Plumtree raises eyebrows
SHARKS coach John Plumtree raised eyebrows yesterday when he revamped his team to play the Chiefs on Saturday and appointed a new captain in Jean Deysel.
There are 10 changes to the starting line-up that lost at home to the Cheetahs and few would have expected regular captain Keegan Daniel to be relegated to the bench for the vital tour opener, but Plumtree says Daniel is battle-weary and, at the same time, he wants to fight fire with fire by picking the biggest and most physical pack he can muster to counter the combative Chiefs unit.
Daniel’s place is taken by young Tera Mtembu, the in-form Sharks XV No 8 and a physical player that Plumtree reckons has the ability to mark the Chiefs’ excellent No 8, Liam Messam.
Another loose forward making his debut is the flanker only recently brought in on loan from the Lions, Derick Minnie.
He takes over from Marcell Coetzee, another player Plumtree says is showing signs of wear and tear.
“I want to have a good look at Derick while resting Marcell. We know from past experience how he has hurt us playing for the Lions (the 2011 Currie Cup final is a good case in point) and he is the right type of player for New Zealand conditions,” Plumtree said. “I want a pack that can stand up to the Chiefs and where possible I have picked the most physical player available.”
Plumtree has also given a debut to young winger Piet Lindeque, who recently played well for Tukkies in the Varsity Cup.
There are changes in every area of the team – front row, second row, the loose trio, the halfbacks, midfield and the back three.
Plumtree is aware that some sceptics will feel he should have gone for continuity for the tour opener, but he insists he has picked the right team to play the champions.
“I am not by any means writing this game off because I know what the doomsday merchants will have to say. It is a good opportunity to look at players while freshening up the team. It is only Deysel’s third start of the year, we know what Minnie is capable of and I am excited to see what Tera brings to the party.”
In the front row Plumtree has recalled Craig Burden at hooker, switched Wiehahn Herbst to loosehead prop for the injured Tendai Mtawarira and brought back Jannie du Plessis at tighthead prop. This is how the front row finished the match against the Cheetahs after the second half substitutions.
Burden will relish his opportunity to state his case after Kyle Cooper came from nowhere to be preferred to him. He had been patiently waiting his turn behind Bismarck du Plessis, and before that John Smit and Du Plessis.
The powerfully built Burden was in sensational form in New Zealand during last year’s Sharks’ tour, scoring two tries in two games with his explosive play.
In the second row, Franco van der Merwe steps down for Anton Bresler, another selection move to freshen up a position while adding beef.
Van der Merwe has started every game of the season and has played a big role in improving the Sharks’ line-out.
At scrumhalf, the experienced Charl McLeod is another player who will be keen to state his case. He has found himself behind youngster Cobus Reinach and will have been frustrated with his place on the bench this season.
Frans Steyn, who captained the side for the first four matches when Daniel was injured, is back in the side at outside centre for the injured Paul Jordaan. It is an unfamiliar position for the Springbok No 12 and this is part of the reason the captaincy has not been returned to him.
“Jean has captained us in the Currie Cup and leadership comes more naturally to him than Frans, who is also playing out of position,” explained Plumtree.
“I had wanted to play him at 12, but we don’t have a lot of choice now in the centres after Paul got injured on Tuesday. I don’t want to burden Fransie this week with the captaincy as well as playing a new position.”