It’s the ‘ Deysel or Alberts bash it up’ gameplan that is the biggest reason for this I think.

In a way, I am glad they didn’t go the cheque book route and are prepared to give some of the youngsters a run. Lets hope we uncover something this season.

Skeate came along nicely in the CC and I think he will keep Hargreaves out of the team. You can’t play Skeate and Hargreaves together that would just be a disaster.
Bresler is also a graftera and quite a hard man.

I think the Sharks have enough personnel but I’m not sure they have the gameplan.

The centres in the squad are Bosman, Joubert , Whitehead and it seems that Mjekevu is also going to stay with the Sharks. Jordaan is also en exciting prospect. Plumtree just need to have the balls to play some of the youngster and not the overpaid Joubert and Bosman.

Plum also said he wanted both Deysel and Alberts in the team towards the end of the CC and he basically played Deysel at 4 just for that reason.

That is the Sharks biggest problem is their reliance on 1 or 2 big ball carriers and they became so predictable. I really hope Plum can come up with some other ideas this year because as a Sharks supporter I’m tired of the stupid one dimensional rugby of the Sharks.

So how good is this Marias really if someone like Hargreaves and Deysel is deemed better starters?

The Sharks should never have let Mostert go. But the Marais laaitie is good, I’m expecting him to really step up this season.

Plum has actually alluded in the Witness that he will not be playing Deysel at lock. Skeate and Hargreaves at 5 and at 4 you have Bresler, Jan-Andre Marais and Peter-Steph du Toit.

Maybe these injuries will actually force Plum to change tactics a bit. Not all bad imo.

I am actually excited to see how the Lions will do. Its their time right now, so I hope they push on.

I reckon the Sharks will be going into this game positively. As much as the Bulls would like to remonstrate otherwise, the loss of a bunch of stalwarts is hardly going to bolster their cause.

I am not saying this to rub their noses in their situation, but I recall in the late nineties how the loss of players like Mark Andrews, Henry Honiball, James Small, Andre Joubert and a few others all in a short period of time affected the Sharks. They too had fairly decent players to take up those places, but you just don’t replace a stalwart that easily.

For the Bulls to lose their triumvirate Bakkies, Victor and Fourie all in one go is rough. Add the others to the exodus, and its going to be tough. One thing the Bulls have going for them is an incredible half back pair in Hougaard and Steyn, which is one of the most important combinations on a rugby field.

Bulls fans might need a bit of patience this season.

But, I don’t make predictions any more when it comes to the Sharks. Although the Lions were awesome, and definitely deserved their title one would have expected a slightly better showing by a Sharks team laden with Springboks. Sharks looked disinterested (Afrikaans = slapgat) – which is unforgivable. Losing to a stronger opponent is one thing, but not even putting up a fight is something completely different.

So – who knows. I think it will be interesting. Bulls are a team full of character, whereas I think the Sharks have let themselves down recently so, Tac – I would go with 50/50 as well.

Its a ridiculously long season and to risk them in the first game, an away game, would be very short sighted.

The Bulls/Sharks game is going to be very interesting.
With most of the dead wood out of both sides, it’ll be great to finally see some youngsters getting a shot.

This whole season excites me actually. I have my season tickets for the tank and am aiming to get to all games.
Had a really pitiful showing last year by my own standards.

Is he out of his motorplan?