Sharks in better shape
24 Jan 2013
Sharks coach John Plumtree is satisfied with the depth in his squad this season.
The Durban-based franchise began last year’s tournament without injured players like Beast Mtawarira, Jean Deysel, Willem Alberts and Ryan Kankowski, and lost their opening two matches, against the Bulls and Stormers.
Plumtree, though, is confident they will avoid a repeat in 2013. This time round, only two players are injured, Bismarck du Plessis (who is expected to be back in April) and prop Dale Chadwick, who is out for four to six weeks with a stress fracture in his foot.
‘If you look at our squad, there is good depth in the backs, good depth in the locks now, and good depth among the loose forwards,’ Plumtree told the Sharks website. ‘There is really good competition for places and with the two trial games coming up [against the Leopards in Pietermaritzburg on 8 February and the Pumas in Nelspruit a week later] we’ll get the opportunity to see how everyone performs.’
While the Sharks no longer have the services of Steven Sykes (Kings), Ross Skeate (Agen) and Frederic Michalak (Toulon), they have made two good acquisitions in former Lions duo Butch James and Franco van der Merwe (the latter on loan), which will add depth in key positions.
‘Butch and Franco have done well,’ said Plumtree. ‘Franco is really enjoying it here. Although it is different to what he is used to, he looks to have settled in nicely. Butch knows our system, knows how we operate here and it’s really just coming back to family for him. He’s been great.’
206 Comments
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25 Jan 2013, 10:55 am
@Heavens Game-99: Best Jersey Bwhahahahahahahaha
25 Jan 2013, 10:56 am
@Sasuke-97: He’s gone through a Makro sized carton of tissues already…… doing the ‘self entitlement/self help’ thing as he fantasises about his guppies tournie winning season ahead….
Oh dear.
25 Jan 2013, 10:59 am
@Sasuke-100: Why would you rather have Alberts start… Because he is “bigger”?
Stormers “dominated the log”? Lol. Yet they couldnt make the final last year, playing at their “impregnable fortress” against a team that literally had circumnavigated the globe the week before, playing a wing at centre against the vaunted Stormer Bok midfield…
Looks like the Stormers were impregnated… By Shark donors…
And so it is “nothing new under the sun”… and under the Mountain too…
25 Jan 2013, 11:03 am
@Sasuke-101: You know its true… Certainly more Sharks jerseys were sold last year than jerseys for any other team in Super Rugby…
People look good in the United Colours of Black and White…
You know its true.
25 Jan 2013, 11:05 am
@Heavens Game-103: Will make more of an impact early on in the game. Coetzee is too similar to kanko and daniels, there will be no balance in the backrow. Daniels, Alberts and Kanko is a well balanced combo. Coetzee will be a handful when coming on in the 2nd half.
Which Sharks are going to show up this year? Strong start, weak finish or weak start, strong finish.
25 Jan 2013, 11:07 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-102: Whats a “Makro sized carton of tissues”…
Verry verry Beeg?
Yes…
Like as beeg as a beeg sized middle leg for a beeg supporter of the beegest team in Super Rugby…
Sharks
Forever…
BOOM!
Yes… you are right.
Makro sized then…
25 Jan 2013, 11:10 am
@Sasuke-105: They don’t have one player capable of forcing turnovers in that setup….it should be a slight worry for them. Along with their lineout. A soooper doooper backline is only good when they have the ball.
Very keen to see how they go in these departments while Bissie is out.
(Then again, Mallet has also installed the guppies as defo winners and faves…… so I hope they have done some off season mental work. If they can’t handle the fave tag – it’s going to be a ong season)
25 Jan 2013, 11:11 am
@Sasuke-105: Actually no… Alberts makes an impact later on… Think of his first appearances in the Bok jersey…
Rubbish, Coetzee is nothing like Daniel and Kanko…
Farkenell…
Coetzee is a handful from the start… Black and White Kryptonite…
25 Jan 2013, 11:11 am
@Heavens Game-104: Who would know for certain? If only the fans show up at Kings park then we can see the jerseys.
25 Jan 2013, 11:13 am
Kom ons vag vir die eerste paar wedstryde. Dan kan ons komentaar lewer.
25 Jan 2013, 11:14 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-107: “They don’t have one player capable of forcing turnovers in that setup”…
Cliched.
Ignorant.
Why should this surprise me…?
Nope. It doesn’t.
Dumbfuck ignorant wench… Go read Femina or something more appropriate
25 Jan 2013, 11:15 am
@Sasuke-109: Sharks fans are everywhere…
The Universal Sharks…
FuckBenetton…
25 Jan 2013, 11:17 am
@Britney Spies-110: Pielneus Keeurboom… I have opened a nice pressurised can of STFU…
Just for you…
Now go find your toolbox, my butch little girly…
25 Jan 2013, 11:17 am
@Sasuke-109: On the guppie adoration site, the fans are whinging about the new jersey….
http://www.sharksworld.co.za/2012/12/21/2013-sharks-jerseys-launched/
(I think HG was banned from this site or something to that effect?)
25 Jan 2013, 11:21 am
@Heavens Game-111: But it’s the truth, even though it might hurt a little.
Bandaid? Dettol?
25 Jan 2013, 11:22 am
@Heavens Game-111: “Cliched.
Ignorant.”
But it won us a CC final…… click click?
25 Jan 2013, 11:24 am
Cant get what is wrong with a lineout comprised of:
Bresler
Kanko
Franco
Marais
Du Toit
And a cameo or 2 from Alberts and even Keegan Cullen Daniel…
Nothing farken wrong… Burden will have been working hard on his throwing guaranteed, Cooper good and Hadebe is probably more accurate than most 2s in the country…
But yes… Keep em cliches and crowd “wisdom” going… Tis great…
For the Bwaaaaaaahaaaahaaas later
25 Jan 2013, 11:26 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-116: Nope…
Wrong.
But then again you just wouldn’t understand…
Rugger, a simple game… But for many, its beyond them…
25 Jan 2013, 11:28 am
@Heavens Game-113:
Remove your false teeth. You are spitting.
25 Jan 2013, 11:31 am
@Heavens Game-118: Deon Fourie dined out on guppie ball like a kid with unlimited spend in a candy store….
Tell me how you fellas dealt with this? And did the manner in which you dealt with this contribute to the final result?
Your lineout was incredible yes?
Yes/No/Not sure?
Or are you going to blame the travel factor for your CC final loss? 17km’s is a killer for guppies, especially when their driving gloves and socks are faulty….
25 Jan 2013, 11:31 am
@Britney Spies-119: He uses that spit as lube for his next ‘sharrkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkks’ session of ‘self pleasure…’
25 Jan 2013, 11:41 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-121:
Wag vir ‘n Lambie storietjie. Dan is my sleutelbord baie glyerig – aitishooooo
25 Jan 2013, 11:43 am
@Britney Spies-119: I reckon you have me wrong, hunny…
Not your type… Still have my two front teeth, can whistle…
25 Jan 2013, 11:44 am
@Heavens Game-123:
Wie is jou hunny?
25 Jan 2013, 11:48 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-120: Yes… the legend of Deon Fourie…
Once the “2nd best hooker in SA”…
Now just awesome everywhere…
Chuckles
And the legend of CC 2012… The one the Sharks lost… lost for nothing more than being overconfident…
Yet, despite their lethargy, their rank sh.yte play on the day, they still could have pulled it back in the dying seconds…
They just didn’t want it enough last year… They will have it this year though, along with the S15 Trophy proper… Not some fictional “Conference Title” holding…
And so it will come to pass…
BOOM!
25 Jan 2013, 11:50 am
@Britney Spies-124: Joe ma…
Sy’t gehoes, met sy…
25 Jan 2013, 11:54 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-121: No Stormers changeroom antics here…
No Spermwhale Vermeulen mounted by Donkey on this thread… No Neon Deon fetching the Appels of Gio Apples…
No felching Joesephine Petersen…
All man… for women… Good looking women… No d.ykes either… Which precludes the Rottie loving toolbox wearers from the Fishing Village…
Damnit you say…
Tough, I say…
25 Jan 2013, 12:02 pm
“The players have really enjoyed having Carlos here,” Plumtree admits. “I’d like him here a little longer – he’s not here for the whole tournament –he has family back in Joburg. But he will help us through the course of the season, he’ll see how we go and he’ll come down periodically. He will be good for not only our flyhalves but also our backs, he’ll also be working on our kicking game. But really, he’s just touched the surface of what I want from him.”
Springbok defence coach John McFarland has also spent a few sessions with The Sharks and by all accounts, his contribution has been invaluable. “He has had a lot of experience coaching at a top level for a long time, he’s a specialist in defence and we wanted to pick his brains, to make use of his knowledge this week. It’s a good change for the boys with some fresh ideas.” Utilising external personnel has always been embraced by The Sharks coaching staff, mindful of the fact that there is a lot of intellectual capacity in South Africa. It also works in the Springboks favour.
“It’s important that we adopt the philosophy of sharing information from the Springbok management to us which will also give John a better idea of our players by working with us. We’re able to open up the working relationship with the Springbok coaches, starting with him.”
25 Jan 2013, 12:04 pm
“It’s a very good setup here, the structures are good, the players look like they have a lot of fun, but in spite of that, they are working really hard, they’re really professional and they are disciplined about their rugby. The Sharks are a great bunch of guys, I’m enjoying training and playing with them and really looking forward to the first game, I can’t wait to play with guys who I’ve been playing against for the past couple of years.”
Franco Van Der Merwe
25 Jan 2013, 12:07 pm
Carlos Spencer said he was thrilled to be in Durban with The Sharks and looked forward to working with the team.
“I’m really looking forward to it; Plum [John Plumtree] invited me to come here and spend a couple of weeks with The Sharks, obviously to have a look at Pat Lambie and a few of the other boys. I’m really happy to be here.
“The Sharks have always been a very competitive side, they’ve always been up there amongst the top teams, be it Currie Cup or Super Rugby. They’ve always had a very dominant forward pack and backed that up with some pretty skilful backs. They are always challenging for a top four spot and finals, they’re an exciting team to watch.
“They play a good brand of rugby, one I enjoy as well as, being an attacking player.
“They came close last year and hopefully they can do it this year, I’m looking forward to it, to see how they go this year.”
Carlos Spencer… Sharks skills and assistant coach elect… He will be there to stay.
Once a Shark, always a Shark.
25 Jan 2013, 12:17 pm
Anyone who wishes to nominate any worthy charities, please email: hgwillbedonatingallthefuckingeggonhisfacetostarvingchildren@predictionsthatsucksa.net
25 Jan 2013, 12:21 pm
Talking about eggs on face…
513.The Sharks rugby pedigree stole my password:
28 Jul 2012, 15:53 pm Where is that paragon of stupidity, HG? Scared as hell that my team will destroy his later?
This, after Chiefs beat Saders in one S15 Semi… and Sharks about to impregnate Stormers in their “impregnable” Fortress Newlands…
Eggbukkake…
25 Jan 2013, 12:23 pm
@Heavens Game-130: yes, once a shark always a shark this is true.
so glad to have butch back in the fold again too, he may no longer be a test player but i think butchie will have plenty of influence in the s15 this year.
hahaha, stormers have f(l)eck-i-should-have-put-the-ball-down and we have king carlos
25 Jan 2013, 12:24 pm
@Heavens Game-132:
de jongh danced his stupid dance after the cc but i didnt see him dancing when JPP jogged past him in the s15 semi
25 Jan 2013, 12:26 pm
@The Rangerman-133:
Fleck the backline maestro attack guru…
I can imagine his first one on one with poor Elton:
1. Never ever pass the ball when we have it
2. Unless to JdV
3. Always stand 19m behind the advantage line.
4. Forget about tries…
25 Jan 2013, 12:29 pm
@The Rangerman-134: JPP, a mere wing, not only jogged past him, but Bok Cappie De Villiers too… A Black and White knife through Blue and White butter…
Yes, the much vaunted Bok midfield no less…
25 Jan 2013, 12:29 pm
@Heavens Game-135: and tekkel tekkel tekkel.
25 Jan 2013, 12:29 pm
@Heavens Game-136:
and the crowd went……..quiet
25 Jan 2013, 12:30 pm
@The Rangerman-137: Ja… That could be a problem for Elton…
25 Jan 2013, 12:30 pm
@Heavens Game-132: Payback was a tart though wasn’t she? Played 2 finals – lost 2.
And so it came to pass, as you say
25 Jan 2013, 12:32 pm
@The Rangerman-138: Yes… Not a roar in earshot…
Just whimpers…
Impregnable indeed…
25 Jan 2013, 12:32 pm
John Galt is going to be swallowing Panados at a helluva pace if you keep this chest beating and posturing up HG…… I will not have his blood on my hands.
25 Jan 2013, 12:34 pm
@Heavens Game-141: the conference cup holders, winners of the wall and all trophy, brought low in their own house.
priceless.
25 Jan 2013, 12:36 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-140: And so it did… The first real trophy in more than a decade…
Sharks are generous… Share and share alike… 3 CC finals in 3 years… One for us, one for the Lions and then one for the Stormers… Eeny meeny miny mo… This year ours then maybe next year we deal it to Bulls then Cheetahs…
The trophy may change hands, but there is always one constant… The Black and White in the Final…
Now where’s the nearest Rottie to shove a nice stick of dynamite into…
For a little…
BOOM!
25 Jan 2013, 12:37 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-142: cmon, give us more of that “you sharks are talking us down because you are arrogant and so we are gonna play passive agressive some more”
25 Jan 2013, 12:38 pm
@The Rangerman-143: Yes… The Legend of the Stormers…
And their Impregnated Fortress Newlands…
Conference Title “holders” for “2 years” running…
Hubbada hubbada hubbada….
25 Jan 2013, 12:42 pm
@The Rangerman-145:
If I could see beyond the lines I swear I would see a pout…
And Patting faithful Rottie, while “training” or familiarising the mutt outside the gates of the nearest playschool…
As the cackling dies down to silent sulk…
Ag shame
Now where’s my nearest firework cracker….
25 Jan 2013, 12:47 pm
@Heavens Game-144: Grant10 is getting his new Rottie pup this evening. See other thread. We do seem to be outnumbering you yorkie owners now….
I don’t pout. I leave that to the professionals.
Bubblebubbletoilandtrouble…..@The Rangerman-145: It worked for us last time…… but I have learnt….”Guppies DEFO the pre season faves, and worthy of all the adoration”. I would bow down, if I hadn’t tweaked by back in training.
25 Jan 2013, 12:59 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-148: well it has taken you a while but at least you are getting there.
25 Jan 2013, 13:02 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-148: Yorkie… lol… I eat Yorkies, after some Korean style tenderising… Quite partial to Rottie too…
Think sucklingpig… But “familiarised” Roasted Rottie with Apple in mouth…
yum yum…
Eat it for breakfast… Like Sharks eat Stormpies at Impregnated “Fortress” Newlands…
Regularly.
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