Sharks team for 20 MAR 07

[travelling_gerry]

http://www.sharksrugby.co.za/default...94&des=article



Sharks team shows just one change
Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 10:05
Dick Muir has made minimal changes to last week's side as the Sharks prepare to take on the fifth placed Western Force on Friday in Perth, as the Sharks get their four week overseas tour under way.

Bradley Barritt who limped off the field will start, having suffered the initially debilitating, but not long term knock, commonly known as "dead-leg" in an unchanged backline, with Johann Muller returning to the fray as expected in the only change to the forward pack, and the starting 15 as a whole.

There is only one change on the bench, with Keegan Daniel coming in for Ryan Kankowski.

The Sharks won the corresponding fixture 41-25 last year at The Absa Stadium Durban, and although the Force won just one match in 2006, there is no second-season blues about John Mitchell's team. The former All Black coach has assembled a side that are doing Australian rugby proud, and are that country's top performers this year, having lost just two of their seven matches (with four wins and one draw).

Although it took all of last year, and their third match this year to register an historic first home win (a narrow 18-17 victory over the Hurricanes), it was the third one point margin result they had played to at home, and certainly have shown (including beating the Bulls at Loftus) that they are not a team to be taken lightly.

The Force also boast the best defensive record in the competition, but interestingly enough, the Sharks have the second best record, having conceded four more points. As far as attack goes, the Sharks have scored one try more over all, and the two have conceded the same number of tries (8), at marginally over 1 try per game. Both teams have scored just one bonus point for four tries scored in a match, and have shown to be very similar in many respects - expect a tight, keenly-contested match.


Sharks 22

1. Deon Carstens
2. John Smit (captain)
3. BJ Botha
4. Johan Ackermann
5. Johan Muller
6. Warren Britz
7. AJ Venter
8. Jacques Botes
9. Ruan Pienaar
10. Butch James
11. JP Pietersen
12. Bradley Barritt
13. Waylon Murray
14. Odwa Ndungane
15. Francois Steyn


Reserves:

16. Bismarck du Plessis
17. Tendai Mtawarira
18. Albert van den Berg
19. Bobby Skinstad
20. Keegan Daniel
21. Rory Kockott
22. Adrian Jacobs


For the Force, scrumhalf Matt Henjak and centre Matt Giteau return from injury to bolster their side, with flyhalf Scott Staniforth remaining on the injury list, but it is the home side's pack, and in particular dangerman Cameron Shepherd, the tournament's top scorer with 105 points (27 ahead of the next highest - Stephen Donald of the Chiefs), who the Sharks will have to nullify.


Western Force: 1. Gareth Hardy 2. Tai McIsaac 3. Troy Takiari 4. Rudi Vedelago 5. Nathan Sharpe (c) 6. Richard Brown 7. Matt Hodgson 8. Scott Fava 9. Matt Henjak 10. James Hilgendorf 11. Cameron Shepherd 12. Matt Giteau 13. Ryan Cross 14. Digby Ioane 15. Drew Mitchell
Reserves: 16. Brendan Cannon 17. Angus Scott 18. Luke Doherty 19. David Pocock 20. Chris O’Young 21. Junior Pelesasa 22. Haig Sare

[Shaun]

it it total crap that Pocock is not starting! He was man of the match vs Reds what more could Mitch want from him?!?!?! That is a stupid move, unless we play him last 30mins as a major impact player.

Giteau at #12 is a great choice because he will have the freedom to run and hit gaps. Also he won't be always up against Butch who is a solid tackler, saying that Barritt is solid as well.

I can see the Force getting over the Sharks by 5

[jazza93]

yayayayayayay gits is back at 12.

its gonna be a very hard contest for backs and forwards. hilgendorf will have to work hard against butch james.

all of the sharks players have been looking good these last few weeks should be a pretty close game

[Tazzmania]

Shaun, you need to remeber that david Pockock is only a youngster in his first season of super 14, Mitch has done the right thing by rotating him and ensure he does not burn out and lose that great enthusasim he has shown so far.

We are building a great squad and some depth that we did not have last year.

Mitch has done a superb job and I am a great supporter of what he has done and what I believe he is aiming to do with the rotation.

Keep up the good work Mitch

[The Lone Hydrangea]

This team looks good. Love Gits at 12, Hilgy at 10, Pocock and Pelessa as impact off the bench.This team is about as good as it gets apart from swapping 11 with 15, Cross to the bench and Spanner run on. The game will be a cracker. Win the game at the breakdown we are half way there, but the the Sharks are a quality outfit. In my opinion we look strong.

[Shaun]

David played last season so being tech it is his 2nd season. His first full season. I just think after a man of the match performance he should start. He should get a good 30mins of game time if he comes off the bench.

Go Force- you can do it!

[BeeJay]

Yes a good team by anyone's standards with Gits being able to slot in at flyhalf for Hilgedorf if required at some point in the game, allowing Junior to come in as impact. Also having two playmakers could unsettle the aggressive Sharks defence. Hodgson deserves a start given the grunt he has shown when given a chance this season. No doubt Bam Bam will get good game time. In the end it may come down to how well they travel, and us, the crowd. They have not played against a hostile crowd this season. Let's get behind the boys in blue! Go Force!

[Goldmember]

I just think after a man of the match performance he should start.

Agree, Bam Bam deserves a start. Good to see Hilgendorf at flyhalf and Giteau at inside centre.