Etienne Fynn has made wholesale changes to last week’s pack and one change in the back line. Khwezi Mona, Fez Mbatha and Lourens Adriaanse will start this week, Emile van Heerden replaces Ruben van Heerden and Dylan Richardson, Thembelani Bholi and Mpilo Gumede start in the back row. Murray Koster is back at inside centre.
Junior Bok Blaine Golden will most likely get a first CC cap later in the game along with Nick Hatton.
(more…)New signing Nevaldo Fleurs who just over a week ago featured for Maties in the Varsity Cup final will start at fullback against the Pumas on Friday night.
It is good to see URC bench players like Kerron van Vuuren, Sikhumbuzo Notshe and especially Boeta Chaimberlain get some game time before the business end of the competition. Zee Mkhabela may make a Currie Cup debut at nine later in the game.
In other news the signing of centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg has been confirmed.
(more…)Etienne Fynn has selected a pretty strong pack to play in Kimberley on Wednesday. Ruben van Heerden makes a welcome return for the Sharks after a number of weeks out of action. The Sharks have selected two ball hunters in the loose trio with two more traditional blind side flanks on the bench.
(more…)Etienne Fynn kept the same pack from last week against the Bulls but has rejigged the backline. Ethan Fisher will replace the injured Murray Koster, Tito Bonilla starts at 10, Jordan Chait replaces Inny Radebe at 15 and Jeremy Ward and Yaw Penxe will swap the URC team bench for starting positions in the Currie Cup team. Dylan Richardson is back on the bench and Lloyd Koster may make his debut for the Currie Cup team later in the game.
(more…)The Sharks Currie Cup team will play the Bulls in Pretoria on Wednesday night. Tito Bonilla will partner with Cam Wright – so unless Boeta Chamberlain is out injured he may feature for the Sharks URC squad against Zebre this coming weekend.
(more…)The Sharks play the Pumas away on Friday night. Etienne Fynn has promoted Dian Bleurer and Wiehan Herbst to the starting 15. Yaw Penxe moves to 14 with Inny Radebe coming in at fullback.
(more…)The Sharks Currie Cup team will take on the Golden Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday. The Lions will be desperate for a win after the big loss to the Pumas in January, and has included a number of URC players including both Tshituka brothers and JP Smith at loose head.
For the Sharks Yaw Penxe will feature at full back with Bradley Davids possibly making a Currie Cup debut.
(more…)Inny Radebe is back in a Sharks jersey (no 15 this time) against WP on Wednesday evening. Sikhumbuzo Notshe and Curwin Bosch are both back from injury.
(more…)Etienne Fynn has named 6 new caps in the match day squad for the Kwas game. Eduan Keyter will make a Sharks debut against his old team and OJ Noah his first Currie Cup game for the Sharks. Jason Alexander (hooker – ex WP), Dian Bleuler (prop – ex WP), Corne Rahl (lock – ex SA rugby academy) and Josh Moon (flank – former UCT captain) will also make their debuts from the bench.
(more…)The Sharks will be competing in the URC and the Currie Cup concurrently requiring separate coaching teams for each competition. Etienne Fynn has been appointed as head coach for the Currie Cup assisted by JP Pietersen. The team of specialist coaches (Warren Whiteley (lineouts), Phiwe Nomlomo (off-the-ball and skills), John McFarland (defence) and Aksventi Giorgadze (scrums)) will be shared between teams as needed.
It will be interesting how the Sharks manage the extended squad for both these competitions. This will be a much more competitive Currie Cup as the 4 URC franchises will be stretched for depth having to put out pretty much two match day squads in most weeks.
Up to the end of February SA rugby will be a very local affair before the Sharks (hopefully) start playing overseas teams again.
(more…)