Solly gives Jake a headache
28 Mar 2006
Bok flank Solly Tyibilika will not return to the Sharks Vodacom Super 14 squad until his form improves for the Wildebeest.
After starting against the Cheetahs and Crusaders, Tyibilka was sent to the Vodacom Cup side to work on certain aspects of his game after the Sharks were beaten 31-16 by the Waratahs in Sydney. However, he has struggled according to Sharks coach Dick Muir.
“We are concerned a bit about Solly, he didn’t perform as well as we would have liked for the Wildebeest. Hopefully he will pick up on his form, but he won’t be considered for the Sharks,” he said.
This decision comes as a further blow to Jake White’s World Cup preparations. The Bok coach will almost certainly take the flanker to France next year and was hoping he’d get sufficient game time in the Super 14. However, if Tyibilika’s form has dipped, them Muir cannot be blamed for omitting him from the Sharks squad.
Muir said he had originally planned to make use of a large squad for the Super 14, but would make as few changes as possible after the positive signs shown on their overseas tour.
“We knew that getting back from five weeks away on tour, we would have to make some changes to the team to play the Reds, and we will bring in guys from the Wildebeest,” he said. “But we won’t make as many changes as originally anticipated, the squad is in good shape.”
The Sharks meet the Rubble Reds in Durban on Saturday – a team with just one win from six matches (at home against the Force). While the home side should take the four points on current form, Muir is not underestimating the Australians.
“We are probably in the same process overall as the Reds; there are lots of changes, coaches have come and gone, both of us are still blending youth and experience, and have some youngsters coming along,” said Muir. “Certainly with the Sharks, there is plenty of depth. The Wildebeest are in outstanding form, so that makes the selection process that much harder.”
Muir said he would bring back key players for the Reds game while resting others.
“Monty is over his injury, so he will obviously be in the reckoning for Saturday,” he said. “[Centre] Andries Strauss has played the entire tournament so he will take a break this week. This opens the door of opportunity for someone like Brad Barritt or Waylon Murray.Â
“Craig Davidson hasn’t had too much game time, so he will play for Wildebeest, and that gives Scott Mathie an opportunity to come onto the Sharks’ bench. [Loose forward] Keegan Daniel has been exceptional for the Wildebeest and will come onto the bench as well, while Braam Immelman and Daniel Farani will get game time for the Wildebeest. There is an injury concern over John Smit, but it seems positive he’ll play.”
“There are a number of young players showing great promise, and although a guy like Keegan is lighter, he makes up for it in mobility and anticipation on the field. There are a lot of players in the Wildebeest side that have shown the competitive spirit and what they’re worth, Keegan is one of them. We would like him to bulk up for next year, but because he’s come on in leaps and bounds, he will certainly get a look in on the weekend.”
According to the Sharks website, Keegan comes from Humansdorp near Jeffrey’s Bay, and was schooled at Dale College. A first team rugby and cricket player as well as deputy head boy, he comes from a very sporting family. His younger brother Murray joined him in the first team in 2003, the first siblings to do so since 1976, while both parents represented Border at school level; his father Mike in cricket and rugby, and his mother Colleen in softball.
21 Comments
28 Mar 2006, 08:18 am
Anyone got info on Keegan Daniel? Im sure i remember the name from going back to my old school a year or two back? Dale College product?
28 Mar 2006, 08:32 am
What is wrong with John Smit?
28 Mar 2006, 08:40 am
Billy
He is the sharks openside flanker has been very impressive in the games i have seen him in , very mobile and always involved in the game and pretty strong is a tad light though played for the sharks u21 side last year.
28 Mar 2006, 08:42 am
PS How can Sollies firn for the wildebeest be a concern when he has hardly played for them 1 sub appearance for about 10 minutes this week.
28 Mar 2006, 08:42 am
This is sad – but if players don’t come up thru the ranks they have weakness and bad aspects of play which if the player goes thru the ranks will get pick up worked on and they become a better player. The ‘zero to hero’ is a flash in the pan and they fade just a quick. All good things take time.
28 Mar 2006, 08:56 am
Dunno what’s wrong with Smit but I hope he’s fit on time because I read in the Mercury today that Skipper is gonna be on the bench for this weekend’s game if Smit doesn’t play.
Did anybody see the Wildebeest game at the weekend? Jody Jenneker had an absolute stormer of a game and he’s been playing well consistently for a while now. When Skipper came on later in the game, his first lineout was skew and it didn’t get any better from there.
Jenneker only had about 10 mins or something against the Chiefs in the 1st game but in no way did he look nervous or out of his depth. Guys like Skipper are hardly setting the world alight- I’d like to see Jenneker on the bench and getting more S14 game time.
28 Mar 2006, 09:10 am
“Solly will almost certainly go to France”……hahahaha
I wonder how Luke Watson feels about this.
Never,ever has Tybilkas game reached the level of Watsons.
Lets just hope that Skalk doesn’t get injured in France because if he does, his replacement is Vodacom Cup quality.
28 Mar 2006, 09:14 am
Smit – stomache muscle.
28 Mar 2006, 09:33 am
Jake White is stressing because he needs to meet the quota for players of colour in the Bok squad and Tyibilika would have filled that gap. End of story.
28 Mar 2006, 09:34 am
What rubbish, Solly has still been better than Warren Britz this year.
28 Mar 2006, 10:19 am
Was Sollie nie vroeg in die jaar oppad Griekwas toe nie?
Ek het hom eintlik nog nooit beskou as ‘n monster op flank nie. Hy het sy oomblikke maar hy perform nie konstant genoeg nie (my mening) – maar soos iemand nou die dag op die site gese het – dat JW meer van rugby af weet as ek en daarom kies hy vir Solly.
Wat van Bobbo? Is daar ‘n kans dat JW hom weer gaan kies of is hy nou history?
28 Mar 2006, 10:54 am
Solly the headless chicken Tyibilika has never been better then Britz!
28 Mar 2006, 11:13 am
Unfortunately, IMO Solly is not at the level for a test openside flank. Wonderful physique for the position, but simply does not have the hardness of character and competitive spirit required of a fetcher. I respect what JW is trying to do, but if its a numbers game, we have more promising talent with players like Jantjies who are at the level.
28 Mar 2006, 11:28 am
This just confirms what we have known for a long time – that **** (the name says it all) Muir has got it in for Solly. The guy has shone every time he played for the Boks. No, he isn’t as good as Schalk at no. 6, but then who is?
28 Mar 2006, 11:36 am
I sadly agree with U guys …Id say Solly @ his BEST is a very good Currie Cup player..
I like him, he FIT, fast and hes bulkd up a lot these days,what he needs to do is PLAY HARD.. if he can get like a string of 5 really good perfomances , then hed b more convincing…
Watsons doing well from what Iv seen and hes been more convincing over the last 4 years than Solly…
lest see what happens
28 Mar 2006, 13:38 pm
Fortunately Muir doesn’t allow the issue of quotas to cloud his judgment, which would predictably cause imbeciles like pierre to squeal.
28 Mar 2006, 13:55 pm
Solly is not close to Springbok material
We all know why he is in the squad
28 Mar 2006, 14:18 pm
Steel Shark, I am a fan of Solly, but no, he has not been better than Warren Britz. Even last year.
28 Mar 2006, 14:47 pm
Solly T has been less than impressive, but I wonder if his role is clear.
28 Mar 2006, 15:41 pm
I’m a solly fan.
But at to moment i’d say if jake wants a black players on the flank bench he should go for ….
Kabamba, mama se kindjie!
29 Mar 2006, 06:10 am
Ye of course solly’s form has dropped, he hasnt played a game for 4 weeks
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