There are a lot of different ways this can go, and I'm sure Jake has his finger on the pulse. I'm guessing the backline will be:
Marais, Mvovo, JP, Frans, Sithole, Lambie, McLeod.
I would be tempted to play;
Lambie, Chavanga, JP, Jordaan, Sithole, Frans, McLeod.
Basically because I fear Mvovo and Marais are going to be very brittle in NZ against the Saders in a big game. But I must admit Jordaan would have to be a big concern at 12.
Sounds like whatever happens Reinach is on the bench:
Starting scrumhalf Cobus Reinach has enjoyed a great season but he does have weaknesses, such as his box kicking, and those were exposed against the Highlanders. McLeod, who is on his way to French club Grenoble after Super Rugby, was outstanding against the Stormers in the previous game, and has a tendency to excel in really big matches, such as last year’s Currie Cup final in Cape Town.
The have sharks advanced to the semis with the current backline. Why change the backline if the sharks have won the previous matches with the current backline? I think Jake is adamant about making any changes to the backline, rightfully so. He should stick to what has been working best for the team. Personally I hope the overrated Lambie remains on the bench.
Well its pretty well documented that Lambie improved the Sharks backline when he came on at 10, hardly surprising given Frans is not a 10.
Jake has intimated Lambie will start at 10 and rightly so
Ah yeah Moz gets it right again
"Lambie has been out of rugby for four months with a torn bicep but he fitted seamlessly back into the team at a critical stage of the play-off match. Not only does he look the part at flyhalf, Steyn also looks better at inside centre than he does at pivot, where again he was exposed at the weekend. Moving Steyn back to the midfield, with Paul Jordaan going to outside centre and JP Pietersen, who struggled defensively against the Highlanders, shifting back to wing, might well be the way for the Sharks to go against the Crusaders.
And Lambie’s big match temperament, which did come through in those last minutes against the Highlanders, could be crucial to the Sharks’ chances if White decides to pick him. White spoke last week of the calmness that Lambie brings to those around him, and apparently it was added to the mix again in the last quarter at Kings Park, which was when the Sharks effectively won the match" - Gavin Rich
Starting scrumhalf Cobus Reinach has enjoyed a great season but he does have weaknesses, such as his box kicking, and those were exposed against the Highlanders. McLeod, who is on his way to French club Grenoble after Super Rugby, was outstanding against the Stormers in the previous game, and has a tendency to excel in really big matches, such as last year’s Currie Cup final in Cape Town.
So when White speaks about improved linking between backs and forwards, it could well be an indication that the Sharks will have a new halfback pairing in Christchurch. Not that he was giving too much away on Saturday night.
“I will have to sit down and think about it and can’t commit myself now,” he said.
Lambie has been out of rugby for four months with a torn bicep but he fitted seamlessly back into the team at a critical stage of the play-off match. Not only does he look the part at flyhalf, Steyn also looks better at inside centre than he does at pivot, where again he was exposed at the weekend. Moving Steyn back to the midfield, with Paul Jordaan going to outside centre and JP Pietersen, who struggled defensively against the Highlanders, shifting back to wing, might well be the way for the Sharks to go against the Crusaders.
And Lambie’s big match temperament, which did come through in those last minutes against the Highlanders, could be crucial to the Sharks’ chances if White decides to pick him. White spoke last week of the calmness that Lambie brings to those around him, and apparently it was added to the mix again in the last quarter at Kings Park, which was when the Sharks effectively won the match
With four minutes remaining Sharks lock Johann Muller won a lineout 25 metres from the Bulls' line. The Sharks then mauled for before it maul collapsed three metres from the Bulls line. After four phases of driving play Van den Berg drove past Danie Rossouw and Derick Kuün to score a try for the Sharks. Steyn then missed the conversion; the Sharks now led 19-13. The Bulls then needed to score a converted try to win the match, and with only a few minutes remaining of regular time they started attacking expansively. In the 79th minute Gary Botha grubber kicked the ball from inside Bulls territory to within the Sharks 22-metre line. François Steyn collected the ball but did not kick out, and instead kicked down field where the ball was collected by Bulls' captain Victor Matfield. The Bulls spread the ball, and went through several phases until it reached winger Bryan Habana near the right touchline. Habana jinked back infield and ran through a gap in the Sharks' defence before scoring a try five metres to right of the goal-posts. The 83rd minute try was then converted by Hougaard to give the Bulls' a 20-19 victory.
61 min Drop goal attempt from Lambie... Has it got the legs? No. The SA full-back was a long, long way out. Ambitious. The Boks have a better chance now though with Falletau penalised for going in at the side of a ruck just inside the Wales half. Step forward again Mr Lambie. And it hasn't got the legs again! Get in the gym and pack some more power my son. Penalty wasted.
This topic was made before the spectacle and I noticed how ridiculous some of these posts were at the time and even more absurd after the match.
I'm not sure why some have such low expectations surrounding Frans Steyn at fly half when he has in fact proved that he can fit into that position well and win matches in that position. In the earlier stages in the Super 15 Frans Steyn was one of the key players in the Sharks vs Crusaders match on 17th May 2014, Sharks won the match away with Frans Steyn at flyhalf. In comparison with Lambie's performance vs Crusaders in the semi final Lambie played bad in general kicking and he was the culprit for most of the problems in the match itself.
The concern leading up to the semi final for me was Lambie hasn't had enough game to be in the starting spot at flyhalf, he has had a limited amount of time in the highlanders match and hasn't played in weeks up until that point. It is evident that Lambie can't control the game well most of the time and is a over hyped player that is overrated.
Saff, Seb and Mike Sorry you need to rethink about the issue.
61 min Drop goal attempt from Lambie... Has it got the legs? No. The SA full-back was a long, long way out. Ambitious. The Boks have a better chance now though with Falletau penalised for going in at the side of a ruck just inside the Wales half. Step forward again Mr Lambie. And it hasn't got the legs again! Get in the gym and pack some more power my son. Penalty wasted.
