Sharks XV Open Vodacom Cup Campaign
Louis Ludik. Image © sharksrugby.co.za
24 February 2010 (09:17) - The Sharks XV host the Border Bulldogs this Friday evening at The Absa Stadium Durban at 6pm in their opening Vodacom Cup match of the 2010 season.

Coach Sean Everitt admits that with this being the first game and little to go on, “Border are a bit of an unknown factor for us as we don’t have any video footage of them, but we were fortunate to play them twice last year, and we do know that they have some experienced guys upfront and youngsters in the backline.

“We don’t expect an easy game from them, they’ll see themselves as underdogs and would love the opportunity to come to Durban and upset us so they can get some home support down in East London.”

The team, captained by Andries Strauss is a nice mix of youth and experience, calm heads when needed to rein in the exuberance of youth – not that you don’t want that excitement, but the Vodacom Cup has eluded this team and a consistent season ahead could well yield the right results.

Coming off the back of a very good Under 21 season last year, this Vodacom Cup team is generally young, points out Everitt, “although the seniors in the team, Andries Strauss and Alistair Hargreaves aren’t old men, but they are experienced campaigners and leaders within their own right.”

He adds that he is in the fortunate position of having strong leaders in certain areas in the team, “Andries is the captain while in the front row we have Pat Cilliers and Alistair in the second row, and with Charl McLeod, Monty Dumond and Andries playing together, they will help the youngsters in the backline, perhaps provide a claming influence because many of them haven’t played Vodacom Cup rugby yet,

“And then Louis Ludik at the back has a lot of experience and we’re very happy to have him there and hopefully we can help him back to full fitness so he can join The Sharks at a later stage.”

Entrance to the game is free and fans are urged to get to The Absa Stadium Durban on Friday evening to support the future of Sharks rugby.

The Sharks XV

15. Louis Ludik
14. Mark Richards
13. Jean Stemmet
12. Andries Strauss (Capt)
11. Luzuko Vulindlu
10. Monty Dumond
9. Charl McLeod
8. Luvuyiso Lusaseni
7. Lambert Groenewald
6. Justin Downey
5. Alistair Hargreaves
4. Anton Bresler
3. Wiehahn Herbst
2. Kyle Cooper
1. Patric Cilliers

Replacements
16. Hannes Snyman
17. Sabelo Nhlapo
18. Michael Rhodes
19. Skholiwe Ndlovu
20. Ross Cronje
21. Jerome Pretorius
22. Chris Jordaan