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Sharks name side heavy with forgotten Boks
The Sharks host the Toyota Free State Cheetahs and they’ve named a side heavy with forgotten Springboks.
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Head coach Sean Everitt has made four changes to last week’s side, two each amongst the forwards and backs.
Out of favour Springboks Curwin Bosch, Coenie Oosthuizen, Curwin Bosch, Lwazi Mvovo and JP Pietersen have all been named in the team.
Upfront, Mzamo Majola comes in for Juan Schoeman at loosehead prop while Luke Stringer makes way for Jacques Vermeulen in the other change to the pack.
Amongst the backs, Aphelele Fassi takes over the fullback jersey from Rhyno Smith while Sanele Nohamba will start at scrumhalf with Cameron wright playing off the bench.
Looking ahead to this weekend’s match against Free State, there are some lessons that will have been taken onboard after the loss to the Pumas.
“It was a game of two halves, the wheels fell off the bus a bit because we lacked composure in the second half and while we’ve spoken about an 80-minute performance, we didn’t pull it through,” explains Cell C Sharks scrumhalf Cameron Wright.
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“I don’t think there is any questioning our effort, that was there but perhaps we were a bit over-eager, throwing off-loads and 50-50 passes where it wasn’t necessarily on. From a physicality perspective I think we are up there, we have a physical side and we pride ourselves on that, it’s something we back ourselves on.”
With three matches of the pool stages remaining, it’s vital that the Cell C Sharks pick up a victory this weekend.
“We want to win every game, that’s our goal and that should be the mindset. Other teams have done us a few favours – the Blue Bulls and Western Province going down – and kept the Currie Cup quite open. But we definitely have to win, we want to win all three – that’s a non-negotiable – and we need to win all three.
After Free State lost narrowly last week, Wright expects a backlash this weekend.
“They are hurting a bit and we expect them to come hard at us, particularly early on. They like to play an expansive style of play married with physicality, so if we can match them, I think we’re in for a good shot.”
Cell C Sharks
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1.Mzamo Majola
2.Kerron van Vuuren
3.Coenie Oosthuizen
4.Ruben van Heerden
5.Hyron Andrews
6.Phepsi Buthelezi
7.Jacques Vermeulen
8.Tera Mtembu (co-captain)
9.Sanele Nohamba
10.Curwin Bosch
11.Lwazi Mvovo
12.Jeremy Ward (co-captain)
13.JP Pietersen
14.Kobus van Wyk
15.Aphelele Fassi
Replacements
16.Craig Burden
17.Juan Schoeman
18.John-Hubert Meyer
19.Gideon Koegelenberg
20.Evan Roos*
21.Cameron Wright
22.Marius Louw
23.Rhyno Smith
Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 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.
37 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
37 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
37 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.
37 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.
37 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.
37 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.
37 Go to comments