Sharks must embrace tactical sphere
6 Apr 2011
JON CARDINELLI writes that a meeting with the Lions demands a less adventurous approach from the overly-ambitious Sharks.
The Sharks can’t afford to lose to the Lions. They’ve lost three on the trot, two of which they would have expected to win against the Chiefs and Stormers. They’re no longer setting the standard in the South African conference. They’re scrapping for second place.
A win against the Lions will provide some respite as they head into a bye week. While they’re unlikely to make up ground against the Stormers, they do have an opportunity to surpass the Bulls. The Sharks should expect at least eight points (one for a win and one for a bye) in the next two weeks, while the Bulls will be lucky to win one of their next two encounters against the Crusaders and Reds.
The Sharks should expect to win this weekend, but there are no guarantees. They lost to the Lions in the pre-season, and will know that John Mitchell’s charges are more dangerous than their record suggests.
The Lions went down to the Reds last Saturday, but produced a first half-showing that highlighted some potential in the forwards. Andre Pretorius controlled the game cleverly during that opening half-hour, and if he had kicked for goal more accurately, the Lions may have indeed sneaked an upset.
The Lions’ struggle for composure and their inability to finish is costing them. Defence is another ongoing problem, and the better teams have exposed them in this area.
Where they have got it right, in patches, is on attack. The first 30 minutes against the Reds was characterised by good ball control and impressive physicality at the collisions. They took the Reds forwards on in this department, and successfully limited the space available to the free-running backs.
The Sharks are similar to the Reds in that they depend on the momentum of their forwards. It’s the reason they’ve lost three in a row, as when their forwards haven’t dominated, they have failed to control possession and win territory via other means.
They will need to lift their physicality when they host the Lions, but they will also need to vary their attack. This involves unleashing their monstrous ball-carriers from within opposition territory rather than building the attacking pressure from within their own half.
The Lions’ loose approach will provide them with counter-attacking opportunities, and the Sharks are a side that can take advantage of those chances. But when they have possession, they have to appreciate that controlling possession sometimes means kicking for the touchline and then pressuring the opposition at the subsequent lineout and ruck.
They were handed a lesson by the Stormers last week, and it’s one they need to take to heart. The Sharks’ early results overshadowed some deficiencies in their game, as poor ball control and the unwillingness to vary their attack often led to greater periods on defence, and thus a higher count of missed tackles.
The Lions match represents an opportunity to end on a high before enjoying a bye, but it also represents a chance to embrace a more accurate and complete game. They have the personnel to implement this approach, and with the return of Pat Lambie in Round 10, that approach will become more potent. For now, it’s about striking a better balance.
345 Comments
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6 Apr 2011, 21:02 pm
@Puma(Puma)-247: infact i doubt deysel will be ready for canes match as he has been out 11 months
plum said he will not rush deysel
6 Apr 2011, 21:04 pm
sorry guys , thought the thread was still dead and no one talking. But something has to be said and done about this kind of stuff and people must know.
6 Apr 2011, 21:04 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-249: They need to do that bro. Otherwise this place is getting very quite with really rugby lovers. I remember this time of night during SuperRugby this place was alive with so many bloggers. Had plenty good laughs and was a pleasure to blog this time. Now there seem to be no-one online or just trouble makers. A real pity.
You know that can be done “the mute button” probably the way to go. That way we don’t read what we really don’t care about. But really it is easy done. Just scroll on by. I do that almost all the time to blogger I really don’t care what they say.
Pleased if Lambie is back. We missing him. Hope Deysel can be back off the bench for Canes. Though if it is too soon then rather bring him in later. Cause really don’t want to see him injured again. Felt for him picking up that freak injury. Also we needed him.
6 Apr 2011, 21:07 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-252: Yeah, Agree Hugs. How you doing?
6 Apr 2011, 21:08 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-250: Did he get a registration?
Mail me at stormerskeo@gmail.com
I’m off to gym but if you send me your details I’ll get someone to get hold of you.
6 Apr 2011, 21:09 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-250: Hi Hugger hun so sorry about ur dad
6 Apr 2011, 21:10 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-251: You probably right. Though as hoping. Think we then must ease him in slowly from the next games. 15min a time. Hope he is ready for 60min come the end of the tourney. Just feel good to know he will be back. Then those kinda knee injuries don’t stand up again to this contact sport. Even after surgery. So really hoping for Deysel that all goes well.
What was that players name again that we had during the warm-ups? He was a loosie. Think Sharks messed up by not giving him a contract. Think he has not gone to the Kings.
6 Apr 2011, 21:11 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-252: hugger hun stormer has my email addy , please email me too as i might just beable to help
6 Apr 2011, 21:12 pm
@Puma(Puma)-257: meant – has now gone to the Kings.
6 Apr 2011, 21:18 pm
@Puma(Puma)-259: I brudda you have my cel no , gimme a call some time
6 Apr 2011, 21:19 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-250: Hugs, Had no idea you too had a brother murdered. So sorry to hear that. Also the rest that has happened to your family. Absolutely shocking to hear. Very sorry to hear it. I can understand totally. REALLY no-one EVER can judge people that leave this country. They do because of just that you have said in your post. I am astonished that I am still here and someone like you too.
Really sorry to hear about what has happened to your family. Think we all here have had some truely bad experience. Sad this is happening in our country. People who have left have left because of a reason. Not cause they wanted to go. I will NEVER judge anyone that has left this country.
Don’t worry about your dad, rather just stay calm, they will sort it out or someone here from Cape Town can help you with that information. Well I hope so.
6 Apr 2011, 21:22 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-260: I will bro.
Jeepers feel for Hugs now. Heck not sure what is happening in this country. Not great brudda. I love it here but always think it is time to move out. My daughter is moving to Cape Town next month. Told her to rather just move back to Europe. But she wants to try Cape Town out first. Still South Africa bro, the trouble is everywhere.
6 Apr 2011, 21:23 pm
Anyhow out of here now.
Hugs hope you okay.
Catch up later or tomorrow.
6 Apr 2011, 21:29 pm
@Puma(Puma)-262: agreed bro , i been telling my kids to pack up and go , they wont ,as i wont leave , this is home, but seriously something needs to start happening , but i doubt it to be honest
i been held up at gun point and robbed with other family members on RBay golf course
had 4 men put knives to my throat in field street in durban for my cel phone about 6 years ago
last year in JHB at the MImos i had, we had a armed robbery for the 8th time
the last time 3 robbers were shot and killed in a restaurant full of people by an off duty cop having dinner
thank the lord noone of the staff or clientelle were injured
6 Apr 2011, 21:29 pm
@Puma(Puma)-263: ciao bro tc and chat 2morrow
6 Apr 2011, 21:33 pm
Thank you 255.Pick the team in August not March said:
Just got off the phone with my dad and he said one off Helen Zilles assistants has been speaking with him and keeping in contact and not going the police route but reporting to (cant remember name) some committee or something. I really really appreciate your offer of help. All i wanted to do is get on a plane, get to CT and cause as much shi*t as possible, believe me i am good at that and i really don’t care about repercussions.
Thankyou Sharkie, have told the silly old goat not ride a scooter, but noooooooooo this is Cape Town not Natal he always says.
Puma- 14 year old with a homemade shotgun, point blank, sorry i am still shakeing, but Zille does seem to get things done and it was in peak time traffic so should have lots of witnesses. My dad is who i get my love of rugby and sport from, even though he supports the Stormpies.
6 Apr 2011, 21:34 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-250: That’s disgusting. And he should follow it up – not just with the DA, but with the media too.
Zille banned blue light convoys in the Western Cape that fall under her jurisdiction, but she can’t stop members of the national parliament from using them. So the 6 or 7 car convoys you see around Cape Town are all cabinet ministers and the like who are simply “late for a flight or a meeting”.
After the last incident of assault and intimidation (when the student got arrested for giving the convoy the finger), there was so much outcry that another story like this could actually be instrumental in stopping this self-important bullsh*t and bullying.
I’d recommend a phone call to the Cape Argus, as well as one to 567 Cape Talk, on top of whatever else he plans to do.
6 Apr 2011, 21:36 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-266: hugs i have the leader of another party that eats at my place quite a bit , once you have emailed me i will hopefully get a chance to hand it to him
its not DA though, and i know something like this will anger him bigtime
6 Apr 2011, 21:38 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-267: katman just maybe Keo reads this and gets someone from the newspaper he writes for to do an article too
6 Apr 2011, 21:44 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-266: Sorry to hear that Hugs. Really shocking. Crikey I feel it is time to get out of here. Total madness that goes on in our country. Lawless that gets to me.
Hope you okay Hugs. You been through a lot. You need to move away from your farm. Far to isolated up there.
Go have a big drink of whatever that will help you calm down. Pleased the CT folks helped you here.
6 Apr 2011, 21:51 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-264: Jeez bro, that happened to you on the golf course? Hectic stuff. If I had a knife to my throat would have been out of this country in a second flat.
I am fortunate to live in a very secure estate. But maybe it is just a fools paradise who knows? I love it on this estate one of the best to live on, but one never knows what will happen in the future.
I tell my daughter to stop wasting her time in this country. She has lived in Holland and Scotland before. Has a British and Dutch passport. Also a saffa one. Told her to get the hell out of here. But she loves this country and wants to give it one more try. Going to try Cape Town. Leaving next month for the Cape. Hope it is a far safer place to live. But not so sure. My brother and sister have lived in Cape Town for 30 years. They enjoy it there but have told me of scary stuff that happens there as well. Like I said this is South Africa. It happens everywhere in this country bro no matter where we are.
6 Apr 2011, 21:53 pm
Okay now out of here.
Catch up tomorrow.
6 Apr 2011, 21:56 pm
@Puma(Puma)-271: bro its crazy i tell ya
6 Apr 2011, 21:57 pm
@Puma(Puma)-272: me too tc bro
6 Apr 2011, 22:00 pm
Thank You for the support every one,
Katman that was my plan, going to Cape Town a a causing fecking havoc, but he wants to leave it in the DAs hands and i have to respect his wishes, franky i think he wants me to stay out because no one intimidates me and i would have been very provocative and he worries what would happen to me.
Puma, I will never leave !!!!!! I have responsibilities that i am passionate about, if i was going to leave it would have been the same time as my sister left with her husband and kiddies, I have 2 passports, just cant see the hub braaing or making a potjie in Denmark lololol.
My little home is a fortress, once inside very safe, sleep with 4 dogs inside and 2 on kitchen verander, i rarely leave the property, on for animal reasons as i get nervous in traffic now and in car parks.
ONe has to make choices and adjust, it is that simple.
6 Apr 2011, 22:17 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-275: No problem.. This sort of thing makes everyones’ blood boil. I have a 70 year old dad who also rides his motorbike to work, he won’t retire and refuses to change. We just keep saying a prayer for him.
Katman and Shaks Lover are right. Cape Talk 567 are very good at following these sorts of things up directly,
Katman is right, Zille has banned thise that she has control over. and the law actually states that a blue light may only be used by a police officer (nationally) so if the driver was simply a driver then he’s stepping outside of the law. If it’s a police officer well then sadly he has the right to operate a blue light. What he doesn’t have the right to do is start some sort of demolition derby with all and sundry.
Makes you sick listening to these stories. The lunatics are running the asylum.
Let us know what happens ok?
Grant’s lady is also high up in the DA and this sort of thing is just the thing to get him worked up into a frenzy. If you like and you don;t get anywhere I can get him to contact you.
Let us know ok?
6 Apr 2011, 23:40 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-275: sorry to hear about your dad…hope he is okay.
7 Apr 2011, 02:51 am
Embrace “Tactical Sphere”? That’s an anagram for “Cheats Particle”. It’s also an anagram for “Tactical Herpes”.
What on earth is it supposed to mean?
7 Apr 2011, 07:42 am
sorry to hear about your dads troubles treehugger…..
it is such a pity that the actions of a few can dampen all the good.
I see it has already been brought to the attention of the DA…
well done on that, I would also have gladly brought i to the attention of committed and passionate people who would have ensured this was dragged into the spotlight and action taken.
7 Apr 2011, 08:12 am
@Caper(Caper)-202: Yip that was a great game….i had front row seats on railway…oh and Carter kicked my girlfriend when kicking for touch….b a s t a r d.
7 Apr 2011, 08:19 am
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-250:
I’ve found that gated communities are the safest. Keeps the heathens out and of course the safety in numbers point of view.
It’s an unfortunate fact that the longer the heathens are in power the more drunk they will become with power. It’s ingrained in their genetics…look at Africa as a whole.
We as the minority just have to adapt and survive as best we can. Don’t be afraid to take on the system. If we’ve learnt anything from the present regime, it’s to never be afraid to stand up for what you believe in.
I had problems getting a complaint registered at the Hillcrest Plod Station a few months ago so I went on the net and contacted the bigwigs in Pretoria HQ. It was a very productive move.
Tell your old man to go to the top and start there…the pooh will drift downhill and someone will get back to him.
7 Apr 2011, 08:28 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-281: those type of comments are polarising and immature….
7 Apr 2011, 08:45 am
@funkyzoo(funkyzoo)-278: Impressive anagrams, but it’s actually just fancy English for “Sharks must hang on to the ball”.
7 Apr 2011, 08:53 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-283: The cr@p people get up to at 02h00 in the morning…..
Must have been some goooood ****…
7 Apr 2011, 08:58 am
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-250:
Hi Treehugger
Sorry to hear of the incident with your Dad, hope he is recovers quickly and is soon back on his scooter !!!
Good on you for staying in this country after all your ordeals, it takes courage and a passion for this land to do that , says everything about your resolve and character !!!
7 Apr 2011, 08:59 am
@Pick the team in August not March(stormersboy)-284: Actually there’s an online anagram wizard – you type in your word or phrase and it calculates any possible matches. Pretty entertaining, for about 5 minutes.
7 Apr 2011, 09:01 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-286: i see. Must have missed that in all my online p0rn searches…..
7 Apr 2011, 09:04 am
@grant10(grant10)-282:
..says the wannabe Irish freedom e-fighter…
7 Apr 2011, 09:09 am
party politics should not be brought onto a rugby forum.shame on you great white shark for using others pain to spew your racist bile.in any case good luck to th’s dad.
7 Apr 2011, 09:31 am
@Lucem Petimus(Lucem Petimus)-289: Have you already forgotten about your posts 208, 209, 211 and 212? Or do you believe what happens on a TIK binge, stays on a TIK binge? Spineless hypocrite.
7 Apr 2011, 09:51 am
@Lucem Petimus(Lucem Petimus)-289:
shut up maggot.
you are responsible for the most disgusting posts I’ve ever seen here.
you have the emotional intelligence of a beetroot.
give yourself a poesklap.
7 Apr 2011, 10:18 am
It was fascinating, truly touching and frankly quite inspiring to read the posts on the last couple of pages.
This is organic, dynamic proof of why South Africa holds out hope despite its many problems.
It shows that even on a rugby blog you can see why SA is good despite the politicians, police and civil servant idiots who historically pre and post 1994 have always done their best to shoot SA in the foot or score an own goal.
I admire the fathers of TH and Stormerboy – old bloodyminded bugg.ers riding to work on their scooters or motorbikes despite fears for their safety. This in itself is a lesson in normality.
I feel for TH and others like her who have experienced so much tragedy but still love SA despite the obvious sadness and anger that they experience. I truly admire TH and people like her whose responsibilities they need to fulfil override any need to “run” or “hide”.
I honestly salute those on this blog – a farking rugby blog – who upon seeing the distress of a fellow blogger, someone they have probably never met outside of the digital realm, offered to help in any way possible.
Stormerboy
Katman
SharksLover
Grant
The unstinting sympathy of Justrugby and Puma was also quite touching.
You chaps are an incredible credit to yourselves, Keo and the country (and dare I say it – to the Cape. Maybe you okes on the West Coast are alright after all
). Living proof that for all its faults, SA will always be okay.
Why? Because people like you are all over SA. Keo.co.za has just provided a window looking into the soul of SA and it looks good!
Thank you.
Salute.
7 Apr 2011, 10:23 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-292: Apologie for the long post. I was getting rather Emo. Enough of that for the day. Where’s MIni-me so I can have a good bicker with him about his lack of any basic rugby insight whatsoever….
7 Apr 2011, 11:02 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-292:
Geez HG !!!!!!!! , that’s by far your best yet, and very sincere……..I might just start liking you again !!!
7 Apr 2011, 11:04 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-293:
Well maybe not just yet !!
7 Apr 2011, 11:15 am
@The X-factor is staying at home.(gunther)-291: Why thank you fella. As you can imagine, that probably freaked you out too.
Close to home for me. My pop actually fell off his bike about 3 weeks ago, broke his collar bone and 6 ribs. Luckily he was riding on a farm road at the time so no traffic.
Problem is when you are that age anything can be a big problem. And being German, there’s no telling him different. he’ll be fine though, combative bugger that he is.
Normal service I’m sure will resume shortly.
7 Apr 2011, 11:16 am
……
7 Apr 2011, 11:17 am
THIS…..
7 Apr 2011, 11:17 am
IS………
7 Apr 2011, 11:18 am
SPAAAAARTAAAAA!!!!!
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