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TEAM NAMING: Springboks Coenie Oosthuizen and Tendai Mtawarira return to the Sharks starting line-up to play the Reds on Friday afternoon at Kings Park in Durban.
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It’s been a tough few days of introspection for the team following a disappointing showing against the Jaguares and the team has the opportunity to right the wrongs on Friday.
The Springbok pair replace Juan Schoeman and Thomas du Toit, who move to the bench. The other change in the pack sees Jacques Vermeulen back from a well-earned break and he is in at flank for Luke Stringer.
While the forwards get some ammunition returned, Springboks Lukhanyo Am and Makazole Mapimpi have been rested from the backline.
Kobus van Wyk replaces Am and forms a new midfield partnership with Andre Esterhuizen while Lwazi Mvovo moves across to the wing position vacated by Mapimpi with Sbu Nkosi returning to the side in the final change to the starting line-up.
Sharks assistant coach Braam van Straaten has been honest in his appraisal of last week’s game, admitting that, “This is not how we want to play, not what we want to show our fans who come here to watch us perform to the best of our abilities and that’s not how we can reward them for their support.
“We didn’t pitch, mentally we weren’t there and got beaten up at every opportunity,” he added. “We didn’t face up and that’s the disappointing part of it.”
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“The senior players have taken ownership and come Friday, I think it will be a different story.”
There is a short turnaround week for the team because of the Friday game and van Straaten admitted that it was important to get over the disappointment of the Jaguares game and focus on the Reds.
“We’re going to have to be really, really on top of our game. They’re a good side, coached by an ex-All Black and they’re a tough side to break down. We will be up for the challenge.”
Sharks: Curwin Bosch, Sbu Nkosi, Kobus van Wyk, Andre Esterhuizen, Lwazi Mvovo, Robert du Preez, Louis Schreuder (c), Daniel du Preez, Jacques Vermeulen, Philip van der Walt, Hyron Andrews, Ruben van Heerden, Coenie Oosthuizen, Kerron van Vuuren, Beast Mtawarira. Reserves: Fez Mbatha, Juan Schoeman, Thomas du Toit, Tyler Paul, Jean-Luc du Preez, Cameron Wright, Marius Louw, Aphelele Fassi.
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Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 Go to commentsBar 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.
36 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
36 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
36 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.
36 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.
36 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.
36 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.
36 Go to comments