Captain Keegan returns
14 Mar 2013
Keegan Daniel is back to lead the Sharks against the Brumbies.
Daniel is one of three changes to the starting line-up that overcame the Kings in Port Elizabeth last weekend. With Jean Deysel’s injury, Daniel’s return couldn’t have been better timed.
The other changes are in the backline where Charl McLeod starts ahead of Cobus Reinach while Odwa Ndungane is selected ahead of Lwazi Mvovo. These changes might be seen as rotation, but personally I think John Plumtree wants the most experienced side on the park against a tough Brumbies team.
The tinkering in the backline indicates a greater focus on the Brumbies’ kicking game, with Odwa Ndungane notoriously better than Mvovo under the high ball, and with his stints at fullback, will be a second for Louis Ludik. McLeod’s inclusion over Reinach could be purely on form after the youngster battled against the Kings, being substituted for the last quarter of the match, where McLeod showed some good form.
The bench sees the two dropped backline players take their spots, while Jacques Botes’ cracked wrist must not be too serious as he takes his place as backup.
Sharks: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Francois Steyn, 11 Odwa Ndungane 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Keegan Daniel (captain), 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.Substitutes: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 19 Jacques Botes, 20 Cobus Reinach, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Lwazi Mvovo.
By Richard Ferguson
236 Comments
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14 Mar 2013, 16:25 pm
@stormersboy-194: can you verify? between
yourself & ufo this was your daily bread.
“It’s taken 22 matches for Super rugby to
reach the 500,000 spectator mark.
In 7 seven matches, South Africa make up
for 233,000 of those spectators.
The Kings 2 games make up 33% of that
total and thus far have had the biggest
attendance.”
14 Mar 2013, 16:27 pm
@Puma-195:
typo meant – German Sheperd
14 Mar 2013, 16:29 pm
@Puma-202: let me try that again
German Shepherd
14 Mar 2013, 16:29 pm
@Transformation-201: how big PE stadium?
14 Mar 2013, 16:32 pm
@Dilligafrican-204: Transie will tell you, but think it holds 42 0000
14 Mar 2013, 16:35 pm
@Dilligafrican-204: 42 000
14 Mar 2013, 16:39 pm
As a naysayer I will gladly admit the Kings have bowled me over.
Thought they would win a couple, but was also guilty of prejudging them.
After the last few weeks I have no qualms in admitting I was hasty in my judgement and I am currently loving the PE vibe, the guts of the players and everything about how they went about after the hand they were dealt.
Transie, you true blood supporters have a lot to feel proud of, keep it up
14 Mar 2013, 16:46 pm
@nortierd-207: thank chap.
all we ever wanted was a shot to play, not at anyone’s expense, the problem is that some in our country would rather monopolise the pie rather than share it.
what i find strange is how the aussies are willing to EXPAND their rugbyfoothold & how everyone is gung ho for the argies to join sanzar but vok die oos kaap.
our team will struggle, they will take big scores at sime point but rome wasn’t built in one day.
thanks again.
kings 4 life
14 Mar 2013, 16:50 pm
@Puma-161: The Kings cannot afford to be “too tired” this early in their campaign … They’ve been given the worst schedule & itinerary of all franchises in SR 2013: one game on, a bye, then a sequence of 10 games on the trot, including their maiden tour abroad! S_hyte!
Fark knows how they’re going to manage that, especially with their depth not comparable to that of other franchises.
The Kings cannot afford to play (into the ground) the same players week after week – they have no choice but to commence astute player rotation pretty soon:
Their aim must be to somehow conserve & stretch their scarce resources & secure 3 victories & some bonus points along the way. They will have to target certain games such as the Rebels & Cheetahs away, & the Waratahs & Cheetahs at home. The rest of their maiden campaign will likely be tough, & that is putting it mildly.
But so far, so good … they’ve made us proud – may it last.
14 Mar 2013, 16:50 pm
@Transformation-206: so 90% full both games?
And they sold seats twice too.
14 Mar 2013, 16:51 pm
@Transformation-208:
Your attendances are real
The Lions used to count Jimmy Abbott’s 4 seats to seat 1 as sold 4 to push the numbers up
14 Mar 2013, 16:58 pm
@Dilligafrican-210:don’t know.
@nortierd-211: don’t diss the lions. they are in the financial capital of SA but their fans abstained from attending games for some reason, could also be because many of the affluent are not necessarily lions fans bit migrant labour…
14 Mar 2013, 16:58 pm
bit – but
14 Mar 2013, 16:59 pm
@Transformation-208: Ja, but to be fair, due to literally decades of corruption, ineptitude and plain uselessness at Union level that made the Lions rugby union seem paragones of virtue, the Oos Kaap hasn’t exactly inspired any need to expand there either… Only with the advent of McKeever’s Spears brainchild, abused and then used and hijacked by SARU sickeningly to paper over their own crevices for sitting on collective thumb instead of meaningful development and the Watson political bandwagon that something has happened… at the expense of a Union that happen to be one of 2 SA past winners of Super Rugby though…
The players have been brave, honest and representative of the highest ideals of Rugby Union… They have surprised the likes of me and I find myself begrudgingly supporting them when I see them go and perform against the odds and battle tooth and nail inches right till the last second of every game… A pity the Kings as Union in their current oppurtunistic, bandwagon guise do not share the ideals that their players have shown on field…
14 Mar 2013, 17:01 pm
@Heavens Game-214: Old softie…
14 Mar 2013, 17:02 pm
@Angostura-209: They have done well so far, much better than I thought. Though their first bye came a bit early but it helped them agains the Sharks. This week they may just be a bit tired after that marathon tackling they had to make. Then they head off to NZ and face Sader. Going to be tough, but none of us expect them to win, so that really is a good thing for them. No pressure makes for a better tourney.
Remember last year and the year before Sharks had to play 10 straight games before even getting their first bye, really tough that as by that time players are getting injured and exhausted. Kings should just enjoy this year, lose or win just enjoy the experience of being in Super Rugby. Think they will get it together after 2015 with more time to prepare. They have unfairly have to play a relegation game this year and that too is very unfair to the Lions as well. Something else should have been worked out as it messes TWO teams about. Maybe they can come to agreement just for the remaining Super Rugby games until after 2015 that they can amalgamate, would make sense to save both teams and keep all those players in Super Rugby for the next two years. Then they can also go back to playing in Black and Red…..ahahahaha. Both sides colours! Think after 2015 there will be two tiers in Super Rugby and room for all.
Anyhow feel for both teams the relegation game will be tough of both. If Lions win the Kings lose as they never had enough time to really do much in one year they need at least 3. If the Lions lose that means they out until 2015 and that to is unfair. Want to see both teams in. Feel for the Lions and their supporters as well, as felt for EP when they had no team in as well.
14 Mar 2013, 17:03 pm
@Transformation-212:
Not dissing, joking
Not just the Lions fans that stay away when things go pear shaped for their teams.
Also, with so much rugby, many pick and choose which games will be best to attend.
Then the cost factor for a family to attend a live match
All adds up
14 Mar 2013, 17:08 pm
If Lions and Kings had amalgamated for this year and until 2015 it would have meant bigger depth to the team, they would have been one hell of a team that is for sure.
Something for Kings and Lions to think about. Then for now Lions are hurting and probably wont think of doing it. But it makes plenty sense until both can play as seperate teams after 2015. Keeps all the players playing until then. Both stadiums working as well.
14 Mar 2013, 17:12 pm
@Heavens Game-214: Very good post.
Think the Kings have won many of us over in their ‘Never Say Die’ attitude. Also still feel for the Lions though.
14 Mar 2013, 17:13 pm
Okay could not make up my mind and put Cheetahs and Tahs down for a draw. Wont happen I know one will win just had no idea who. Think it will be Cheetahs though.
Eventually put Saders by 4 and still think Bulls could win. Those two picks were the hardest.
14 Mar 2013, 17:18 pm
@Puma-216:
Re: “Kings should just enjoy this year, lose or win just enjoy the experience of being in Super Rugby. Think they will get it together after 2015 with more time to prepare.”
NO! They must plan to succeed (even though SARU planned for them to fail. One does not accept such an opportunity with failure in mind.
They can do it … but it requires strategic planning, esprit d’ corps, unsurpassed effort, discipline & single-minded purpose. And they have their people’s support.
OK, time for the ‘home run’
Ciao
14 Mar 2013, 17:19 pm
Hg: ” due to literally decades of corruption,
ineptitude and plain uselessness at Union
level that made the Lions rugby union seem
paragones of virtue,”
i don’t know about “DECADES” when we were playing Super 10 in ’94. be that as it may, FRANCHISE super rugby as seen in Aus & NZ should effectively be separate from the UNIONS! which is why even when the Otago Rugby Union was facing liquidation the NZRU still maintained that the franchise will remain in Dunedin.
in Aus what corrupt or non-corrupt union is attached to the rebels franchise?
SARU in 2005 made 6 franchises knowing they only have 5 licences, the fact that EP’s nanagement at the time was chaotic is a bullshir/convinient excuse!
14 Mar 2013, 17:19 pm
@Transformation-212: use your calculator
14 Mar 2013, 17:29 pm
@Angostura-221: I know that should be the case, but it will not be buddy. So for them not to have the pressure I think they will actually win more in that frame of mind. SARFU has now messed up two teams once the relegation game comes one is out. That is a shame again all over if it is Kings that are getting it together by then, much like Lions were getting it together towards the end. They bliksemed my Sharks remember at Ellis Park. Not many got that much against us except Canes and of course Chiefs at the end. Just a shame it has to happen that one will be out again end of the year. Both should have been in somehow. One year to prepare is most certainly set up to fail. Lions losing their players as well is set up to fail. Don’t see anything good from this right now. Except I am so enjoying watching that happy crown at PE. Just a pity about the fight there but that stuff will get sorted. None of us on tv saw it just saw a happy crowd really and full house was very good to see.
This whole debacle will only be truly sorted out after 2015 and a shame for which every team has to sit out next year. Feel for them both, also the reason I said Kings must enjoy it, if they lose there must not be that extra pressure on them from the Aouth African crowd pointing fingers at them. They should be allowed to lose like other teams are that are new to this tourney, just that saru has messed it up making them having to play a relegation game after only one year. Unfair that. So they might not be here next year so just have a damn ball this year and enjoy it. We all behind them for their heroic start. Also want to see Lions do well in the tourney they playing this year. Supporting them there too like we all must. These are South African boys we must get behind them all of us.
14 Mar 2013, 17:30 pm
@Dilligafrican-223: no need, unlike u i don’t get off on useless info…
14 Mar 2013, 17:32 pm
@Puma-224: crown – crowd
14 Mar 2013, 17:34 pm
Okay I am out of here.
Cheers everyone. Catch up tomorrow.
14 Mar 2013, 18:32 pm
Where’s PE stadium
14 Mar 2013, 18:44 pm
Who cares?
14 Mar 2013, 20:01 pm
@Transformation-201: Sorry boet been in the pool.
I don’t have the viewer stats for the season so far, is that what you are after?
14 Mar 2013, 21:45 pm
@stormersboy-230: yes.
14 Mar 2013, 21:45 pm
@Transformation-231: actually crowd attendances.
14 Mar 2013, 21:52 pm
@Transformation-231: from the Roar:
Super rugby crowd attendance figures
Super Rugby often receives a lot of
criticism from its supporters, so much so
you would think it is losing its appeal to
the rugby watching public in South Africa,
Australia and New Zealand.
But when you look at the spectator
numbers this year, it took only 22
matches and four rounds of Super Rugby
to reach the 500,000 spectator mark.
In only four derby matches in South Africa
attendances have already reached 142,086
spectators, an incredible average of
35,521 spectators per match. Non derby
matches account for 90,885 spectators, an
acceptable average of 30,295 per game.
In total South African spectators make up
232,971 spectators in a mere seven
matches.
In Australia, 121,265 spectators have thus
far attended the seven derby matches,
with the Reds being the best supported
stadium with 35,801 spectators in their
only home derby match this season.
The same trend is shown when it comes
to cross conference matches where the
Reds had 30,995 spectators when they
hosted the Hurricanes. In total, 152,260
spectators have attended eight matches in
Australia for an average of 19,032
spectators.
In New Zealand, 72,089 spectators have
watched the four derby matches in New
Zealand, at an average of 18,022
spectators per match.
The three cross conference matches have
yielded 43,305 spectators for an average
of 14,435 per match. In total the numbers
of spectators in New Zealand has reached
115,494 for an average of 16,499 per
match.
The surprise packet thus far has been the
Kings, who currently sit on top of the list
with an average of 38,928 spectators per
match, which is an indication of how
deserved the Eastern Cape is of having a
franchise in Super Rugby.
What would be interesting to follow for
the rest of the season is whether this
number will continue to rise or slowly
whittle away as results begin to count
against them and the hype of Super Rugby
fades.
As always the South African franchises are
well supported with the Stormers, Bulls
and Sharks all averaging in excess of
30,000 spectators per match.
In Australia it is clear that apart from the
Reds being very well supported (average
above 30,000) and the Brumbies
averaging around 18,500 per match, the
rest of the teams are relatively poorly
supported and are close to the 10,000
spectators per match mark.
In New Zealand, the Blues are on top with
an average just over 28,000.
The Force and the Crusaders are yet to
play a home game. I will look at the
spectator numbers again in the middle of
the season to see whether these trends
continue.
15 Mar 2013, 03:40 am
Lwazi Mvovo on the Bench! Keegan Daniel is back..
http://t.co/yYJQ7OnpbP http://t.co/v8xa8rZc8I
15 Mar 2013, 06:17 am
FORCE:
15. Will Tupou, 14. Pat Dellitt, 13. Winston Stanley, 12. Kyle Godwin, 11. Alfi Mafi, 10. Sias Ebersohn, 9. Alby Mathewson; 8. Richard Brown, 7. Chris Alcock, 6. Angus Cottrell, 5. Hugh McMeniman, 4. Toby Lynn, 3. Salesi Ma’afu, 2. Nathan Charles, 1. Pek Cowan (capt).
Reserves: Heath Tessmann, Tetera Faulkner, Phoenix Battye, Ben McCalman, Mick Snowden, Junior Rasolea, Jayden Hayward
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-match-preview/queensland-reds-v-western-force-20130314-2g2cz.html#ixzz2NZuoY3dI
15 Mar 2013, 11:45 am
Captain Keegan returns http://t.co/dKNS876jMi via @sharethis
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