SARrugby.com

Ex Keo

Sharks coach John Plumtree is satisfied with the depth in his squad this season.

The Durban-based franchise began last year’s tournament without injured players like Beast Mtawarira, Jean Deysel, Willem Alberts and Ryan Kankowski, and lost their opening two matches, against the Bulls and Stormers.

Plumtree, though, is confident they will avoid a repeat in 2013. This time round, only two players are injured, Bismarck du Plessis (who is expected to be back in April) and prop Dale Chadwick, who is out for four to six weeks with a stress fracture in his foot.

‘If you look at our squad, there is good depth in the backs, good depth in the locks now, and good depth among the loose forwards,’ Plumtree told the Sharks website. ‘There is really good competition for places and with the two trial games coming up [against the Leopards in Pietermaritzburg on 8 February and the Pumas in Nelspruit a week later] we’ll get the opportunity to see how everyone performs.’

While the Sharks no longer have the services of Steven Sykes (Kings), Ross Skeate (Agen) and Frederic Michalak (Toulon), they have made two good acquisitions in former Lions duo Butch James and Franco van der Merwe (the latter on loan), which will add depth in key positions.

‘Butch and Franco have done well,’ said Plumtree. ‘Franco is really enjoying it here. Although it is different to what he is used to, he looks to have settled in nicely. Butch knows our system, knows how we operate here and it’s really just coming back to family for him. He’s been great.’

All is not well with Beast who is still having minor heart palpitations. Beast though says it is not career threatening and can be treated. But the sharks are a bit thin at prop right now and missing Bismark is significant. Can they get of fto this good start?

So lets see how Du Toit goes, Kan Kan, Reinach, Frans, Mvovo and Jordaan and also possibly Ludik go.  Meyer will probably be watching these guys closely. The sharks front row and Alberts are certain to be in the Bok mix. Frans will I believe show some good form this year. Movovo is improving. Ludik may have hit a ceiling. Jordaan and Reinach could well make the Boks ths year. Young Du Toit will have to show he can cope with Super 15 rugby.

All in all the sharks are an interesting side this year.  They should be in the top 6 and that means play well and you are knocking on the door for the Boks.

One big worry for the sharks is of course the Stormers. They will be concerend that a second string WP side knocked them over at home! That must have left some psychological scarring.  It is doubtful whether should they meet the Stormers at full strength that they will cope with the raw power of the Cape 8. They didnt against a second string and were dominated in the second half.

Stands to reason sharkies so no bluster and blowhard reactions please - facts are facts.!

Beeno

You really are a funny guy - the Stormers beating the Sharks.   Are you like Saffex living on cloud nine and believing in the tooth fairy?

The Sharks wil definitely be the top team in the SA Franchise this year - and will teach the lowly Stormers a real rugby lesson - looking forward to that one.   LOL 

Lowly you say - top o fthe log lats year when these thing swere last measured.

Sharks are a good team Mike but dont get ahead of yourselves. If we can field our strongest side we should have the measure of the sharkies.

Kitshof, Liebenberg, Malherbe, Etzebeth Beker, Burger, Vermulen Elstadt

Groom, Jantjes/Grant, Haban, Jean Allende, Van der heever and Taute.

Reseves Harris, Fourie, Rhodes, Kolisi and Schreuder/Duvenage, Du plessis/De Jongh and Pietersen/Aplon.

Name the sharks side that could beat that lot Mike.

Beeno

The hook worked - now for my Shark team:-

15 Ludick

14 Pietersen

13 Jordaan

 12 Steyn (?)

 11 Mvovo

  10  Lambie

   9  Reinach

   8  Daniel/Kankowski

   7  Alberts

   6  Coetzee

   5  Du Toit

   4  Bressler

   3  Dup

   2  Dup

   1   Beast

The Sharks will have the upper hand - but your backline is interesting.   Gone is  the dead backline of last year - so they might present some difficulties for the Mighty Sharks - but still minor ones at that.  Happy dreaming!!!!

hahaha second string wp side nogal hahahaha...wow beeno the sharks are not concerned at all. having played 2 finals and half of the team played quite a few bok games the season was just a bit to long in the tooth for some. there is no excuses on the day the sharks tried a different game pattern and did not play to there strong points. codos to the wp team

in terms of super rugby talent and depth the sharks and stormers are both very strong but where the real difference comes in is in terms game patterns. there the sharks are light years ahead as there balanced approach of deadly attack and solid defence has given them the edge over the stormers as last year that the stormers lost against the sharks. on the flip side of the coin the arcanic 1960's blue bulls rugby game pattern under the allister no tries coetzee and robbie "i am flecking clueless fleck has yielded decent results with the massive rugby pool of top talent. when the real pressure was on could not adapt to the on field situation in most cases was after a huge effort of playing trench like warfare and driving most of the talent into the ground by being overplayed "aka rubbish player management" left the short of the posts as has been the case in the more than 16 odd years off trying.

there is no shortage of talent but due to rubbish mental approach and poor game pattern they will never the complete package. the sharks are more rounded with the attacking ablity and ruthlessness on attack they can and will be up there. the only thing that can stop them is themselves. bruising pack of forwards with high skill full backrowers and potent backline players is the right cocktail to take it.

on the stormers front the forwards are thug like in there approach but all the hard earned ball are either just kept close to the pack and lack any speed or penetration.

if no tries coetzee can fast forward his game plan to the post 1980's era then at least the stormers will be there. the stormers had decent pick of games and a lucky draw that masked there blantant technical issues but this year will be the real test

my sharks boys just need to start well and peak at the right time this season.

please take note expect the real franna steyn to pitch up for the sharks. he wont be pigeonholed bu the one trick pony heineken meyer approach. with king carlos at the helm of the backline expect some real fireworks from the boys in black