Beware the wounded Lion

Beware the wounded Lion

23 Jun 2006

Sharks coach Dick Muir expects the Lions to come out firing for their Currie Cup match at King’s Park on Friday night.

While the Sharks are full of confidence after finishing fifth in the Super 14, the Lions – in the guise of the Cats – finished last in what was a nightmare season. However, Muir is not underestimating the Jo’burg side.

“We are expecting a massive onslaught from the Lions,” he told the Sharks website. “They have a new coach, are pretty wounded from their Super 14 campaign, so they want to prove a point. It will be a very interesting game and I imagine that there will be some nice, open rugby played.”

Muir says he has assembled “a pretty balanced side”.

One new name in the side is that of fullback Carl Bezuidenhout who has been plucked from obscurity. “He’s a youngster,” admitted Muir, “but he played well in the trials, and he is something of an unknown factor. He has a lot of ball in him, and I think he will be good for us.”

“We are also expecting big things from Jody Jenneker, and with Deon [Carstens] and BJ [Botha] out, it creates an opportunity for a youngster like JC Strauss, so he needs to grasp his opportunities. Ryan Kankowski is another exciting talent that has come into our system.”

The Sharks boast the same loose-forward trio in this opening match as that which performed so well for most of the Super 14, although Muir admits that, “I believe there is room for improvement, and the guys need to step up. They are up against a good loose trio so they will be tested on Friday.”

Youngsters taking their opportunities put pressure on incumbents. Keegan Daniel proved it in the Super 14, as did Brad Barritt, and previously, Ruan Pienaar and countless others.

However, it is just as important to have the experienced players there to act in a mentoring role explains Muir. “It is good to have a guy like AJ who is blooding someone like Kankowski, or Danie Saayman working with JC Strauss, and with Bezuidenhout, you have a guy like Brett Hennessey who has the experience.”

Commenting on the halfback pairing of Butch James and Ruan Pienaar, he said that, “both can create a bit of havoc. Ruan has been away with the Boks and hasn’t trained much with us, but he knows our structures and systems, so he will fit in easily.”

The expectations on the Sharks are high after the Super 14, but the coach warns that it is a new competition, and no-one should take success for granted.

“I think a team needs to be able to walk before it runs, so we must treat each campaign as it goes. With the number of changes in the side, we have lost a little bit of momentum that we had managed to generate in the Super 14, so we need to start fresh again.”


13 Comments

  • 1.xsaffa: Reply to this comment
    23 Jun 2006, 08:26 am

    **** doesnt lie

  • 2.xsaffa: Reply to this comment
    23 Jun 2006, 08:26 am

    simon get keo to roll the bones already, taking too long

  • 3.sarky: Reply to this comment
    23 Jun 2006, 08:27 am

    As a Lions supporter, I sttill expect the Sharks to handle them like they did the force.

  • 4.Andre_WP: Reply to this comment
    23 Jun 2006, 08:39 am

    Team to watch out for this year. The Sharks will be outstanding. They been one of the teams who have been outstanding during the S14. Alot of young tallent but let me tell you , as young as they are , very good on the field.

  • 5.Staal: Reply to this comment
    23 Jun 2006, 08:49 am

    Ek het al baie Leeus gesien op in Afrika en in die wildtuine.

    Ek het ook al Great whites gesien onder in die water terwyl ons scuba…

    manne dis nie ‘n grap nie ek sal liewers die leeu wil tackle.

  • 6.kevin w: Reply to this comment
    23 Jun 2006, 08:53 am

    Staal,

    You have scuba’d with Great Whites – pretty impressive or a load of bullshit!

  • 7.Staal: Reply to this comment
    23 Jun 2006, 09:01 am

    kevin w,

    Not impressive just very very very bad for my blood pressure.

    First encounter wasn’t meant to be with Cacharodon carcarias, he decided to come and have a look.

    Not nice.

  • 8.kevin w: Reply to this comment
    23 Jun 2006, 09:03 am

    fair enough .. seen so much bullshit spun on this site, thought you may have been caught up in it!

    Bet the wetsuit needed a good wash after!

  • 9.RedCard: Reply to this comment
    23 Jun 2006, 09:24 am

    They did not finish last Simon! Did you forget the Farce.

  • 10.Staal: Reply to this comment
    23 Jun 2006, 09:40 am

    kevin w,

    the problem was way bigger than that – i used a drysuit!!!!!

  • 11.Predawn: Reply to this comment
    23 Jun 2006, 10:41 am

    Muir is just trying to be nice. He knows the Sharks are going to bite the kak out of the Kittens.
    Score: Sharks 33 Kittens 17

  • 12.citizenc: Reply to this comment
    23 Jun 2006, 13:40 pm

    Would love to see my leeutjies SNOT the sharks – but it isn’t likely.

    Keen to see how Butch goes. In my opinion Jaco isn’t a Bok flyhalf. Fullback? Maybe, but flyhalf definitely not!

  • 13.walter: Reply to this comment
    23 Jun 2006, 14:03 pm

    Just saw on the web that Earl Rose is out injured, Jody will play at no 10…I hope he can handle Butch James…

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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