Selection posers for Plum
9 Feb 2010
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
118 Comments
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9 Feb 2010, 09:56 am
@poppa69: Good tahnks mate. excited hey. My boys are taking n the Lions… Good to ease into a comp hey…
9 Feb 2010, 09:59 am
@WP_: hehe some people always get the luck of the draw… hope your boys dont underestimate them though.
we got the Canes, so a tough start for us…
9 Feb 2010, 10:00 am
@Hondo: #49 the last time HRE was the sharks coach, how many players of colour did they have at the sharks? But more importantly where did the sharks finish that season?
9 Feb 2010, 10:01 am
@poppa69: Now how’s a NZ gonna come talk about refereeing, strange how AB’s managed to get an apology from the IRB international (yeah right, international…pfff) board of refferees.
World wide it is readily acknowledged who breeds the best refs in world rugby. No appology needed.
9 Feb 2010, 10:03 am
I have to laugh when I see all the wp fans bad mouth the sharks about stealing/buying players.
let’s see
habana,fourie,januarie,grant,de waal, naqualavuki, fullback broken leg?,8th man,locks, 7′s player from the cheetahs…..well, hell
just about the entire team really.
9 Feb 2010, 10:05 am
@FireStraeuli: cmon, Paddy was still making up for 07, you know that right? hah
true, you guys probably do have the best refs, especially when they referee solely in Afrikaans
takes me back that does lmao
9 Feb 2010, 10:05 am
@poppa69: Yeah on a serious note that would be terrible if we underestimate them, gotta respect them then beat them, well.
Big clash to start off for your boys though. Will be a very close call.. But at EP i”ll back your boys. Go the Blues!
9 Feb 2010, 10:07 am
tendukar gone…192/5
9 Feb 2010, 10:12 am
@WP_: yeah, think your game will be close for 50-60 minutes, then you guys should run away with it.. I really question the lions fitness, last year they were in so many games then seemed to fall away last quarter… 2 conv. tries is what I think you guys will win by..
All depends on Mathewson/Brett/ McAlister axis for my team, if they can gel quickly then we have enough talent to beat the canes..
9 Feb 2010, 10:12 am
Alberts must go back to the Lions! and Ludik
9 Feb 2010, 10:16 am
192/5 sweeet.
Who was the smart *** that said Steyn was second rate! Oh yeah it was The Tockles. Hey Tockles did those guys come to your house? You know the guys with the white jacket.
I reckon the Stormer will get a shock against the Lions. It will be close.
9 Feb 2010, 10:16 am
@poppa69: Hopefully, yeah I said we win by 12 or so…
That is a very talented trio… and with To’oeava at 13 I suspect? Wow that’s powerful Then maybe Wulf and Joe on the wings…
And Mathewson will have a point to prove agianst his old side
9 Feb 2010, 10:19 am
Parnel bowls them all over the place…but his left arm gives us great variety and he swings it huge,just needs to bowl with more control.
9 Feb 2010, 10:20 am
@WP_: Im tipping you guys by 14 in Superbru…
yeah, and with Williams at fullback, very potent backline, weak link would be brett in defence, so expect a lot of traffic through his channel all day..
he was never going to usurp Piri at the Canes scrumbase, hope he has a blinder… important to get the early wins in what I think will be the tighest comp ever… (Im still hurting we lost to the reds in Albany last year to effectively end our season)..
9 Feb 2010, 10:22 am
This is what we’ll be missing, and regretting.
www DOT youtube DOT com/watch?v=zcx5QoFM4-Y&channel=CombatBok
9 Feb 2010, 10:25 am
@poppa69: Yeah if yo’re boys play anywhere close to thier potential they should take it..
Yeah it’s been a while since you’ve been in a semi hasn’t it?
And we missed out in 2008 on points difference…
9 Feb 2010, 10:35 am
@WP_: tell me, is Schalk playing this week? thought I read on an earlier thread that he had injured himself..
it has been quite a while since weve made a semi, some lean years indeed…
hurts when your team gets so close only to lose by points diff…
9 Feb 2010, 10:52 am
@Hondo
Let me help refresh your memory Hondo, when HRE was coach of the sharks in 2000 they finished 12, which means LAST as this was in the days of the super12.
They played 11 games, won 1, drew 1 and lost 9…that is the man’s record in Super rugby! Talk about lacking merit.
9 Feb 2010, 11:09 am
@Transformation:
Maybe old Plum is already on the Hurricanes pay-roll, and he is attempting to sabotage the Sharks. LOL
But seriously why you reckon he was roped in?
9 Feb 2010, 11:25 am
@FireStraeuli: because he drinks beer with Straeli, Van Zyl & Puma in Umhlanga! I have no idea why they thought this failure is the best backline consultant in the country.
9 Feb 2010, 11:56 am
how long before the jake white circus pulls into town at the shark tank….
9 Feb 2010, 12:00 pm
@gunther: never happen gunther.
no. 1 reason is that bj van zyl is showing the same signs mugabe showed in 1983.
we need fresh blood at the sharks but jake has had his time here thankyouverymuch.
9 Feb 2010, 12:06 pm
@gunther: Hehehehehe……As long as Straulie is still there, it won’t happen. Jake stated in his book that he didn’t like Straulie very much when he worked with him…..something about him being too militant.
9 Feb 2010, 12:07 pm
@gunther: i don’t think any time soon. Those sharks people are very arrogant, roping in “conniving ways” would be admitting that they don’t what the hell they are doing and they’re too windgat to do that.
9 Feb 2010, 12:09 pm
@Transformation: now that is simply uncalled for transie
what about us roping in every kiwi and his dog, the odd argie and few frenchies?
i am deeply wounded
9 Feb 2010, 12:11 pm
@rangerman:
jake is like herpes…. always popping up when it is least expected…
9 Feb 2010, 12:12 pm
@Jozi: Straeuli, too militant…never, where does Jake come of with such unfounded allegations…LOL
9 Feb 2010, 12:18 pm
@FireStraeuli:
Yeah and kampstaaldraad never happened. Sadly I think that’s all Straulie will ever be remembered for…..
9 Feb 2010, 12:21 pm
@Jozi: Might be the reason Joost is ‘unwell’ in his head, kamp staaldraad finaly broke the poor thing…LOL
9 Feb 2010, 12:24 pm
@FireStraeuli: Bwahahahahahaha…..and it’s effects are spreading through the bulls camp like a virus…..now Pedrie going down that path.
9 Feb 2010, 12:27 pm
@Jozi: Lolz…one might actualy be inclined to have a close look at the whole ‘kamp staaldraad’ clan and where they are today…maybe a few more bloodtests could be in order…LOL Or must we wait for the book.
9 Feb 2010, 12:36 pm
Pull into Durb’s Jake, nice condo on Umhlanga beach sipping Pina Colada’s with vrou lief as the sun sets over the Indian Ocean as its busy setting over the once mighty Shark Tank in all its over hyped glory.
Just up your alley a sinking ship sending s.o.s’s waiting to get saved. Between you and HRE we might just have the last of the last bastion of the once glorious Br. Empire pulling the natives back in line and saving the day one more time.
9 Feb 2010, 12:37 pm
This year is gonna be make or break for Kankowski
9 Feb 2010, 12:47 pm
Kanko dearest was always a little lightweight for real down n dirty trench warfare, like somebody suggested up above, far better to stick him out on the wing, that way he can avoid the heavy traffic that congests the open side or No.8 channels.
Some of us knew this way back when already, its only the die hard converts to flashy pants glory boy antics that it takes time for realities to eventually set in. And Streauli and co. must have realized it too, why else would they go on hands and knees in desperation to secure Alberts services, even with an unsavory judicial hearing hanging over the illegal transfer.
9 Feb 2010, 12:58 pm
@rangerman: pulling in overseas people lends you a bit of false credibility in that, some saffas are deluded to think that anything that isn’t local is inherently better or a local that has been overseas then, the “class” of europe has rubbed off on them…
Case in point, steven meyer: a nobody when he left here now everyone thinks he is better than anything the sharks have been “developing” for years.
9 Feb 2010, 13:13 pm
I know this is off topic
But do you all think pro rugby players are on juice? I know it would be stupid regarding the detection time (Test bassed AAS from 3 weeks to 6 months ) but ive also heard otherwise, I mean some of those guys cant get that big naturally, unless they just have good genetics (IE Pierre Spies)
9 Feb 2010, 13:16 pm
@Gonzo Journalism: Outch, you gonna have to run for cover with that comment, good luck man, hope you make it back alive….
You should go to the Blou Nulle blog with that question…LOL
9 Feb 2010, 13:18 pm
@Gonzo Journalism: Tac is gonna eat you alive for just thinking that!!!
9 Feb 2010, 13:19 pm
@Rum And Maple:
You’re all misundersanding Gonzo’s question. Read it again. There’s no accusation there.
9 Feb 2010, 13:20 pm
@Tacitus: Just pulling tour leg…
It’s a valid question, but, with all the testing going on it must be tough hiding something like that…
9 Feb 2010, 13:24 pm
I mean look at Rory Kockot, temper temper
9 Feb 2010, 13:27 pm
@Gonzo Journalism: Rory’s always been a hot-head, typical cocky jack russel small man syndrome…
I think you might get the odd couple here and there, but, as I said, with all the testing going on how will you hide it???
9 Feb 2010, 13:30 pm
@Tacitus: We know the question, but we also know the bloggers on here, very sensitive they are.
9 Feb 2010, 13:32 pm
Saw a documentary a few years back on performance enhacement testing…it is possible to use a performance enhancer without the machine picking it up…eventulay it does, but unless they know what to test for they can’t pick it up.
9 Feb 2010, 13:37 pm
@FireStraeuli:
Some claim the water in Pretoria is performance-enhancing…judging by how well players Western Province decided to let go do once they arrive at Loftus…
9 Feb 2010, 13:37 pm
thing is, the testing is always behind on the development of new drugs..
if a new steroid is manufactured in a backyard factory, and not known to the authorities, how can one test for it..
so a very real possibility…
9 Feb 2010, 13:41 pm
@poppa69: Yep, and where there is money involved one can only imagine.
I mean, just take Jonah Lomu as example, clearly the testing was behind back then especialy seeing as it was still amateur sports, he probably didnt even know he was getting spiked by NZ authorities.
9 Feb 2010, 13:41 pm
@Rum And Maple: True that, if they get caught its months if not years in the bin, I believe AFL players only get a few games if caught doping , then again you see what they look like !!!!
9 Feb 2010, 13:42 pm
@poppa69:
Yes…I can just imagine Dr Wouter Basson sitting in a basement lab in Garsfontein developing untraceable steroids for the Bulls to use…
9 Feb 2010, 13:42 pm
@FireStraeuli: Human growth Hormone is one !!!!
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