The Sharks have selected their team for the Super Rugby final again the Chiefs in Hamilton, New Zealand.
Returning to the starting lineup is Patrick Lambie and Paul Jordaan after being passed fit from their respective injuries.
Jordaan at inside centre is a straight swap for the injured Whitehead, while Lambie will start at fullback with Riaan Viljoen playing off the bench, with an otherwise unchanged line-up, one that differs significantly to the team that lost by four points to the Chiefs in the pool stages.
Sharks Coach John Plumtree has been able to consistently name the same pack over the Final Series which obviously boosts the team’s confidence when that pack is delivering such commanding performances, and they will be asked to put in one last massive effort to lay the platform for the backs in this potentially history-making game.
With a near full strength side to pick from, pretty much unheard of at the climax of a long tournament, John Plumtree explains that it does add to the belief that the team can do the job on Saturday.
Bismarck du Plessis has shrugged off added meaning to this game by virtue of the fact that he is also making his 100th appearance in Super Rugby for The Sharks. Certainly, a win will make celebrating his achievement that much sweeter.
The Sharks:
1. Tendai Mtawarira, 2. Bismarck du Plessis*, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 4. Willem Alberts, 5. Anton Bresler, 6. Keegan Daniel (Captain), 7. Marcell Coetzee, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 9. Charl McLeod, 10. Frederic Michalak, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 12. Paul Jordaan, 13. JP Pietersen, 14. Louis Ludik, 15. Patrick Lambie
16. Craig Burden, 17. Wiehahn Herbst, 18. Steven Sykes, 19. Jacques Botes, 20. Jean Deysel, 21. Meyer Bosman, 22. Riaan Viljoen
* 100th Vodacom Super Rugby Cap.
Good team, shows the game they intend playing, part of me wonders though? will this team start? I think the midfield will be slightly weaker in defense, but far quicker on the attack, will the midfield swop around during play?
SO many questions
2 @ sharky_forever:
Midfield could swap around during play. Also this team says we going to go all out on attack. Well that is how I see it. It could work but also remember last week we kicked a lot and it worked there. Then we could switch to that again. Though we don’t have the big boot of Viljoen this time. Unless we switch to that game plan when he does come on later.
@ Puma:
Agree bro thus my heading of sharks show intent.
THey not gonna run at SBW but around him, speed etc, no doubt
My problem is the tired legs with a high paced game plan?
3 @ sharky_forever:
Yeah not sure with the tired legs either. They had a plan last week and it worked. I also think the kicking game we played last week worked. Though not on this team I guess. Chiefs defence is one of the best in this tourney.
They must have looked what worked for the Reds is my feeling. Reds klapped the Chiefs good and solid.
The worlds slowest fullback = Lambie
5 @ Spooony:
Hey, Oompie Puma will moer you stukkend!
How can you say that about Patrick?
Pat Lambie is one of Oompie Puma’s 22 adopted sons… the other 21 are the rest of the Sharks squad… hahaha
interesting selections, though Plum wasn’t exactly spoilt for choice. I recall Ludik playing centre before at the Lions, but at 13.
Anyways, think Keggan, Kanko, and Coetzee will be able to plug any gaps in the 10/12 channel.
Tjarks (Cheetahs B) by 1
Good to see Lambie back
Great article! Let’s see how the boys play in the second half…
9 @ Sharking:
Welcome to Rugby-Talk – the friendly site… saw you register!
Hope your Tjarkies do the trick this weekend!
@ grootblousmile:
Tjark supporters kan nie eers n duik in n poep moer nie haha
Now which foreign team to support? Englands Acadamy aka Sharks or NZ’s Chiefs?
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