Former Stormer du Preez key for Sharks clash
Du Preez, who spent his youth career in Durban before moving to Cape Town to play for Western Province and the Stormers between 2014 and 2017, made the move back to Durban ahead of this season’s Super Rugby tournament.
Du Preez was the star of the show when Province beat the Sharks in last year’s Currie Cup Final and he will still have fresh knowledge of the inner workings of the Stormers ahead of Saturday’s clash.
“I do hope that he [Du Preez] will give us a couple of pointers that we probably wouldn’t have been able to pick up from the analysis we do,” said Sharks loose forward Philip van der Walt.
“I must be honest, we are so thorough in preparing and watching all their [Stormers] games, I doubt that there will be something that we haven’t seen, but that is the interesting part about rugby. You come up with new plans and new ideas and I think that is also where we might have slipped over the weekend [against the Bulls].
“The Bulls presented some plays and played a little bit different from what we expected from the previous games that they played.
“He [Du Preez] will definitely give us some insight, but you have to be wary of what they [Stormers] change.”
The spotlight will again be on the Sharks’ pack in the match against the Stormers. The Durban side were dominated up front against the Bulls in their 10-40 loss last week.
The Sharks were also outplayed in that facet of the game in last year’s Currie Cup Final against Province, which is still fresh in the Sharks’ memory bank.
“I think the only place where it is really on the mind is the fact that it was such a bitter pill to swallow. It was the Currie Cup Final, they were really good at scrum time, we struggled, and we want to rectify that.
“We know what is coming, especially after our performance against the Bulls pack. We as forwards know we didn’t match up to the Bulls forwards, so I think the Stormers will also feel that with the confidence they had in that Currie Cup Final they can come and scrum us and drive us and we just have to front up.
“It is pretty much an attitude thing and we are working on the technical side of it,” Van der Walt added.
For du Preez’s former team, head coach Robbie Fleck welcomes back a host of players from injury, and Sikhumbuzo Notshe is named for his first start of the season.
There are two changes to the backline with Craig Barry starting on the wing and Dillyn Leyds shifting to fullback, while a fit-again Dewaldt Duvenage replaces the injured Jano Vermaak at scrumhalf.
Utility back Johannes Engelbrecht also returns from injury to take his place among the replacements.
Stormers Head Coach Robbie Fleck said that after a much-needed bye, his team are determined to get back to winning ways on Saturday.
“The break was good for the squad from both a mental and physical perspective and we returned refreshed this week, ready to take on the second half of the campaign.
“It is great to have some players returning from injury and it has been a good week of training so we are looking forward to the weekend,” he said.
SHARKS
1. Juan Schoeman, 2. Chiliboy Ralepelle, 3. Thomas du Toit, 4. Ruan Botha (C), 5. Stephan Lewies, 6. Philip van der Walt, 7. Jean-Luc du Preez, 8. Daniel du Preez, 9. Cameron Wright, 10. Robert du Preez, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 13. Lukhanyo Am, 14. Sbu Nkosi, 15. Curwin Bosch.
Reserves: 16. Akker van der Merwe, 17. Mzamo Majola, 18. Ross Geldenhuys, 19. Tyler Paul, 20. Jacques Vermuelen, 21. Louis Schreuder, 22. Marius Louw, 23. Lwazi Mvovo.
STORMERS
1. Steven Kitshoff, 2. Ramone Samuels, 3. Wilco Louw, 4. Jan de Klerk, 5. Chris van Zyl, 6. Siya Kolisi (C), 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8. Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 9. Dewaldt Duvenhage, 10. Damian Willemse, 11. Raymond Rhule, 12. Damian de Allende, 13. EW Viljoen, 14. Craig Barry, 15. Dillyn Letds.
Reserves: 16. Scarra Ntubeni, 17. Jacobus Janse van Rensburg, 18. Carlu Sadie, 19. Kobus van Dyk, 20. Nizaam Carr, 21. Paul de Wet, 22. Sarel Marais, 23. Johannes Engelbrecht.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments