John Plumtree makes changes to player positions; Patrick Lambie moved to fullback – Rugby news
South African Super Rugby franchise Sharks’ head coach, John Plumtree, has announced their match 22 for the last round-robin match of the 2011 Super Rugby championship on Thursday, June 16. Plumtree has listed the team today for their Saturday, June 18 clash
against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria.
In the changes announced by the Plumtree, the most important is the shifting of their star utility player, Patrick Lambie, to the fullback position.
Both Bulls and Sharks have played 15 matches in this year’s Super Rugby competition securing 53 points and are placed at 5th and 6th position respectively. Both teams will be keeping an eye on the sixth placed Waratahs match against
the Brumbies. Waratahs, with 9 wins from their 15 games of the season, have secured 52 points and will start as the favourites in their weekend encounter.
In other changes announced by Plumtree, Eugene van Staden has been dropped from the match 22 making way for the Jannie du Plessis to take the field in the starting xv as the prop. His brother, hooker Bismarck du Plessis, will assist Jannie in the front
row.
Alistair Hargreaves and Gerhard Mostert will start the game in the second-row as locks. Steven Sykes has been dropped from the match 22 after his injury, making room for Ross Skeate in the replacements.
Flanker Jean Deysel has been included in the starting xv after serving his two-week suspension for his dangerous tackle. He will join the flanker, Keegan Daniel, and number eight, Ryan Kankowski, in the back row.
Newly signed Frederic Michalak will start the match as fly half. This has allowed Plumtree to play his ace, Patrick Lambie, at his favourite full back position. Plumtree has expressed his confidence that the team will live up to the expectations of the fans
and deliver in their must win game.
The Sharks squad for the match include:-
Starting xv: 15 Patrick Lambie, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Stefan Terblanche (capt), 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Gerhard Mostert,
3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 John Smit, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Ross Skeate, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 Marcell Coetzee, 21 Adrian Jacobs, 22 Louis Ludik.
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