The Pundits preview The Sharks 2017 Super Rugby Squad

The Sharks have a new coach in Robert du Preez this season, and it will be the first time he takes charge of a Super Rugby franchise – this could be breath of fresh air the side needs.

The Sharks had a decent 2016 Super Rugby season, but will want to forget their 41-0 defeat to the Hurricanes in the quarter-final of the competition.

The Durbanites have a very young side once again this season, but they do have competition experience in them and will be hoping that they can improve on last season’s position.

Tendai Mtawarira, Coenie Oosthuizen, Pat Lambie, Lwazi Mvovo and Frenchman Clément Poitrenaud will be expected to be the experienced heads in the squad, while Jean-Luc du Preez and Curwin Bosch will also want to make sure they have their say in the group.

It’s difficult to say where the Sharks will end up this season, so without me saying where they will end up, we suggest you read what the panel has to say about this side.

The Panel’s Thoughts

@JudgeRugy:

“The Sharks have been on a roller-coaster ride for the past few seasons. They do need a bit of credit for trying to change things up within the union and the coaches, although not all the decisions have been the right ones.

Another year of finding their feet awaits them, I feel. Head Coach du Preez faces his first Super Rugby season which will be interesting considering his inexperience at top flight coaching.

They have a good balance in their squad with Botha & van Wyk, the new-ish boys to watch this season. Reinach & Lambie together again should be good to see.

Not a top 2 SA side for me yet but I feel they are on the cusp of reaching new heights or plummeting down to the darkness, time will tell.”

@OdinKuun:

“The Sharks are one of those teams that have always looked good on paper and this year is no different (Clemont Poitrenaud, to name one). Much like the Bulls, there is cause for real optimism this year with a talented young squad and a new dynamic coaching team that will breath new life into the players.

With Robert du Preez and a brand new coaching staff, doesn’t it make you think of what Franco Smit is doing at the Cheetahs? ie: a fresh, bold and new long-term plan for the franchise, how fast the players will respond to the new setup remains to be seen

They have the ‘easier’ fixture list this year in facing no NZ teams until the play-offs but they do start the season with two away games in Australia. Marcell Coetzee is a big loss but with the return of a fit Pat Lambie (Captain) and probably the most talented and exciting squad of all South African teams, this year could be a good one.”

@Justus_Beets:

“I really don’t know what the Sharks have in store for 2017. Who dares spin the Durban wheel of (mis)fortune? Remember,this is a team that played the perfect game when they beat the eventual champions of 2016, the Hurricanes. But that was it, that was the highlight. Now it’s 2017 and another blank page awaits. The Sharks have the exciting young fullback, Curwin Bosch and along with Springboks Pat Lambie and Cobus Reinach, these 3 will be the on-field thinkers who have to try and get (and keep) this ship on course.”

@Hoerboer:

“This Sharks side is a young team with a lot of youngsters going for their 2/3 season of Super Rugby. Good solid pack for the Sharks. Ruan Botha and Ettienne Oosthuizen to keep Bok lock Stephan Lewis on the bench, I predict. Hopefully, Lambie and Terra will have an injury-free season. The big question for the Sharks will be, who to play at 13 this year? They have Jeremy Ward and Johan Deysel coming through.

Players to watch: Curwin Bosch, Innocent Radebe and Jeremy Ward”