Rassie has picked Wilco Louw (arguably the strongest tight head in the scrum in the world) to start with Thomas moving to the bench. Cobus Reinach moves onto the bench while Grant Williams drops out of the squad. Franco Mostert is officially the reserve lock / blindside on the bench this time.
(more…)Rassie has picked pretty much his first choice (based on available players) team for Italy. Seeing as the following games are against France and Italy – it looks like the youngsters were picked to get exposure in the Bok setup. The Boks currently shades the All Blacks to top the Southern Conference on points difference. After the next 3 games the top team in the Southern Conference will play the top team in the Northern Conference for the trophy. This means the Boks will have to win all 3 games (very likely also need point wins) unless Scotland or England can get one over the All Blacks.
(more…)Andre Esterhuizen, Jurenzo Julius (just as he started showing some real form) and Phatu Ganyane have all gone home early after picking up injuries in last week’s game. Jason Jenkins did look uncomfortable when he left the field but is fit to play. Ox starts this week with Thomas du Toit providing power from the bench. Suleiman Hartzenberg joined the team this week and will play 13 next to Ethan Hooker who moves to 12. Esethu Mnebelele will provide hooker cover this week next to Cameron Dawson who would want to build on impressive scrumming in the Currie Cup. Lili Bester will get another chance off the bench.
(more…)The Sharks Boks have rejoined the squad after being left at home for the Challenge Cup. JPP has decided to again select Ox Nche and Thomas du Toit on the bench. Selecting Ox on the bench has back fired against Australia and against the Stormers. Hopefully it will be third time lucky for the Sharks. That said the reserve front row scrummed very well against the heavier Lyon pack. Jordan Hendrikse has picked up an injury against Lyon – so Gianni Lombard will have to run the show from 10.
(more…)It is clear the Sharks do not plan to take the EPCR seriously and is using it to blood second string players and new signings. I understand leaving some of the Boks with recent heavy workload (e.g. Ox, Andre, Ethan) at home to get a break, but Thomas and Edwill did not really play that many Bok games. Likewise Vincent Koch, Jason Jenkins, Jaden Hendrikse and Vincent Tshituka (all on tour) could add a lot of grunt and experience in this game. Glad to see both Emile van Heerden and Jaco Williams back in the squad.
(more…)JPP has selected the strongest available team for the game in Cape Town. The Stormers have also selected all their available Boks including Wilco Louw. The scrum battle between Ox and Louw will be worth the ticket price on its own. The Sharks Boks will have the slight advantage that they already have played one game for their URC team.
(more…)JPP has selected his Boks for the game against Leinster. Thomas du Toit starts at loosehead with Ox Nche on the bench. Andre Esterhuizen captains the team from 12 with Edwill on the wing. Eben Etzebeth and Ethan Hooker features on the bench.
Loading with returning Boks has not always worked for the Sharks. The Boks have just been through a challenging series up there with Lions and World Cup levels plus actually traveling around the globe. I am not sure how much these guys will still have in the tank.
(more…)Nick Hatton will captain the Sharks for the URC opening game against the Ospreys. New signings Darrien Landsberg and Suleiman Hartzenberg feature in the starting lineup with Ivan van Zyl on the bench. Vusi Moyo will run the show from 10 with Jaden Hendrikse next to him. The Sharks plan to get the maximum out of Luan Giliomee before he joins the Bulls in December. Exciting but still raw talent Zekhethelo Siyaya is on the bench.
(more…)Rassie has started to rate Andre Esterhuizen much higher of recent. So much so that he has named him as captain of the Boks against Australia in Perth – even though Handre Pollard and Eben Etzebeth are both in the starting team.
The team has been rotated heavily but Rassie has still kept his best front row plus Lood de Jager and Jasper Wiese on the bench for just in case. I would have much rather had Cameron Hanekom starting at 8 than Marco van Staden. The Aussies have some very fast loose forwards with Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson up there with the best jacklers in the world.
(more…)JPP has mixed up his squad for the warm-up against the Lions on Friday. The Hendrikse brothers are back running the show with only Luan Giliomee, .Phepsi Buthelezi, Corne Rahl retaining their jerseys from last week and Litelihle Bester starting but moving to wing. It does not look like the match will be televised.
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