England as well as the British & Irish Lions as follows:
In 2003, Stevens, who qualified for England by virtue of his English parents, played for England Under 21’s in the IRB Under 21 World Cup, which was held in Oxfordshire. He soon drew the attention of the England senior team selectors and was selected for the 2004 summer tour to New Zealand and Australia. He won his first two caps as a substitute in the Tests against the All Blacks but a knee injury meant he was unavailable for the test against Australia in Brisbane.
He was in the England team for the 2005 Six Nations, and was one of the better performers in England’s disappointing campaign. He was selected for the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour and featured in six games, though he did not play in any of the Test matches.
During the 2006 Six Nations Championship he suffered a shoulder injury that required two operations and kept him out of the game for nearly a year; he did not return to international duty until England’s mid-year tour to South Africa in June 2007.
Stevens was in England’s squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He played in the three warm-up games, against Wales and France and featured in all England’s games during the tournament, starting in three of the pool games and coming off the bench in the other games.
He was a replacement in England’s loss to Wales in the first game of the 2008 Six Nations Championship and started in the second game, against Italy.
He was chosen in the 37-man squad for the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.
Stevens in 2014 looked a mere shadow of the man who played international and World Cup rugby and looks to be settling down to slowly but surely finish out his rugby career at the Sharks.
Starters:
The Sharks are virtually assured to start with their two frontline Springbok props, Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira loosehead prop and Jannie du Plessis at tighthead prop, but also expect Lourens Adriaanse to rotate regularly at thighthead with Jannie and with young Thomas du Toit getting quite a bit of game time at loosehead prop. Dale Chadwick and Matt Stevens, by all accounts will be injury cover and should accordingly see some game time too, although it must be noted that Matt Stevens does not even look like a shadow of the man who played so many internationals for England… his time has come and gone.
The Sharks have great depth in most positions, maybe less so than at the start of the 2014 season though, but probably till the best depth of all Super Rugby sides and there is no reason why the Sharks scrum, with these props anchoring their scrum should not be one of the best in the Competition.
Jake White clearly overplayed Beast Mtawarira and Jannie du Plessis in the 2014 Super Rugby season, with no regard whatsoever for the national cause… and due regard should be taken by the new Cell C Sharks coaching group for 2015, not to repeat the process and flaws of 2014.
Having 2 first choice Springbok props PLUS a Springbok tighthead tourist of 2013 (Lourens Adriaanse), as well as a possible future Springbok (Thomas du Toit) in their midst, sounds a warning to all front rows of other franchises.
Hopefully the arduous battles of 2014 will have been forgotten when Super Rugby starts in February and hopefully the somewhat jaded Beast Mtawarira and Jannie du Plessis will be rejuvenated enough to give it a full go in 2015.
The next Article in the range will deal with the Cell C Sharks’ hookers.
Certainly not shabby for Super Rugby props!
I expect young Thomas du Toit to surpass Dale Chadwick in the pecking order for loosehead prop.
I hope a healthy rotation policy is adopted in 2015, unlike in 2014 where Jake White played a lot of players absolutely into the ground, with absolutely no consideration to the national cause.
It is important that we have the Springboks fresh, yet with enough game time under the belts, when September arrives and the Bokke are off to the World Cup.
Hierdie oordrewe statistiek van gewig en lengte van spelers darem. As ek die speler ontmoet kyk ek oor hom, maar as ek sy lengte hier lees is hy langer as ek.
@ grootblousmile:
Wat het van al jou ander skrywers geword? Moet jy nou alleen alles skryf.
3 @ leon:
Jong, dit vat dedication, deurdrukkingsvermoë en groot balle om te skrywe… en dan aan te hou skrywe… dis nou al amper 5 en ‘n half jaar wat ek dit doen.
Maar dis nie n probleem nie, BullScot help my mooi met goed uit Europa.
Hier by my is dit rustiger in Desember so ek sal van nou af heelwat meer tyd hê om rustig te skrywe.
Bydraes van ander skrywers bly egter altyd welkom.
Cool song by Jan Blohm here on occasion of the summer solstice (“…die son in Breyten se brief…)
sorry, here you are:
@ Angostura:
Beautiful lyrics…
“Sunnyside se poems dryf my sweet sherry toe
het jy ‘n clue my baby blue
my Rosie so true.
En as dors aan die tyd, sing die Kaapse wind suid
kom lê in my arms, ek het als weggesmyt
Maar So wals my my lief
laat my in angels believe
Ek het gesê jy is die son in Breyten se brief
want hy maak ons huil
maar jy maak my sien”
Brief vir Jan Blohm, deur Lieze Stassen:
More local talent (ciao, out):
@ Angostura:
@8
Great song… powerful stuff..
“Maar die Blues is beter as n valium
Om die memories mee stil te maak”
Last one, g’nite:
Today (or perhaps tomorrow…………………….but definitely Not the day after).
Is Puma’s Birthday.
59 or 60. (give or take a year).
So…………………………….. to the Greatest of The Sharkievarkies.
Happy Birthday and Best Wishes Mr Puma Pants.
😉
My heart goes out to all those people who have lost loved ones and those injured in the terrible crash in Glasgow
Rest in Peace Joe Cocker
RIP Joe Cocker
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Changing the topic, I see the long term weather forecast for Durban suggests rain from 26 through to 29 December, which is not unusual for this time of year. Just as well the Boxing Day cricket Test is in Port Elizabeth this year …
RIP Joe Cocker.
I’ve always liked this one
15 @ Angostura:
Hi Angostura maybe it is just as well its in PE, although it should be less wet there still looks like rain during the test in PE too.
17 @ Victoriabok:
Hi Vicbok yeah that’s a good one too, so many good songs from him.
17 @ Victoriabok:
There was a singer in South Africa I got to see on a few occasions before I left there whose voice reminded me a bit o Joe Cocker – ‘gravelly’ I think is the term for it, he’s a gospel singer Julius Magan, just a few days ago I listened to some of his (Julius) songs on the net, although his voice sounds a little less ‘gravelly’ than it did in his earlier days of singing.
Farewell Joe Fuckadilly will be devastated.
@ Angostura: supurb voice Angos. We do indeed develop some unbelievable talent as evidenced by this guy. Pity it doesn’t dominate the voices of evil dominating our airwaves currently.
@ gunther: meaning exactly what Grunter?????? You’ll have to excuse my doffness
Bullscot wrote:
I don’t know him, he sounds great
At least we still have Bob Seger in the gravelly voice department
Tassies wrote:
Me too I’d like to know?
I thought ET loved only music on old 78’s from his dearly missed USSR?
@ cane: the powers and invasiveness of Facebook no doubt lends a pointer. That said; All strength to the hand of Pums. An officer and a gentleman of note.
@ Victoriabok: back in the USSR boy, no doubt. But we speak in riddles. What has Grunter been smoking I wonder?
@ Tassies:
Fuckadilly aka slopskiet reckoned uncle Joe was the greatest of all time
@ Victoriabok: I heard “Turn the page” just this week. And was wondering where the hell that one sprung from. That said; he wrote some wonderful material. We’ve just forgotten.
@ gunther: Ah! I knew there was a riddle in there somewhere. Skoppie was your nemesis. The ghost that hovers and slips out under the cover of darkness. Work that one out. 🙂
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