It looks like Springbok Andre Pretorius, and not Patrick Lambie, will start at flyhalf for the Sharks against Western Province in the Absa Currie Cup league match in Cape Town.
SuperSport
Pretorius excelled in the Sharks’ big win over the Leopards in Durban last weekend. It was Pretorius’s first full game at this level for a couple of years as he has been injury plagued over a long period and has hardly played since the 2007 World Cup.
The former Lions pivot moved to Durban to play for the Sharks on a game by game basis as the Sharks were not prepared to risk giving him a full contract due to his long history with injury. However, under the guidance of coach John Plumtree, the Sharks conditioning team have worked hard on building up the strength in Pretorius’s leg muscles and he has returned to the game looking surprisingly confident.
While young Lambie has been outstanding for the Sharks since moving to flyhalf, and is obviously still very much part of the plans, Plumtree is mindful of what Pretorius can bring in terms of experience and goal-kicking during the knockout phases.
“We have been very pleased with Pat and he has played really well for us, but we are going into a tough phase of the competition now and I feel that Andre might just be able to offer us something important towards the end of knockout games if they are close,” said Plumtree.
“He kicked well against the Leopards, and obviously accurate goalkicking is extremely important at this stage of competition. But while Andre played well against the Leopards, we need to know that it was against the Leopards, who, with all due respect, are not the strongest team in the competition.
“I would like to see him get a proper workout against a strong team, and that opportunity will present itself against WP.”
Of course, the Sharks are going to Newlands without any pressure to win the game as they have already finished top in the competition. It does present an ideal chance to experiment, although it does need to be noted that if Lambie is still the first choice flyhalf, which he should be after the great season he has had, then he also needs to get a good run against WP after only playing off the bench last week.
The smart money should be on both of them getting a half against WP, although there is the other possibility which is not at all unattractive for Sharks — that of Lambie playing inside centre, where he was good before making the switch inside.
Kyk, ek issie die grootste Yo-yo fan nie…. maar hy het heelwat beter as Lambie gelyk… en skop ook baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaie beter as Lambie pale toe.
Wil vir my begin lyk of Lambie se bubble besig is om te bars.
Julle Shark supporters beter hoop sy hamstrings hou.
@ grootblousmile:
As much as I like Lambie he must just not kick for posts because he will still lose the Sharks tight matches with his goal kicking..
I rate the Lamb, but he doesnt seem very focused when it comes to kicking, but he doesnt let it get him down which is good.
3@ Winston:
Lambie’s kicking style will cause that he’s NEVER a sure-fire marksman to posts, he’ll need to work on correcting his whole approach to kicking.
Compare him to Elton Jantjies, Morné Steyn, Willem de Waal, and even Andre Pretorius… he stands last in the queue as far as goal kicking is concerned. In these days and times your flyhalf needs to be bang on target with goal kicking and this might hamper his progress in the Bokke over the years.
Let us not forget Henry Honiball. Great flyhalf, very good defender, excellent play maker, he wasn’t at all the best kicker to posts.
Lambie still wet behind the ears. Neither him nor Jantjies is up for the big game yet. Let’s hope the Shark dont fukc up his career the way they did with so many good players.
@ grootblousmile:
@ biltongbek:
Agreed, I just dont think he is a natural goal kicker and should just stick to play making..
@ biltongbek:
Very good defender sound underrated. Se eerder hy kon die kak uit n klip uit tackle!!
9@ KWAGGA ROBERTSE:
Heyyyyyyyyyy, Kwaggaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Pappaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Hoekom antwoord jy noooooooooooit jou foon nie? Vermy jy my?
Flok!
@ grootblousmile:1 – Gbs, Sorry no Lambie’s bubble HAS NOT BURST. He is a great player only his kicking at poles needs coaching everything else is fine. Though for this Saturday want to see him play inside centre. Nothing for Sharks or himself to lose here, but rather to gain. To see how he plays with AP at 10.
Lambie was superb at FB probably the best position he played this year. Though he was just fine at inside centre too and remember playing FH is not the easiest position. Need plenty time there not just a CC season. 😛
Also AP needs game time. He has to start this Saturday, makes plenty sense to me. 😀
Lambie is a terrific talent. So sorry to burst your bubble…..hehehehehehehehe.
@ biltongbek:6 – Well said.
11@ Puma:
Proof of the pudding is in the eating.
I don’t say his bubble HAS burst, I’m suggesting it could possibly be an explanation as to what MIGHT be busy happening gradually and that the hype around Lambie has been far overstated and quite frankly far too much. I’m also asking whether it might not be a case that his kicking to posts drags him down a notch or 2 for higher aspirations and honours, considering there is Elton Jantjies (who does not miss) and that youngster from Grey College…. Goosen, on the horison (who slots them from 67 metres and also does not seem to miss), with both Jantjies & Lambie just more than a year older than Goosen.
Late in a player’s 1st season the guys start to work out exactly how he plays, 2nd season they have him down to a “T” and only the really good ones make the grade past this stage… hope for your sake and for the sake of the Bokke that Lambie is one of those.
I notice you always tout to have Lambie play all over the place, any position, as long as he just makes the team… which in turn keeps you happy.
A week or 2 ago you insisted that Elton Jantjies play flyhalf at the End Of Year Tour, with Lambie at No 12 or 15… as longs as he plays, was all you were worried about… now you want to do the same for coming Saturday…
Shunting Lambie from pillar to post, all this whilst Strauss, Riaan Swanepoel and Oupa Terblanche have done their thing at centre (with Strauss probably the most improved No 12 in SA), would be stupid.
I do not get you guys who want to make utility backs of all backline players, a la Tricky Dicky Muir…. and in the process absolutely ruined the likes of Ruan Pienaar, Brent Russell, Gaffie Du Toit and a few other very promising players…..
2 Youngsters, both relatively suspect in defense, next to one another, in a Grand Slam Tour… is a potential disaster and a recipy for egg on the face.
I just do not get it, or support such silly notions.
I’m out of here, I have a Business dinner with the guys from NewsPod Media.
Cheers
@ grootblousmile:13 – gbs, Yes I would like Jantjies to play FH and Lambie probably inside centre but think his best position he excelled in this year was FB. So maybe FB.
You are wrong, I don’t just want him in any position just so he can be in the team, that is not true. I feel he should make the team cause he is a terrific player. You can’t argue with that. I know he has played in 3 different positions this year but I think at the Sharks Plum will settle on one position for him next year. I am speaking now for the eoyt. NOT for the world cup. We need these youngsters to try out then. So we can be ready for after the world cup, with some great players to step straight into positions that will be left vacant.
For the Sharks. For this Saturday yes, would like to see how he copes playing inside centre with AP at FH and against a very good team in Province. We did see how well he played at FB against them in the S14 so my reason to see how he copes at inside centre. My feeling that wont happen, he will come from the bench and play FH.
Gbs, we no doubt will have egg on our face for eoyt. Not all the top players are going. We have to just accept that. So don’t think we will win all those games. So nothing to lose may as well try out the youngsters. I personally always want us to send our best for a test. It not gonna happen for this grand slam. Pity.
Enjoy your business dinner.
gbs, I do like the new ads on the top. Brings some good colour to the blog.
Is that your business? Just wondered.
Super, See you up there. Did you watch any of the Ryder Cup? Was a very exciting finish. Pleased the Europeans won.
16@ Puma:
Yes, one of my businesses.
Will place some specials from time to time on for you guys, with prices you won’t find elsewhere…
Did you see how LOWWWWW the prices are for the External Hard Drives and for that PC Bundle which just needs a Hard Drive (500GB = R 350.00) and an LCD Monitor (LG 19″ LCD = R 995.00, LG 19″ LED = R 1 195.00, LG 21.5″ LCD = R 1 495.00, LG 21.5″ LED = R 1 555.00, LG 23″ LCD = R 1 615.00, LG 23″ LED = R 1 785.00) to be a complete PC? It is not loaded with software yet, but I can easily attend to that as well.
This PC Bundle shown is right at the bottom of the scale, of course one can select ANY other specifications, add massive Ram and Graphics Cards…. and build a monster too… up to the needs of the User.
Planning to display some fine Notebooks in ads as well soon.
@ grootblousmile:gbs, Those are excellent prices. Should have seen you before I left Joburg. Now have everything well set up here. Tomorrow having a new study all built in. Well they had better finish it in one day. All the cupboards and desks have been made just to fit it in. Cause Saturday I am off for 3 weeks to Oz. So hoping it is all done by tomorrow. Rain has delayed them from Monday doing it.
Anyhow your business looks great and your prices are excellent as I mentioned. All the best with it. Hope you pick plenty work by your ads here. They are great ads too.
@ Puma:meant – pick up plenty work
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