Bumbling Brumbies edge Sharks
13 Mar 2010
The Sharks lost their fifth successive match as they went down 24-22 to the Brumbies in Canberra.
The visitors will again rue their poor performance, as just like last week against the Waratahs the match was there for the taking. But once more they have themselves to blame, and if there campaign wasn’t over before this encounter, it has finally been decided as they now have no chance of reaching the play-offs barring an unlikely miracle.
The Sharks had the breeze at their backs in the opening half and raced out to a 6-0 lead after 16 minutes thanks to a couple of Andy Goode penalties. They had the better of the opening exchanges, but they failed to take their chances when opportunities presented themselves.
The Brumbies came into the match with only one loss, but they – just like the Sharks – lacked the confidence to gain any continuity. Both sides made numerous basic mistakes, and after the opening quarter John Plumtree would have been a disappointed man as dropped balls and poor passes littered the visitors’ performance.
The Brumbies awoke from their slumber midway through the half, two Matt Giteau penalties in quick succession drawing them level at 6-6.
Both sides adopted a similar plan as they opted to take the ball through the phases and play close to the rucks as the defenders failed to align quickly around the breakdowns. The Brumbies initially failed to get their famed phase-play game going, but on the half hour mark they struck.
Prop Ben Alexander crashed over after numerous phases as the hosts increased the pace of the match, but the Sharks dominated the final 10 minutes of the half.
Ruan Pienaar sniped around a ruck unopposed to draw the Sharks level, and then another Goode penalty as the half-time hooter sounded handed the Sharks a 16-13 lead at the break.
It was the first time the Sharks have led at half-time this year, and the second stanza was all about closing out the game.
They didn’t start well however, their scrum again the weaklink as the Brumbies dominated territory throughout final 40 minutes. The Sharks and Springbok front-row were again marched back at the set-piece on their 5m line, and from the ensuing ruck, Alexander again drove over around the fringes to secure his brace.
The visitors wisely chose to play for territory, with Goode and Pienaar prominent. Just like in the first half, they had their chances in the Brumbies’ 22 but it was the same old problem as they struggled with their attack, which was too lateral and static.
Goode and Giteau traded penalties as the Sharks held a one-point lead heading into the final quarter, but with nine minutes remaining, the Wallaby pivot edged over the match-winner.
The Sharks now face the Highlanders and the Dunedin fixture is their best chance of a win on the tour from hell.
By Grant Ball
360 Comments
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13 Mar 2010, 23:35 pm
Ndungane, kockott, jannie, muller, botes all need an extended rest. Time to bring in some youth and hunger into the ‘team’. My team Beast smit bismark sykes steenkamp deysel alberts kanko pienaar goode pietersen swan jacobs mvovo terblanche. Carstens burden hargreaves daniels mcleod cronje jordaan. Time to introduce performance based salaries, you win you get paid the big cash, if not you suffer like the rest of us. Get a proper back line coach. And with botha and de villiers coming back to sa, its time to start building a team again by securing these key positions.
I would also drop jacobs, but seeing as murray is even worse, whats the point….
14 Mar 2010, 02:26 am
Jacobs needs resting. He is clearly playing below what he is capable of. Suppose one of the downsides of quotas is that even you are below form you cannot be replaced.
Bismarck was lucky not to get yellowed. Where is the discipline with the Sharks.
Muller while plays a great test game, S14 is a younger quicker game so some young blood for this team.
I do think the reffing was one sided again. The last line out was definetly an indication of the poor officiating. The Brumbies player took the ball out yet still got the line out. As for the retailiation well the penalty should have been reversed.
Saying that, the Sharks had 2 games to win and failed to close the game out aginst weak Aussie teams.
14 Mar 2010, 10:24 am
That was some of the poorest ref’ing I have seen in a long time.
14 Mar 2010, 12:39 pm
I think the Sharks desperately need a psychologist to join the team. Their mindset is just not right. Maybe bad luck is riding John Smit as captain. Stefan Terblanche had a very successful captain’s innings last year. Perhaps we must use him again to change the tide.
14 Mar 2010, 19:23 pm
@skopskiet: 320 Skop that’s not a bad backline. It could work. I’d go one step further and try Kanko at 12 and with Jacobs at 13 and move Daniels to 8 with Deysel and Alberts at 6 and 7.
I was so bloody annoyed with Pietersen yesterday. He looked like he just didn’t want to be there.
Jacobs was the only back that looked dangerous and he made a few linebreaks yesterday. I wouldn’t drop Jacobs but for god’s sake Plumtree what is your problem with Mvovo? We need a proper winger on the field. If Plum doesn’t select Lwazi next week I will be utterly convinced he smoking tik.
14 Mar 2010, 19:31 pm
@KZN King Shark: Amongst other things
Jacobs passing was atrocious..!!
14 Mar 2010, 21:20 pm
Storm, what’s your problem, you sounding like a scratch cd, was only that one pass at the end, the Sharks had enough oppertunities prior to that to clinch the game, any chip on your shoulder
14 Mar 2010, 21:23 pm
@KZN King Shark: 354. Plum is out of his depth with the Sharks. That is the long and the short of it. I think he has lost the dressing room.
15 Mar 2010, 08:37 am
@KZN King Shark: What do you expect from JPP? I would want to quit if I had to play outside Adi. JPP is phenomenal but he NEVER gets the ball unless he goes and find it at some odd place. When he does get the ball, it is either thrown at his feet or behind him…
15 Mar 2010, 09:25 am
@King Shark: JPP is just plain lazy, he also have the I don’t care body language since last season…
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