Selection posers for Plum
Willem Alberts’ availability for the Sharks’ match against the Chiefs is still in doubt due to a legal battle with the Lions.
The Lions lodged a complaint against the Sharks for fielding Alberts in the Tri-Series and the judicial hearing will start on Wednesday, with an outcome unlikely before the opening round.
Before Saru intervened, the Sharks maintained they would play Alberts and Louis Ludik – who is still undergoing rehabilitation – until the matter is resolved, but Sharks CEO Brian van Zyl said a decision hadn’t been made regarding the Super 14 opener on Saturday.
‘Who knows how long the judicial process will take and we’ll make up our minds whether Willem will play pending the outcome of Wednesday’s meeting,’ Van Zyl told keo.co.za.
If Alberts is available, Sharks coach John Plumtree faces a poser in deciding whether to select the former Lions No 8 or Ryan Kankowski. Alberts added greater physicality to a below-par pack in the pre-season, while against the combative Chiefs loose trio of Sione Lauaki, Liam Messam and Tanerau Latimer, Alberts’ bulk would be a boon.
Alberts is also more likely to consistently breach the advantage line than Kankowski, which will provide the Sharks backs with a platform, while his defence in channel one is superior to Kankowski’s. The Springbok loose forward is also better-suited to a role off the bench, but that might all be irrelevant if the Sharks take the safe stance of not selecting Alberts due to Wednesday’s hearing.
Plumtree also has some big decisions regarding the fitness of Ruan Pienaar (knee) and Adi Jacobs (shoulder). The pair are recovering from injuries and backline consultant Hugh Reece-Edwards said a decision will be made by Tuesday afternoon.
‘Were hoping they’re both fit and a lot of it comes down to how they practice early in the week,’ Reece-Edwards told this website. ‘We’ve left it to the medical staff and we’ll have a lot more clarity after Tuesday.’
If Jacobs doesn’t recover, Waylon Murray will start at 13, while the options at flyhalf include Steve Meyer and Monty Dumond. Reece-Edwards has been happy with the progress of Meyer since his return from Perpignan.
‘Steve knows most of the boys very well, so he’s slotted in nicely. There’s been no animosity with his arrival, there’s a good vibe in the squad.
‘The big positive is he’s been playing regular rugby in France. We were happy with what we saw in that half hour against the Stormers, but many of the selections depend on the game we play in terms of the weather.
‘Steve’s a good running flyhalf with quick hands, but it’s bloody hot here at the moment with very high humidity [which is set to continue for the rest of the week].’
Turning his attention to the Chiefs, Reece-Edwards is fully aware of the attacking threat the Kiwis pose, even without Mils Muliaina and Lelia Masaga.
‘We lost two pre-season matches which was a big concern for a lot of people, but we weren’t unhappy in terms of our aims.
‘We know they have fantastic backs, but their strength can also be negated by the weather. From our perspective, it’s more of a case of looking at our own attack, rather than looking at it defensively. We know we have to look for extra bonus points this season.
‘There are a couple of big names missing from the Chiefs, but the quality is still there.’
By Grant Ball
February 9th, 2010 at 1:42 pm
@WP Till I Die: Yep, performance enhacing indeed, as for brain cell regeneration, well, give him anada chance…lol
February 9th, 2010 at 1:44 pm
@poppa69:
Yes, I can imagine Dr Wouter Basson in a rural lab developing steroids for the Bulls to use…
February 9th, 2010 at 1:44 pm
guys, are the Sharks on drugs? Bissie & Jannie very aggro lately….hhmm?
February 9th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Jonah Lomu is now going into bodybuilding, word on the street is that he does not have to purchase any Riods on the black market, as he still has enough “vitamin S” suspended in his blood stream from 95 to kill a Russian army division
February 9th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
@Pearl Rose: They aren’t on drugs, but they know that the guppies are staring another tragic season in the eyes.
Stefan ‘Im still waiting for my Oscar for getting JP Nel banned’ Terre’blanche must already be working out his movie performances to get players banned.
February 9th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
@FireStraeuli: hahaha Ill let you in on Jonahs secret, there is an edible rootstock called “Taro”, a staple amongst the island people (similar to sweet potato)..
and we all know these days livestock are given steroids, for isnt it the strongest bull that garners the most at the sales??
February 9th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
@BlueBlood: ja jong, what canst be said of the Blou Nul supporters…..give him anada chance…LOL
February 9th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
@WP Till I Die: thank you for the history lesson, didnt actually know of him..
February 9th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
@poppa69: Never knew you to be a Bulls fan, what will your fellow kiwis say.
February 9th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
PROVINCE
February 9th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
even if a blue bulls player would be found using steroids it would be “handled internally” like all other drug related issues are @ the bulls.
February 9th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
@FireStraeuli: hahaha puhlease, Ive heard the Hayman may need a couple of extra people on his farm, then I thought, where would I meet people that knew how to deal with all the bull shite, and here you have it..
February 9th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
@FireStraeuli: Bwahahahahahahaha….OMG
February 9th, 2010 at 2:12 pm
@Pearl Rose: You mean like Wp handles their internal assault, drunk driving cover up issues?
February 9th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
Dr Wouter Basson first tested his “Gear” on the Barble in Hartersbeesport Dam, “pap vai” has never been the same since, you can now catch cat fish the size of killer whales by trawling a used car bumper…..
February 9th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
@KingShark: Ja boet, Sharks have some serious haters and I can’t think why! This provincial tribalism is banal and petty. Every S14 weekend I want SA teams to win but these one-eyed fools want to see every other franchise go down apart from theirs! Funny how someone said Alberts and Ludik must be hoping they’ll be sent packing back to the Lions. Yeh I’m sure they’re really thinking that. Secretly us Sharks fans know that Ludik and Alberts didn’t voluntarily sign up with the Sharks they were forced to at gunpoint KZN style!
I’m not all that optimisitc about our chances on Saturday but I just hope the Sharks can wipe the smile clean off of the faces of these smug naysayers! If the Sharks go down so will the Boks. The Stormers don’t have enough quality players to feed the Boks .
February 9th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
@Pearl Rose: Nah they’re just tired of all the hating.
February 9th, 2010 at 8:18 pm
Scorched Earth Policy, destroy every team on our way to the final with proberly the Bulls, and then hopeing we dont choke in the final
Only way we will shutup all those that cant seem to control their strange hatred of us. GO SHARKS!!!