Sharks blend power with purpose
8 Mar 2011
JON CARDINELLI says the Sharks’ brutal forward showings have catapulted them to the top of the log after three rounds.
The Sharks have been dominant in their three wins against the Cheetahs, Blues and Force. They’ve looked the best team in the South African conference and indeed the whole competition, and the assertion is supported by the stats.
They’re the best defensive unit having conceded zero tries and just 33 points (only the Hurricanes and Stormers have conceded less, but then they’ve played fewer matches). The Sharks’ attack is starting to fire, and following Friday’s meeting with the Rebels, they may eclipse the Waratahs as the tournament’s leading try-scorers.
The Bulls and Stormers set the trend in forward play last year, but 2011 has been the year of the Shark. Their pack has laid the foundation for three comprehensive victories, blending uncompromising physicality with expert execution. They haven’t always been accurate, but the fact that they’ve maintained their high standards of intensity has allowed them to control possession and have multiple cracks at the opposition defence.
Bismarck du Plessis has been in fine form, and Beast Mtawarira is another big ball-carrier for the Sharks. It’s going to be a tough call to replace either of these players with Springbok captain John Smit, who acquired the tag of ‘utility front-ranker’ in the off-season. Smit will get a start, but perhaps not in the big games.
While the tight five has been good, the loose trio has been exceedingly impressive. The Sharks have depth in the forwards, and the first three matches have highlighted the fact. Jacques Botes, Keegan Daniel, Willem Alberts and Ryan Kankowski have mixed and matched, but no matter the combination, the Sharks machine has continued to rumble forward.
A Springbok tourist last year, Daniel has enjoyed a great start to the Super Rugby competition. We’ve witnessed his high work-rate in a defensive capacity thus far, but he’s also shown that when he gets an opportunity to run, he makes it count.
Super Rugby is a tier below that of Test level, and it’s a tournament where Kankowski has enjoyed perennial success. He’s had the advantage of playing behind a dominant tight five, and like Daniel, he makes the most of his opportunities. Kankowski was at his best against the Blues, averaging 10m every time he carried the ball.
While the collective has been powerful, Alberts has proved himself to be in another class. The blindside has got through a mountain of work on defence, delivering hits of such timing and ferocity that the opposition momentum is often stopped dead. The only fear is that he may end up injuring himself in the process, as was the case against the Force. The only thing that brings Alberts down is Alberts.
Opposition teams have, however, attempted to cut down his space. The Cheetahs and Force limited his gain-line efficiency to 60 and 67% respectively, but in concentrating on Alberts, they’ve had to neglect the other danger men in that Sharks pack. Alberts has also displayed a willingness to offload in the tackle, a skill that must be developed further if he’s going to start for the Boks at the World Cup.
Unsurprisingly, he enjoyed his best outing against the Blues with a work-rate of 11 tackles, four offloads, 10 ball carries and a gain-line breaching average of 86%.
Highlanders flanks Alando Soakai and Adam Thomson boast some impressive stats, as do the rest of the hardworking forwards form Dunedin. But they are still some way behind the Sharks, a team that is still gathering momentum and working out the small flaws in their game. If they continue to progress, they’re going to be nigh-on impossible to topple.
284 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 [6] Show All
8 Mar 2011, 17:57 pm
Do hope Alberts can start this week, but if carrying the slightest injury rather rest him for the kiwi games. We will need him fit and ready for the Chiefs and Saders games.
Still waiting to hear if Bosman is fine, he too had a niggle. Not sure if Odwa will start, if he has concussion don’t think he will.
8 Mar 2011, 18:03 pm
@cab(cab)-250: I read one of his posts Cabbie and it was boring, actually pathetic to be honest.
I thought the same, must be here to get some hits to his blog he has been blogging on. Cause how the heck can a person go on like that? Crazy..lol. If that is the case, this is sure not the right way to go about it. Many will be totally put of by his daft posts here..hehe.
8 Mar 2011, 18:05 pm
@Puma(Puma)-251:
sounds like the sharks got plenty of injuries, i also wonder if they taking the rebels game a bit too much for granted talking about bonus points etc.
8 Mar 2011, 18:08 pm
@cab(cab)-253: Don’t think we will be taking them for granted Cabbie. Read on rugby365 Plum wants the team to up the defence. Now that is concentrating I think and taking em serious. Cause so far we have not let in a try. But that will happen at some stage, even maybe this game.
We have plenty injured, but think more with niggles at this stage. Only one out is JPP. Also wonder when Deysel will be over. Read he would join up with the team. Thought for this game. So not sure.
8 Mar 2011, 18:10 pm
@Beeno(Beeno)-243: Bejaysus, another brokeback metrosexual Stormer “supporter”… What do you wear under you christmas tree flurry of blue stripes – a Canes or Stormers jersey…. Do you also support the ABs like many of your Stormercane brethren…?
8 Mar 2011, 18:11 pm
though odwa was out too? a loosetrio of daniels, deysel and alberts is quite a prospect. stirling mortlock is still a helluva players so gotta watchout.
8 Mar 2011, 18:11 pm
@cab(cab)-253: How you think you Lions will go this week Cab? Home game, should win this one. Then Brussow is back and one never knows. I have backed Lions for the past two weeks on bru. They still could have won both. Some kicking and handling errors mostly costing in those games.
So probably will go with Lions this week again.
8 Mar 2011, 18:12 pm
Also feel Stormers will win this week. They will be ready for Landers, my feeling. After watching the Bulls against them.
Duvenage to start as well. Think Stormers by a few this week.
8 Mar 2011, 18:14 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-255: hahahahahahahahaha. Had a good laugh there..
8 Mar 2011, 18:16 pm
@cab(cab)-256: Think we will be covered with our loosies Cab. Even if Alberts has to sit this one out. Rather have him fit and fresh for the kiwi games. Hope Deysel does join up with the team.
We can shuffle some about. Stefan can play FB – Ludik to wing. That sort of thing. Adi is there to fill the outside centre. Still not sure how Bosman is at this stage, injury wise.
8 Mar 2011, 18:17 pm
@Puma(Puma)-257:
tough call, both look useful this year, but traditionally the cheetahs have shaded it, if i were to bet would go for the home team except apparently cheetahs got many injuries viljoen, juan, brussow?
8 Mar 2011, 18:18 pm
@cab(cab)-256: Think they still waiting to hear if Odwa can play. If he has concussion he wont.
8 Mar 2011, 18:19 pm
ok, cherio
8 Mar 2011, 18:20 pm
@cab(cab)-261: Are Lions playing at Ellis Park Cab or in Bloem? If the game is in Joburg, think it will be Lions.
Read Olivier might get the chop as captain. So Cheetahs will have another captain this week it looks like. That is not settled. Think Lions to take this one.
8 Mar 2011, 18:21 pm
@cab(cab)-263: Cheers Cabbie,
I am also out of here. Catch up tomorrow sometime.
8 Mar 2011, 18:36 pm
@Beeno(Beeno)-229:
Don’t worry Beeno. I’ll be your friend. All those others that hide behind their laptops and call you names they would never dream of calling you to your face are poopals themselves. Welcome to keo dude.
8 Mar 2011, 18:39 pm
Sha-la-la-la-la-la, live for today
And don’t worry ’bout tomorrow, hey, hey, hey
8 Mar 2011, 18:59 pm
Beeno is mates with Alucard? hahahahahahaha. That explains alot.
8 Mar 2011, 20:42 pm
Alucard?
8 Mar 2011, 20:47 pm
Ah! A Sharks thread – perfect to ask my question here.
I am immigrating soon and I was wondering if anybody can recommend a “live stream” rugby website that is on the up and up – I don’t mind paying as I don’t want to view for free. But since they are closing Rugbyzone I am in a bit of a pickle.
Any recommendations will be great! THANKS Keoites!
8 Mar 2011, 21:00 pm
oy! What have you done with the site????
8 Mar 2011, 23:58 pm
EIIIIIISHHHHH! If I ever saw such a blatant wind-up. Cardinelli is a WUM of note. Come on people, how guilible are you to fall for such tripe? Hook, line and stinker. This is just a ploy by WP journalists to give the Sharks players and fans big egos, only to smash us down when things go wrong! Never have I seen such a u-turn. Its such over-exaggerated hype that its almost bordering on sarcasm!
There’s no way at this early stage you can say the Sharks are unbeatable. No team is but what distinguishes a good team from an excellent team is their ability to adapt their game plan. The Sharks are far from the finished article. They still have a long way to go. Its a long season and injuries could decimate any hopes of us reaching the play-offs. I am under no illusions they are going to win it.
On the flip side, its funny seeing all the haters crawl out of the woodwork. This is exactly the effect Jon wanted to create by writing all this kak after just THREE games! All these haters can bleat all they like. The fact remains that the Sharks are the only team flying the flag for SA, while the rest are hondkak. Unless ofcourse the Stormers catch a monumental wake-up call which I can’t see happening. I think I must be the only on here that feels SA rugby is in an incredibly poor state of affairs. Especially during a world cup year.
Keo journos can continue to peddle over-blown hype but I am just taking one week at a time. If we get to the play-offs then I’ll start getting excited but until then JC can carry on blowing smoke up our a$$. This is one Sharks fan who is choosing to ignore what is a blatant WP trap!
9 Mar 2011, 00:04 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-241: Hey what have I said that is so wrong on this site? I’m a staunch Sharks supporter!
9 Mar 2011, 00:07 am
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-225: Is he any good?
9 Mar 2011, 01:41 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-255:
Easy tiger
9 Mar 2011, 07:50 am
@JR – The Real Make The Circle Bigger(JayDaFiveOh)-272:
Oh my aching sides, WP ployt ffs, hahahahahaha, it’s too much, please, please stop it…..
Bwahahahahahaha and you’re serious as well, you actually think that!!!!!!
Clear as day for all to see, this Sharky warkies chip is the size of a pyramid.
Hahahahahaha, a WP trap, it’s hilarious. Just brilliant. I’m going to lie down now
9 Mar 2011, 07:54 am
@JockBok(JockBok)-276:
hahaha ployt = ploy of course, can’t see through my tears
hehehehehehe
9 Mar 2011, 07:58 am
I have no idea what a WP ployt is but I would guess it’s pretty dastardly and underhand.
Probably involving large amounts of personal lubricant.
9 Mar 2011, 08:04 am
@The X-factor is staying at home.(gunther)-278:
It’s a plot and a ploy at the same time. They are relatively unknown in the Western Cape, although highly prevalent in other parts of the country through deluded and precious minds.
You can counter ployts by saying ‘awww diddums’ and laughing lots.
9 Mar 2011, 08:08 am
@JockBok(JockBok)-276: Ja Jockbok, this must rank up there with David Icke’s lizard people in the conspiracy stakes. Bwahahahaha.
9 Mar 2011, 08:19 am
Where’s the thread about Januarie being dropped?
9 Mar 2011, 08:19 am
@oscarthedawg(oscarthedawg)-280:
9 Mar 2011, 09:48 am
@JR – The Real Make The Circle Bigger(JayDaFiveOh)-274: not bad mate, fast , not the best but not the worst
9 Mar 2011, 16:07 pm
@JR – The Real Make The Circle Bigger(JayDaFiveOh)-273: JR = JustRugby or Mini-Me. Not you. Promise
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 [6] Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.