Sharks set for ground to air assault
9 Sep 2008
Sharks captain Johann Muller says nullifying the Cheetahs at the lineouts and breakdown will be central to success.
The Sharks come into the Absa Currie Cup match at Kings Park on Saturday buoyed by a 35-24 victory over the Blue Bulls last week. The Cheetahs pushed a Springbok-laden Western Province hard in Bloemfontein on Saturday, until Jean de Villiers sealed the result with a late intercept try.
Despite the loss, Muller noted the Cheetahs were impressive at lineout time, pilfering a number of Province’s feeds and proving to be secure on their own throws. He said their offensive and defensive strength lies in the number of options they have at the set phase, with David de Villiers, Barend Pieterse, Juan Smith and Duanne Vermuelen all competent in the air.
“We can’t match them there for height. They have some really tall loose forwards who give them a range of options,” Muller told keo.co.za.
“Their lineout success rate is better than any team in the tournament and that says everything you need to know about what a challenge that will be. If you’re robbed of quality first phase ball you lose a primary attacking platform and we are going to have to work hard to ensure we don’t.”
Muller was, however, acutely aware that to limit the Cheetahs to one avenue of attack would cost his team. He spoke of their all-round strength but pointed to their skill and efficiency at the breakdown as an imminent threat.
“There are an average of 15 lineouts in a match but about 200 rucks so it would be silly on our part not to note their strength at the breakdown,” he said.
“The last time we played them in Bloemfontein [the Cheetahs were emphatic 31-9 victors] they were all over us at the breakdown and that cost us dearly. The Bulls were really good there [on Saturday] with Wikus van Heerden and Deon Stegmann working hard to turnover ball. We’ve identified it as an area we have to step up in.”
There is every possibility that the Sharks will have a close to full strength squad to select from with news that Springboks Adi Jacobs, Beast Mtawarira and Ryan Kankowski trained well on Monday, while a head knock sustained against the Bulls hasn’t concussed Brad Barritt. John Smit is the only definite non-starter, but he should be ready to play within the next fortnight.
The return of their Springboks will further bolster the Sharks who have an opportunity to open some breathing room between themselves and the Cheetahs with victory in Durban.
“We’ll make a final call on the squad on Thursday but those boys looked good today and we’re confident they could be available for selection,” Muller said. “They’re all quality players so their presence for a match of this importance will be a massive boost.”
Victory gives them some breathing room. Defeat and the Bulls are away.
By Ryan Vrede
525 Comments
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9 Sep 2008, 15:56 pm
#499 Ethel: tjorts!
9 Sep 2008, 15:56 pm
#490 gunther:
Am looking for a Neruda buddy
9 Sep 2008, 15:57 pm
#489 rangerman:
Your team played very well. They showed real character.
Boycotting to me, is a bit like sulking. It may point to an inability to verbalise or articulate one’s unhappiness.
Bit it was very tempting to join in. I immediately ran to my cupboard but could not decide which T-shirt to put on: My UDF one, my ANC one or my AWB one.
I then said ” if in doubt, throw it out”
9 Sep 2008, 15:57 pm
#502 Dawn:
In return, am prepared to listen to some angstige Afrikaanse poetry.
9 Sep 2008, 15:58 pm
#454 Ethel:
Let me guess:
1. Ethel 1 from Bo-Kaap is kind, sensitive and has three legs – ????
2. Ethel 2 from Wynberg is intelligent, sarcastic and a charmer has three legs – DAWN
3. Ethel 3 from abroad is clever, witty, shy, and has two legs and two breasts. – RUGBY PRINCESS
4. Ethel 4 from Pretoria is sharp, bright, handsome, witty, intelligent and is the one writing now – SNIPER
5. The true Ethel is from the Cape somewhere, walks everywhere, insults in a good way, is controversial but a good guy – HARRY THE BEACHWALKER
6. The one from Western Province is great as well – WPTID
9 Sep 2008, 15:58 pm
#456 Ethel:
I quite enjoyed that!!!!!
9 Sep 2008, 15:59 pm
#505 Capie:
For farks sakes.
Why would I have three legs.
9 Sep 2008, 16:00 pm
#498 rangerman:
The power of dialogue
9 Sep 2008, 16:04 pm
#503 Sheriff: ja, i was proud of my sharkies.
i am able to verbalise but hell man, sometimes it just doesnt seem worth it.
but bygones.
sounds like you have all the bases covered with your wardrobe. the last one is mostly usefull for fancy dress nowadays though.
9 Sep 2008, 16:05 pm
#505 Capie:
Hmmm, ok.
Let me guess:
1. Ethel 1 from Bo-Kaap is kind, sensitive and has three legs – SLAPPES????
2. Ethel 2 from Wynberg is intelligent, sarcastic and a charmer has three legs – KATMAN
3. Ethel 3 from abroad is clever, witty, shy, and has two legs and two breasts. – RUGBY PRINCESS
4. Ethel 4 from Pretoria is sharp, bright, handsome, witty, intelligent and is the one writing now – SNIPER
5. The true Ethel is from the Cape somewhere, walks everywhere, insults in a good way, is controversial but a good guy – HARRY THE BEACHWALKER
6. The one from Western Province is great as well – WPTID
9 Sep 2008, 16:06 pm
#505 Capie: i think three legs refers to the “leg between the legs”. ie a guy.
9 Sep 2008, 16:11 pm
#497 rangerman:
I really miss that WPTID, I think he was hilarious, hell of a cool funguy that
9 Sep 2008, 16:14 pm
#512 Capie: he was here today and he will be back. he needed a break i believe. just like a few of us.
9 Sep 2008, 16:14 pm
#502 Dawn: I like to read Macduff in the buff and I am also very into Dr Zeuss…
9 Sep 2008, 16:20 pm
#509 rangerman:
Yeah it’s about balance.
I would love to own a plot in Orania, next to Tacitus or so. Will probably have to fork out quite a bit of oras (their currency)
9 Sep 2008, 16:25 pm
#515 Sheriff:
what do they have on the oras? a noose?
i would love to go on a township pubcrawl during the 2010 wc with the base thumping and the crowds going mad………scratch that, i will.
9 Sep 2008, 16:31 pm
cheers all, i am off!
good to be back.
9 Sep 2008, 16:31 pm
#516 rangerman:
When you are in CT, you must come with to Mzoli’s in the townships
9 Sep 2008, 16:31 pm
#515 Sheriff: #516 rangerman: I think the Ora is devaluating faster than the Zim$
9 Sep 2008, 16:35 pm
#518 Capie: will do, you gonna be my “guide”? i warn you, i drink like a fish and might start using bad zulu.
9 Sep 2008, 16:36 pm
#519 AB: haha, i never even heard of the ora!
anyways, going proper now. have a good one.
9 Sep 2008, 16:37 pm
#516 rangerman:
Nee, ek dink ‘n koeksuster en ‘n seun wat met ‘n kettie skiet.
Ek weet. Laat Ryan Vrede jou vat vir ‘n toer deur Mitchell’s Plain. Maar laat Ryan die praatwerk doen.
9 Sep 2008, 16:44 pm
#519 AB:
Vergeet daarvan.
As ek nie getroud was nie sou ek daar gaan vrou vat het. Iemand wat nog mens se klere was en stryk en ‘n fles met koffie vir werk. En lekker karringmelkbeskuit. Mens moet hulle net leer van die stad en so.
9 Sep 2008, 16:51 pm
#523 Sheriff: As jy verwys na die vrouens van Orania glo ek jy gaan sukkel om “common sense in hulle in te kry, maar stryk en st..k sal hulle seker ok wees mee! lol
9 Sep 2008, 17:02 pm
#524 AB:
Lyk my jy het kwaad-doen op die brein. Moenie op die mense neersien nie.
As ek daar bly moes bly sal ek nie my vrou toelaat om brood te koop nie. Nee ou maat, sy sal moet bak. Kan ‘n fortuin spaar so.
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