Rassie has made wholesale changes for the test against Italy. Ethan Hooker will feature at 12 next to Canan Moodie. Handre Pollard and Morne van den Berg will get a start after carrying tackle bags for quite some time. Marco van Staden will start at 8 and act as reserve hooker. Zachary Porthen gets another start for the Boks with the big guns Steenekamp and Louw providing cover on the bench. Andre Esterhuizen has again been selected in his hybrid role.
(more…)Rassie has picked a very strong team for what should be the match of the year. The French has been really hurt by the close loss in the World Cup quarter final and based on all the talk will be out for serious revenge. The Boks will likely face a pretty hostile crowd as well.
(more…)This is the statement from the Shark on John Plumtree’s future at the franchise:
(more…)Rassie is continuing his quest to build Bok depth by giving rookie Zachary Porthen a start against Japan. An injury to Damian Willemse results in Cheslin Kolbe being moved to 15 with Ethan Hooker moving over to the 14 jersey. Franco Mostert gets another chance in place of the rested PSDT and likewise RG Snyman will partner Lood de Jager. Andre Esterhuizen has been selected in the 20 jersey showing that the hybrid experiment will continue.
(more…)Plum should thank Rassie, because all the Boks will still be available for the Sharks this weekend before departing to the UK. Hopefully the players will show a bit more cohesion.
A few minor changes have been made to the starting team with Phepsi dropping to the bench and Manu Tshituka starting. Mapimpi has copped a 5 week ban for his tip tackle – so Edwill takes his jersey with Jordan Hendrikse moving to full back. Jurenzo Julius drops to the bench and Lukhanyo Am starts in his spot.
(more…)Plum has selected all of his available Boks for the game against Ulster. This team can be very competitive at home depending on how long they take to gel. The Sharks scrum was pretty dominant against Leinster (although it took a while for the ref to agree) – this week the scrum should even be a lot better. The Bok end of year tour starts on 1 November against Japan in London – so this will most likely be the only chance for Plum to use his Boks until December / January.
(more…)Seeing as Ethan Hooker, Makazole Mapimpi, Bongi Mbonambi and Vincent Koch were already in the UK with the Boks, Plum has called up some of the Sharks Boks. Siya Masuku is also returning to the bench.
I assume Siya Kolisi, Ox Nche and Eben Etzebeth are all rested, but not sure why Grant Williams is also not available.
(more…)Plum has kept the same starting pack, but has made four changes to the back line. Jaden Hendrikse has moved back to scrumhalf with Jean Smith starting. Lukhanyo Am moves to inside centre with Jurenzo Julius starting at 13. PK Sobahle starts at 14 with Edwill van der Merwe moving to full back.
This is a game the Sharks can really target to win even with all the disruptions to their team.
(more…)Rassie has retained the same starting team from Durban except that Ox Nche returns at loosehead. Bongi Mbonambi, Grant Williams and Jesse Kriel move onto the bench.
If Australia can sneak a win over New Zealand the Boks can afford to lose this game by 7 points. Otherwise a simple win over the Pumas will hand the Boks the Rugby Championship trophy.
(more…)Deon Slabbert will start at lock for the Sharks (even though he was not named in the official squad) along new signing Marvin Orie. Jaden Hendrikse will start at 10 with another new signing Edwill van der Merwe at 14. Jean Smith may get some game time later in the game against his father’s team. There is no scrumhalf cover on the bench as the Sharks have two scrumhalves starting.
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