Sharks Shane Masters Eddie Morris David Dafter James McDougal Sam Verigotta John McGrath Steve Marais Samuel Yates Sam Bakkum Matthew Scoble Zac Macdonald Gunner Shriram Bobrad Smith Michael Edwards Regan Hutchinson Subs: Ishan Narang Ryan Gee Zohaib Ikram Chris Devonshire Bob Borisc Jake Taylor Zach Poole Crabs Os du Toit Okoudou Gbagbo Herr Burger Bruce Force Double Dong JD Hurricane Jake Howe Geraint Martyn Cobra Classified Ivan Ryabovol Daniel Speirs John Heads Chuck Faldo Chris Raftery Ginger Furball Subs: Magrat Garlick Hal Teja Pretzel Spark Zinzan Brumby Bill Kirk Dan Wayne Sticky Phlegm Odds Sharks: $3.05 Crabs: $1.29 Insight The Sharks are the weakest team in the competition now, with a complete rookie making his Seasonal Rugby debut in their back row. This is likely to be a down-trou moment. The only area where, arguably, the Sharks may be superior is in the pivots. Bakkum is a decent option here, whilst Classified has been erratic to say the least. Ryabovol is a reasonable comparison to Scoble. Even the areas of traditional Sharks strength - the front row and the locks - have started to weaken due to a lack of training. Verigotta-McDougal is still a good option, but probably now only equal to Force-Dong in quality. Even if there's an even battle here, the Crabs back row just blows the Sharks out of the water. You've got a lock, McGrath, playing out of position with Marais, a rookie on the openside. Yates has to somehow hold this together, and even with his experience that's unlikely. And just in case you hope the Crabs might tire, they can bring on a bench where any of the players would find their way into the Sharks' first XV (perhaps with the exception of Bill Kirk). This should be a shellacking. Expectation: Crabs by 20+
My ass is ready. We've still probably got 10/15 solid players but that's not really enough for the Crabs in any capacity.
Hyped for the new season! Sharks may be the Italy of this season but iirc Scoble is a very strong place kicker so this could be dodgy if we don’t keep our discipline.
Realistically even then we'd be 2 or 3 players away from somewhat competitive. As things stand though if we do a smaller season 7, the team will have to go. None of us have come back and the better players can easily find starting spots elsewhere.
I mean, no one is back properly. We just got more depth in 2013 and more signatures in 2015. Let's just see how she goes
JD Hurricane's transfer doesn't impact the line-ups for this game as the second XV games have been completed and the transfer would have impacted the 2nd XV line-ups. Still gives Marais the chance to show what he can do, but should mean he can ease into 2nd XV rugby and some 1st XV off the bench in future rounds.
Kind of understand not making the Sharks line up but in fair turn I shouldn't be eligible for the crabs then either Heef for this match given the legalities of me not being their contracted player. You know the rules better than anyone but that is how it looks from a ten thousand foot level.
You kind of have to suspend your disbelief, but basically assume that the match was simmed as soon as the line-up was named. Hence, your release and signing for the Sharks happened after the match has happened. In real life, matches are played not long after a line-up has been named. It'll be a bit weird for sure, but as the Squids/Nippers game has already been simmed and published, I can't see a viable alternative - though I do appreciate the optics.
I'm assuming they'll run over them in the second half, but would be a huge turn-up if the Sharks went 2/2 against the strongest squad in the competition.