The Sharks just cannot shake off the injury curse – Vincent Tshituka, Corne Rahl and Edwill van der Merwe added to the list. Coach JPP has selected Vusi Moyo at flyhalf with Manu Tshituka replacing his brother. Jaco Williams moves to the wing and the impressive Zekhethelo Siyaya will feature at 15. Good to see Matt Ramao and Le Roux Malan (pity he is off to Cardiff) back on the bench.
(more…)JPP has selected young Zekhethelo Siyaya (who impressed at 15) at 10 next to Bradley Davids. Jean Smith (the only other fit flyhalf in the squad) is on the bench, but is set to join the opposing team when the season ends. The pack is the strongest we have available at the moment, but the youngster will likely have a tough time in the 10 jersey.
Neither team has any chance to reach the top 8 and will just be playing for pride. I just hope that the Sharks can use the next two matches to make some progress on fixing the deficiencies in playing and coaching.
(more…)Apart from the newly injured, coach JPP has kept most of the players that featured against the Ospreys. Makazole Mapimpi comes in for the injured Ethan Hooker. Andre shifts to 13 and Siya Masuku will play 12 next to Jean Smith. Siya Kolisi will play off the bench.
BTW the URC rejected JPP’s request to investigate the foul play that left Ethan Hooker out for at least 2 months. Seems SA players are not deserving of protection against thuggery.
(more…)JPP has selected an 18 year old to start at fullback against the Ospreys in Wales. Hopefully Zekhethelo Siyaya will have as good a debut as Luan Giliomee had. The coach is using Ox Nche and Vincent Koch as a mini bomb squad for later in the game. Jean Smith will get another chance next to Jaden Hendrikse.
(more…)JPP has selected a strong tight five including Boks Ox Nche, Vincent Koch and Eben Etzebeth for the game against Connacht. Makazole Mapimpi and Edwill van der Merwe are the only Boks in the back line with Ethan Hooker on the bench. A fairly decent team on paper but including a majority of players who have not had any game time recently.
(more…)JPP has kept to team that started against Munster except for Ethan Hooker coming back into the team, and Bradley Davids replacing the injured Grant Williams. Jaden Hendrikse has been bracketed with Ross Braude on the bench.
(more…)Coach JPP has selected 19 year old Blitzbok Luan Giliomee at fullback against Munster. He has kept big guns Ox Nche and Vincent Koch on the bench. Grant Williams will partner Jordan Hendrikse with Ethan Hooker next to Andre Esterhuizen in the midfield. Overall it is a pretty decent team – can they gel on attack and defense?
(more…)Mapimpi is back to face the Bulls with Jaco Williams (no Aphelele Fassi) at 15. Jurenzo Julius (no Ethan Hooker) is partnering Andre Esterhuizen in a new centre combination.
Ox Nche and Vincent Koch will add some needed scrum power for the Sharks but Bongi Mbonambi is also still missing. Tino Mavesere, Vincent Tshituka and Phepsi Buthelezi forms a decent loose trio.
(more…)The Sharks will take on the Lions at Ellis Park without a number of Bok players (e.g. Ox, Bongi, Siya, Grant, Andre, Ethan) due to rest protocols. Edwill van der Merwe and Aphelele Fassi will start with Vincent Koch on the bench. Thomas Dyer will get his second start for the Sharks at the back of the scrum. Interestingly Jurenzo Julius has been selected at inside centre and Francois Venter at outside.
(more…)The Sharks have now implemented the coaching changes that was hinted at:
Firstly JPP has now been appointed as the permanent head coach of the Sharks team. Scott Mathie will join as the new attack coach next season and as far as I can tell Warren Whitely, Philip Lemmer and Joey Mongale will retain their assistant positions.
Neil Powell will no longer look over the coach’s shoulder but will become the new Head of Junior Rugby.
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