This coming weekend SA Fixtures

It will be surprising indeed if the results are going to go the way of the last weekends games - espexcially since the Stormers in particular will be able to get a number of ill and injured players back on Board.   They even played Malherbe although he reportedly had flue.   Once the top  players are back they would be able to field a much stronger team and would forsee that the team looks like the following against the Cheetahs:

15    Pietersen

14   Habana

13   De Jongh

12   De Villiers

11  Aplon:

10   Grant

  9   Duvenhage

  8   Koster

  7   Elstadt

  6   Kolisi

  5   Bekker

  4   Etzebeth

  3   Malherbe

  2   Liebenberg

  1    Kitshoff

The above would result ina considerable strengthening of the bench as well.   I think that would include Fourie, Harris, Steenkamp, Sinclair, as well as Van der Merwe, and possibly two others.

With the above team I would give them an 80% chance to beat the Cheetahs, even if JP Nel gets back into the atarting line up.  Oosthuizen is severely missed by them .

Insofar as the Bulls are concerned - I have serious doubts whether they would win in Durban.   I think there forwards would suffer against the Sharks and the backline the Sharks could play - would create problems for the Bulls backline.  I do not know whether Pienaar would be playing for them - if he does that would enahnce the chances of the Sharks.   It is assumed that the Bulls will play the same team as against the Cheetahs and hope the Sharks are more adventurous in their selections.   My team that would give the Bulls serious problems would be as follows:-

15    Lambie

14    Pietersen

13    Jordaan

12    Steyn

 11   Mvovo

 10   Michalak

  9    Pienaar

  8    Daniel

  7    Alberts

  6   Coetzee

  5   Du Toit

  4   Sykes

  3   J Du Plessis

  2   Bismarck

  1   Beast

They have a number of choices for the bench.

With the above team I think the Sharks have a 50-50 chance to beat the Bulls and I think whosoever win on Saturday would win by a small margin.    As a Sharks supporter - I hope it will be the Sharks, but the game could go either way.

Comments on the team selection and expected performance will be appreciated.

Interesting choices at 9 and 15 for Stormers. Is Duvenhage hurt? I must have missed that. Would leave Aplon at 15. He is so solid there under the ball and has more space to work. Much improved forward pack - early scrums against the Lions were embarrasing.

Shark team looks awesome - could really make a run if they get in the playoffs. Give the Sharks a 2:1 shot at winning. 66%

oimatey

Sorry I was mad - do not know what made me put in anybody - but Duvenhage.   I would play the form full back and put Aplon on the wing.   He has more opportunities there and there is no way that the Stormers would play Aplon ahead of Pitrsen at full back.   Would be a wrong move I reckon.   They would prefer Pietersen and Aplon in the starting team with Van der Merwe on the bench.

Not sure about the Sharks winning - but I give them a very good chance.   How do you like my choice of Du Toit as a lock? 

 Ah - if you meant Pietersen at fullback, then I agree 100% - you had "Pretorius" and I was racking my mind to think who that could be - haha !!

Du Toit is surely big enough to play lock and seems to bring more to the mix than Bresler whose claim to fame thus far is the ballerina act he and the The Beast have put together at kickoff !!  Would really be throwing him in the fire against the Bulls who will be going all out.

Lambie, Alberts and Jordaan are doubtful.

The majority of the Sharks Boks appear to have little interest in exerting themselves for the Sharks cause. How else can you explain a team that provided the majority of Bok players still under-performing like they do. The Bulls Boks are more dedicated to the Bulls cause. Bulls by 15.

It might be a good thing if the Sharks beat the Bulls, but the Bulls get a point. That way the Sharks could move into the top 6. The Bulls last game is against the Lions where they can pick up 5 points

 Sharks to beat the Bulls by more than 10. Scoreboard was very misleading as Cheetahs handling, ball security and tackling was pathetic for large parts of the game. Ashley Johnson may as well have been handcuffed his arms behind his back. Kirchner try was weak, as was Hougaards. Basson's try was fluky - defenders got turned around. Sharks defense and play is going to be so much better and there is more talent there now than at any point in the season

The way the Cheetahs played the last 20 minutes should be fair warning to the Stormers, but Stormers defensive structures are so much better than Bulls. No coincidence that the two best defensive teams are 1 and 2 in the compo.......