Sharks missing heavy hitters
27 Feb 2012
JON CARDINELLI writes the Sharks missed the physicality of Willem Alberts and Jean Deysel at Loftus Versfeld and may be similarly exposed when they visit Newlands for another brutal derby this Saturday.
The Sharks were patently undercooked going into last week’s clash. Tougher pre-season matches against some of the incumbent Super Rugby entities rather than comparatively lighter hit-outs against Boland and the Kings would have served as better preparation.
The lack of match hardness was all too apparent when they took on a fiery Bulls side at Loftus Versfeld, a team that had a point to prove after losing forwards like Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Danie Rossouw, Gary Botha and Gürthro Steenkamp to overseas deals and retirement, as well as Dewald Potgieter to a freak accident. The young Bulls forwards dominated the Sharks at the lineouts, breakdowns and collisions, and on the back of that forward dominance, Morné Steyn did what he does best, that is kick his team into good field positions.
Sharks fans will take aim at referee Jonathan Kaplan, but to the neutral it appeared as if the Sharks weren’t nearly as accurate as their Bulls counterparts at the ruck. The referees have been ordered to be strict on attacking players going off their feet or sealing off at the breakdown, and in this respect, the Sharks failed to show the necessary discipline. The penalties against the Durban side served to stall their attacking momentum, although it has to be said they were already battling to live with an inexperienced yet abrasive Bulls side at the gain line.
Marcell Coetzee was a standout for the Sharks, but loose-trio partners Keegan Daniel and Ryan Kankowski struggled to get into the game. Bismarck du Plessis didn’t delver his most disciplined showing and again this could be put down in part to a lack of game time against top-notch opposition. There was also more than one occasion where he was smashed back in the tackle by a younger, more determined Bulls player. At these moments, his look of surprise confirmed the Sharks went into this game without the necessary preparation.
They would have been expected to dominate a Bulls side that had suffered such significant losses in the off-season. It’s true that a lineout unit including Flip van der Merwe, Juandre Kruger and Pierre Spies was always going to trouble the Sharks, but at the collisions, the more settled Durban team would have been favoured. As things transpired, the Sharks struggled to make an impression on the Bulls defence. Their errant approach to the ruck resulted in many a momentum-costing penalty, but in most instances the Sharks simply failed to get across the gain line.
Alberts proved such a crucial player for the Sharks in 2011, but perhaps the team has become too reliant on his superhuman efforts. Like most sides in this competition, the Sharks are most dangerous when their pack is going forward, and ball-carriers like Alberts have shouldered much of the ground-gaining responsibilities in recent times. Without Alberts, the Sharks have to find somebody similarly powerful and direct if more gifted ball-in-hand players like Kankowski and Daniel are going to penetrate defences in later phases.
Neither Alberts nor another hard-nosed player in Deysel will be available this week, and so Plumtree may rely on a similar forward line-up for the game against the Stormers. The Cape side has lost its captain and one of its primary ball-carriers in Schalk Burger, a player who comes to the fore in these typically physical derby games. What the Stormers do have in reserve is talented youngsters like Siya Kolisi who have been in the system for awhile, as well as established players like Duane Vermeulen, who boasts a reputation for knocking players back in the tackle and making metres with ball in hand. In this respect, the Stormers will also be boosted by the return of No 4 lock Rynhardt Elstadt.
The Stormers also have the better lineout. What they don’t have in their pack is an experienced figure who can play to the ball.
Perhaps this is where the Sharks may look to unsettle the Cape side. They will still need to lift their efforts at the gain line, but in Daniel and Du Plessis they have some highly effective players on the ground. If they are going to continue to go the direct route, especially against a defence as solid as that of the Stormers, they may be in for more disappointment. But if they can match the Cape side at the collisions, and then disrupt the Stormers with their fetching expertise, a win at Newlands may be on the cards.
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19 Comments
27 Feb 2012, 12:22 pm
Dragon Plumtree’s last chance
27 Feb 2012, 13:39 pm
Oh come on now!!!
My Stormers team was written off by most supporters, so it doesn’t matter which team the Sharks send it will be a walk in the park.
27 Feb 2012, 13:53 pm
It was a shocking game, the Sharks are on a hiding to nothing this weekend against the Stormers if we field the same team and i am a supporter!. I agree with Lions Soutie, its time we got rid of Plumtree, too long in the tooth…begone!
27 Feb 2012, 14:36 pm
alberts & deysel’s careers won’t be long because of the dumb way they play. it’s one thing to dominate in contact and quite another to run around looking for contact which these two ALWAYS do. if one looks at the likes of harinodoquy, kaino, picamoles, parisse, read etc they will see all of these okes attack spaces rather than look to bliksem through a player to prove how tough they are.
27 Feb 2012, 14:54 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-4:
Agree that thier careers might be cut short by the physical nature of thier play, but to suggest its ‘dumb’ is harsh. Look at Kieran Reade, hes always bashing through tackles,the difference is the ability to offload in the tackle and make something happen as opposed to purely taking contact as a means to an end or to produce the recycle. I think Deysel and Alberts are fantastic at what they do,and they will be effective for the Boks going foward. They do need some variance in thier play however, they are predictable for opposition teams.I will still take Alberts over Spies, he offers more in the tough,physical games for me.
27 Feb 2012, 16:10 pm
@Cordo(Cordo)-5: like i said, there’s a difference between being strong in contact and just dumbly running through bodies eve if an opportunity to take a gap exists. deysel especially is prone to this.
27 Feb 2012, 22:58 pm
They missed both, but that Coetzee is a future Springbok for sure.
Carries well and protects the ball exceptionally well. Technically superb.
Primarily employed in the closer channels, it would be interesting to see if he could carry it in the wider ones with similar aplomb should Daniel or Kankowski be unavailable for selection.
I would pick Deysel at lock, an achilles heel position for the Sharks in recent times.
28 Feb 2012, 07:56 am
To many mistakes by the Sharks in this game to be any threat to the bulls. And Bismark is a liability, always to upright when making contact and not much else goining on there.
IMO none of the SA teams looks like championchip material.
28 Feb 2012, 08:13 am
The tag of Bismark being the best hooker in world is one of the best publicity stunts ever:
His line-out work is suspect
He is a penalty machine
He never, never passes the ball
He is strong…..
Jc while on the topic of the ref: Lets discuss the forward pass in Sharks try….
28 Feb 2012, 08:20 am
@Mr Black(Mr Black)-8: Don’t worry its the first round , the SA conference is by far the most competitive one.
28 Feb 2012, 08:21 am
@Cordo(Cordo)-5: Alberts is going to play lock for Sharkies very soon ( nr 4) , mark my words
28 Feb 2012, 08:22 am
Keegan is at best an Impact player , how he can be the captain no one knows
28 Feb 2012, 08:25 am
@capebull(capebull)-9: Got to agree with the way he played on Sat , he is a liability to the Boks
28 Feb 2012, 08:36 am
Team of week one ?
15 Joe Pieterson
14
13
12 Venter
11 Basson
10 Jantjes/Morne
9 Hougie
8 Joss
7 Marcell/Kolusi
6
5 Juandre
4 Mellet
3
2 Chilley
1 Dean/ Redhead from Stormers although his opposition was weak
28 Feb 2012, 08:39 am
@capebull(capebull)-9: I agree. His work in the tight and loose is very good, and he is valuable in that sense. But as an ex-hooker I just can’t get past the fact that he has always done his primary basics badly.
He has gotten better, but he often falls back into bad habits like he did on Friday.
He is not the only hooker in the world that has been picked for his play with ball in hand, in spite of his weaknesses. Kevin Mealamu is a very good example. He really struggles in the lineouts, something everyone is aware of, and he works on it constantly, and played well there for the All Blacks in the WC, but then as witnessed last Friday in the Blues match, he could barely hit his jumpers. That weakness probably cost the Blues the match.
For my money I’d be more inclined to play a guy like Adriaan Strauss at hooker for the Boks. He does everything very well, he’s strong as an ox and can hit his jumpers every time. Imagine what he would do throwing to a Springbok lineout.
28 Feb 2012, 08:41 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-15: Spot on, I think Chilley could do that as well
28 Feb 2012, 08:48 am
@capebull(capebull)-14: 4 would definately be Etsebeth for my money.
Rugby 365.com’s team of the week:
Team of the Week – Round One:
15 – Isaia Toeava (Blues):
Toeava, who has the skills and athleticism to play anywhere from inside centre to fullback, laid down an early marker for a starting spot in the All Blacks team.
Bubbling under: Ben Smith (Highlanders)
14 – Lelia Masaga (Chiefs):
Masaga, nicknamed the Flash, showed that he is so much more that just a player with pace. Yes, he does have great flair and speed, but he is also very powerful and reads the game well.
Bubbling under: Akona Ndungane (Bulls)
13 – Robbie Fruean (Crusaders):
The physically dominant midfielder, who earlier in his young career overcome open-heart surgery to repair a condition known as pancarditis, a potentially life-threatening inflammation of the heart, showed that he can challenge for an All Blacks spot this year.
Bubbling under: Tamati Ellison (Highlanders)
12 – Tim Bateman (Hurricanes):
Opposed by the Springbok veteran Jean de Villiers, the swift attacking midfielder started repaying the Hurricanes for the faith they showed in him by luring the former Crusaders and New Zealand Maori representative back to NZ.
Bubbling under: Tim Whitehead (Sharks)
11 – Gio Aplon (Stormers):
The hot-stepping utility back again showed his finishing abilities, although it is his often underrated work-rate and defence that makes him such a valuable asset.
Bubbling under: Rudi Wulf (Blues)
10 – Elton Jantjies (Lions):
He won the first round in the battle of the prodigies, when he not only out-kicked Johan Goosen, but he again showed his tactical acumen in the latter stages of the match – when it mattered most.
Bubbling under: Mike Harris (Reds)
9 – Sarel Pretorius (Waratahs):
The Waratahs have been raving about him throughout the pre-season and he again showed at the weekend why. The South African import, the top try-scorer in the 2011 Super Rugby competition, may well be on new Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer’s scrumhalf shortlist later in the year.
Bubbling under: Francois Hougaard (Bulls)
8 – Jerome Kaino (Blues):
No.8 may not be his preferred position, and many feel he is less effective there (than as a blindside flank), but the immensely powerful All Blacks loose forward again showed the form that made him New Zealand’s Player of the Year in 2011.
Bubbling under: Kieran Read (Crusaders)
7 – Derick Minnie (Lions):
He may have been penalised on a couple of occasions, but like any true openside flank he plays to the absolute limit… and then some. The clincher were those turnovers late in the game that swung the momentum for his team.
Bubbling under: Daniel Braid (Blues)
6 – Adam Thomson (Highlanders):
Not only did he throw his body at everything on the park, but his work in the line-outs were invaluable and a crucial factor late in the game.
Bubbling under: Deon Stegmann (Bulls)
5 – Juandré Kruger (Bulls):
Bulls fans will sleep a lot easier knowing they have a new aerial king. His play at restarts and in the line-outs were complimented by some sublime skills in general play.
Bubbling under: James Horwill (Reds)
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Stormers):
This young man has Springbok written all over him. He may not be the finished product yet, but he has the potential – both in terms of his aggression, skill and maturity.
Bubbling under: Tom Donnelly (Crusaders)
3 – Werner Kruger (Bulls):
He showed that his selection for the national team last year may not have been such a fluke as some critics would like to believe. He still has some work to do, especially in the scrums, but he was a monster with ball in hand.
Bubbling under: Ben Franks (Crusaders)
2 – Chiliboy Ralepelle (Bulls):
He won round one against his main rival for the starting spot as hooker in the Springbok team.
Bubbling under: Jason Rutledge (Highlanders)
1 – Benn Robinson (Waratahs):
His scrumming power was again evident, albeit against a rickety Reds front row. But with him back (after missing the 2011 RWC due to injury), the Wallabies’ scrum will be a lot more sound this year.
Bubbling under: Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders)
28 Feb 2012, 08:50 am
@capebull(capebull)-16: Chilli has improved tremendously over the past couple of years. If he has a good season I’d be inclined to pick him above Bissie.
28 Feb 2012, 11:22 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-17:
Rugby 365 should keep in mind that in SA, the opensider wears 6. So Stegmann can’t be bubbling under Adam Thompson, who plays blindside for the Highlanders.
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