Daniel to skipper Sharks
16 Jan 2012
The Sharks have named Keegan Daniel as their captain for the 2012 Super Rugby campaign.
It was always known that 2011 Currie Cup skipper Daniel and Bismarck du Plessis were the front runners for the Sharks captaincy following the exits of John Smit (Saracens) and Stefan Terblanche (Ulster). And head coach John Plumtree announced on Monday his decision to stick with 26-year-old Daniel for the new Super Rugby campaign.
‘I was really impressed with Keegan during the Currie Cup last year, the way he grew as a leader in what was a difficult campaign,’ said Plumtree. ‘It was a campaign where we had to deal with a number of interruptions, through injury and the Springboks coming back. So it was difficult to manage and I thought he did really well.’
Plumtree added that most of the Sharks players backed Daniel as their captain.
‘He has the respect of all the players in the team which is obviously very important and also for the way he plays. And his friendliness and the person he is off the field make him a popular leader. I’m giving him this opportunity to keep the growth going and we’ll see how it goes,’ continued Plumtree.
‘I think the biggest thing – and I can’t emphasise it more – is that he has the support of all his team-mates. Ultimately, he was their choice as their leader. You can’t get a better endorsement than that from your peers.’
Du Plessis, who is set to become the first-choice Springbok hooker this season, will still play a leadership role as vice-captain. The 27-year-old will takeover as skipper should Daniel be unavailable for selection.
‘Keegan can’t play every game, so Bismarck du Plessis will be vice-captain. Again, it’s the same thing – a guy that leads by example. He’s also very astute in terms of tactics so I am keen to have his leadership and to give him the responsibility to grow within the group as well,’ said Plumtree. ‘Both of these players are ultimate competitors, they are real Sharks men with a real love for this jersey and it means a lot to them.
‘The majority of your leadership comes through actions and often words come second. Both these boys are right up there in that department.’
80 Comments
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16 Jan 2012, 18:25 pm
How I’d love to see Bissie captain the Sardines. They’ll all be throwing fake punches and macho poses with faces to the ground while the opposition does them from behind
16 Jan 2012, 18:32 pm
@RL-49:
Yeah I was updating profiles on all the blogs and changed my name on this one when I changed my password and really couldn’t be arsed to change it again.
16 Jan 2012, 18:34 pm
@Michael-51:
When it comes to captains I judge them on the scary scale, now Burger gets a 5 from me, imagine walking into a dark ally looking at that big freak with that big head, Josh too will get a 5 on the scary scale, you would mistake him for big foot.
Strauss from the States gets a respectable 3 while Daniel gets a 4 cause he has this paedofile type serial killer face. Spies gets a pathetic 1.4 cause let’s face it, beach muscles ain’t scary.
16 Jan 2012, 18:34 pm
Keegan Daniel being skipper is on one hand very exciting, as long as the sharks continue to be bold and drop Kankow as well. A back row of Alberts, Deysel and Daniel has a good balance to it and could really excel. However if they have both Kankowski and Daniel in the same back row for a large part of the match, there is just too much work for the blindside flanker to carry out while the dancing queens wait out wide to get the ball.
16 Jan 2012, 18:37 pm
Morné @ 47…
Yip we both like whitehead… IMO he is the best centre in sharks…
16 Jan 2012, 18:45 pm
@RL-53: Nice one
16 Jan 2012, 18:45 pm
@ufo-55: He is, however, largely untested at Super level. Let’s see how he goes first. We (as in the SA public) needs an inside center who knows how to distribute.
16 Jan 2012, 18:47 pm
@Michael-57:
If Tim gets a decent opportunity the lad will excel. As far as centers go, this lad has a good game but more importantly a good brain on him.
16 Jan 2012, 18:49 pm
@ufo-55:
I would say he was one of the better ones at WP…
16 Jan 2012, 18:50 pm
@Morné-58: We’ll see. Good luck to him. He cannot be any worse than Bosman at this level.
16 Jan 2012, 18:54 pm
@Michael-60:
Unfortunately I don’t think we will, if he gets any Super Rugby game time I will be surprised.
16 Jan 2012, 18:57 pm
stormers were damn foolish to let Whitehead go…..once Sadie left they should have fought tooth and nail to retain Whitehead….now we an injury away from a crisis at centre……dont be surprised if Grant is used at 12 a lot this season
16 Jan 2012, 18:59 pm
Grant would be a better 12 than he is a 10.
16 Jan 2012, 19:01 pm
Morné… You’re absolutely right imo…
I wasn’t too upset to lose sadie… but was seriously pissed they let whitehead go… I saw him and jdj as out future centre pair…
16 Jan 2012, 19:01 pm
@ufo-64:
With you 100%
16 Jan 2012, 19:12 pm
@Morné-61: Yeah Plum and Reecy aren’t exactly good selectors and coaches of the backline…
16 Jan 2012, 19:16 pm
@Michael-66: I still have nightmares about Reece-Edwards being selected ahead of Theo van Rensburg for the Boks. A brainfart of the highest calibre.
16 Jan 2012, 19:24 pm
@Michael-66:
You forgot Bashford.
16 Jan 2012, 19:28 pm
@ufo-64:
Sadie is a thoroughbred UFO , massive loss !!! Whitehead very good and will excel in the Sharks environment but Sadie is special, watch this space !!
16 Jan 2012, 19:41 pm
Yeah jr… I know you rate him highly… and he may fulfill the potential you and many others see… but will have to overcome two serious flaws imo… if he is to progress.
I believe however… that whitehead is the unsung, unrecognised talent that helped sadie catch the eye so effectively…
It will certainly be very interesting to see how the career of each player develops… and I will be watching both spaces with much interest…
16 Jan 2012, 19:43 pm
sadie, whitehead and JDJ should have been our future….now we have an aging JDV and JDJ…then a massive gap…poor man management
16 Jan 2012, 19:45 pm
yeah grant… that would definitely have been first prize…
16 Jan 2012, 22:51 pm
@Morné-68: Bashford’s impact is easily forgettable.
16 Jan 2012, 22:52 pm
@grant10-71: Sadie made unrealistic demands. I agree re Whitehead.
17 Jan 2012, 08:37 am
@HongKongSlong-54: Would be best for the Sharks to bring Kanko on from the bench with 20 mins to go – he is excellent in an open game and with tired legs should be able to make a huge impact – horses for courses
17 Jan 2012, 08:40 am
Really hope the Sharks let Alberts play at 8 this season – come on Willem show Spies how it s done
17 Jan 2012, 09:03 am
Great choice, i thought he did well last year.
17 Jan 2012, 09:04 am
@Michael-73:
Bashfords impact is MOSTLY forgettable.
18 Jan 2012, 13:27 pm
@Transformation-45:
Well said sbali,
Mjekevu has played 2 years of SAu20′s,he played 1st team rugby at KES (top 10 school),was headboy at KES,played 2 years of Cravenweek,made his Superrugby debut at 18 etc
Have heard the same type of “pedigree” talk with honours nowhere near the above for many other players rated as “future” Boks from many on here…Likes of Pat Lambie,Johan Sadie,Eben Etzebeth, Marcel Coetzee etc…
How is this so?
18 Jan 2012, 13:29 pm
And oh Morgan newman is on a VC contract not Mjekevu
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