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Sharks name side heavy with forgotten Boks

By RugbyPass
Curwin Bosch has developed nicely for the Sharks and was one of their shining lights this season. (Getty Images)

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.

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“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

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A
Adrian 1 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

11 Go to comments
T
Trevor 4 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 8 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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