In this Article we look at the contenders for LOOSE FORWARDS at the Sharks 2013 Super Rugby group.
Loose Forward is a set of 3 positions where the Sharks have abundance of, but much will depend on the coaching staff’s game plans and which combinations to use accordingly and as we have seen with John Plumtree, you could very well see someone like Willem Alberts playing a game or two at lock.
But before I continue, let me get this out of the way first! The biggest problem at the Sharks at Loose Forward is the lack of a FETCHER and as many great Loose Forwards that they have, not having a fetcher is that one huge weakness. All one has to do is look back at the Currie Cup Final of 2012 and see how it hurt them as a team, specially with Bismarck du Plessis being out injured, because it is common knowledge that Bismarck du Plessis fulfills that role for the Sharks.
There are three positions and 7 Loose Forwards at the Sharks disposal, thus I feel this will be the position to give the coaches the biggest headaches. Ryan Kankowski will probably play most games because of the lineout issues as well as the fact that he is the only genuine 8th man in the squad, the team Captain is Keegan Daniel and this means he will also probably play most games.
Marcell Coetzee has had a superb 2012 season and can hardly be benched, so what to do with Willem Alberts, one of the touring Springboks’ best players recently? What also about Jean Deysel, who also had a very good Currie Cup for the Sharks and who was huge in hitting the rucks combined with very strong defense and ball carrying departments? Jacques Botes is yet another player that never lets the team down and his slowing of the opposition ball at the rucks and turning over ball as well as his speed to the breakdown areas, is always a plus.
The only two Loose Forwards that might additionally also get game time is Francois Kleinhans and Lubabalo Mtembu as John Plumtree is for the most part a coach that sticks to what and who he knows, of course no one can predict the future on how many injuries will occur during the season.
The Contenders:
Keegan Daniel:
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Keegan Daniel started his education at Gonubie Primary School before moving off to one of South Africa’s best known rugby nurseries, Dale College Boys High School, where he played Craven Week for the Border rugby team in 2003 and was recruited afterwards by the Sharks Rugby Academy.
Keegan Daniel arrived on the provincial scene in the Super Rugby competition, which earned him a place in the South African Under 21 team. He played well in the tournament with the South African Under 21 team at the IRB Under 21 World Cup in France where South Africa lost in the final. He was nominated for player of the tournament and went on to claim the South African Under 21 player of the year for 2006. He has the ability to play openside or blindside flanker, 8th man, wing, flyhalf and fullback because of his blistering speed and good kicking ability.
Since 2006, Daniel has starred for the Sharks at Super Rugby level. In the 2008 season he earned Man Of The Match awards in consecutive games against 2007 winners (Vodacom Bulls) and the high-flying Auckland Blues, scoring 3 tries in the process. His first try against the Blues came after just 16 seconds in that game – a record at Super 14 level.
On 30 October 2010, Keegan was selected to tour with the Springboks in their November tour of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. He was not selected as a part of the initial squad of 39 but was later added after his performances in the Currie Cup semi-final and final.
On 16 January 2012, Sharks’ coach John Plumtree appointed Keegan Daniel as the Sharks captain for the 2012 Super Rugby season and again he showed his class as a player and a leader, no doubt he will again captain the team in 2013. His playing career to date is as follows:
- 2012 – South Africa The Castle Rugby Championship – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – South Africa Castle Incoming Tours – Sharks Vodacom Super Rugby
- 2011 – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Sharks Vodacom Super Rugby – 2011
- 2010 – South Africa Outgoing Tours – Springboks Outgoing Tours – Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Sharks Invitational XV Absa Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies – The Sharks Vodacom Super 14 –
- 2009 – Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Sharks Invitational XV Absa Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies – Sharks British & Irish Lions Tour – The Sharks Vodacom Super 14 – Sharks MTN test
- 2008 – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Div – The Sharks Vodacom Super 14
- 2007 – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Div – Wildebeest Vodacom Cup – The Sharks Vodacom Super 14
- 2006 – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – South Africa IRB under 21 World Championship – Wildebeest Vodacom Cup – The Sharks Vodacom Super 14 – KZN U21 ABSA under 21 Competition
- 2005 – Natal ABSA under 21 Competition
Ryan Kankowski:
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Ryan Kankowski, or Kanko as he is known in some circles, was schooled in Port Elizabeth at St Andrew’s College and directly after school his parents moved to Port Shepstone in Kwa-Zulu Natal where he was accepted to the Sharks Rugby Academy. He went on to build a very impressive career at the Sharks, where he still applies his trade, although he is on a 6 month contract in Japan for Toyota Verblitz at the moment from which he will return at the end of January 2013.
Kanko is a tall, strong, yet pacey and skilled Number Eight. He is also capable of playing as an Openside Flanker. He has a natural flair on attack, breaking the line with powerful runs from the back of the scrum, whilst he is unrelenting on defense. He is also an incredibly dangerous runner in open play. His game is reminiscent of that of Zinzan Brook and with maturity and leadership qualities that belie his age.
Kanko was first selected to represent South Africa during the Springboks’ 2007 End Of Year Tour to Wales & England. He made a try-scoring Test debut on the tour, as a substitute during South Africa’s resounding 34–12 victory over Wales at the Millenium Stadium on 24 November 2007.
He received one of his nicknames, “Definite”, from his close friends as they believed he would definitely be a Springbok rugby player at some stage, but one must say, depending on which side of the fence one sits on regarding him as a player, he possibly should have played many more Tests than is the case.
His Career portfolio is as follows:
- 2012 – South Africa Castle Incoming Tours – Sharks XV Vodacom Cup – Sharks Vodacom Super Rugby
- 2011 – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Sharks Vodacom Super Rugby – South Africa Castle Tri-Nations
- 2012 – Springboks Outgoing Tours – South Africa Outgoing Tours – Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – South Africa Vodacom Tri-Nations – The Sharks Vodacom Super 14 – South Africa Vodacom Incoming Tours
- 2009 – South Africa Vodacom Outgoing Tours – South Africa Vodacom Tri-Nations – Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – South Africa British & Irish Lions Tour – The Sharks Vodacom Super 14
- 2008 – South Africa Vodacom Outgoing Tour – South Africa Vodacom Tri-Nations – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Div – South Africa Vodacom Incoming Tours – The Sharks Vodacom Super 14
- 2070 – South Africa Vodacom Outgoing Tour – Springboks XV Vodacom Outgoing Tour – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Div – SA Emerging IRB Nations Cup – Wildebeest Vodacom Cup – The Sharks Vodacom Super 14
- 2006 – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Wildebeest Vodacom Cup
- 2005 – Natal ABSA Under 21 Competition
- 2004 – Kwa-Zulu Natal ABSA U20 Competition Section A
Willem Alberts:
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Willem was schooled at Monument High in Johannesburg and is a remarkably strong man, known as “The Bone Collector”, not without reason. He started his rugby career at the Golden Lions from junior level to senior level until 2009 when he decided to join the Sharks and immediately made a huge impact.
Alberts is a total team player and always puts the team before his own interests and thus has found himself playing in various positions for the Lions, Sharks and the Springboks and the season of 2013 we head into will be no different as Alberts will no doubt be playing wherever the team needs him.
Willem’s career portfolio is as follows:
- 2012 – South Africa Castle Outgoing Tours – South Africa The Castle Rugby Championship – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – South Africa Castle Incoming Tours – Sharks Vodacom Super Rugby
- 2011 – South Africa IRB Rugby World Cup – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Sharks Vodacom Super Rugby – South Africa Castle Tri-Nations
- 2010 – South Africa Outgoing Tours – Springboks Outgoing Tours – Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – The Sharks Vodacom Super 14
- 2009 – Xerox Lions ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Xerox Lions Absa Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies – Xerox Golden Lions British & Irish Lions Tour – Auto & General Lions Vodacom Super 14 Lions MTN test
- 2008 – Xerox Lions ABSA Currie Cup Premier Div – Xerox Lions Absa Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies –
- 2007 – Auto & General Lions Vodacom Super 14 – Golden Lions XV Absa Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies – Golden Lions ABSA Currie Cup Premier Div – Lions Vodacom Super 14
- 2006 – University of Johannesburg Fidentia National Club Championships
- 2005 – Golden Lions ABSA Under 21 Competition – Lions ABSA Currie Cup Qualifying Round – Golden Lions Vodacom Cup
- 2004 – Golden Lions ABSA U20 Competition Section A
Marcell Coetzee:
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Marcell, the “Wonder Child”, was schooled at Port Natal High School in Durban where one wonders if scouts ever check for talent there. This is asked as Marcell came from nowhere to be a Springbok in a very short space of time and a very good one at that. He did not play Craven Week or Natal Schools yet he made his way into the Sharks Rugby Academy and the rest is history.
Marcell is like the “Energizer Bunny” as he speeds around the field and makes tackle after tackle, but he is more than just a tackler as his ball carrying skills are very good as well and his interplay and offloading in tackles et cettera and in some of his Springbok games he has been given the arduous task of playing at blindside flank which is not his normal position, still the player excelled and at his tender age whilst is still learning his trade.
This being the case, he is still growing with experience. This young man can become a true legend but it is all about belief and how he is handled as a player. I for one can only see him going from strength to strength.
We should not forget that he is only 21 years old.
His Portfolio is as follows:
- 2012 – South Africa Castle Outgoing Tours – South Africa The Castle Rugby Championship – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – South Africa Castle Incoming Tours – Sharks Vodacom Super Rugby
- 2011 – Sharks ABSA Under 21 Competition – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Sharks XV Absa Currie Cup Compulsory friendlies – Sharks Vodacom Super Rugby – Sharks XV Vodacom Cup
- 2010 – Sharks ABSA Under 19 Competition
Jean Deysel:
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Jean Deysel was schooled at Hentie Colliers High School in Virginia in the Free State. He is a similar player to Willem Alberts as they are both strong ball carrying flanks who defend with big hits and hit rucks with venom. The one thing Jean Deysel does have in his favor is his fetching ability, which often gets overlooked.
He too came to the Sharks via the Golden Lions and has since always been a crowd favorite at the “Shark Tank”. He at last seems to have overcome his injury problems, which used to hamper him, no doubt had he not had such poor luck with injuries he surely would have played many more Tests for the Springboks and I have a feeling 2013 could be a big year for the strongman.
His career portfolio is as follows:
- 2010 – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Sharks XV Vodacom Cup – Sharks Vodacom Super Rugby
- 2011 – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Sharks Vodacom Super Rugby – Sharks XV Vodacom Cup – South Africa Castle Tri-Nations
- 2010 – Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – The Sharks Vodacom Super 14
- 2009 – South Africa Vodacom Outgoing Tours – Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Sharks Invitational XV Absa Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies – Emerging Springboks British & Irish Lions Tour – Sharks British & Irish Lions Tour – The Sharks Vodacom Super 14 – Sharks MTN test
- 2008 – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Div – The Sharks Absa Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies – Wildebeest Vodacom Cup – The Sharks Vodacom Super 14
- 2007 – Sharks XV Absa Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Div – Lions Vodacom Cup
- 2006 – Lions ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Lions Vodacom Cup – Golden Lions ABSA Under 21 Competition
- 2005 – Golden Lions ABSA Under 21 Competition – Lions ABSA Currie Cup Qualifying Round – Golden Lions Vodacom Cup
- 2004 – Golden Lions ABSA U20 Competition Section A
- 2002 – Griffons U/19 U19 Competition – 2002
Three Loose-forwards to mention that will be called on depending on where and if they are needed:
Jacques Botes:
| Date of Birth: | 28 November 1980 |
| Place of Birth: | Johannesburg |
| Position: | Flank / 8th Man |
| Height: | 182 cm |
| Weight: | 98 Kg |
| Clubs: | Glenwood Falcons |
- 2012 – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Sharks Vodacom Super Rugby
- 2011 – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Sharks Vodacom Super Rugby
- 2010 – Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Sharks Invitational XV Absa Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies – The Sharks Vodacom Super 14
- 2009 – Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Sharks Invitational XV Absa Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies – Emerging Springboks British & Irish Lions Tour – Sharks British & Irish Lions Tour – The Sharks Vodacom Super 14 – Sharks MTN test
- 2008 – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Div – The Sharks Absa Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies – The Sharks Vodacom Super 14
- 2007 – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Div – Wildebeest Vodacom Cup – The Sharks Vodacom Super 14
- 2006 – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – The Sharks Vodacom Super 14
- 2005 – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – The Sharks ABSA Currie Cup Qualifying Round – Natal Wildebeest Vodacom Cup – Sharks Vodacom Super 12
- 2004 – @lantic Pumas Vodacom Shield – Pumas ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2003 – @lantic Pumas ABSA Currie Cup – Premier Div. -@lantic Pumas Vodacom Shield
- 2002 – Pumas Bankfin Currie Cup – Mpumalanga SA ‘A’ SA Cup
Lubabalo Mtembu:
| Date of Birth: | 09 December 1990 |
| Place of Birth: | East London |
| Position: | 8th Man |
| Height: | 187 cm |
| Weight: | 100 Kg |
- 2008 – Border Under 18 Craven Week
- 2010 – Elite Squad
- 2011 – SA Under 20, Sharks XV (Vodacom Cup)
Francois Kleinhans
| Date of Birth: | 07 January 1991 |
| Place of Birth: | Parklands, Durban |
| Position: | 8th Man / Flank |
| Height: | 184 cm |
| Weight: | 96 Kg |
| Clubs: | Collegians |
- 2012 – Sharks XV Vodacom Cup
- 2011 – Sharks XV Vodacom Cup
- 2010 – Sharks ABSA Under 19 Competition
- 2009 – Sharks ABSA Under 19 Competition, KZN Under 18 Coca-Cola Craven Week
- 2008 – Kwazulu-Natal Under 18 Coca-Cola Craven Week, Under 18 Elite Squad (Elite Squads)
- 2007 – KZN Under 16 (Under 16 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week)
Starters:
This is where I do not want to be the coach, there is always going to be a player just as good but for various reasons that player is going to either miss out or be on the bench. I mean it’s inconceivable to think a player of Jacques Botes’ skills may not get much game time in 2013.
Now who to start with? I have a feeling that John Plumtree may well start with Willem Alberts, Ryan Kankowski and Keegan Daniel but depending who the Sharks are facing, I think combinations are going to be paramount for the Sharks and that the coach might very well have two Loose Forwards as reserves on match days. His past history shows that John Plumtree favors that route.
Honestly, the last two Loose Forwards in Lubabalo Mtembu and Francois Kleinhans should probably resign themselves to the fact that they will be used more during the Vodacom Cup time, it is even possible that Jacques Botes will play Vodacom Cup, but in saying all of this, the glaring fact still is the lack of an out-and-out Fethcer in the squad.
In this instance, WHO WANTS TO BE JOHN PLUMTREE?
27 @ Sharks_forever:
Actually you have penned down Coetzee twice, but not Kanko at all as Bokke… so yeah, 5 Bokke you have too, if you replace the 2nd Coetzee with Kanko.
Read what I say in the Bulls article, your loosies are comparable to that of the Bulls… 5 Internationals each.
Pity a couple of your okes are only TAKBOKKE…. hehehe
No, but honestly, between the Sharks and the Bulls the 2 squads with the best loosies of ALL the Super Rugby sides.
Difference I suppose is that the Bulls have 2 clearcut out-and-out Fetchers in their squad, and One Passenger (Spies), whereas the Sharks have no out-and-out Fetchers and an over-hyped Keegan Daniel.
It’s ALWAYS about choosing a BALANCED Loose Trio… one can’t just have 3 speedsters or 3 Monster Ball carriers… there needs to be a sublime balance between 1 Genuine Fetcher, One Monster-takling and hard-running Blindsider and a Strike-running, tackling No 8 with hands of Gold. You choose any other type of combo, and the combo does not function as it should.
That’s going to be the challenge for the Sharks & Bulls coaching staff….
@ grootblousmile:
This is true boet, LOL @ takbokkies lol
grootblousmile wrote:
hi there , still catching up with you guys. GBS you have it right. Its about combos and combos playing to the game plan feeding of the big 5
@ superBul:
Correct Super, each weeks combo might differ or differ at stages as to what the teams needs and dynamics are.
3w @ grootblousmile: Sorry boss, but the Sharks have Daniels and Spoes Lite as their over rated passengers.
I rate their remaining loosies higher than the Bulls.
Lol,this is what RT is all about!
Stormersboy, reckons they have the best loosies, GBS, reckons the Bulls do, and Sharky reckons the Sharks have the best.
Cheetah4eva, and Loosehead, just smile
, because they have Brüssow, maybe Juan Smith, Schoeman, Downey, vd Walt, Karemaker, Daniller, and Raubenheimer, who are going to man shame all your fancy pants, all show pony loosies how to play the game. Suck on that suckers! You herad it here 1st!! 
38 @ Cheetah4eva: 100% true.
Stompies, Shorks and Booooools talking up their overrated, gym bunny, pretty boy’s while we know that our loosies are just better.
38 @ Cheetah4eva:
Brüssow is certainly pedigree… but when will the next big injury be?
Marnus Schoeman is probably your brightest star at the moment, I really rate the oke… he’s going to make it big…. can’t play Brüssow and Marnus at the same time though… too similar.
Downey & Lappies are Ok, not brilliant… Karremaker, Daniller & Raubenheimer as average as they come… in the same league as the Southern Kings loosies.
… and then there is Juan Smith, with 2 years without rugby… and unfortunately the legend is over the hill… and probably on his way to earn a few Euros.
The thing is though, if your game plan is spot on, average loosies and players could gel into a team and beat a lot of absolute stars playing as individuals, so I will never throw the Cheetahs out the window… they will certainly hurt some sides and they have a history where they like to hurt their South African counterparts, whilst rolling over or bending down for our overseas guests.
Let me put it this way… I don’t expect the Cheetahs to win Super Rugby or to finish 1st in the SA Conference.. I expect them to finish 4th in the SA Conference once again.
40 @ grootblousmile:
Thought for sure I would get a nibble on the contents of Comment #40…..
@ GBS,
I think last year the Cheetahs disproved the theory, that they bend over for overseas sides. In fact their best performances were against overseas opposition. As you say the sum of the parts, are normally more crucial than the individual.
Nope Ratel, and Schoeman are in the same mould, but it does give the coaches the option to rotate, without losing anything in terms of the game plan.Juan, may have been out of action, but class is permanent. That said, it is a long shot. Agree about Raubenheimer, but disagree about Karemaker. Not in the know as to Daniller’s quality.
The key to unlocking the Cheetahs loose trio, is with the locks. If the locks can free up the likes of Lappies, Brussow, and vd Walt to play the linking role off quick ball, then the Cheetahs loosies come into their own.
The Cheetahs ,ay well end 4th in the SA conference, but then again, I think our conference will be tough, and the margin between 1st and 4th could be minimal.
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