Sharks expecting a Bulldozing

Sharks expecting a Bulldozing

20 Jul 2006

Sharks forwards coach Theo Oosthuizen is preparing his pack for their toughest test of the season when they face the Vodacom Blue Bulls at Loftus on Friday.

Oosthuizen said he was well aware that the Blue Bulls would place emphasis on dominating all facets of forward play and his team were ready for them. “We are expecting a physical onslaught,” he told keo.co.za

If this game mimics their Super 14 encounter at Loftus in April, Oosthuizen’s prediction could be spot on. “If you look at that game, we weren’t in it for the first 15 minutes. They absolutely nailed us in the forwards.”

The Bulls go into this game without Springbok hooker Gary Botha, out with a back injury, and his impact particularly in the tight exchanges will be sorely missed.

Hottie Louw, on loan from Welsh side Llanelli Scarletts, will partner Francois van Schouwenburg in the second row. But despite changes in these key positions, Oosthuizen rejects the notion that this will weaken a traditionally potent pack.

“Hottie is too experienced. He is a Bok lock and his experience gained playing overseas would have served him well. As far as the injury to Gary is concerned, his replacement Kobus van der Walt is a really good player. The Bulls won’t lose any quality through him.”

According to Oosthuizen the battle of the loose-trios will also be critical. The Sharks combination of Venter, Botes and Britz will be out to make sure they come out tops against the Bulls trio of Wannenburg, Dlulane and Brosnihan. “We will struggle if our loose-trio don’t hold their own, but so will anyone if the tight five are going backwards. If our tight five is on the back foot, it will be no contest.”

Asked what sort of game plan the Durban-based side would employ to counter their northern rivals, Oosthuizen was clear in his approach.” For us it will be all about securing good first-phase possession and not allowing them to disrupt us at the point of break down. This will lay the foundation for us to attack them with our backs.”

The teams are tied for second in the table, with both having lost one game. The Loftus faithful will be sure to make their KZN visitors feel as unwelcome as possible and their unwavering support could be the difference in what is going to be a bruising Absa Currie Cup encounter.

Sharks: 15. Odwa Ndungane 14. Dusty Noble 13. Gcobani Bobo 12. Grant Rees 11. Craig Burden 10. Bradley Barritt 9. Ruan Pienaar 8. AJ Venter (c) 7. Jacques Botes 6. Warren Britz 5. Steven Sykes 4. Wouter Moore 3. Danie Saayman 2. Bismarck du Plessis 1. Kees Lensing.
Substitutes: 16. Skipper Badenhorst, 17. BJ Botha, 18. Ryan Kankowski, 19. Keegan Daniel 20. Scott Mathie 21. Mzwandile Stick 22. Andrew Binikos

Vodacom Blue Bulls: 15. Stefan Basson 14. John Mametsa 13. JP Nel 12. Dries Scholtz 11. Frikkie Welsh(c) 10. Morné Steyn 9. Heini Adams 8. Pedrie Wannenburg 7. Tim Dlulane 6. Warren Brosnihan 5. Francois van Schouwenburg 4. Hottie Louw 3. Rayno Gerber 2. Kobus van der Walt 1. Wessel Roux.
Sustitutes: 16. Adriaan Strauss 17. Jaco Engels 18. Adriaan Fondse 19. Hilton Lobberts 20. Neil Powell 21. Jacques-Louis Potgieter 22. Johan Roets.

By Ryan Vrede


89 Comments

Pages: « 1 [2] Show All

  • 51.wls: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 10:03 am

    suparugby lol, i have to shout, work is very loud here.

    Thanks anyways.
    Kick of at 7pm? should be a cracking game this.
    Sharks i think should take it.
    Bulls need to up the ante here.

  • 52.big g: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 10:04 am

    gald to see no-one is counting no more…

  • 53.suparugby: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 10:04 am

    Kick at 7pm yes

    Bulle vs Boland at 5pm

    Bulle met 8

  • 54.Sampioenman: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 10:05 am

    Only because Ig is erasing it.

  • 55.suparugby: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 10:05 am

    55 consits of two fives

    Tes big g no one is counting anymore…

  • 56.suparugby: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 10:06 am

    57 is counting i believe

  • 57.Kudu: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 10:07 am

    Yesterday I said :

    SHARKS 35
    BULLS 12

    Let’s change that to 42 – 12 for the Sharks. I just fel another great try being scored.

    The Bulls are on their way down.

    WP and Sharks in the final, and as in 2000 and 2001, WP will win although the Sharks have dominance in territory and posession.

    Sorry Bulls……

  • 58.big g: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 10:07 am

    cant wait for 69…

  • 59.suparugby: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 10:09 am

    dont you think 69 is a bit grandmaish?

  • 60.BULLET: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 10:10 am

    Anyone know where Waylon Murray is?

  • 61.suparugby: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 10:10 am

    Would you bet on a 30 point margin Kudu?

  • 62.Kudu: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 10:11 am

    Bring it on, Supa…

  • 63.Andre_WP: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 10:17 am

    odwa at fullback , haven’t seen him play there before. This is going to be a cracker guys. Sharks look very Sharp to me. Bulls will realy have to play hard to take this one. Don’t think there’s going to be 4 tries in this game. Going to be a close one.

  • 64.suparugby: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 10:18 am

    If the Sharks win by 30 points plus i will change my name to Supa loves the Province for next week. If they dont win by 30 – you change it to Kudu loves the Bulls

  • 65.big g: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 10:18 am

    iwold have bet on that as well, but the shark backline looks a bit strange to me? rees and bobo, odwa at the back?

  • 66.RedCard: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 10:19 am

    Kemp #10 perhaps he chokes the chicken too much…

  • 67.Kudu: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 10:20 am

    Supa,

    Not a problem with that…..

    May the best man win….

  • 68.RedCard: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 10:20 am

    big g,

    being nuaghty again are we?

    I put forward a motion earlier this week to have your statement regarding Jaco accepted by all the muppits, didn’t have much success though!

  • 69.big g: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 10:21 am

    damn you stole my 69 redcard, yellow for you…

  • 70.suparugby: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 10:22 am

    kudu

    You are a brave man…respect!

  • 71.big g: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 10:26 am

    thanx for trying tho redcard…
    at least jake listened and no more jaco there is…
    YAY!!

  • 72.suparugby: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 10:28 am

    big g

    You finally got 69!

  • 73.big g: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 10:31 am

    glad, last had it last night… but she had to leave early and got none this morning, feel a bit better now tho…

  • 74.snoop: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 10:38 am

    Stan of the best

    One more day

  • 75.RedCard: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 10:42 am

    big g, seems that we both got it at some stage this morning :wink:

  • 76.suparugby: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 10:45 am

    Red

    You both had a 69? 2 + 2 =?

  • 77.big g: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 11:00 am

    he he redcard… LOL…
    was it as good for you as it was for me?…

  • 78.spinnaker: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 11:06 am

    Now suddenly the Sharks were for 15 minutes not in the game in the S14, if memory serves me correct it was for about 25 minutes.

    Still Sharks to win this 1 by 4.

  • 79.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 11:07 am

    Ain’t that sweet. Was your *** as good as mine?

    What’s this. A competition?

  • 80.big g: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 11:09 am

    obviously not on the same page dawnie, not talking bout the ***, talking bout the 69…
    but ig removes the nr game so redcard “suffered”

  • 81.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 11:12 am

    Mmmmmmm.

  • 82.RedCard: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 11:15 am

    big g,

    I just thought that it could’ve gone on a little longer :lol:

  • 83.big g: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 11:18 am

    how my endurance tho hey…

  • 84.RedCard: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 11:22 am

    Very impressive indeed. Its been more than an hour!

  • 85.spokie: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 11:31 am

    Ja en al die Bulle het n pic van Hoffmeyer teen hulle mure omdat hy hulle pappa is!

  • 86.suparugby: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 12:18 pm

    Spokie het n poster van Casper Steyn teen sy ma se muur…

  • 87.jonnow: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 14:56 pm

    I can’t believe the pathetic drivel being posted on the threads these days.

    Please can someone post an intelligent rugby related post instead of the usual garbage that people are posting.

    It is starting to be a waste of time reading the comments because they are just about all ****, posted by the same bunch of wankers each time.

  • 88.RedCard: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 15:11 pm

    Well then why do you read it. Not very intelligent that, now is it?

  • 89.jonnow: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 16:40 pm

    I actually didn’t read it fool, I wouldn’t waste my time on this drivel, but you are obviously one of the retards who enjoys these posts.

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