World Cup-winning Springbok midfielder Frans Steyn will take over the captaincy of the Sharks.
Sharks coach John Plumtree confirmed that the 25-year-old will fill the void left by the absence of regular skipper Keegan Daniel through injury.
rugby365
Daniel, who has been captain since the 2011 Currie Cup, limped off the Woodburn Stadium pitch last Friday after he sustained a grade two injury to his medial cruciate ligament in the knee in their opening warm-up game – a 71-8 win over the Leopards.
Steyn, the vice-captain, wore the skipper’s armband last Friday and will now formally take over as captain till Daniel returns in April.
“Frans becomes the ideal candidate for the captaincy in terms of experience,” Plumtree said on the Sharks website, when asked about Steyn – now considered a Sharks veteran and certainly a more mature player that left for France three years ago..
“He has the respect of the players, leads by example and he’s a winner. We know that everyone will get behind him and support him.”
The Sharks coach added that there are enough experienced campaigners in the squad who can assist in terms of strategy.
“They will help him out with advice which is important.”
In naming Steyn as his captain against the Leopards last Friday, Plumtree pointed out that the 1.91m and 110kg centre would now play a much bigger role for the Sharks and get a lot more game time.
The Sharks end their pre-season campaign with a match against the Pumas on Friday, before making final preparations for their opening match against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein next Saturday.
Plum’s first mistake of the SR campaign?
Hello everyone. Back home after a wonderful two week holiday in Cape Town. Had a absolute terrific holiday.
1 @ Scrumdown:
Well I just got a feeling Fransie gonna be a excellent captain. There was no one else and think Plum was right to give the captaincy to Fransie.
I first thought it would go to Alberts, but he never plays a full 80min and is injured again. So it has to go to a player that will start most games. That is Fransie and what I have read the players respect him and that goes for a lot. Plum got it right and the season will show this.
Okay don’t see a Sharks article about our team for this week. Just looked at sports24 and copied this.
Here is the Sharks team to face the Pumas this week:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sharks team: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Francois Steyn (captain), 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Lubabalo Mtembu, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Substitutes: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Wiehahn Herbst, 19 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 20 Francois Kleinhans, 21 Charl McLeod, 22 Meyer Bosman, 23 Odwa Ndungane, 24 Riaan Viljoen.
Excellent team. Pleased to see Kleinhans on the bench and also Dell. Think they both might play a big part in our S15 this year.
So Alberts is still carrying that shoulder injury that is a worry with Keegan out injured too. We have some good depth in the loosies so not that worried just yet. I read that Kanko is doing conditioning training this week. So he is back from Japan for the start of SR that is great news. Good to see Mtembu starting as I rate him. Without Keegan for the next 6 weeks we will be needing him and Kanko at 8. See Marcell took a knock as well. That for me would be a worry if he does not over come that slight injury. For now we do have Deysel and if push comes to shove we could also use PSDT at blindside. Though don’t like messing players about in positions, but if the team is in trouble in a position then the player has to shift to the position we need him in for the team, until the injured are all back. We do have Kleinhans and Botes for now to cover openside.
Just looking at our backline and man, what a backline that is! Some serious talent there and players that love to attack. Can’t wait to see young Reinach this season starting at scrummie as well.
Now please NO injuries this week as that will be a bummer for sure. We lost two last week and can’t risk losing another player this week.
GO SHARKS!
See Franco will start at 5 with Bresler at 4 lock. Looking forward to see what we do in our lineouts this week. Well that is if this game is on tv that is.
Where is Butch? Thought he would be on the bench for this game. Then have not being following much while I was away on holiday, so have no clue really where he is.
6 @ Puma:
Hello Oompie, welcome back.
Hope you are well rested, because your stress is only starting from now on!
7 @ grootblousmile:
Thanks boet. Stress what stress???? hehehe. If my team picks up any more injuries this week to key players I may just start stressing………
See Butch is having a small op. That clears that up in my post 6 as was wondering where he is. Just read SW and see Butch will be back in two weeks time. Think Sharks might have to bring in another fh to keep cover for Lambie this season, or think Bosman might do that not sure.
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