Frans favoured at 13
3 Apr 2008
Frans Steyn will start at outside centre against the Hurricanes on Saturday.
Steyn displaces Waylon Murray to form a new midfield partnership with Brad Barrit. Frederic Michalak, who had a big impact in last week’s fixture, starts at flyhalf.
Ryan Kankowski has passed a fitness test and will resume his role at No 8. Other changes see BJ Botha in for Jannie du Plessis at tighthead and lock Steven Sykes starting ahead of AJ Venter.
Sharks – Stefan Terblanche; Odwa Ndungane, Frans Steyn, Bradley Barritt, JP Pietersen; Fred Michalak, Ruan Pienaar; Ryan Kankowski, Jacques Botes, Keegan Daniel; Johann Muller (c), Steven Sykes, BJ Botha, Bismarck du Plessis, Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: Craig Burden, Jannie du Plessis, Albert van den Berg, Epi Taione, AJ Venter/Waylon Murray, Rory Kockott, Adrian Jacobs
49 Comments
3 Apr 2008, 09:28 am
die sharks gaan van die mannetjie nog ‘n brent russel maak.
3 Apr 2008, 09:30 am
dankie tog die sharks het 2 goeie skruskakels anders was hy dalk volgende week op skrumskakel.
hoop nie altwee word gelyktydig beseer nie.
3 Apr 2008, 09:39 am
I see Venter and Murray are bracketed together on the bench. Does this mean, if Murray is fit, then AJ will fall out of the 22. Why have two centre subs on the bench then in Murray and Jacobs? Let’s not forget that Taione can also cover centre.
I don’t know if I agree with this experiment. It may work out well, but at the expense of the solid structures already in place – and I don’t believe that’s a good thing.
What if Steyn has a barnstormer at 13? Where does that leave him with regards to nailing down a fixed position? And where does that leave Murray and Jacobs, who – most importantly – HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG AND DONE PLENTY RIGHT!
3 Apr 2008, 09:47 am
Cant wait for the sharks to discipline the canes!
3 Apr 2008, 10:17 am
This is going to be a big weekend for the sharks. If they can beat the Canes, i think they will have a very good tour. But if they lose……….
Go Sharks!!!
3 Apr 2008, 10:27 am
Well………..thats fine, but let him settle there now, 1 game wont give us a picture of how good he is in the position, once he becomes an instinctive outside centre then we’ll see and that will take a few games. Now what about the Boks, does he play outside centre there to, then where to with Jacques. National and Provincial coaches should be discussing these things. He does like space (Frans), so the pos. should suit him.
3 Apr 2008, 10:31 am
1 – Yip, the new Russel.
At least Steyn has the benefit of being quite big. He is such a fantastic talent, but at the moment he is playing average at best. He should start to specialize in one or two potitions from now on, and those are 12 and 15.
Also can’t believe that Pienaar gets picked instead of Kockott.
3 Apr 2008, 10:35 am
Good team – but now leave the poor guy in that position so that he can settle and mature there.
He is good enough to make a success and 13, but only if given time to establish himself.
Very important game this, like snoek said, it will prob go a long way to defining this tour.
3 Apr 2008, 10:58 am
the kid is a full back (even though he prefers 10 he hasnt shone in that position at all) we need a 15 for the boks and that is where the sharks should play him, with stefan on the bench.
plus barrit and murray is a great combo, why break it up, except this week when it is injury forced?!
3 Apr 2008, 11:01 am
Puff, i think if Steyn has a cracker, they’ll shift Waylon to wing. Odwa, although defensively great, just hasnt had the wheels this season. Always seems fractionally off the pace.
3 Apr 2008, 11:08 am
think if murray could not play, this is a better side to take the field for this w-end.
Frans Steyn; Odwa Ndungane, Adrian Jacobs, Bradley Barritt, JP Pietersen; Fred Michalak, Ruan Pienaar; Ryan Kankowski, Jacques Botes, Keegan Daniel; Johann Muller (c), Steven Sykes, BJ Botha, Bismarck du Plessis, Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: Craig Burden, Jannie du Plessis, Albert van den Berg, Epi Taione, AJ Venter,Stefan Terblanche, Rory Kockott,
3 Apr 2008, 11:31 am
wtf is Murray injured? I would of though Steyn at 12 and Murray at 13 would be the perfect pairing against a physical Canes midfield…
Anyway big test for our loosies coming up against the Canes ones who are the best in the business IMO.
3 Apr 2008, 11:35 am
Waylon Murray is an outside centre,finish & klaar.Has been since primary shool.Any shift to the wing would be a mistake.
Just like this move with Steyn…He is no 13,will never be.A 10 or a 15,thats it.
Watch the intelligent footballer that is Conrad Smith exploit this….
Not smart…Would hav rather started Jacobs if Waylon isnt fully fit…
3 Apr 2008, 11:43 am
Biggles
Odwa Ndungane is no speeder but he is one of the most intelligent wingers in the competition.He knows his limitation & strengths.Scores crucial match winning tries for the Sharks..His feel for space and the ball is outstanding.
He’d be one of the first names in my XV..Rated highly in NZ as well.Listen to the commentary this weekend whenever he touches the ball.
3 Apr 2008, 11:50 am
Game of the weekend no doubt. Would like to see Epi get 30 min run. This side has the potential but lets hope they use it and score points. Sharks by 7.
3 Apr 2008, 11:51 am
I was born in a cross-fire hurricane
And I howled at my ma in the driving rain,
I was raised by a toothless, bearded hag,
I was schooled with a cane right across my back,
But its all right now, in fact, its a gas!
Shark and Chips for Dinner Saturday.
3 Apr 2008, 11:55 am
Who is this Epi Taione …….Sounds like you Sharkies got yourselves a Polynesian.
3 Apr 2008, 11:58 am
Cane he is Tongan. Was chosen as one of the 5 players of the tournament.
3 Apr 2008, 11:59 am
I meant in the WC!
3 Apr 2008, 11:59 am
mshiniwami,
I really don’t know, but it seems like certain players are just treated differently my friend…
3 Apr 2008, 12:07 pm
Brawler,
I take it from your comments in post 15 that he is in good form.
I’m off to the game on Saturday (weather permitting/ forecast is not good unfortunately.) It will be a tough game. If my Canes can win this I feel we are with a good chance of making semi’s. If not then I think we might finish 5th or 6th……again.
3 Apr 2008, 12:28 pm
Have to agree with Mshiniwami, Ndugane is good and he is in form! only with Steyn at Flyhalf he doesn’t get much ball, and the try he scored on Saturday was a beauty!
3 Apr 2008, 12:32 pm
Cane He gave the Game against the Reds a much needed boost and therefore I would like to see him get a longer run. But judgment is still out on whether he is better than the loosies we have.
I think you are going to watch a great game though! Canes have been blowing hot and cold but if they blow hot we are in for hard night.
3 Apr 2008, 12:34 pm
Girlshark
I agree too. Doesnt get the due respect he deserves. Way better than his brother in my opinion.
3 Apr 2008, 12:40 pm
Argh. What the hell, people. If Waylon is injured, play Adi Jacobs!
Hierdie rondgeskommelry met FS gaan hom en SA rugby niks baat nie!
Re: Odwa. He’s great where he is – leave him be. He might not be the quickest around, but he’s got many other awesome skills.
Nee, man. Los die getjommel en jol die game – all this tweaking and shuffling doesn’t bode well.
I’m worried about this game – I’ve got the Sharks up for a win, but wouldn’t be surprised if they get moered big time….
3 Apr 2008, 12:45 pm
mako,
**** Muir prefer Adi a super sub…
3 Apr 2008, 12:51 pm
#26 Charlie
Ja, and ****’s probably got a point there, but sheesh…
Aan die ander kant dink ek ook Steyn is speler wat van uitdagings hou, so dit maak seker sin om hom te laat speel op 13.
Hell, man, it’s all very confusing.
3 Apr 2008, 13:09 pm
mako,
Steyn might play lock next weekend…
3 Apr 2008, 13:25 pm
Why are they playing Steyn at 13 … to combat Nonu ??????
3 Apr 2008, 13:27 pm
Mshiniwami
Totally agree.
Ndungane may not have the pace of a Chavhanga, but I think he is the most well-rounded South African right wing at the mo.
An intelligent player with great handling skills and anticipation.
3 Apr 2008, 13:28 pm
I’m talking about Odwa here.
3 Apr 2008, 13:30 pm
Murray and Jacobs are the outside centres for the Sharks and are both great 13s, with different strengths.
Barrit is the only real inside centre in the Sharks Super 14 squad. Andries Strauss has always struggled to get much game time at this level, and is likely to continue in the CC and VC.
Therefore, it makes sense for Steyn to be looked at as an alternative option at 12. If Muir deems him good enough to start in the run-on 15, then play him at fullback – end of story.
As for flyhalf, Michalak – with Pienaar as the alternative.
3 Apr 2008, 13:31 pm
Frans ‘musical chairs’ Steyn
3 Apr 2008, 13:57 pm
I don’t think it’s such a bad thing that Steyn is being shuffled around so much… I wouldn’t have him start for the Boks…
I’ve given it thought, and I think the Bok backline should be one of the following combinations…
9. F. Du Preez
10. B. James
11. B. Habana
12. M. Bosman
13. J. De Villiers
14. T. Chavangha
15. P. Montgomery
21. R. Pienaar
22. F. Steyn
Hopefully Jaque Fourie and Butch James get fit too. Potentially, if Percy is ineligible, I would be quite excited about the prospect of…
9. F. Du Preez
10. P. Grant
11. J. Nokwe
12. M. Bosman
13. J. De Villiers
14. T. Chavhanga
15. B. Habana
Habana can kick these days, and whoever watched the Blues game will also know he is brilliant under the high ball…
3 Apr 2008, 14:00 pm
On Meyer Bosman…
He is the best distributor of a rugby ball in South Africa. If he can cut out his simple errors and play alongside a defensively capable 10 and 13 you’ll see that he is also very solid on defense. For talent he deserves a run…
3 Apr 2008, 14:06 pm
I seriously don’t know what the whole fuzz is about.
The only possition Steyn is reaaly made a big impact is centre.
He is a solid 15 and a solid 10 but he is a world class centre. He proofed that in the worldcup.
And when asked he himself said he prefers to play centre.
So please poeple, lets see him at 13. He might do greate next to JDV for the boks.
3 Apr 2008, 14:09 pm
Ziyaad
Chavanga is to small, JP is ten times better rygby player than he is. Chavanga is a brilliant athleet but certainly not a testrugby player.
Bosman is to one dimensional. Steyn or JDV. Why move backwards when we have two creative younsters in JDV and Frans Steyen.
3 Apr 2008, 14:40 pm
Ziyaad, you smokin’ the green **** again. Bosman is nowhere close to JDV or Frans Steyn at 12. Nowhere near good enough at test level.
3 Apr 2008, 14:50 pm
Ziyaad
ARE YOU Meyer Bosman?
Damn sight better than Olivier, I’ll give you that…
3 Apr 2008, 14:56 pm
Biggles – agree with you to a certain extent.
Bosman is not the answer at 12, but I also don’t rate JdV there. He has to my mind always been a better wing than a centre.
If pushed, play JdV at 13, but I think Steyn turned the Boks around nicely when he was slotted in at 12 at the WC.
Bosman is not a bad defender, but that’s about it…
3 Apr 2008, 15:22 pm
This is a dumb *** decision by a coach who cannot see what is right in front of him.
Steyn is an absolute disaster, prone to even more horrendous decisions than Percy Montgomery.
Can you say “Super 14 final?”
Muir should dump this selfish, slow thinking, glory boy before he does even more damage. Although how he can do anything even dumber is hard to say.
But he should stop him doing it again!
3 Apr 2008, 15:41 pm
Genius, have you ever played in a S14 final? and if you have, which I doubt, how old were you? Drop your attacks on the coaches, and Frans!
3 Apr 2008, 17:30 pm
JdV has had one half good game at centre in the last 2 years last weekend and people are still pencilling him in?
He is at best the second bench choice for the Boks.
JdV is better at wing and he won’t make the squad there either.
get over it and move on.
3 Apr 2008, 18:02 pm
Meyer Bosman is anything but one-dimensional. He is inconsistent but is probably the only centre in South Africa who passes well on both hands. There is not enough emphasis on distribution in South Africa. No one notices the guy who throws the double skip pass on the left hand. They only say “Hey, the Cheetahs have scored the most tries in the backline out of any South African franchise, they’re playing a great brand of rugby” and yes it helps that Jonghi Nokwe is scoring great solo tries but watch Meyer Bosman and how he throws accurate flat passes to his outside backs. If Daniller could offload the Cheetah’s might’ve scored a few more tries. I rate Meyer Bosman…
3 Apr 2008, 18:21 pm
ziyaad
Bosman might be good distributor-has lovely from and timing.By he tends to over do it sometimes,even killing the overlap coz of it.He needs variation.Plus for such a reasonably big fella for a 12 he is shocking on Defence.Missed 11 tackles vs Blues in 1st half last yr.Not much better this yr.
Too many deficiencies in his game to be taken seriously….
Plus the whole “next honiball” claim by jake…eish…talk about pressure
Next Honiball my GAT!!!
3 Apr 2008, 18:22 pm
form
3 Apr 2008, 18:28 pm
GirlShark
genius might be a tad emotional about Steyn but i see where he’s coming from.The boy is too much of a maverick at the moment.There hav to be consequences for bad play.With him it doesnt seem so.”Glory boy”
genius Myt not hav been in a S14 final but he didnt fail to kick a easy conversion AND fail to kick the ball out with 30 sec left…TO LOSE THE SHARKS THE FINAL
But dont want to ressurrect the past…It was painful enuff…
3 Apr 2008, 18:52 pm
Well Barrit and Steyn at 12 & 13 could be an experiment that bombs or succeeds.
Steyn imo is best suited to 13 long term, hopefully he runs straight and true, Barrit inside could pose a problem though, I would prefer Jacobs at 12 and Steyn at 13, then you will get a playmaker creating moves on the inside with Steyn rounding off and utilizing bulk with some skill, speed and ball sense to complete the plays, lets see if it works with Barrit, somehow I have my doubts that these two similar type players will combine that effectively, still it could work, **** obviously has confidence in the combination otherwise he wouldn’t be trying it.
Just that I definitely think Jacobs is the guy to be playing on the inside creating the gaps for Steyn to run onto.
4 Apr 2008, 07:56 am
Mshiniwami, yes the S14 final was painfull and he definitely cost us but the pressure of the moment and his age are extinuating factors, and is it really Steyn’s fault that between the Boks and Sharks he is shunted back and forward in the back! He has not been allowed to settle! And yes he is not performing, but a lot of the guys have not been in form this season, they too should get some of the lambasting this young man is getting, Ruan is off the Marck and If I see Pietersen jogging after a ball one more time I am going to wait for him at the airport and throw my handbag at him!
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