Sias dropped for Sharks clash
16 May 2012
Naka Drotske has named flyhalf Riaan Smit ahead of Sias Ebersohn for the Cheetahs’ match against the Sharks in Bloemfontein.
Ebersohn, who was first choice in 2011, was seen as a dependable replacement after teenager Johan Goosen was sidelined with a dislocated shoulder. However, the former has struggled for confidence and form in the No 10 jersey since then. Following another dismal performance in the 16-14 defeat to the Stormers at Newlands last Saturday, Smit has taken over in the flyhalf berth.
There are no other changes to the match-day squad.
Cheetahs – 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Cameron Jacobs, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Riaan Smit, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Justin Downey, 6 Heinrich Brussouw, 5 George Earle, 4 Izak van der Westhuizen, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (c), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Subs: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Andries Ferreira, 19 Ashley Johnson, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Philip Snyman.
22 Comments
16 May 2012, 15:17 pm
Well, I called it during the Cheetahs’ last match. Sias has lost his mojo … big time.
16 May 2012, 15:46 pm
Would be nice to also see Willie getting a run at 10
PS Confidence is crucial in rugby. Ask Brian Habana
16 May 2012, 16:10 pm
wow, that’s a brand new sharks team
16 May 2012, 16:25 pm
@charo(charo)-3: hahahahaha.
16 May 2012, 16:51 pm
I know they say every match is a must win for the Sharks but this game really is a must win if they are to find themselves in the playoffs and keep the ankle biters at bay.
If they dont win, they may well find themselves slipping down to 9th on the log.
With teh Reds, Hurricanes and Highlander all snapping at their heels and playing very much winnable games all at home…
Interesting times.
16 May 2012, 16:51 pm
Wake up people, its the Cheetahs team, not Sharks
16 May 2012, 16:54 pm
@John Galt(John Galt)-5:
All the games is a must win i feel, they have lost to many imo allready.
16 May 2012, 16:58 pm
I would have like to have seen Willie Le Roux at 10.
He has played there before, has the boot and has the zing to keep the Cheetahs playing their game.
16 May 2012, 16:59 pm
Sias needs to spend some time playing 7s.
16 May 2012, 17:04 pm
Two weeks ago, I would have said that this would have been a cakewalk for my Cheetahs.
The moment that Goose got injured the Cheetahs lost their mojo.
The moment that Beast ran onto the field, the Sharks got their mojo back.
Rugby is about the players, not the product. You cannnot expect a conveyor belt of entertainment. Something for the money grabbing administrators to take note of.
16 May 2012, 17:24 pm
@YoMama(YoMama)-8: after naka took out sias last week, riaan and willie alternated between 10 & wing!
16 May 2012, 18:48 pm
Sharks should shade them in every department except scrumhalf.
Possible Line-Up:
Viljoen ( Ludik still injured ? ), JP, Jordaan, Whithead, Mvovo, Lambie
if he`s not fit go with Bosman, McLeod, Keegan, Coetzee, Bresler, Sykes
Botes, Jannie, Bismarck and Beast.
Referee: Kaplan so no worries there.
Problem is somehow the Cheetahs became a bogey side for the Sharks in Bloem.
I`ll still go Sharks by 4 – 6.
16 May 2012, 19:31 pm
The real weakness in this Cheetahs side is the 2 wings, Jacobs and to a greater extent LeRoux. Le Roux is simply not strong enough to play rugby at this level and get’s progressively worse with every game. This Cheetahs side with better wings would be higher on the log.
16 May 2012, 19:32 pm
Viljoen has been a big let down at the Sharks. Even Ludick is better at this stage.
16 May 2012, 20:30 pm
all the cheetahs that cross the border to go sell their soul to the sharks turn out poor options.. its not quite the same playing for your home team and then pulling some foreign legionnaires turncoat colors around your neck and putting the same amount of effort in..
Look at Pretorius that went to Waratahs.. its patently obvious his hearts not in it when all he went over to that godforsaken country was for some under the table blood money.
Same with Viljoen, Pienaar, Du Plessis, Steyn, etc etc that sold their souls to go play for the last bloated outpost billingsgate club.
16 May 2012, 20:33 pm
sharks been spending in bloem beeg time..
16 May 2012, 21:33 pm
@skopskiet(skopskiet)-15: Ag not this again. It`s a professional sport,if the Sharks didn`t sign them someone else would`ve.
17 May 2012, 00:32 am
@charo(charo)-3: It’s next seasons Sharks team.
17 May 2012, 04:07 am
@stormer in a teacup(stormer in a teacup)-18:
Watch it, not funny when you on my side of the fence!
Feel sorry for Sias but he is still a youngster and plenty of time to get his head sorted and play good rugby in future. Don’t give up hope just yet Sias…
17 May 2012, 04:09 am
As for Riaan Smit, funniest built for a #10 I have seen in a while. When he first came on I thought he was a skinny prop, then maybe a short loosie…but I did not place him at 10!
17 May 2012, 07:23 am
“True Blue” Smit….true story!!
17 May 2012, 10:08 am
Tough luck on Sias…
Could see the effort and desire to do well be fore the game…
but maybe like Habana he’s trying a little too hard.
should chill and enjoy yourself… he’s too good a player not to come right…
and would still welcome him at the stormers…
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