$hark$ 2023 and beyond

[assfly]

It will be interesting to see how the URC schedule gets re-jigged, now that flights are open again.

Either way, I feel that the Currie Cup has essentially become the new Vodacom Cup which I don't see the big four provinces taking seriously.

[Sards]

Carlu Sadie
The Du Preez twins

Sharks have deep pockets

[OomStruisbaai]

Carlu Sadie
The Du Preez twins

Sharks have deep pockets

Not deep enough to catch a big one like Lood.

[assfly]

Carlu Sadie
The Du Preez twins

Sharks have deep pockets

It would be great to see the du Preez twins back in Durban. But I suspect one of them will have to play lock, where I see they've both been playing sometimes for Sale.

[Chilli]

Carlu Sadie
The Du Preez twins

Sharks have deep pockets

Eh?

[assfly]

Eh?

https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/unit ... n-20211219

[Chilli]

Eh?

https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/unit ... n-20211219

Are they not a package deal along with their very average brother and father?

If they can keep up their UK form they are a very good buy back.

[Chilli]

Eh?

https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/unit ... n-20211219

$harks buying more white non POC players. $hame on them

<OomSB>

[assfly]

Are they not a package deal along with their very average brother and father?

If they can keep up their UK form they are a very good buy back.

Shhhh. We're hoping they leave before Rob finds out.

$harks buying more white non POC players. $hame on them

<OomSB>

Fair comment. But I think with Kolisi and Pepsi solid starters for our back row, that's why one of them will have to go second row.

But I see that the Bulls have also kept up the tradition, this time buying Kyle Brink from Leicester.

[Sards]

The URC is set to become a power house competition.
All the stars north and south.

[Chilli]

The URC is set to become a power house competition.
All the stars north and south.

By North you mean Leinster
And South the Stormers?

[Chilli]

TRANSFER TALK: Sale Sharks face a tough battle to retain World Cup-winning Springbok lock Lood de Jager.



Sale Sharks’ marquee player De Jager has been heavily linked with a move to South African franchise Sharks.

However, the deal reportedly fell through.

Nonetheless, the rumour mill has not subsided, as the latest report suggests that De Jager is likely to exit Sale Sharks.


While his future plans are still unclear, Sale Sharks Director of Rugby Alex Sanderon revealed to the Daily Telegraph that De Jager is reconsidering his stay at the Manchester Club due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 29-year-old has been linked with lucrative deals in France and Japan.

Adding fuel to the rumour is Sale Sharks’ lastest signing England lock Jonny Hill.


The British and Irish Lions star joined the Manchester-based club last week.

Commenting on the speculation, Sanderson said the club is constantly negotiating with De Jager.

“Lood and the club are continually discussing his future plans and he is our marquee player,” Sanderson told the Daily Telegraph.

“It is not about salary restrictions, however, Lood has been struggling with Covid-19 and went home [to South Africa] to visit his dad, who is getting old.



“We are still in negotiations trying to figure out if he is happy here. But if someone is not happy you will not get the best out of them.

“So his future plans are still unclear,”


When asked about Jean-Luc and Dan Du Preez being linked with a move to their former side Sharks in South Africa, Sanderson was adamant they, along with older brother Robert, are committed to Sale Sharks.

Sanderson evens pointed figures to ‘third party agents’ for the reports.

“I think it’s pure speculations and work by a third party agent in an effort to destabilise our club.

“The reports certainly did not come from us.

“Stuff like this usually pops up in media which is frustrating.

“Nonetheless, I spoke to them individually and they are contracted here. Thus far everybody is happy except Jean-Luc he wants to play the No.6 flank more.

“We even spoke to their agents and they are happy and have denied all the transfer reports,”

Source: DailyTelegraph & Netwerk24

It will be interesting to see what actually happens.

[OomStruisbaai]

The s swarm again.

[Sards]

The s swarm again.

WP could have had it all. Except that you lot allowed a dictator to ruin your union . It eventually took SARU to step in and by then the horse had bolted. You can't keep on hating on the Sharks. It's not their fault the WP supporters are too slap gat to get involved in fixing their problems.

[FalseBayFC]

Titter.
Hope he does go. Maybe he can find his mojo there.

[OomStruisbaai]

Bath must be fucked

[FalseBayFC]

Someone check on Sards.

[assfly]

They're a good match. Neither are big into their defence.

But seriously I hope he goes. He's been in a rut for two years now and a change of coaching and environment could do him the world of good.

[Chilli]

Hopefully he can regain whatever mojo he had.

Best of luck to him and Bath.

[Sards]

Warren Whiteley takes a senior role for the Currie Cup

[Chilli]

SPOTLIGHT: While the Sharks’ backline has been enjoying the spotlight, the pack have been improving with each match in the United Rugby Championship.

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The value of Springboks Aphelele Fassi, Sibusiso Nkosi, Lukhanyo Am (the captain) and Makazole Mapimpi, along with Wallaby import Ben Tapuai in the Sharks set-up, has been marked with nothing but praise by head coach Sean Everitt.

Their ability to score tries was evident in their 47-37 win over the Lions last weekend – Mapimpi scoring a hattrick at Ellis Park.

However, the forwards have gradually become another powerful attacking feat, and credit certainly has to go to Akvsenti Giorgadze, who joined the Sharks in July as their scrum consultant.

The front row of Retshegofaditswe Nché, Thomas du Toit and Kerron van Vuuren were pretty solid against the Lions’ powerful scrum – the most successful in the URC.

At the same time, Hyron Andrews and Ruben van Heerden were solid in the second row.

When asked about the impact of Giorgadze, Nché conceded he has added a different dynamic to the pack

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“Giorgadze has a pretty simple system,” Nché said.

“You work as a pack, it’s an all-eight effort and you work on your offence, shape and technique.”

He added: “He brings confidence to the pack and expects forwards to be forwards.

“We have a good relationship with him.

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“He tries to bring the best out of each and every player.”

The Springbok prop also noted that the tight five is settling in nicely and everybody is pitting in a great effort.

*Article continues below…

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Shifting his focus to this weekend URC fixture against the Stormers, Nche conceded he expects a very difficult contest – following the Cape Town side’s 30-26 win over the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.

The Bok has taken it as a ‘big warning’.

“It going to be a big challenge, following their win at Loftus,” Nche explained.

“They will be oozing with confidence.

“You probably expected the Bulls to come out on top, given the home advantage.

“But seeing them trailing 0-18 just before half-time, it was a big shock.

“So this weekend is definitely going to be a challenge.

“We will just have to be our best.”

@rugby365com

He certainly is doing a good job.
However I'm pretty sure that there must be a South African who would be up for the job, maybe even an ex $harks player?

But then the $harks do have a history of relying on imports to win.

Tom Lawton
Vleis Visagie
Wahl Baartman
Thierry Le Croix
Ollie Le Roux
Andre Joubert
Henry Honiball
Pieter Muller
Frédéric Michalak
Lukhanyo Am
Ox Nche
Makazole Mapimpi
Frans Steyn
Clement Poitrenaud
Aphelele Fassi,
Siya Kolisi
David Knox
Matt Stevens
Jacques Potgieter
Mouritz Botha
SP Marais
Gregor Townsend
Tony Brown
Louis Shroeder
Bongi Mbonani
JUAN MARTIN HERNANDEZ
Curwin Bosch
SIKHUMBUZO NOTSHE
ANDY GOODE

The list is endless.

[OomStruisbaai]

they rested Kolisi and Bongi for this weekend. We need Fat Frans against them. The scrums will be unbalanced,

[FalseBayFC]

Jouba and Honiball are born and bred Natalians.

[Sards]

Yoh Chilli

[Sards]

They're a good match. Neither are big into their defence.

But seriously I hope he goes. He's been in a rut for two years now and a change of coaching and environment could do him the world of good.

Ja wish him luck....he never got an oppurtunity at the boks and the Rassie game plan of kick and pray and then defend that he changed to didn't work for him....when he took gaps and played with the ball he was a completely different kid

[Sards]

they rested Kolisi and Bongi for this weekend. We need Fat Frans against them. The scrums will be unbalanced,

Eh....last weekend....be respectful of the Springbok captain lad.....

[average joe]

Jouba and Honiball are born and bred Natalians.

Where you are born means fokol.

[Chilli]

Jouba and Honiball are born and bred Natalians.

Leant their rugby at Kovsies!

[Chilli]

Yoh Chilli

Almost all off the top of my head.

Hardly any filofax needed

[OomStruisbaai]

they rested Kolisi and Bongi for this weekend. We need Fat Frans against them. The scrums will be unbalanced,

Eh....last weekend....be respectful of the Springbok captain lad.....

You called him a qouta for a long time.

[Sards]

they rested Kolisi and Bongi for this weekend. We need Fat Frans against them. The scrums will be unbalanced,

Eh....last weekend....be respectful of the Springbok captain lad.....

You called him a qouta for a long time.

Only whilst he was at the Stormer where you paid him with a wine quota weekly.......its no wonder.
Since the Sharks and proper money in his bank account he has earned the right.

[OomStruisbaai]

So you measure race on pay?

[Sards]

So you measure race on pay?

I don't measure race in any form....

You Capies are a strange lot..............

[average joe]

I measure my race with a cup

[Chilli]

Durban — The Sharks team to play the Stormers in Durban on Saturday will be boosted by Springboks Siya Kolisi and Bongi Mbonambi and despite what both teams will tell the media, that is bound to add some spice to this juicy United Rugby Championship encounter.

The highly experienced Bok pair missed the Sharks’ victory over the Lions last week because they were completing a conditioning programme as they were a week behind the rest of the squad after having needed an extra week off in December, but now they are both in the Sharks team that has been running — and perspiring extensively in the humidity — at Hollywoodbets Kings Park this week.


Kolisi will take over from James Venter at openside flank and at hooker, Mbonambi will come in for Kerron van Vurren.

For so long in their careers, it seemed that Mbonambi, who last week turned 31, and Kolsi (30) would play out their careers at one union — the Stormers — but the acquisition of the Sharks by an American consortium changed that.

Entertainment giants Roc Nation are part of that consortium and it was not long before they “suggested” that two of their clients — Kolisi and Mbonambi — move up the coast from Cape Town to Durban to avoid a Roc Nation conflict of interests…


It also should not be forgotten that the Americans first knocked on the door of Western Province when they decided they wanted to venture into South African sport, and the principle reason they did that was because of the marketing potential of Springbok poster boy Kolisi, only for Western Province to dawdle and procrastinate so feebly that they turned their attention to the Sharks, who welcomed them with open arms.

And with the (rugby) mountain having shifted to Durban, Kolisi and Mbonambi soon followed suit.

For so long it was the Cheetahs that found their player base raided by the Sharks but in recent years the Sharks’ net has turned profitably towards the Cape. Prominent players that have been starring for the Sharks over the last few years include former captains in lock Ruan Botha and scrumhalf Louis Schreuder before Springbok No 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe made a much-publicised move from the Stormers to the Sharks and was followed by hooker Dan Jooste.


It has not all been one-way traffic, though.

It still hurts the Sharks that having secured Pieter-Steph du Toit from his school days and then helping him become a star, he then returned to his Cape roots and as a Stormer grew into the best player in the world in 2019.

Similarly, the Sharks brought Evan Roos to Durban straight out of Paarl Boys High but once he had completed his apprenticeship at the Shark Tank, the barnstorming No 8 returned to the Cape and is now a vital part of the Stormers and will be a key weapon for them on Saturday.


If you ask Kolisi and Co and the Stormers themselves, they will play down the threat of needle between old teammates on Saturday, but we are not going to buy it.

For instance, let us hope that the SuperSport mics pick up the exchange between Mbonamnbi and his old understudy at the Stormers, Scarra Ntubeni when they pack down for the first set scrum…

@MikeGreenaway67

IOL Sport

So the WP is the new Vrystaat?

[average joe]

Bad blood between ROC and WP. I have a feeling ROC Is gunning for them. If they are, they have the financial backing to bleed them dry.

[handyman]

Money, it's the root of all evil.

[average joe]

It also makes the world go round and buys the whisky.

[handyman]

It also makes the world go round and buys the whisky.

I'm more of a brandy man.

[Sards]

Nice to have the player of the year from the Sharks...