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.
(more…)Rassie has made minor changes to the team that walloped the All Blacks in Wellington. Damian Willemse moves to full back, Damian de Allende starts at inside centre, Eben Etzebeth replaces the injured Lood de Jager. Jan-Hendrik Wessels move to cover hooker, Boan Venter comes onto the bench. Morne van den Berg replaces Grant Williams (out with a niggle) as scrumhalf cover.
(more…)The Sharks touring squad for the first three URC games has been announced. Due to injuries the squad will be without 5 locks (Coetzee le Roux, Corne Rahl, Emile van Heerden, Gideon Koegelenberg and Jason Jenkins) and 2 flyhalves (Jordan Hendrikse and Siya Masuku). Additionally Eben Etzebeth (along with Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Kock, Siya Kolisi, Grant Williams, Ethan Hooker, Makazole Mapimpi and Andre Esterhuizen) is with the Boks. Fortunately the Sharks have the services of Marvin Orie with Bathobele Hlekani and Vincent Tshituka who can also fill in at lock. Jean Smith is the only recognized flyhalf in that squad although Jaden Hendrikse can also fill in there.
The Sharks will face Glasgow (26 September), Dragons (3 October) and Leinster (11 October). Tough tour coming up.
(more…)The Sharks will play the Stormers in George on Friday night. Hlekani will partner Jason Jenkins at lock with Jaden and Siya running the back line. Lukhanyo Am starts at 13. It is great to see Edwill van der Merwe on the bench but I have a feeling he will be called up to the Boks when they return from New Zealand. Ross Braude recently from the Pumas is a new face for the Sharks on the bench.
(more…)Rassie has released his team for the crucial test in Wellington, and has thrown caution to the wind. Pollard, le Roux, de Allende, Kriel, van Staden (Kolisi a tad lucky) and Eben (possibly niggle) drop out of the squad. Grant Williams who had an error prone game although behind a losing breakdown drops to the bench. The backline has been completely rejigged = Reinach, Wunderkind, Hooker, Willemse, Moodie, Kolbe and Fassi.
(more…)JPP has selected a strong but likely undercooked team for the clash against the Pumas. Fez Mbatha, Emile van Heerden, Manu Tshituka, Vincent Tshituka, Phepsi Buthelezi, Jaden Hendrikse, Francois Venter and Yaw Penxe will see their first game in the Currie Cup. The Pumas still have a chance to reach the semi-finals whereas the Sharks can at best end up at 6th position on the log.
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