Sharks Supporters Thread

[LancelotSA]

they showed the boks training the other day before the all blacks clash and john smits legs looked chunky like he is overweight or something.

He has probably deliberately bulked up for his new role as a prop.

 

[waynegohl]

ok thanks man its just something the missus and i noticed about him.

 

[LancelotSA]

ok thanks man its just something the missus and i noticed about him.

Here you go, something I just found confirming this :

You sometimes get wags saying that John looks “out of shape” these days: that’s naïve, isn’t it, considering the bulking needs as he changed roles?
There are areas of his body – his neck, his upper shoulders, his “traps” – where a lot of work had to happen, and lots of squat exercises. His gym programme needed to change quite a lot; his focus in the gym had to shift. I’m certainly not saying he “got away with” anything when he was a hooker, but he was able to some extent to rely just on natural strength when he had big props like Os and CJ on each side of him. And of course playing 70 Test matches at No 2, he was conditioned for that role. It’s been a tough change for him, make no mistake: not just from a conditioning and strength perspective but also from a positional/angular point of view. So yes, of course he’s had to bulk-up. Look, John will be the first to tell you that he’s naturally a big guy and if he didn’t look after himself he could (balloon) a bit. But he’s knuckled down to what he needs to do and he’s going through the ultimate test right now: playing six, eight, 12 games in a row at tighthead. So his conditioning will constantly improve anyway – be that physical, mental or technical. Besides, when his legacy is finally written by you guys in the media, one of the key things that will come out is John’s professionalism …

http://www.sport24.co.za/Content/Ru...cbf7/19-08-2009 01-32/Smit_will_get_30_better

 

[waynegohl]

She was looking at his legs?

i was and she caught me.

 

[AMG133]

lol

 

[Creag]

Another weekend, another win ........ "resurgent Cheetahs side" ... uhm, ja right

... although they almost pulled off their hoodoo thing on us in the second half

So who are lambs to slaughter this weekend? Toss 'em in the tank and lets see them squerm!

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

Failperds on Friday isn't it?

 

[Creag]

Let's hope this time they can get the 5 points.

Always seem to go out strong and then lose their try scoring way. 2 tries in the first quarter of the game and nothing after? I almost got very grumpy on Saturday.

 

[Creag]

Failperds on Friday isn't it?

Yip! 19h10 and it's live on SS1.

 

[Sting]

Come watch it with the Pretoria Shark Supporters club at the Waterkloof Dros on Friday!

 

[Creag]

Would love to, except I am going to be in Durban on Friday

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

Team for Friday night's clash with the Leopards -

15 Stefan Terblanche (c)
14 Luzuko Vulindlu
13 Waylon Murray
12 Andries Strauss
11 Lwazi Mvovo
10 Juan Hernandez
9 Ruan Pienaar
8 Ryan Kankowski
7 Michael Rhodes
6 Jacques Botes
5 Albert van den Berg
4 Alistair Hargreaves
3 Jannie du Plessis
2 Skipper Badenhorst
1 Patric Cilliers


Subs:

16 Bismarck du Plessis
17 Deon Carstens
18 Steven Sykes
19 Keegan Daniel
20 Rory Kockott
21 Monty Dumond
22 Adrian Jacobs.

 

[Creag]

Another strong team with a rich wealth off the bench to choose from

 

[Creag]

Sharks Spoiled for Choice

http://www.sharksrugby.co.za/default.asp?id=316869&des=article

Sharks coach John Plumtree has made six changes to the side that beat the Free State Cheetahs last week for Friday's Absa Currie Cup match against the Platinum Leopards at The Absa Stadium Durban (7.10pm kick-off).

With three rounds of matches remaining in the pool stages, Plumtree has had something of a juggling act to negotiate over the past 10 days with injuries, players returning from injury and a slew of Springboks available for the province.

Something akin to a nice headache to have if you're a coach - with so much depth at his disposal - he has had a careful balancing act to negotiate in incorporating returning players back in the side, making sure those who need the rest get it and the same for those needing valuable game time while not making wholesale changes which could affect the continuity and momentum of the side.

With Western Province breathing down The Sharks necks and any manner of permutations still remaining as to where the top four teams end up on the log as they search for home ground advantage come the play-offs, winning - and winning well - against the Leopards is a non-negotiable.

Stefan Terblanche (pictured) continues his leadership role with a 100% success rate from nine outings as captain while Luzuko Vulindlu who showed great promise in the Vodacom Super 14 earlier this year before suffering a derailing injury has been recalled to the side in one of two changes to the backline.

Ruan Pienaar is the other, he will partner Juan Hernandez from the scrumhalf position for this match while big Michael Rhodes comes in for Jean Deysel who suffered a knee injury last week. With Steven Sykes having barely stopped for breath all year, he gets a welcome break - albeit off the bench - to allow Alistair Hargreaves to gain valuable game time after his long term injury-enforced absence.

The injury to Patric Cilliers a few weeks back has most fortunately not been serious and he will start at loosehead with Skipper Badenhorst starting at hooker.

Bismarck du Plessis and Deon Carstens will provide front row cover off the bench, with Sykes and Keegan Daniel the other forward replacements. Rory Kockott, Monty Dumond and Adrian Jacobs complete the bench.

1. Kockott's back on the bench - still no explanation.
2. Ruan starting at 9 for this game. Why? Has there been a change in his use by PDV?

Should be a gr8 game otherwise!

 

[AMG133]

Ruans musical chair's should be coming to an end, perhaps this could be the start of seeing him taking over Ricky's job as replacement scrummie?

 

[Sting]

Ruan will become the permanent backline sub - 9, 10, 11, 14, 15!!!

 

[hashbrown99]

34-20 and 5 bonus points

 

[Creag]

34-20 and 5 bonus points

A win is a win but it was not pretty and the Sharks looked quite ragged in the second half.

 

[Creag]

When we consider the fact that they ran away to a 27 - 10 lead at half way, the final score doesn't flatter the Sharks.

Had the Leopards converted a few of their kicks and been allowed the one try, it could have been tickets for the Sharks.

 

[I am Penguin]

Ruan will become the permanent backline sub - 9, 10, 11, 14, 15!!!

Great choice IMHO.