Francois Steyn back at No 10 for the Cell C Sharks
Frans Steyn has moved into the flyhalf position with Paul Jordaan recovering from injury to take his No 12 jersey in a strong Sharks team.
Director of Rugby Jake White has named a strong side for this derby game, opting to start with a formidable side that has been the hallmark of this team throughout the competition.
Of the injured trio of Paul Jordaan, Pat Lambie and Beast Mtawarira all receiving scans this week to confirm or deny a return to rugby, it was only Jordaan who was passed fit.
He has been included alongside JP Pietersen in the midfield. Steyn takes over from Tim Swiel at flyhalf and Fred Zeilinga has been named as back-up off the bench.
Ryan Kankowski is back at No 8 after withdrawing from last week’s game with a groin strain, and White has bolstered the starting line-up with three Boks who played off the bench last week, Willem Alberts, Jannie du Plessis and brother and captain Bismarck du Plessis.
Thomas du Toit has enjoyed a meteoric rise, having been selected out of the Sharks Academy to play for the Sharks XV in the Vodacom Cup, representing South Africa at the IRB Junior World Championship in New Zealand recently and last week earned his debut for the Sharks in Super Rugby.
His performance last week, when he came on off the bench, has been seen as worthy of a recall for this week as he is thrust into the starting line-up.
“It was his first game, he’s just a 19 year old prop, but it was obviously massive for him and he scrummed against a Springbok front row,” said White.
“I’m sure he enjoyed it which is nice, but I think he would have enjoyed it more if he’d won.”
The Stormers are playing purely for pride, looking to give their fans a happy, final send off when their tournament concludes on Saturday.
Cell C Sharks: 15 SP Marais, 14 Sibusiso Sithole , 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Paul Jordaan, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Francois Steyn, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis (Captain), 1 Thomas du Toit
Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Etienne Oosthuizen, 20 Jean Deysel, 21 Charl McLeod, 22 Fred Zeilinga, 23 Tonderai Chavhanga.
Hmmm. Desperate times, desperate measures?
@ Scrumdown:
Still a solid side that looks good on paper, but Steyn at 10 stifles the back line.
Stormers need to watch Reinach and Mvovo, they are currently the only 2 Sharks backs that can cause havoc with individual brilliance.
2 @ nortierd:
Says everything about how the Sharks are going to approach this game.
@ nortierd:
Steyn will stiffle the backline, but we not taking chances, the sharks will give away less turnovers, thus stiffling the Stormers scoring opportunities.
@ Scrumdown:
Yep, back to Jakeball.
Stormers need to match the Sharks forwards, but also need to score at least 3 tries to nullify the penalties.
@ nortierd:
Three tries
@ MacroBull:
Not going to be pretty.
Think we will manage a couple of tries
MacroBull wrote:
Moenie worry nie, watch net
@ MacroBull:
Gaan maak jou voorspelling op die match preview thread
@ nortierd:
hehe ek hoop eerlikwaar nie ek mis die game nie, gaan ‘n besige naweek wees vir my.
Ek hoop dit is ‘n goeie game, maar ek dink altwee spanne gaan Jakeball speel, die verskil is net die Stormers se counter attack het baie nou verbeter (sekere ouens paas nou)… Maar gaan die sharks so baie turnovers gee met Fransie op 10?… dus dink ek dit gaan n “test match” wees wat die sharks met 5 punte gaan wen.
Behalwe PSdT en Lambie, is daar mos nie nog ander eerste keuse Sharks wat beseer is nie, of hoe? ‘n Mens wil tog nou nie weer hoor van die lang beseringslys as hulle verloor nie.
@ Nama:
Dit is juis die kort beseringslys wat hulle so moeg gemaak het 😉
@ Nama:
Beast is nog beseer.
MacroBull wrote:
Ha ha
@ MacroBull:
Hahaha…
@ nortierd:
O ja, Beast is ook beseer. Dit maak dit 3 eerste keuse spelers.
Op papier behoort hulle nog steeds te wen teen die “dwergies”, maar ons weet mos rugby word nie op papier gespeel nie.
Sien uit na die tweestryd tussen Ruan Botha en die nuwe Bok, Lewies.
@ Nama:
Yep, feite
Gaan sit jou voorspelling daar op die preview thread
The following Lions side has been bandied about elsewhere on the web, but I have yet to get an official media relese from New Doornfontein.
Lions: 15. Andries Coetzee, 14. Lionel Mapoe, 13. Stokkies Hanekom, 12. Alwyn Hollenbach, 11. Anthony Volmink, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Ross Cronje, 8. Warren Whiteley, 7. Warwick Tecklenburg, 6. Jaco Kriel, 5. Franco van der Merwe, 4. Franco Mostert, 3. Julian Redelinghuys, 2. Robbie Coetzee, 1. Schalk van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16. Armand van der Merwe, 17. Corne Fourie, 18. Ruan Dreyer, 19. Willie Britz, 20. Derick Minnie, 21. Faf de Klerk, 22. Marnitz Boshoff, 23. Courtnall Skosan
Strange decision to drop Boschoff but it will mean that Jantjies gets his 50th SR cap.
Given that this match will determine whether the Lions or Cheetahs lay claim to the wooden spoon in the SA conference, I would have thought that there would be no room ofr sentiment.
Maybe Rugby “professionals” are not so professional after all.
Also reported is that Willie Britz is about to sign for the Free State.
That will be the 4th player the last 2 weeks to move from JHB to the city of roses, (Prop Bees Roux, flyhalf Willie du Plessis and utility back Coenie van Wyk), while the only confirmed player moving to JHB would appear to be Schalk van Heerder (Wikus’ younger brother) from the Bulls.
A tightening of the purse strings in downtown JHB forcing a clear out of excess baggage? (Except in Britz’s case who probably just wants to start some games!)
Scrumdown wrote:
Should read “van Heerden”!
17 @ Scrumdown:
Saw that, I had Boshoff as my kicker in my fantasy league side, had to quickly change that. Also picked the Lions to win, now I’m not so sure.
Will teach me to wait till all the teams are named before picking.
Already going to lose points because I have Folau and Ben Smith in my squad, now both are out
😐
19 @ nortierd:
Doesn’t help picking any teams or results until ALL teams are officially announced.
I don’t do the fantasy league thing. Just don’t have the time. It takes all of my fading memories ability to remeber to do the Superbru picks!
20 @ Scrumdown:
Lol, yep, but it’s not as if I am threatening the leaders, so I just pick and get finished with it.
… well at least you know what will happen… Scrumhalf, Flyhalf barge or kick… Strange call when you have Zeilinga fit and ready to go… seems like White doesn’t really trust his up and coming youngsters…
… it should be a walk in the park for the Sharks though… 😉
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