Cheetahs sunk at Shark Tank
13 Sep 2008
The Sharks took a step closer to a home semi-final with a 22-10 victory over the Cheetahs in Durban.
The victory takes the Sharks back to the top of the log and only a capitulation of note can deny them the opportunity to host a semi-final.
The Cheetahs, in contrast, are now just five points clear of the fifth placed Western Province and can’t afford to slip up against the high flying Bulls in Bloemfontein next week.
The Sharks were bolstered by the return of more Springboks and had too much quality across the park for the gutsy Free Staters. The gulf in class became more and more apparent as the match progressed, and while it was hardly flawless, the strength of this showing suggests teams will have to produce something very special to stop them this year.
Both sides were relatively conservative in the tactics early on, opting to build up through the phases and kick tactically.
The Cheetahs were impressive at set phases for the most part, scrumming strongly, while proving to be secure on their own ball and tormenting the Sharks on their feeds.
The first try came in exactly that fashion when Bismarck du Plessis’ throw failed to find its intended target. Juan Smith was quickest to react, poached the ball and powered over the tryline from 15m out.
But the Sharks soon settled into their pattern, building up patiently through the phases in an attempt to deplete a well organised Cheetahs defence. That approach achieved the desired result when Steven Sykes crashed over the tryline.
Frans Steyn, who had an impressive game at inside centre, then sunk a 55m drop goal before slicing open the Cheetahs’ defensive drew the last defender and offloaded to prop Deon Carstens, who sprinted up the touchline to score. Ruan Pienaar added the extras and the Sharks ran down the tunnel 17-10 ahead.
The Sharks heavies improved exponentially in the second half and this allowed the team to change tact, shifting from a direct to a more expansive approach. The Cheetahs looked defensively vulnerable and it was only a matter of time before they succumbed to the incessant pressure.
The TMO denied Bismarck du Plessis a try, but soon thereafter Keegan Daniel rounded off an expansive move after his forwards had pounded the Cheetahs into submission.
The Cheetahs were a battered unit and never looked to have the ability to drag themselves off the canvas. In fact, the Sharks would be disappointed not to have increased their points tally – a number of handling errors and poor decisions thwarting their quest for the bonus point.
Sharks – Try: Deon Carstens, Steven Sykes, Keegan Daniel. Conversion: Ruan Pienaar (2). Drop goal: Frans Steyn
Cheetahs - Try: Juan Smith. Conversion: Tewis de Bruyn. Penalty: De Bruyn
523 Comments
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14 Sep 2008, 11:13 am
#499 Puma: Should have would have could have
We should have gone with another coach who would have played a better game and we could have won LOL
14 Sep 2008, 11:14 am
#498 goyougoodthing: I still don’t want to think of that S14 final last year. Damn we should have won it. Yes saw that yesterday but just pleased Ab’s won.
14 Sep 2008, 11:15 am
#501 Puma: At least Warren Britz got one back for us on old Steve Walsh
14 Sep 2008, 11:17 am
#500 goyougoodthing: I know that and thats what makes me so damn mad and a lot of others. Jake should have stayed on and carried on where he left off. I just bet we could have won almost all those games this year. Even if it was Meyer as coach. Even AC. All the would haves and what ifs!!!!!! Are we going to just do the same with this coach or will he have learned a big lesson. The big factor is John will be back and I think he in most of those games would I think just have told the guys to go back to structure while on the field never mind what PdV had told them when they were losing. Thats why we need him back. Also had no captain for the whole of 3N.
14 Sep 2008, 11:21 am
#502 goyougoodthing: LoL. Steve Walsh I will always remember him for that mess up in the final of the S14 last year.
14 Sep 2008, 11:29 am
#504 Puma: And he will always remember Britzy for being nice to his girlfriend
14 Sep 2008, 11:30 am
#503 Puma: Yeah VM showed he’s a vv bad captain, crying like a baby… JS needs to stop eating though, looking like Porky Piglet at the moment
14 Sep 2008, 11:31 am
#505 goyougoodthing: lol
14 Sep 2008, 11:33 am
#506 goyougoodthing: John has to get back into shape. He really does look very overweight. Jake would never have allowed that. Remember Jake had them all measured for the fat on their body for their height and frame. Its got to go back to that. Have to be in perfect condition otherwise cant get picked. That what Jake uesed to say. With this coach I don’t think he has even thought of that.
14 Sep 2008, 11:45 am
#457 church – like chch but pronounceable:
Can’t you download it from the internet there in Aus?
I probably still have a couple of invites from Aussietorrents and diwana if you’re interested
It’s real HQ stuff on there
14 Sep 2008, 11:53 am
#475 blhoo:
“JdV has at least 6 years left and to drop him so that FS can play at 12 “for some time” in order to prepare him for the 10 jersey doesn’t make sense.”
Now where did I say that we should drop JdV ? Some of the best centers in world rugby played at 13 – Danie Gerber, Mortlock, Umaga, BOD.
14 Sep 2008, 11:59 am
Steyn you beaty!!!!!!Hope all the Frans Steyn critics will go away now!!!!!
14 Sep 2008, 11:59 am
What do you guys think of the TMo decision against the Sharks last night? Must admit I thought that Veldsman wouldn’t give it, and so did most of the crowd, you could hear them sigh when Veldsman’s name was mentioned.
50/50 IMO, but thought he came in from the side. If that was an other team, WP or Bulls, would SV not have given it there?
Just asking
14 Sep 2008, 12:01 pm
#511 Papashark: He’s a talent, and he will learn to have the class of Ruan I hope, but don’t think he’s all perfect yet. Decision making is not that great yet, he made a try but also left 2 out there through wrong decisions.
Hope he learns
14 Sep 2008, 12:02 pm
#512 goyougoodthing:
I still don’t get all the long arm penalties in the game for offenses at rucks
Seemed Roos was using old rules?
14 Sep 2008, 12:05 pm
#514 springbokbefok: I honestly have no idea which new/old/new new/ oldnew rules are in play.
Do I get 2 shots on the black or 1? LOL
14 Sep 2008, 12:07 pm
#514 springbokbefok:
It is disappointing that so many rugby fans still don’t get the differences between the S14 and global ELVs.
14 Sep 2008, 12:08 pm
#516 klingon_x: I do prefer the S14 LAWS
14 Sep 2008, 12:13 pm
FREDDIE Michalak had an awesome game yesterday, think he was my MOM.
Jannie DP hasn’t IMO, gelled at all with the Sharks. He has been effective in giving away penalties all season, not much else.
Great to see IMO Piennaar and Kockott, the 2 best SHs in SA at the moment both playing for the Sharks…
Terblanche was solid as always, those who say he’s over need to watch
Odwa, injured, hope it’s not too serious.
Murray – IMO Jacobs should have started instead but he played okay
14 Sep 2008, 12:15 pm
Frans too many decisions to carry the ball up
JP, strong, looking like his old self
Freddie, top game last night
RP is class but needs to watch his clearance kicks, another charge down
Keegan, proving he is capable of punching above his weight
Deysel, machine
Botes another machine
Muller, ok
Sykes had his best game
Jannie, not up to it
Bismarck, lineouts were a mess for a while
Carstens solid
14 Sep 2008, 12:28 pm
#516 klingon_x:
Oh, I didn’t know the CC rules were different than the Super 14 rules
It was the first full CC game I watched
14 Sep 2008, 23:15 pm
Am pissed off with a pretty damn poor effort from a depleted Cheetah team. Just TOO many injuries for a team with little to no depth. Anyone who thinks Frans Steyn is avg is probably smoking bad pot.
Don’t understand why Harold old far Verster is not investing in a GOOD 9-10 combo. I am worried that Free State will not actually make it to the semis!!! Time for Juan to stand up and be counted. dammit dammit dammit
15 Sep 2008, 11:01 am
#522 dirt-tracker: Agree, Neil Powell looked average and JLP is simply not the answer at 10.
I was glad to see that the third school boy from last year’s conquering FS Schools side made it big. Coenie de Villiers was in school clothes last year and scrummed well against Jannie Du Plessis (a world cup springbok) in the last 20. Coenie will still wear green and gold.
Cheetahs for the most part looked planless. One or two phases and then everyone stairs at each other waiting for someone to do something….. Not good enough Vleiskop Drotske…..
PS – thought Steyn had a fantastic game. He is class..
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