Sharks stutter into final
22 Oct 2011
GARETH DUNCAN watched the Sharks overturn a 13-3 half-time deficit to claim a 20-13 semi-final victory over the Cheetahs in Durban.
The Cheetahs capitalised on the Sharks’ poor first-half performance for their 10-point advantage at the break. Young pivot Johan Goosen proved to be the difference, slotting two difficult penalties (including a 54m kick) while his line break created the opportunity for the try that was scored shortly thereafter.
However, the hosts delivered a strong second-half showing – which included two converted tries in the third quarter. It was a scrappy contest in the final 20 minutes, but fullback Pat Lambie’s second penalty of the match was enough to seal victory.
The win finally sees the Sharks break their domestic play-off voodoo against the Cheetahs. It’s been 11 years since their last semi-final triumph over the Bloemfontein union, with the latter winning 30-14 in 2006 and 23-21 in 2009. And it seemed the Cheetahs were going to snatch their hat-trick on this occasion with the Springbok-laden Sharks looking stale from the outset.
Despite John Plumtree loading seven World Cup Springboks into his starting XV, there was no sign of cohesiveness (especially on defence), too much ill discipline while their goal kicking was poor. Lambie missed an early attempt from right in front before flyhalf Frederic Michalak pushed two sitters shortly after.
The Cheetahs only had 36% of possession in the first quarter, but they found themselves 13-0 ahead in the 23rd minute. After Goosen’s two goals, the Cheetahs broke into the Sharks’ red zone through the 19-year-old. The Sharks stole possession a phase later, but their decision not to clear the ball cost them a try. The Cheetahs managed to poach the pill back, and moved play wide for fullback Hennie Daniller to dot down near the posts.
Lambie’s 36-minute three-pointer was his team’s only points heading into half-time.
The Sharks then played to their potential in the second half, bossing possession in the third quarter and turning their ascendancy into points through loosehead prop Beast Mtawarira, who powered over from close range, and wing Odwa Ndungane, who crossed the chalk after a 12-phase attack. The Cheetahs couldn’t build much momentum against a ferocious defence and predictably folded in the last quarter.
It will be a win that the Sharks will celebrate – but one they also need to take into perspective as a similar first-half performance in the final will cost them back-to-back Currie Cup titles. With one of the strongest line-ups in the competition, Plumtree will demand a better display next weekend.
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99 Comments
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22 Oct 2011, 15:36 pm
Fightback happening
22 Oct 2011, 15:44 pm
Ndugane try
22 Oct 2011, 15:44 pm
***** and Hendrikp thinks Deysel is no good. What a chop.
22 Oct 2011, 15:48 pm
Penalty against WP.
Jeez, Marius we’re only playing the next game.
Oh sorry, WP Nel.
22 Oct 2011, 15:49 pm
@ET.(ET.)-48:
Yes, that last minute wiiner must have been nailbiting. Norwich play Liverpool in the late game at the same time WP take on the Lions. Think I’ll be watching WP.
22 Oct 2011, 15:49 pm
Big hit
Do you prefer English Association Football, or rugby, my good man?
22 Oct 2011, 15:55 pm
Sharks shoulkd stoP messing this boy around Lambie much better at flyhalf than fullback.although I do think this goosen boytjie and even ebersohn r better than him.
22 Oct 2011, 15:57 pm
That was adeliberate knock on into touch by Hoffman, should have been a penalty.
22 Oct 2011, 15:58 pm
Ndungane is way too slow to be a winger.
22 Oct 2011, 15:59 pm
What the hell is going on. No knock on by Ndungane?
22 Oct 2011, 16:00 pm
Jonker not doing himself any favours here.
Ndugane knock on, play on!
22 Oct 2011, 16:01 pm
The Cheetahs offloading to support players running into space, is far superior to anything we saw from the Boks.
22 Oct 2011, 16:03 pm
I miss jock.
Hope he pitches for the WP game.
22 Oct 2011, 16:03 pm
@David(David)-55:
These Sat. games are extremely demanding with respect to time management between rugby, football and cricket as you have surely experienced.
That 93rd min. winner today was balanceed out by the 93rd min. conceded home goal(last kick of game) against Cov.C on Tues. which left me in hell.
Liverpool played very well against Man U on Sun. past, so Norwich have a job on their hands later.
The rugby will all but be over by the time that late Sat. game starts though.
I too will be watching the rugby but keeping an eye on the scoreboard and Gillette soccer special.
Done for now.
22 Oct 2011, 16:04 pm
Yob.
22 Oct 2011, 16:05 pm
Oh and STFU
22 Oct 2011, 16:12 pm
What happened to Transformer? Oh well.
22 Oct 2011, 16:13 pm
Cheetahs do play the best rugby of any S.A side. The way rugby should be going with skilled handling and running, not just crash ball rugby. Every time I see Ashley Johnson’s handling it impresses me. His timing of pass is wonderful.
22 Oct 2011, 16:13 pm
Andre watson should get top job in irb and then we can use marius jonker to nail the aussies in 2015 world cup. Like bryce he will do it without dropping his standards.
22 Oct 2011, 16:15 pm
Sharks 20-13 Cheetahs FT
@Dawn(Dawn)-56: rugby, only really watch the FWC and Euro Champs these days
22 Oct 2011, 16:17 pm
Good fightback sharks
22 Oct 2011, 16:17 pm
Lol, “Sharks scrape into semis”.
The 2nd half looked pretty dominant to me.
No “scrape” about it.
But we used to lag about the inaccurate Sharks headlines in the S15 already.
22 Oct 2011, 16:18 pm
Well done Sharkies.
22 Oct 2011, 16:18 pm
SHARKS!
22 Oct 2011, 16:21 pm
Nice Sharkies but I’m worried about the lack of backline potency. Get rid of the slow coaches and old timers.
22 Oct 2011, 16:22 pm
At least the Shark Boks get to go to a final after all.
22 Oct 2011, 16:22 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-72:
Was very much a game of two halves. Cheetahs were dominant in the first half. But it’s not how who start that counts but how you finish.
22 Oct 2011, 16:22 pm
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-67: your 16th player wins MoM
22 Oct 2011, 16:23 pm
My Margins were Sharks by 13 to 17
I said before that Jonker will see to the Sharks through, nevertheless the Cheetahs put on some resistance although their backs were no factor, hell, even the pedestrian Ndungane managed to scored !
22 Oct 2011, 16:24 pm
@Samba Bok(JayDaFiveOh)-75: We have said since the S15 already that the problem is the centres… hasn’t seemed to sink in all they went and did was go buy another over the hill player.
22 Oct 2011, 16:24 pm
@Samba Bok(JayDaFiveOh)-75:
It’s been The Sharks problem all along. Sean Everett we need you buddy.
22 Oct 2011, 16:26 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-80:
Hi Spooner
Have you got your French loaves and frogs legs lined up for breakfast tomorrow!
A nice Bordeaux to wash it all down with!
Come on the Kiwis…!!
22 Oct 2011, 16:26 pm
Terblanche
Bosman
Joubert
Jacobs
Even Adriaan Strauss puts all these players to shame
22 Oct 2011, 16:27 pm
And now we get to see the S15 SA Conference champions!
22 Oct 2011, 16:27 pm
@carol(carol)-82: I support France against England, so supporting France against NZ is no sweat for me.
Allez les Bleus!
22 Oct 2011, 16:28 pm
@David(David)-84: lol.
22 Oct 2011, 16:29 pm
Has Terblanche said when he is going to retire yet? Surely he can’t go another season…
22 Oct 2011, 16:29 pm
Normally a “scrape” is reserved for a 1 or 2 point last gasp win.
22 Oct 2011, 16:42 pm
Now let’s see what WP can do at altitude
22 Oct 2011, 19:30 pm
Whether we Sharks stutter into the final or not we are there. Heeeeeeehaaaaaaa.
Well done my Sharks.
Now for the final at Ellis Park.
22 Oct 2011, 20:40 pm
Two CC finals teams, two NZ coaches. Connect the dots.
RWC semis? Four teams, 3 NZ coaches. Connect more dots. Got the picture?
22 Oct 2011, 21:14 pm
Well done Sharks.
I don’t expect a 50 pointer next time around.
Cheetahs you did well but SILLY mistakes cost you big time today.
22 Oct 2011, 23:57 pm
Overcoming a 10 pt halftime deficit and scoring 17 unanswered pts in 40 minutes doesn’t seem too “stuttery” to me? Is this damning with faint praise?
23 Oct 2011, 02:28 am
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-87: Terblanche is becoming like another Smit. He is a non-factor. He just has little impact on the game. What did he do today? What is up with these selfish Oupa’s who cannot tell when it is their time to quit?!
We need some centres with x-factor. Would be great if Plum could reel in De Jongh and Sias Ebersohn. What about Frans Steyn? He is going back to that pointless french club? Steyn back at 12 would revitalize the Sharks backline. We need better wingers too. Mvovo has some promise. I’m not convinced about Pietersen anymore. He is becoming pedestrian. Ndugane while he is solid is far too slow. Sithole has some serious pace. We need to see more of him in the S15. About time Plum grew a set of hanging ballas and started blooding youngsters. Rugby is fast becoming a young man’s game. I don’t see how experience counts for anything anymore if it is lacking dynamism.
23 Oct 2011, 02:31 am
@David(David)-62: I think if the Cheetahs had a more dominant forward pack they would’ve won. Their backline is far more dangerous than the Sharks. Forward dominance won it for the Sharks.
Boks need the Cheetahs backline coach to sort out their ailments.
23 Oct 2011, 03:15 am
That “pointless” French club that Frans Steyn plays for also happens to pay him more in one month (in the off-season) than he’d earn plying his trade in muggy Durban in an entire season. Welcome to the REAL meaning of “professional rugby”! (Louis Luyt’s own Frankenstein’s monster.)
23 Oct 2011, 13:36 pm
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-96: Not quite. Say double per year. Don’t get ahead of yourself.
24 Oct 2011, 07:37 am
Well done to the Sharks for getting to the cc final!!
Puma, Charo, Ranger, Treehugger and other Sharks fans… enjoy the final and goog luck!!!
24 Oct 2011, 09:33 am
Hey tickles; don’t let the truth get in the way of a good storey hey? Sort of sums up your life I reckon.
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