ROB DAVIES, Cape Town | Thursday 5.10pm.
A MIDFIELD battle of epic proportions awaits when the Sharks take on the Stormers at King’s Park in a final-round Super 12 match on Saturday.
Pieter Muller, current holder of the Springbok jersey at inside centre, will face up to newcomer De Wet Barry — one of the front-runners in the race for Springbok selection ahead of the series’ against Canada and England.
While Barry has shown himself to be a class-act, Muller’s season has not been one of his best, and a good performance on Saturday will do him, and his Springbok chances, a world of good.
Far from being a run-of-the-mill centre versus centre contest, the Barry/Muller battle pits one of the hardest tacklers in the game against an exciting youngster who looks set, on current form, to play inside centre for the Springboks.
While Barry may have all the confidence in the world, Muller’s brand of physical education is guaranteed to make an impression on the 21-year-old. The Sharks’ midfield juggernaut’s defensive talents, unlike his distribution skills, have never been questioned. He tackles like he means it with a completely fearless approach which, coupled with the skills of Henry Honiball at flyhalf, made the Springbok midfield almost impenetrable a few seasons back.
Honiball has now moved on with much of the Springbok old guard and it’s up to Muller to show that he is still the man to beat in midfield. Barry has shown much promise, but undoubtedly the toughest test lies ahead against a battle-scarred and doubtless fired-up Muller.
Chris Rossouw returns at hooker for the Sharks and will face up to Charl Marais — currently the top South African hooker in the competition.
Rossouw may not be a youngster anymore, but when he is on song there are few front-rowers able to match up to the 1995 World Cup veteran. Rossouw wants the hooking berth in the Bok team and Marais needs to show serious fire if he wants to keep himself uppermost in the minds of the selectors.
At lock Mark Andrews returns to lead the Sharks with partner John Slade, and here too there are signs of a heavyweight tussle with Hottie Louw and Selborne Boome.
In the outside backs the Stormers have the edge with Pieter Rossouw, Breyton Paulse and Percy Montgomery opposing Stephen Brink, Deon Kayser and Joe Gillingham. Paulse should, again, prove to be a serious headache to the Sharks and he must be kept away from the ball at all costs.
All said, the Stormers are firm favourites to win the match, but as always home-ground advantage makes the Sharks dangerous and a win against the Stormers may just get them on the right track again.
Don’t be surprised if the Sharks find their form and class to give the King’s Park faithful a bittersweet taste of what everyone knows they are capable of.
Teams:
Sharks: Joe Gillingham, Deon Kayser, Stefan Terblanche, Pieter Muller, Stephen Brink, Gaffie du Toit, Chad Alcock, Warren Brosnihan, Wayne Fyvie, AJ Venter, Mark Andrews (capt.), John Slade, Brent Moyle, Chris Rossouw, Ollie le Roux. Replacements: Rodger Smith, Clinton van Rensburg, Craig Davidson, Jacques Greeff, Philip Smit, Baksteen Nell, John Smit.
Stormers: Percy Montgomery, Breyton Paulse, Robbie Fleck, De Wet Barry, Pieter Rossouw, Braam van Straaten, Dan van Zyl, Chean Roux, Corne Krige (capt.), Hendrik Gerber, Selborne Boome, Hottie Louw, Cobus Visagie, Charl Marais, Robbie Kempson. Replacements: Robert Markram, Wayne Julies, David von Hoesslin, Janneman Brand, Brett Barrett, Toks van der Linde, Johan van Wyk.