Sharks may just be playing dead

 

Rugby | Vodacom Super Rugby

Jean Deysel © Gallo Images Play our Super Rugby games and WIN 'Homecoming' - Dewald Potgieter Super Rugby: Week 10 in pictures Sharks may just be being clever by Gavin Rich 24 April 2013, 14:31
 

The wholesale changes, of which there are 11 in all if you count positional switches, made by Sharks coach John Plumtree may be viewed as panic in some quarters but they may instead be part of a strategy aimed at boxing clever through an extremely tough time for the franchise.

Regular skipper Keegan Daniel has been benched and Marcell Coetzee, lauded just a few games ago for his excellent performances, will also watch the opening Vodacom Super Rugby tour match against the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday from the side of the field and be introduced later.

There is a whole new back row, with Jean Deysel, who played only as a replacement last week against the Cheetahs, leading the side.

He will have a complete newcomer to Sharks rugby in the form of Lions flanker Derick Minnie alongside him on the other flank.

If you consider that two stalwarts have been left out for Minnie, you would question the wisdom. Surely the other players can’t be happy with a newcomer being elevated above their regular teammates?

But you will only think that if you look at it in the sense that the players left out have been dropped. That is not necessarily the case, and while it may seem like a gamble for the Sharks to be targeting games when they are on tour, it could well be that they have decided to mix and match this week with the view that they would probably struggle to beat the Chiefs in Hamilton in the week they arrive in New Zealand even without their current injury crisis.

Maybe they’re not quite cutting their losses or targeting the Highlanders instead of the Chiefs, but there does look to be an element of that in the latest selection.

The Sharks have played a couple of tough derbies consecutively and with the team not due for a bye until the beginning of June, this is the time to start rotating. And you just have to look at the Sharks’ injury list to see why that is necessary.

Further changes to the Sharks team see Frans Steyn return to the side at outside centre and Piet Lindeque, normally a centre, take the No 11 jersey in place of Lions loan player Andries Coetzee, who was injured last week. Steyn is in the side of course because of the injury that has ended the season for Paul Jordaan.

Lubabalo Mtembu plays in Daniels’ place at No 8, while Craig Burden comes in for this game in place of Kyle Cooper, who has been the form hooker for the Sharks this season by some distance.

Surely that is as good an indication as any that there is rotation being employed here as opposed to a dramatic wielding of any axe?

Charl McLeod is in at scrumhalf in place of Cobus Reinach to complete the overhaul – probably a temporary one – of the team that lost narrowly to the Cheetahs.

Of couse it’s not as if the new players are slouches, and Jannie du Plessis, who returns as the starting tighthead to enable Wiehahn Herbst to switch sides, is the incumbent Springbok in the impressive.

Deysel led the side with distinction for most of last Currie Cup season and was excellent when he came on against the Cheetahs.

THE SHARKS Riaan Viljoen, Odwa Ndungane, Frans Steyn, Meyer Bosman, Piet Lindeque, Patrick Lambie, Charl McLeod, Lubabalo Mtembu, Jean Deysel (captain), Derick Minnie, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Anton Bresler, Jannie du Plessis, Craig Burden, Wiehahn Herbst.

Replacments: Kyle Cooper, Danie Miene, Franco van der Merwe, Keegan Daniel, Marcell Coetzee, Cobus Reinach, S’bura Sithole.

 This rings of a B-team. Craig Burden-a failed backline to makeshift hooker, My grandmother throws the ball better than Craig Burden

Mtbemu a newbie on the block,

Charl Mcleoid, Piet Lindeque. 

I dont think the Sharks are targetting this match, and would rather focus efforts on the weekest opposition. 

Sharkbok

The Sharks was comprehensively outplayed last week by the Cheetahs back row and I do thin that Minnie is a very good loosie.   Danil also did not produce the goods after injury and Van der Merwe was nowhere in the last few games.   There are problems especially in the backline too and the fact tht Steyn is being played at 12 - ust really be only a stopgap measure until they can get a replcement for Jordaan.   I do not know whois flying out - but I am sure they will try an get a player like Stokkies Hanekom of the Lions to join the squad.

I think the Sharks will lose this match - but would like to see how thy fo [erform with the players they have available.  

 Clevermike

It may be a trial for some of the fringe players to also stake position for the next match.

The Sharks have put in a few decent performances this season, but some of the rubbish dished up with a good squad is just not up to standard. Some of the indivual performances have been pathetic.

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Brendon Venter- ex Sarceans coach has also recently commented that he does not understand what the Sharks game plan is, largely because their is not one or the players just cant implement it.

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At this point in time the Sharks may need to just let off the pressure of qualifying and just play to enjoy themselves and play to their potential. When they get back from their tour they can evaluate where they are and what to do.

Players need to put their hands up. The likes of Lambie and Frans Steyn need to ask themselves if they want to be first choice boks in 2013 and beyond. 

With Alberts and Bismaark back, JP on the mend back in durbs we could see a revival, But will it be too little too late

 

Smart stuff this time from Plum. This depleted side is unlikely to beat the chiefies. Hence do ones best to get ready for the next match. Deysel and Minnie will add grunt. Will Deyel and Minnie be fit enough

Go Sharks! In the absence of rooitwit someone has got to shout for the boys!  rooitwit get your sorry butt moving!

Maybe they will surprise? Its not that bad a side but travel also is a serious issue for the sharkies. Pity that Cooper didnt play as pack otherwise looks quite good.  Herbst at loosehead will be interesting.

Something is bothering me about this match.   After Plumtree announced this team with a lot of new players and second stringers in the team - up come the Chiefs with a similar tendencies - an etraordinary numbr of chnages to their side of last week.   In the case of the Sharks - they were largely forced into the team change situation by injuries - but rotattion and saving the real performers in the Sharks for later rounds is probably another aspect as  well

The number of changes made to the Chiefs team is an issue which is more diffult to understand.  Player rotation can be one issue - but is another one not a feeling on the par of the Chiefs that the Sharks are so poor - they only have to go on the field of play to be victorious?   If the latter be the case - it could be a dangerous assumption by the Chiefs and could in fact from their perspective be counterproductive

One would have to wait and see what actually happens on the field of play .