Butch, Watson receive winning sending off
8 May 2011
GARETH DUNCAN looks at the Saffas who impressed in Europe over the weekend.
Flanker Luke Watson and flyhalf Butch James ended their tenure with Bath with a 42-12 thrashing of Newcastle Falcons. James added 15 points with the boot via three conversions and three penalties while Watson came off the bench to contribute a strong finish. James will join the Lions next week Wednesday ahead of their Super Rugby tour to Australia and New Zealand while Watson will continue his career at the EP Kings.
In other results in England, tighthead prop Brian Mujati’s Northamption Saints cemented their semi-final place with a 31-24 win over flanker Hendre Fourie’s lowly Leeds Carnegie.
Hooker Schalk Brits, centre Brad Barritt, lock Mouritz Botha, scrumhalf Neil de Kock and skipper Ernst Joubert all contributed to Saracens’ 11th consecutive win as they pipped Harlequins 16-13.
In France, inside centre Frans Steyn crossed the chalk in Racing Metro’s 29-16 triumph against Stade Francais. Lock Francois van der Merwe and No 8 Jacques Cronje were also impressive in the win.
Joe Pietersen started on the wing and scored a try in Bayonne’s 30-17 win over La Rochelle. Flyhalf Greg Goosen kicked four penalties for the latter in an ill-disciplined affair that saw five yellow cards.
In the Magners League, No 8 Pedrie Wannenburg dotted down for a crucial try in Ulster’s 20-13 win over Newport-Gwent Dragons.
Treviso flyhalf Willem de Waal was instrumental in his team’s 31-6 win over Edinburgh as he kicked 16 points via four penalties and two conversions.
European play-offs:
English Premiership
Semi-finals:
14 May Leicester vs Northampton
15 May Saracens vs Gloucester
French Top 14
Semi-final play-offs:
13 May Castres vs Montpellier
14 May Clermont vs Biarritz
Semi-finals:
27 May Toulouse vs TBC
28 May Racing Metro vs TBC
Magners League
Semi-finals:
13 May Leinster vs Ulster
14 May Munster vs Ospreys
172 Comments
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8 May 2011, 21:30 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-147: to be honest, i dont think the sharks are title contenders either.
that midfield is simply not good enough, bosman had an absolute mare last night.
i guess the only thing in the stormers and sharks favour thus far is the lack of injuries.
that could keep them in the hunt.
8 May 2011, 21:35 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-148:
The problem the stormers have is that they are relying too much on the special talents of bekker and Fourie- if anyone of them gets injured they will be in serious trouble (specially bekker, here is just no replacement that even comes close).
Luckily for the stormers their opponents on tours do not look too strong- some of them like the rebels also have nothing much to to play for, mind you, in this competition you never know.
Got to keep your legs up for those zambi’s lol- scarry buggers, ugly too.
8 May 2011, 21:36 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-151: I agree, sad as it is to say, the Sharks are no title contenders this year. I see an away play off loss on the cards.
Another year of so much promise and “this is our year” yet it turns out just another season of disappointment and failing to live up to expectations.
8 May 2011, 21:36 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-146:
The ‘Saders just scrummed the living daylights out of the Stormers 8 on anyone’s input which mostly meant bad ball if it came back somewhat clean and thus going backward instead of forward.
SBW caught my eye on that eoyt already and i said so copiously.
On yesterday’s performance against a ‘Sader 3rd. team with a loosie at wing before h-t , I would say your expectations are a bit optimistic.
The Chiefs will want to continue winning now on home soil and the Blues do not ever want to lose to an invading team. Which just leaves the Aussie component of that tour. Not sure it augurs all that well, quite frankly.
8 May 2011, 21:37 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-151:
It’s all looking a bit ominous mate. Sharks and Stormers putting up a good fight, but with the Bulls struggling, it’s all there for the Crusaders to take without much of a serious challenge from SA.
Now I was a bit far gone by the time the Sharks game was on, but I seem to recall Adi doing well off the bench. Time for a period of reflection for Bosman perhaps? Why is Jacobs on the bench week in week out?
8 May 2011, 21:37 pm
Sharks urgently need good centres and a better balanced loose trio.
8 May 2011, 21:37 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-149: ja, its all banter.
some more entertaining than others i suppose.
i was at the sharks game and couldnt believe the first half i witnessed.
i told evryone around me that stefan would take the points when we had a penalty deep in the brumbies half but instead he went for the lineout and we lost the ball, kick ahead and try brumbies.
that made it 13-3 instead of 6-6 and i was p issed off!
but then again, it could have turned out differently.
after that, the sharks kinda turned it on but i was highly irritated by how many times the sharks were turned over at the ruck, seems like they didnt learn their lesson about committing players to the ruck from the stormers game?
anyways, alls well that ends well but i have real doubts about the sharks chances this season sadly.
8 May 2011, 21:42 pm
@ET.(ET.)-154:
Where do you get 3rd team from? Seriously. Did they rest the 1st and 2nd team? Why do the game of rugby a disservice with such off the cuff remarks?
8 May 2011, 21:43 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-152: could not believe fourie, duvenhage and deon fourie were pulled?
and cronje to wing(?) ffs!!!!!!
no man, those subs hurt the stormers big time.
off to mozam in june on a spearo trip for 7 nights with my spearo club.
we will dive off fishing skis. so much of excitement!
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-153: ja, we sort out flyhalf but end up with a dud midfield??
irritating.
@JockBok(JockBok)-155: adi must get more gametime but i would try JLP at 12 and adi at 13.
plenty creativity.
i think the bulls are coming right, just in time for the sharks, fark!
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-156: keegan was simply outstanding last night, no wonder he was cited
8 May 2011, 21:46 pm
Ranger
Most disappointing players yesterday were Bosman, Sykes and McLeod (in that order).
We rely too much on Alberts and Bismark to bash it up, too one dimensional. We are also too lateral on attack and show no penetration.
Deysel looks good, he is so strong that he holds it up a second longer before hitting the deck, I don’t think we had any turnovers when he was tackled.
Jacobs looked good – he is miles better than Terblanche – but then again, it is a sorry sign of the times when we get excited when Jacobs comes on…
I think it’s time to give Hoffman a run from the starting whistle, McLeod needs a break.
Sykes’ mind is probably in Ireland, the lights look turned off upstairs.
What was the story with Beast yesterday? He was down to start, then 2 mins before we were told he wasn’t, didn’t come out with the rest of the team and told he didn’t have an injury?
8 May 2011, 21:49 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-159:
J Fourie was injured, he indicated he wanted to come off.
D Fourie-? tough call, I guess the thought was that liebenberg would “stabilise the front row.
Duvenhage- plain stupidity imo too.
Diving off ski’s are for softees , U got to learn to swim distances
Enjoy though!
8 May 2011, 21:50 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-159: JLP at 12 and Jacobs at 13 are a tiny midfield size wise. I was at Twickers and saw how tiny Bosman and Terblanche looked up against SBW and Freuen … and Bosman and Terblanche are giants compared to JLP and Jacobs…
And there have always been question marks over JLP and Jacobs’ defence…
But on the flip side they can both step and create…
Tough one.
8 May 2011, 21:50 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-157:
Well, with the bye week points you are in a better position than the Stormers with them still having to tour.
All teams hit peaks and dips, and taking 5 points from a ‘dip’ is surely good for the Sharks. Having said that, they seem to be struggling to hit the straps we all know they are capable of hitting.
Stormers season rests on the Chiefs game I reckon. A huge banana skin if ever there was one. This has to one they target as at least a 4 pointer but a good start on tour is essentail. An away semi might be an obstacle they can overcome, depending on who they get obviously, but home advantage is crucial in a final and at this stage I can’t see a top two finish I’m afriad.
Fark, I’m such a pesimist
8 May 2011, 21:50 pm
Even the bumbling Brumbies would have beaten that disjointed depleted Saders side yesterday he he
8 May 2011, 21:51 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-160: not sure about beast but he was great when he came on.
ja, i feel the same about deysel and alberts. the sharks are relying on big ball carriers far too much and not using them to earn the right to go wide.
sometimes route 1 is great but the brumbies gang tackling showed that they had prepared for precisely this type of gameplan.
a bit more running rugby like last years cc campaign would have been appreciated but somehow we seem to have bought into the bash rugby hype a little too much imo.
8 May 2011, 21:53 pm
Anyway I doubt it can get any worse than Bosman and Terblanche.
Sharks need to find a new captain fast… neither Smit nor Terblanche are good enough for starting berths these days.
Daniel or Hargreaves perhaps.
I’m not sure that Daniel is a guaranteed starter though, our loose trio is horribly unbalanced and its showing in the number of turnovers we concede every game.
8 May 2011, 21:55 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-163: Chiefs is a very NB game… they looked good against the Highlanders… finding form. Huge game.
8 May 2011, 21:57 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-161: haha, i swim big distance every weekend man.
but i am excited to try this new discipline.
at least its all still human powered right?
paindaine here i come!
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-162: mate, at this point i am willing to “rest” bosman and stefan is no favourite of mine.
@JockBok(JockBok)-163: the stormers should beat the chiefs, heres hoping.
anyways, i am out.
keep well all!
8 May 2011, 21:57 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-166: Daniel should be a starter … Daniel, Alberts, kankowski are a great combination. Hargreaves would be a good option as captain.
Next week’s will put the log in perspective, Stormers have been carrying the free / gratis 4 points since the 1st round.
8 May 2011, 22:01 pm
I’m out too, cheers!
8 May 2011, 23:09 pm
Cheetahs should take Saders on the highveld next weekend if you got some little faith you can put money on it. SBW or no SBW.
That will put Stormers captaincy credibility into perspective because like for like scenario in spite of Crockett and Franks massive performance Stormers should have had the taking of Saders yesterday. Its the forwards in the back line that sunk us time and again. Burger got to get far away from ball carrying second receiver and the others like CJ, Harris and Blaauw too. Only forwards who should be anywhere near to carrying it up from second phase are D. Fourie or Koster, the others should stay well away and let those that make ground when carrying the ball do so.
9 May 2011, 12:58 pm
@upyoraski(upyoraski)-171: You got it right. What happened was that the Stormers focused on defense to cover SBW. The Stormers looked terrible at the breakdown.
The Sharks have a serious problem with Bosman (so glad he’s not playing for the Cheetahs anymore – Sharks were crazy to swap him for Strauss!!) and McLeod. Mcleod definitely was a one-season-wonder. Hoffman and Adi looked miles better when they came on, and probably won the game for the Sharks.
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