The Sharks may “freshen up” in a few positions, but their coach John Plumtree has refuted any suggestion that he will follow the lead of the Bulls by choosing a B team for Saturday’s eagerly anticipated final Absa Currie Cup league game against Western Province.
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The Durban team have already qualified to finish top in the standings, and will thus host a final should they win through in their semifinal on Saturday week. During the Super 14 season the Bulls were in a similar position, and ironically they also had to go to Cape Town for their final match.
Frans Ludeke chose to send what was a B team to Newlands for the game as he sought to rest players ahead of the semifinal against the Crusaders in Soweto the following week. After a long domestic season in which there have been no bye opportunities, clearly there is a need for players to rest if there is an opportunity, but Plumtree is emphatic that he will not be opting for a B team.
“We are going to Cape Town with the purpose of wanting to win the game,” said Plumtree to reporters on Monday.
“I would never sanction the selection of a B team or go into a match not looking to win it. We have too much pride in the jersey and in the union. Quite clearly there is a need for us to freshen up in a few positions, and we would be stupid not to take the opportunity to do that now that it has presented itself.
“There are some guys who have taken a lot of knocks during the campaign, and they clearly could do with a break. I am not going to spell out the specific areas where that may be necessary for people who know their rugby and have followed the competition closely should know the positions and players I am talking about.”
FEW NIGGLES
Players in the current Sharks team who have played a lot of rugby and who look like they may be carrying a few niggles and could be susceptible to injury or fatigue if pushed too far include flanker Keegan Daniel, who has had an outstanding season and taken a lot of knocks along the way, and his fellow loose-forward teammate Willem Alberts.
In any event, it is understood that the big ball-carrying blindside flanker is carrying a slight injury, and might have had to sit out the Newlands clash even if top spot on the Currie Cup log was still riding on the game. Lock Steven Sykes is also possibly due for a rest, while hooker Craig Burden has played most of the season.
But even if all those players were ruled out, the Sharks would still be in position to choose a strong team for the Cape Town trip. For instance, while Alberts might require a rest and so does Daniel, Springbok No 8 Ryan Kankowski hasn’t played much lately and last week received an enforced rest due to suspension. He should play as he will be fresh.
And any need to rest second row forwards has arrived at the right time as former Lions star Gerhard Mostert is back in the game after a long injury and played against the Leopards last week. He can easily team up with Allister Hargreaves, who is over the injury that kept him out of the last game, and the Sharks will still boast a formidable lock pairing.
Then of course there is the return of the two contracted Springboks who have been on conditioning camp and require game-time. Beast Mtawarira and Bismarck du Plessis will be itching to get back into action, and they need to play if they are to be properly absorbed back into the Sharks system for the semifinal the following week.
The other Sharks contracted Springboks, skipper John Smit and wing JP Pietersen, are unavailable. Pietersen injured a hamstring at the national conditioning camp, while Smit recently underwent an operation.
SHARKS dont have a B TEAM, they all A team ::-):
Looi hulle, Sharkies!!
@ grootblousmile:
Howzat GBS, “Looi hulle” is that an insult or a compliment ?
3@ Treehugger:
Hello,
No insult, I’m urging the Sharks on to beat the WP.
@ grootblousmile:
Hopefully thats the plan, but if we dont, would rather lose this one than the others.
5@ Treehugger:
Ideally, the Sharks must win this one, placing WP at No 4 on the Log… then Blue Bulls must get their 5-point haul against the Griquas… and the Cheetahs must somehow struggle against the Leopards and only get 4 points for a win.
It will mean that the Sharks are No 1 on the Log, Blue Bulls are No 2, Cheetahs are No 3 and WP are No 4. Sharks then play WP in a semi at ABSA Park, Durban and Blue Bulls take revenge on the Cheetahs at Loftus, Pretoria in the other semi… and hopefully we then see either a Sharks / Blue Bulls final in Durbs or a Blue Bulls / WP final at Loftus!
Gooooooooooo Bulls!
@ Treehugger:
GBS is asking the Sharks to do his Bulls team a favour, Ah what irony!
grootblousmile wrote:
GBs, hierdie permutasie van jou laat my nou dink aan my dae op universiteit toe ek rekenaar wetenskap vir so 6 maande gehad het.
Dit was nog met daardie pons kaarter.
IF this, then that.
If that, then this.
Then x=y
go to z
etc.
@ grootblousmile:
Ok nicely explained, so leaves Sharks fighting with WP supporters, OH JOY ! 🙄
@ biltongbek:
😈
Oh and hopefully if we play the Bulls we give you guys a hideing you so richly deserve as revenge for the other games 👿 😈 😡
😎
10@ Treehugger:
Bulls getting all their stars back (8 of them – Gary Botha, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Danie Rossouw, Pierre Spies, Morné Steyn, Wynand Olivier & even Deon Stegmann) before the finals, Sharks getting Beast & Bissie & Kanko….. and we beat you a couple of weeks ago with our weakened team… so it does not bode well for you…
Bulls on a mission now, one they know how to accomplish…
Be afraid, be very afraid!
Kanko and AD Jacobs, does not inspire confidence in me, am slightly worried, you dont have Gary Botha (oh happiness) so its the Chillie at hooker you.
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