JPP has picked Bathobele Hlekani (back from training with the Boks) to start against the Griquas in Kimberley. Unfortunately he will be moving to the Lions when his contract expires in December. Matt Romao (who really impressed last week) moves to the open side flank, while Deon Slabbert replaces Corne Rahl. Ceano Everson will join Vusi Moyo while we have two new wings this week – Paschal Ekeji and Christie Grobbelaar. I am really happy to see Jaco Williams retained at full back.
(more…)Rassie has picked a strong side for the starting game of the Rugby Championship against the Wallabies. Due to Damian de Allende and Cheslin Kolbe unavailable to injury Andre Esterhuizen and Edwill van der Merwe will start. Siya Kolisi has moved to 8 with Marco van Staden playing at 6. The combination of Grant Williams and Manie Libbok is the best attacking half back combo the Boks have.
(more…)Gideon Koegelenberg will start with Slabbert dropping out. Matt Ramao starts at 7 with Jannes Potgieter dropping to the bench. The scrums were good last week, but the lineouts were a mess. The forwards were bullied at the breakdown and the maul. Hopefully the lineouts can at least improve this week.
Marnus Potgieter, Diego Appollis come into the midfield with Yaw Penxe on the wing. Jaco Williams moves into the fullback position (he does seem to have more BMT than Kunene – hopefully he gets a couple of games there).
(more…)Coach JPP have added the Sharks’ Junior Boks to his match day squad for the Bulls at Loftus. Additionally Tino Mavesere and Corne Rahl will add a bit more experience to the pack.
The Sharks will be up against a Bulls team with plenty of experience. The Bulls pack was dominant against WP and scored a number of maul tries. Expect more of the same this weekend.
(more…)JPP has selected a fairly inexperienced team (7 debutantes) for the first game of the Currie Cup. The official squad for the Currie Cup contains a number of the Junior Bok players that won the U20 World Cup in style but these have been given another week’s break after their heroics. Bathobele Hlekani who sparked one of the Junior Boks’ most spectacular tries has been called up to train with the Boks – so we will not see him hopefully doing the same for the Sharks soon.
(more…)Rassie has made more wholesale changes for the game against the Georgians. The remaining uncapped front row forwards (Boan Venter, Marnus van der Merwe and Neethling Fouche) will start against Georgia while Cobus Wiese will be tried out at 8. Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi are back in the starting team. The bench has a lot of experience with the likes of Pollard, Bongi and co.
(more…)Rassie has overhauled the team from last weekend to give other players in his squad the opportunity to face Italy. Ethan Hooker should get his Bok cap in the second half along with Asenathi Ntlabakanye and Cobus Wiese (the brother of Jasper). Salmaan Moerat willl captain the team.
(more…)Rassie has made a number of rotational changes to the Bok side. Vincent Tshituka will get his first start in an official test after a storming game against the Barbarians. Damian Willemse and Handre Pollard will start at 15 and 10 respectively, with Jasper Wiese, Eben Etzebeth and Wilco Louw starting in the pack. Jesse Kriel retains the captaincy.
(more…)