into the rest week with their 3rd win of the season under the belt and the hope of making the semis still a remotely tangible expectation. On paper this is a Sharks team that would give the Reds or any team in the Super 14 for that matter a few sleepless nights and yet The Reds will be the favorites come Saturday afternoon without doubt.
One thing that this roller coaster season has proven is that the Sharks possess enormous spirit and fortitude. One has to respect them for not self destructing as each loss brought some of them to the brink of early retrenchment packages, they just kept on trying, improving and believing in that illusive victory which finally came. Their performance last weekend against the Hurricanes was their best showing thus far and on the green, green fields of home what will stop them recording another triumph?
Finally Plumtree has been courageous enough to back the young players at his disposal and how well it has worked out for the team. 19 year old Patrick Lambie, who has just been selected to play in the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship for the Baby Boks, has looked a seasoned pro at fullback in his 2 starts so far and has given Stefan Terblanche a serious challenge to permanently make the position his own. Don’t count the Terblanche vintage out yet though, playing in what will be his 100th Super Rugby match, Terblanche is more than willing to fight to regain his chosen spot. “Pat is a wonderful player, he fully deserves the 15 jersey and I have to earn it back and I certainly don’t want to stop playing I am enjoying it as much as I did 12 years ago,” says Terblanche. Switching to outside centre for the injured Adi Jacobs, his milestone match will be an interesting one for Terblance who has not found himself in this position for years but the likeable player will no doubt be urged on by the faithful to make it a memorable match.
Injuries are being picked up as you can expect with this crazy schedule they have had to play with Muller and Adi Jacobs will probably not be seen again in the competition, but the goodnews is that Odwa Ndugane has recoverd and will start on the wing with replacement back Lwazi Mvovo making it to the bench. Hope he gets a run.
Nobody is saying that the Sharks are cured or that they have found the remedy for their undistinguished results, yet the signs are there and they are growing brighter with each outing that the cogs are moving quicker and the well oiled machine so reminiscent of their brand of rubgy is starting to fire again.
Expect another good scrumming performance from John Smit, let our ears be filled with the cry of “Beast” yet again. Lets come to our feet as one as Ruan Pienaar comes of age and bosses the backline. And may we marvel at young Lambie as he takes further strides to becoming one of the new heroes of Sharks rugby.
Prediction: Probably the toughest match the Sharks have had so far this season. Perhaps it is more heart than head, or the fact that the Sharks will be back in the Shark Tank playing for their fans but I have got to go with a local win. Not by much let’s say less than 7 points.
Teams:
Sharks team
15. Patrick Lambie 14. Odwa Ndungane 13. Stefan Terblanche 12. Riaan Swanepoel 11. JP Pietersen 10. Andy Goode 9. Ruan Pienaar 8. Ryan Kankowski 7. Willem Alberts 6. Jacques Botes 5. Alistair Hargreaves 4. Steven Sykes 3. Jannie du Plessis 2. Bismarck du Plessis 1. John Smit (capt).
Replacements - 16. Craig Burden 17. Tendai Mtawarira 18. Wilhelm Steenkamp 19. Jean Deysel 20. Rory Kockott 21. Andries Strauss 22. Lwazi Mvovo.
