Bismaark to Captain Sharks- Dan Carter craps himself

• 16 Jan 2014

Bismarck du Plessis has been appointed Sharks captain

Bismarck du Plessis will lead the Sharks in this year's Super Rugby tournament.

Odwa Ndungane, Jean Deysel and Pat Lambie have all been appointed as vice-captains.

'There is no doubt in my mind he’s a freak, one of the best players in the world, the best hooker in the world,' said Sharks coach Jake White of Du Plessis.

'What I respect is that he could go anywhere in the world and earn five times what he is now and still get the guarantee from Heyneke Meyer about being a Springbok in the next World Cup. He’s chosen to stay here and if that doesn’t show people he’s dedicated to the Sharks then we’re on a different page. It’s not a reward for that, but it shows he is genuine.

'Everyone knows how good he is. I’m hoping that this role of captaincy, but more importantly, with the change in environment we are creating and the people we are putting around him, we will really upskill him in terms of the things he is weak at. He knows what his limitations are, even in terms of how he’s going to be a captain.'

White also delivered some sympathetic words for former captain Keegan Daniel, but was confident in his selection of Du Plessis.

'Keegan will probably be a bit disappointed, that’s natural, he’s been a good captain. The thinking is for me to have a stamp of what I think is important for us as a group. The dynamics in the group are changing, there are some new guys who have joined the squad.

'I’ve worked with Bismarck before, he is a winner and has enormous presence in rugby. It’s not about individuals but what we do as a group.'

The Sharks are set to play a pre-season friendly against English club Saracens on 25 January at Allianz Park in London.

Sharkbok

You are 100% correct -  the Cowardly Carter will do anything to be out of rugby for at least six months on a sabbatical so as to avoid playing any SA team -also the Sharks.  

I think that he is  hoping that a six month absence will reduce the fear factor to such a degree that he does not shit himself in the change rooms.  What a palooka!!!!    

No, he will be fine - as the best hooker in the game, I am more than happy to see a good few years out of him still. 

Just because I prefer the younger players, does not mean I would discard class acts like Habana, Beast, Bismark and Strauss

 Sharkies getting a bit desperate chosing the dirtiest player in world rugby to captain their side are'nt they?

Talk about fat and useless . Only good for half agame before he's subbed for Strauss.

Or should i say only good for twenty minutes then he's yellow carded for being a filthy little shit. LOL Costing his team the game many a time through superiority of numbers he's a great choice.

And such a great role model for up and coming junior players...You can jump on players with your boots with impunity no worries mate.

Eye gouging is totally acceptable also not to mention throwing your elbow at someones throat.

What an entertainer . I see they screened the Sharkies brains recently with suprising results....

Blackadder

Don't point fingers  - the dirtiest player by a mile is Nonu - followed by Jaws.  The latest photo of Jaws and Du Toit was clear - he was trying to scratch Du Toit's eyes out but his feeble effort was pushed aside by Du Toit.  

I would lay a bet - Jaws and Nonu would get more yellow cards than any SA player.

Your best hooker in any NZ franchise is worth less than the worst SA hooker in any franchise.

 Jake must surely be having a laugh making the thug Bismarck captain!

You don't suddenly make a 30 year old captain unless you are desperate!! Bismarck has never shown any leadership qualities on the field unlike JDV and Sir Ritchie.....good captains are born and not manufactured.

Kirwan tried it last year with Ali Williams; same sort of loose cannon as Bismarck and it was a dismal failure.

Can't wait until the new captain gets his first red card whilst leading by example!!

The New Zealand supporters must be pissing themselves and they shout murder about Du Plessis as a result. 

There first objection to Bismarck is based on "intelligence".    While Bismarck is not on the same level as Jannie - who is a qualified medical doctor - Bismarck has a B.Com degree.   How many New Zealand player have degrees one wonders?  

Seondly they are apparently not aware that Bismarck has been the Springbok vice captain since 2012 - showing that he has leadership capacity.   Being the Springbok vice captain   definitely qualifies him for selection as Sharks captain.

Then there is the squeal about Bismarck being fat and lazy.  And that he cannot play for the full match - because he is subbed by Strauss.   What a joke that one.   Both are regarded as the top two hookers in World Rugby - why not alternate them in tests or subbed them?

The biggest scream is about dirty play.   The worst incident ever was when Hore put an opposition player in hospital - no complaint about that and not a whisper by Hansen as a result.   Then a big play is made about Bismarck's legal tackle on Carter in the  Eden Park test - which was ruled as illegal by the referee and later nullified by the IRB.  

As a hooker Bismarck is a very hard player - with a really negligible record for yellow cards - he never had a red card as per IRB records.   The problem is they fear the player and is trying their utmost to discredit him - what a load of rubbish is being spouted on this Board as a result.

Sorry - my AB and NZ friends - you are barking up the wrong tree here.

" ....all you saffas...."???

Not quite.

and by the way...welcome back.

 Waedad

I am sorry if I upset anyone - but I do not like unfounded and insulting allegations against players.   The allegations of lack of intelligence on the part of Du Plessis is totally unjustified.

The story about dirty play is also really not substantiated by facts.   Allegations are many - facts are few.   I can remember only one yellow card against Bismarck over the last 3 years.   I doubt very much whether there are more.  Fact is he pit in a hard legal tackle on Carter - which makes him a pariah amongst the NZ rugby supporters.

I believe we can taunt players about there performances - but personal attacks is really off-target.  

If you ask AB and other New Zealand players about Bismarck you will find a lot of respect for his abilities amongst them.   For instance I noticed that when he came off during the Barbarians game he was chatting away with Piutau like they were the best of friends.

Lets try and keep the situation real when it comes to discussion of players.                 

 Wardad

He may have been summoned - I do not know when it happened and neither the circumstances - but he was obviously not found guilty or banned.   So what is your point here? 

Just one thing - what did I say about McCaw in this thread - cannot remember any thing about him.   Please help.

Wardad

That was the game when the referee - I believe O'Brein - a Kiwi referee of ill- repute - red-carded a Springbok player for a so-called late tackle on Wilkinson in a deliberate effort to cook the match.   That same O'Brein was caught out sending e-mails to encourage them to ref SA teams out of the Super 15,   O'Brein was later the IRB referee panel head and vanished into thin air subsequently after being caught out crooking - if my memory serves me correctly.

There is a difference between Poite and O'Brein.   Poite was incompetent - O'Brein and  Bryce Lawrence were crooked referees trying to cook match outcomes.

N o credit to New Zealand's image - that one.

Glad Bizzy is captain but topic is infantile and immature...DC certainly never craps himself...on the contrary he was and is an officer and a gentleman about the incident and will go down in history as as one the greatest (if not thee) flyhalfs/player ever...3 cheers from a Saffa and Les Bleus and Los Pumas fan...Danny Boy you are great and there a pipes a calling as well...begorra.

Glad Bizzy is captain but topic is infantile and immature...DC certainly never craps himself...on the contrary he was and is an officer and a gentleman about the incident and will go down in history as as one the greatest (if not thee) flyhalfs/player ever...3 cheers from a Saffa and Les Bleus and Los Pumas fan...Danny Boy you are great and there a pipes a calling as well...begorra.