Sharks rest star duo
February 28, 2001

Gaffie du Toit and Andre Snyman won't be in the Sharks starting line-up for Saturday's Super 12 encounter with the Brumbies at the Absa Stadium in Durban.

Coach Rudolf Straeuli on Wednesday said he prefers to ease both players into rugby at this level.

"Gaffie is still a bit rusty. He played one half for the Wildebeest on Friday and on Saturday he will start on the substitutes' bench. I'm satisfied that he is physically fine and all he needs now is game time," Straeuli said of his Springbok utility back, who is on the mend after a hamstring injury.

The coach is happy with the progress Springbok centre Snyman has made since his comeback from two serious ankle injuries. "He played a full game on Friday, but is still busy with his rehabilitation and he will also start from the bench."

Straeuli would have found it hard in any way to find space in the starting line-up for a fully fit Du Toit and Snyman. Ricardo Loubscher was a roaring success at fullback and Deon Kayser was sublime at outside centre against the Bulls on Friday.

Straeuli admitted he was impressed. "Ricardo is a Springbok and a Sevens Springbok and he never got enough chances at Super 12 level before. Deon played really well. He's happy at outside centre, but told me he doesn't mind playing there or at right wing. He's comfortable with both, but on Saturday he'll probably start at outside centre."

On Saturday the Sharks will be without two Springboks, No 8 Warren Brosnihan and wing Stefan Terblanche. "Warren got a bump against the head and we will rest him this week, while Stefan hurt a muscle in his neck. Hopefully he will only miss this weekend's game."

The Sharks have called up Border's Deon Carstens to fill in for the suspended Brent Moyle, but Springbok Etienne Fynn looks set to start against the Brumbies.

There was widespread concern about the Sharks' lack of discipline against the Bulls, something that was carried over from last year. Straeuli is known as a strict disciplinarian and on Wednesday he said measures have been taken to ensure that a repeat of Friday night is avoided.

"We worked hard on that aspect of our game. We also had our own disciplinary hearing and the guilty guys were fined. The guys now know what we expect from them," he said. Young flyhalf Butch James and flank AJ Venter were singled out for severe criticism for their overly aggressive approach, but Straeuli feels people are waging a witch hunt against those two players.

"We've discussed the situation with Butch and AJ after all the publicity they've received. They know what the situation is and they've worked on it. We are, however, not going to pressurise them. Butch is one of the flyhalves in South Africa who tackles like Henry Honiball did.

"He sometimes makes a mistake, but works on his technique. But I feel that these two are singled out. I can show you tapes of several other players who are doing the same things, but get away with it. People are making a meal about Butch and AJ, but what about the rest?"

After this weekend acrimonious battles between the South African sides, Straeuli expects exactly the same to happen in the rest of the "derbies". "The guys have Springbok contracts and Springbok places on their minds when they take the field and I expect it to be the same thing all over again in the other derbies," the coach said.

"Maybe it's not a good thing that local referees handle those games, although I must say I thought Jonathan Kaplan handled the one in Cape Town well."
Straeuli took a swipe at Stormers coach Alan Solomons, who deemed it fit to cite Japie Mulder at halftime of the Newlands clash for his charge on De Wet Barry. "During halftime in a TV interview Solly said they are going to cite Japie. I don't think there is a place in rugby for that type of thing.

"I agree that that type of incident should be punished, but to come out at halftime and cite a player... well, I cannot agree with that."

Straeuli suggested the coaches should leave the citings for the independent match commissioner or citing officials appointed by Sarfu. "We should wait until we get the report from Sarfu before making statements," he added.

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