Pressure builds on errant Sharks
6 Mar 2012
JON CARDINELLI writes the Sharks will need to be more disciplined and clinical if they hope to record their first win of the 2012 tournament on Saturday.
It was always going to be difficult to come away from Loftus Versfeld and Newlands with the winning points, but the Sharks will know that they let themselves down badly. They lacked aggression, or ‘attitude’ as John Plumtree described it, in that performance against the Bulls. They produced an improved showing against the Stormers, but lacked the ability to finish the Cape franchise off.
The Sharks were manhandled in Pretoria but the game in Cape Town was there for the taking. Stormers fullback Joe Pietersen did miss four attempts at goal, which would suggest that the hosts should have won by a more comfortable margin than 15-12. But considering Pat Lambie also fluffed two kicks at goal and that the Sharks were stronger in other facets, Plumtree and his charges should be more than a little disappointed that they didn’t walk away with the spoils.
They had 58% of the territory and 52% of the possession, stats that indicate there were a fair number of opportunities to strike at a Stormers defensive line that was not at its best. While the hosts were better in the second stanza, they slipped 12 tackles in the first half. They were fortunate that the Sharks didn’t capitalise on this attacking momentum and establish more than a 9-6 advantage by half-time.
The Stormers scrum enjoyed a good evening, but neither side was particularly dominant at the lineout and breakdowns. There was plenty of intent, but not much accuracy and this impacted on the Sharks’ ball retention.
There were 21 lost possessions when they faced the Bulls (a stat that includes breakdown turnovers and handling errors among others) and 21 lost possessions against the Stormers. In that second match, they were guilty of nine handling errors.
They also battled to string many phases together, only managing to take the ball through seven or more phases on five occasions. And when they did keep the ball for long enough to stretch the opposition defence, they failed to translate this possession into points.
They looked underdone in that match against the Bulls, and there were still signs of rust in the fixture against the Stormers. But there will be no margin for error come Saturday.
They’ve now lost two from two, and are desperate to record their first win. They’re back in Durban to host the Lions, and must settle quickly in this fixture if they’re to end this losing streak.
It’s a game you’d expect the Sharks to win, given their record against the Lions at Kings Park in recent years. Minimising handling errors and penalties at the breakdown will be crucial in their drive to retain more possession. Achieving that, they will need to be more clinical than they were in Cape Town and they will need to translate sustained periods of pressure into points.
There have been complaints about the weather in Durban at this time of year, as the heat and humidity can make handling difficult. Nevertheless, the Sharks will need to produce a more controlled showing. The Lions are a dangerous side on the counter-attack, and so spilled ball will not only rob the Sharks of possession and potential scoring chances but also create scoring opportunities for the Lions’ excellent broken-field players.
The discipline at the breakdown will also be under scrutiny. The Lions have some talented players in this area, and while the Sharks shouldn’t be lacking in attitude, they will need to be more accurate and mindful of the referee’s law interpretations. It’s been a problem in the past two matches where they’ve conceded 12 and 14 penalties respectively. Twelve of those 30 penalties have been at the ruck.
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112 Comments
6 Mar 2012, 06:01 am
Sharks need to have their leaders on the field set an example – and as everyone predicted, so far Bismarck and Daniel have been found wanting when it comes to discipline. Skeate’s yellow ended up leaving their lineouts and scrums in a disarray they never recovered from.
The Stormers were profligate with the penalties, but when given that many opportunities a side will eventually punish their opponents.
From watching the Sharks opening games I do feel that Michalak’s rather ponderous use of the ball from rucks is contributing detrimentally to what is quite a static attack, it’s all too easy for teams to form defensive lines.
6 Mar 2012, 06:50 am
hmmmm……no tries conceded in two aay games and yes, the sharks should have punished wp by halfime but i am not too upset yet.
the poor discpine must stop though, right now.
6 Mar 2012, 06:51 am
Be interresting to see how many of those 12 penalties came from Bismark.
6 Mar 2012, 07:00 am
These days when rugby matches are just a endless succession of penalties, why Plum uses his 3rd best kicker, is mind blogging. Even Naas had to wait a few years before being allowed to kick for posts. The Bulls fullback at the time had more range and accuracy.
6 Mar 2012, 07:07 am
Mark Lawrence disgraceful refereeing must have caught the Sharks by surprise, they didn’t expect it, they probably thought that SARU will not deal them any of the Cheetahs’ ‘preferential’, sadly they were wrong.
Welcome to the ‘New’ SARU
A self respected team would have probably protested to the Super Rugby referees committee with ample video clips to support their case, I don’t expect the Sharks to do any of it though.
6 Mar 2012, 07:08 am
What’s wrong wth losing to the Bulls and then the Stormers in the first 2 games? (Both away)
No pressure.
The Super 15 format is bunch of rubbish anyway, for the tournament to be fair enough (and more entertaining) each team has to play the other. Some draws in the fixtures are looking very easy for certain teams.
Super 12 please. Merge the Lions, Cheetahs and Kings
“Southern Pussycat Dolls”
6 Mar 2012, 07:10 am
Naas Botha kicked for posts from the first minute of his first provincial game.
6 Mar 2012, 07:14 am
@BULLET(BULLET)-3:
Bismarck gave away 2 penalties that I can remember. Couple that with the vital penalty being given away by Daniel and the Shark’s captaincy accounts for at least 1/4 of the penalties against their team.
6 Mar 2012, 07:18 am
What I find strange is how a number of normally astute posters on this site – they know who they are – as part of their argument for picking your team first and then your captain (a principle which has a lot of merit by the way) were rather embarrassingly for them pusshing Bismark as a viable candidate for Bok captain.
Now, while I don’t believe in a captain getting a free ride in the team, you must be either totally bonkers or waaay up **** creek without a paddle in order to even consider that hot head as captaincy material.
Really guys, what were you thinking?
6 Mar 2012, 07:18 am
The difference between the Bulls and the Sharks you will find what they did last year in the Currie Cup.
The Bulls got rid of their unwanted players early during the CC season.
The Sharks only got rid of their unwanted players after the CC. (remember the grandpa, Adi Jacobs etc)
Thus at this point in time the Bulls plays more as a team than the Sharks.
6 Mar 2012, 07:22 am
i can only surmise its mostly downhill from here for the sharks. too bad though, they had that one good season and that was it.
6 Mar 2012, 07:24 am
Wow I never knew the Super 15 was won after the first 2 games…
6 Mar 2012, 07:30 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-9:
hehehe
it amazed to no end.
some okes just skeem they are ‘the fukkern bizniz’ i suppose…
6 Mar 2012, 07:45 am
The Bulls didn’t have an overwhelming control of their forwards against the Sharks, far from that, considering the altitude effect on the coastal team, the Sharks were not a push over at Loftus
And they missed Albert and Deysel too,
In the retrospective, the Sharks haven’t recovered from the loss of Styen, Butch, Pienaar and Barritt, while Lambi is ineffective with the service of Michalak.
6 Mar 2012, 07:52 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-9: There aren’t any outstanding candidates for Springbok captaincy at the moment, so there will always be one or 2 “out there” suggestions from passionate fans! Who is the back up captain for the Bulls? I don’t think its Kruger, but to me he seems like the real leader of the Bulls in terms of his actions on the pitch right now. He’s had a great start to the season.
6 Mar 2012, 07:53 am
Sharks will bounce back no problem… And yes Stormers missed 4… But Sharks missed 3 if I am correct? So a bigger win? Haha!
6 Mar 2012, 08:01 am
@Hondo(Hondo)-5:
sure mark lawrence didn’t have the best game… but to blame him for the sharks loss is laughable…
they were far more undisciplined and got justifiably pinged for it…
he actually could and should have penalised them for more… bismarck got away with several hands in the ruck and playing the ball on the ground at the bottom of the ruck… as did marcel coetzee… also dale chadwick hardly competed one scrum without trying or doing something illegal… scrumming in mostly, but also lining up head to head and not going brok or frans space to engage… for which he was only called once.. before the engagement and thus not penalised…
so the sharks have only themselves to blame really…
but they will be back i have no doubt… with alberts and co back… i still believe the sharks will join the bulls as the two saffa sides at the top of the conference…
but here’s hoping stormers manage to hang in there… somehow…
6 Mar 2012, 08:14 am
2 bonus points and zero tries against in 2 away games with a side lacking a few big names.
Small amount of pressure building yes but I think the Stormers, if anyone, will be scratching their heads and wondering how the Sharks ran them so close.
I’d love to see the Stormers handlling errors and turnover stats. I thought they were rank average for a side that full of experience.
6 Mar 2012, 08:19 am
Good morning all.
Yip, as said above by Fern.
Let’s remember this is only week 2. Bulls have started well but Stormers have also won both games.
Sharks will be there at the end.. imo.
Must say though… Bulls were kopping seriaaaaas flack by bloggers here about the kicking & boring rugby only to find out that the Stormers kick more!.
Bulls need to improve a lot but hell they are carrying some sieriaaaaaas confidence at this moment.
Regarding the Stormers, i think they will definately improve and every team will struggle against them at Newlands.
Sharkies? Maby the coach must stop playing people out of possition.. i mean the frenchie @ 9, aggenee man.
6 Mar 2012, 08:20 am
sorry spelling
6 Mar 2012, 08:28 am
@John Galt(John Galt)-18:
and yet they still beat the sharks…who were wildly penetrative in their midfield attack at times too. no man, plumtree should be a lot more worried than ac right now.
two games, two losses.
next they have the lions who will be hurting from their loss this weekend and who have beaten this sharks side convincingly in a final.
then the reds…
then the waratahs away…
before they might catch a lucky break against the brumbies.
i certainly wont be betting on the sharks any time soon.
6 Mar 2012, 08:28 am
@John Galt(John Galt)-18:
Full of experience? The average age for the Stormers starting 15 was 23 years old, with 5 of those guys being 21 or younger.
Hardly an experienced outfit.
6 Mar 2012, 08:38 am
@Dazzler(Dazzler)-22:
And just a quick comparison, Sharks average age was 24 with only 2 players 21 years old or younger.
6 Mar 2012, 08:40 am
@Staal(Staal)-19:
You are right, it’s only week 2. But the Sharks have a pretty horrible early run of fixtures and won’t want to make things more difficult for themselves in these matches by giving their opponents 12+ pts a game through the boot.
They’ll surely improve game to game with players coming back and shaking off rust and their defence is looking steady enough already, but the discipline is a killer no matter what stage of the season.
As for Michalak – he’s not really out of position, he’s just trying to play no9 in an almost hybrid SH-French style and it isn’t working at all. He was a fairly good scrummie when he was younger.
6 Mar 2012, 08:43 am
@welcome to my life, hugh…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-21: That’s a pretty frightening start, considering they have lost the first two. Lions will definitely be targeting the Sharks and will be looking at the fixture more as equals, rather then underdogs. Its a must win match, because starting the season with 5 straight losses would mean the season is over after 1 month!
6 Mar 2012, 08:46 am
As a Sharks supporter I am not in the slightest bit concerned. Week 1 was a bit of a let down but to get a bonus point away from home against the Bulls who in hindsight are playing some great rugby was fair enough. Week 2 was a let down because sitting down to watch the rugga on a Saturday evening, the last thing I wanted to watch was Mark “I’m from Mpumalanga and still think highlights in my hair are cool” Lawrence dominate proceedings. News flash Mark – nobody watches rugby to see you except your mother, maybe. In truth with another ref that game could have gone either way. Again a bonus point away from home. If the sharks pick up a five point win this weekend then they have three BPs which is only one shy of elliminating the loss against Mark, sorry the Stormers. And yes, to everyone who says ah blame the ref, I do. And not because I think the Sharks were unfairly penalized, may one or two were 50:50 calls but wtf as Saffas we accept those. It was the numerous infringements that the Stormers seemed to get away with that grinds me. That ranga prop could stay on his feet at a ruck after the 20th minute but never got blown once – another ref would have binned him by halftime.
6 Mar 2012, 08:50 am
Sharks need to sort out their set piece. You cannot build pressure if you loose your own line-outs almost every time you get into the opposition 25 on your own ball. Secondly discipline, discipline.
Back line play has already improved a lot since last year – they just need more patience
6 Mar 2012, 08:50 am
@HongKongSlong(HongKongSlong)-25: Ok so let me get this right – the lions scraped a win at home with 9 penalties against the Cheetahs while the Bulls beat the Sharks by 6 points at Loftus. The self same Bulls proceed to anialate the Cheetahs a week later and all of sudden the Lions and Sharks are peers. Betting man? The bookies must love you.
6 Mar 2012, 08:52 am
@LarryNkomo(LarryNkomo)-26: not stay on his feet
6 Mar 2012, 08:54 am
@HongKongSlong(HongKongSlong)-25:
even if they lose the first five (which i doubt)… the sharks season will not be over by a long shot…
this is a VERY long season… and the last couple of seasons the sharks have rallied late in the season putting together winning streaks that have seen them improve their log position almost every game…
people are being premature writing the sharks off…
they will get their mojo back…!!
6 Mar 2012, 08:54 am
@LarryNkomo(LarryNkomo)-26:
Boo hoo…sniff sniff.
The Sharks were very poorly disciplined, that’s the bottom line. Lawrence wasn’t great, but it went both ways. He missed a lot for the Stormers and the Sharks. That’s the way the cookie crumbles. The Sharks were far more undisciplined than the Stormers.
And your captain (I use that term loosely) is the biggest culprit of them all. Not too mention an irritating little man.
6 Mar 2012, 08:56 am
I will say again.
From a Bulls perspective the Sharks loss to the Stormers was very important, because the Sharks are gonna get MUCH better, while the Stormers will not.
Also, the Stormers may have 8 points, but they’ve had two home games so far – and one against the weakest team in the NZ conference.
The Sharks in contrast have had two away games, and both against their strongest competitors in the SA conference. And they got 2 bonus points to show for it.
If the Sharks just go and beat the Bulls and Stormers at Kings Park, then all’s square again, and they might even be leading the SA conference.
The Sharks will challenge for the top position in the SA conference, I am pretty sure. The Stormers? Nah.
6 Mar 2012, 08:57 am
Its still early days!!!! Last season everyone came out blazing and how many teams burnt out near the end?? Yes the sharks are not up to par but they are not looking that bad either!!!
reffing isn’t to great either, some one said that Bismark was playing the ball on the ground? what about koster at their try line? he was rolling around on the floor with his hands on the ball and even got it out!! no whistle???
Give the Sharks time to settle down, new captain, new-ish back line and some key players still out, like i said its early days…just have to see what happens.
what they really need is that hunger to win!!!!
6 Mar 2012, 08:58 am
@LarryNkomo(LarryNkomo)-28:
Ah yes, the old “team A beat team B who in turn beat team C so team A will beat team C etc etc.” logic. Flawless…
6 Mar 2012, 09:05 am
@Dazzler(Dazzler)-34:
6 Mar 2012, 09:09 am
@HongKongSlong(HongKongSlong)-25:
my feelings too.
@ufo(ufo)-30:
ja, but its certainly not the best of ways to go about winning a competition.
6 Mar 2012, 09:10 am
not so sure about freddie and lambie as a 9-10 combo.
when the sharks beat the bulls at loftus last season, in my opinion, it had a lot to do with freddie playing 10 and lambie 15. The difference at the end of that game was freddies drop goal.
Lambie does not know how to keep a scoreboard ticking.
6 Mar 2012, 09:11 am
@LarryNkomo(LarryNkomo)-28: If you keep giving the Lions penalties like you’ve given everyone else, then Jantjies is going to kick them. Sharks aren’t going to score loads of trys either. Lions can easily take them if they don’t sort their problems out fast.
6 Mar 2012, 09:12 am
@Dazzler(Dazzler)-34:
Works perfectly so long as team C is the Rebels
(Guess who the Sharks don’t play this year)
6 Mar 2012, 09:15 am
@Dazzler(Dazzler)-34:
aristotle would be proud.
6 Mar 2012, 09:15 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-32:
I do believe that is a hattrick of “Nahs” oh wise one
2010 – “Nah”
2011 – “Nah”
2012 – “Nah”
Stick to your day time job and cut the voyeur thing out….
6 Mar 2012, 09:17 am
@Dazzler(Dazzler)-31: You crying or got a cold. You assumption that the Sharks were more ill disciplined than the Stormers is probably correct – they had more of the ball. 90% more – I fcuked doubt it…
6 Mar 2012, 09:17 am
31 Dazzler booho! That same Captain who was one of the best players on the Field!! He may be irritating but he played well!
6 Mar 2012, 09:19 am
@Dazzler(Dazzler)-34: Logic in sport – nope. Common sense – a fair amount.
6 Mar 2012, 09:20 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-32:
i am going to save this one for posterity, tac.
6 Mar 2012, 09:21 am
@Bod(bod)-41:
We’ll see, won’t we..
6 Mar 2012, 09:22 am
@welcome to my life, hugh…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-36:
hehehe…
for sure…
that’s why… even though stormers didn’t play that great… i’d rather take the win and log points…
hopefully we will improve too and find more cohesion amongst our backs…
6 Mar 2012, 09:24 am
@LarryNkomo(LarryNkomo)-42:
so you’re drawing a direct correlation between the amount of ball a team has and it’s discipline…??
the two are (or should not be) in any way connected…
6 Mar 2012, 09:27 am
@THE MAULER(THE MAULER)-43:
He played so well that he gifted the Stormers the game at the end!
6 Mar 2012, 09:27 am
@welcome to my life, hugh…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-45:
Feel free.
Is it a crime to not rate the Stormers?
You guys make it sound like I committed sacrilege.
I already stated the Stormers are a decent team, and will contend for the play-offs (top 6).
I just don’t think they are title contenders, and a full strength Sharks outfit are the better team, in my view.
So sue me.
6 Mar 2012, 09:28 am
@Bod(bod)-41:
the only hattrick you need concern yourself with is the
2007
2009
2010 (against you know who)
stick to your day job, if anyone has been daft enough to give you one yet. I did hear that the Bronx is looking for a new owner though,maybe you interested in that?
6 Mar 2012, 09:32 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-51:
to be fair Bod doesn’t have a day job.
his employment commitments are more seasonal in their nature.
6 Mar 2012, 09:34 am
@LarryNkomo(LarryNkomo)-44:
Common sense ey? Your sense maybe, not so sure about common…
Let me explain it to you like this… At this level of rugby, the margins are so small. If a team is slightly off their game on the day, be it mentally or physically, and the opposition are on top of their game, a blowout can occur. Like the Bulls vs Cheetahs this weekend. Meaning, that on any given day, any team in this comp can beat any other team.
So can Lions the beat the Sharks? Most definitely.
6 Mar 2012, 09:35 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-46:
That we certainly shall…
Care to slap a little wager on your new found voyeur skills? How about a small 100 bucker on the Stormers not/making the semis, with the loser donating to charity.
Be careful before you answer, as DAWG Cape Town gets very exited every time I have a similar wager with Katman… he remains one of their higher sources of donor income thanks to me
6 Mar 2012, 09:38 am
@ufo(ufo)-48: in hindsight, you are correct, there should be no correlation. Mostly (I recall seeing an article by the esteemed Jedi master keo himself) the defending team gets penalized more than the attacking team which sort of makes sense. So you would think that if the Sharks won the territory and pocession stakes they should in all likelihood have won the penalty count. However as stated earlier (and aristotle pointed out whilst watching rugby in 350 BC @welcome to my life, hugh…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-40: toss) logic and sport just don’t go.
6 Mar 2012, 09:41 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-51:
I have already applied for the Bronx job, but turned away as I never knew the answer to what the words “Brokeback” and “Closet” meant.
Apparently some oke North of the Jukskei got the job.
Glad to hear that you are closely following my travails though…
6 Mar 2012, 09:42 am
making bets on a rugby match is ok…
making bets on a rugby match with todays refs is a no-no in my book.
die spul is hopellos.. ok i know i am ranting. I will get over it.
6 Mar 2012, 09:43 am
hopeloos
6 Mar 2012, 09:44 am
@Bod(bod)-56:
maybe you could apply for a vacant bartenders job there.
You know how to give head (on a beer that is), don’t you?
6 Mar 2012, 09:46 am
@Dazzler(Dazzler)-53: I always wondered how the bookies made money, how do they choose their favourite? Previous form, players, stats or maybe wait for – they guess who will have the mental edge on the day. And yes I know they get it wrong but they get it right more often than they get it wrong. They must all be frikken mind readers… I suspect, and this is a real long shot because I’m no bookie, they maybe look at previous results and form.
On a point of agreement, yes at this level the margins are small. My point made right up front was that the margins in SA between the Sharks, Bulls and Stormers are far smaller than those between these teams and Lions and Cheetahs.
6 Mar 2012, 09:48 am
@Staal(Staal)-57: Haha, ek stem!
6 Mar 2012, 10:01 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-59:
Buurmannetjie, you too are becoming a voyeur in own right
Strangely enough I did apply for that job as well and they asked me that very question….. Do you know how to give head? I replied no and didnt get the job.
The job went to some oke North of the Jukskei that wears some pink and purple rugby shirt that apparently pulls in the patrons.
When I enquired about other jobs in the establishment they said they generally only employ from North of the Jukskie as most from that region truly understand the words Brokeback, Giving Head and Coming out of the closet
Its hard enough finding a job here without being forced aside by the massive infux of boys from North of the Jukskei into Somerset Road
6 Mar 2012, 10:05 am
@LarryNkomo(LarryNkomo)-60: Looking at previous results and form, you’d say its the Bulls and the Stormers can’t stop winning at the moment, the Lions win some and lose some and then the Sharks and Cheetahs as the easy beats?
Thanks for explaining how it all works, I’m off to the bookies!
6 Mar 2012, 10:07 am
@LarryNkomo(LarryNkomo)-60:
Cant disagree with you there!
6 Mar 2012, 10:07 am
Was Saturday at Newlands and must say best phase of Sharks was there defence. I was later telling the guy next to me do the Sharks not have an additional player on the field?
They will be much better once they drop Michalak and have Alberts back!
On Newlands the Sharks backline was much better than the Stormers. The problem that I have with my Stormers is that it looks like they do everything half pace, they must up their speed(this the Bulls does very good at the moment.
It looks like the Stormers is too much concentrationg on defence. Dewald was checking for too ling where all his players was and checking that they are each time all in position before he made a pass. That is maybe the main reason why it was so easy to defend against them.
Bismarck was very very good in stealing balls! Stormers are really missing Flo big time!
6 Mar 2012, 10:17 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-50:
the sacrilege lies in how highly you rate ‘this’ sharks outfit.
like the stormers, tac… give them nothing…
6 Mar 2012, 10:20 am
@Jonck(Jonck)-65:
Stormers attack through the backline is either a predictable crash ball or just lateral with no straight running. It’s frustrating to watch as it is exactly the same issues as in previous seasons – opens no gaps, is predictable (and therefore easy to defend) and relies on one player making a break out of nothing.
Really needs to be mixed up a bit – either via 2nd line attacks, change of angle etc, but they need to stop running bladdy sideways.
6 Mar 2012, 10:21 am
I agree with Jonck……Michalak needs to be dropped for McCleod and play off the bench. For the first time last week since coming to the Sharks I thought that Meyer Bosman (who I can’t stand) had a decent game….it’s taken two years!!
As far as I’m concerned Plum is fresh out of idea’s……and it’s showing!! I think he’s shot his bolt and there is nothing left in the bag for him to impart to the Sharks. As long as they hang on to him and his poor coaching staff……Sharks are NEVER going to be contenders!!
Bismark, Jannie and Daniel (who isn’t a captains ***) are fast becoming liabilities to the Sharks……Daniel being the main culprit on Saturday. With his stupidity and lack of discipline he cost the Sharks at least some points they would have got from a draw…….and the week before it was the Bonehead Bro’s that got penalized so much that Morne Steyn thought it was his birthday!!
If the Sharks are going to compete…..they need a new coaching staff……and someone needs to sit the three stooges down and explain to them that if they continue to lose games for the Sharks – the only “game time” they will get is on Playstation!!
6 Mar 2012, 10:21 am
@LarryNkomo(LarryNkomo)-55:
i like your logic
6 Mar 2012, 10:22 am
@welcome to my life, hugh…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-66:
Over the last decade we have only had one South African rival team in Super Rugby. And that team was the Sharks.
Don’t get sucked into the Stormers hype.
6 Mar 2012, 10:26 am
@HongKongSlong(HongKongSlong)-63: stoooooopid
6 Mar 2012, 10:33 am
CT Shark I am dating Bosman’s cousin and she knows I don’t rate him! But he did have a good game!
6 Mar 2012, 10:34 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-70: Not entirely true. There were three seasons in the last decade when both the Sharks and the Stormers finished above the Bulls on the log.
6 Mar 2012, 10:35 am
@Tartan(Tartan)-67:
did you ever see robbie fleck as a player?
always ran sideways and thought he was the only centre who could do anything.
now he’s the stormers coach – and they play just like he used to.
6 Mar 2012, 10:38 am
@charo(charo)-74: lol – and he has the same hairdresser as Mark Lawrence
6 Mar 2012, 10:40 am
I would like to share an experience with you all, about drinking and driving.
As you well know, some of us have been known to have had brushes with the authorities on our way home from the odd social session over the years.
A couple of nights ago, I was out for a few drinks with some friends and had a few too many beers and some rather nice red wine. Knowing full well I may have been slightly over the limit, I did something I’ve never done before …. I took a bus home. Sure enough I passed a roadblock but as it was a bus they waved it past.
I arrived home safely without incident, which was a real surprise, as I have never driven a bus before and am not sure where I got it from! If you know of anybody missing a bus please let me know so I can arrange to return it.
6 Mar 2012, 10:43 am
@charo(charo)-74: My lasting memory of Robbie Fleck was being tackled from behind by Deon Kayser after he intercepted and had an open tryline in front of him. Was waving to the crowds, straightening his hair then BANG, oops. I still tell my kids about it to this day. Something along the lines of “you see that toss there with that pathetic hair style, well let me tell about the day…”
6 Mar 2012, 10:46 am
@charo(charo)-74: Speaking of which, have you seen Matthew Proudfoot lately? And he is the forwards coach.
6 Mar 2012, 10:46 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-76:
D’urbanville is truly a different world.
6 Mar 2012, 10:47 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-76:
6 Mar 2012, 10:49 am
@LarryNkomo(LarryNkomo)-77:
remember that vividly – wellington ground i think.
farken hosed myself.
6 Mar 2012, 10:51 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-78:
believe weigh-less are going to use him as a “before” model
6 Mar 2012, 10:55 am
@charo(charo)-74:
Ja, I remember Fleckie’s playing days, maybe at least he can tell everyone to keep an eye out behind them when through, and to be fair to him, at least he could get through.
6 Mar 2012, 10:59 am
Fleckie was great at breaking the line, had that classic 13 acceleration. Not the best defender in the world.
Good, not great. As Springbok 13′s go.
6 Mar 2012, 11:08 am
How are we now discussing Fleckie? My 2 cents worth – he is an arrogant plick. I had the misfortune of meeting him a few years back and did not think highly of him at all.
As a coach – nothing special, and if he was not an ex player, would be lucky to be coaching UCT 2nd XV.
Back to the sharks and pressure building, I agree totally, 2 losses is never great, even if its away from home, and I think that some players with big egos will be more hindrance than helpful this year. (Read jannie and bissy)
I feel that ill discipline is something that cannot be condoned. Its very simple coaching to teach pkayers to come from on sides. If they cannot do it, drop them.
If sharks were more disciplined in both games, they would have won both (tough games on the road) and crucially, would have some serious confidence.
I don’t see how ill discipline comes from match fitness. Overrunning your lines, mis timing passes, mis timing lineouts, mis timing scrum hits and secondary shoves are by products of lack of match fitness. Coming in from the side, and diving off your feet are purely discipline.
Poor coaching!
6 Mar 2012, 11:08 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-78:
they need him to weigh down the scrum machine.
he’s taking several helpings for the team.
6 Mar 2012, 11:10 am
Sad to read comments like LarryNkomo’s! Sharks got hammered at Ellispark last year and in the CC!! Fool. As a Lions supporter I am concerned! The last 2 games the Lions played was not good at all. maybe after this weekends loss against the Canes, The Lions will wake up and start playing rugby! If not, The Sharks will hammer us and we will lose by 15 or more. No intensity at the breakdown was a big reason why we lost! Lions wake up please, The Sharks are die bliksem in, they will eat you alive if you don’t wake up!
6 Mar 2012, 11:15 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-86: I think the main reason why WP Rugby don’t want to move from Newlands to Green Point is that they don’t know how to get him out of the stadium.
6 Mar 2012, 11:29 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-70:
wow, tac.
i respect that you respect the sharks so much going on their past history.
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-76:
6 Mar 2012, 11:30 am
@Loyal Lion(Loyal Lion)-87: sorry you sad and thanks for being so loyal. My opinion. I think the Sharks will beat the Lions this weekend. Do I know they will, nope. Re the Curry Cup last year, well played. That was a whole different scenario with other factors playing a major roll in the end result.
6 Mar 2012, 11:30 am
Sharks have always been known to be slow starters in the S15, they hit their stride by the half way mark which is usually too late to make the playoffs.
Why on earth is Michalak playing scrumhalf?
6 Mar 2012, 11:47 am
@welcome to my life, hugh…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-89: cans of whoopasss are an equivalent to humbel pie
6 Mar 2012, 11:56 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-92:
it would seem they certainly are, in the world of tac.
probably memories of being knocked out of the running for a play off spot by the sharkies last season.
6 Mar 2012, 12:31 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-78:
well… you’d hardly expect him to be the back line coach…!!
6 Mar 2012, 12:40 pm
@BULLET(BULLET)-85: I agree with you to a certain extend.
Bissy and Jannie is a problem.
But at leat Bissy looked better against the Stormers. If only he can cut down on those penalties he`ll be back to his best.
Saturday will be a wet game with few opportunities. Look for the two young flyhalves to run the show. I might be mistaken but I think Elton has better kicking stats than Lambie at the moment?
Having said that, the sharks know they can`t afford to lose this saturday, the fans will tar and feather them if this slump continues for much longer. . .
6 Mar 2012, 12:45 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-88:
We could hire Bod to move him a handful at a time.
he’s doing nothing but sitting in Edgemead polishing his Toby Jug collection and listening to his old T Rex LPs.
6 Mar 2012, 12:53 pm
@Original-Pierre(Original-Pierre)-95: My prime beef with them both (Jannie and Biz) is that they do not demonstrate a team ethic in their approach to the game. The idea behind rugby is to gain and retain possession of ball, advance forwards as a team, put the other team under pressure, provide continuity and score. What happens when these 2 get the ball is that they run into the opposition upright and ready for an arm wrestle, it appears to be about showing how strong you are rather than how wise you are in committing the defenders to a ruck and recycling the ball to expose space in the defensive structures.
Just the manner they go about their business on the field makes me think they are too individualistc and that goes for their captain as well. This attitude permeates through the team in my opinion and as long as it does they will not win. They have to start doing things on the field as a team and the Bulls are a perfect example. The NEED to rely on each other and work together has not been more evident in any SA side than what it is in the Bulls set up and attitude.
6 Mar 2012, 13:20 pm
Bod has Toby jugs?
6 Mar 2012, 13:23 pm
@migs(migs)-33: 100% CORRECT
6 Mar 2012, 13:30 pm
hiyas bro ^5!
6 Mar 2012, 14:42 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-98: You mean manboobs?
6 Mar 2012, 15:18 pm
76@Stormersboy……lol
6 Mar 2012, 15:25 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-101: lol hiyas gunts ^5
6 Mar 2012, 15:31 pm
@President_of_the_Sharks_rugby_experts(sharks_lover)-103: *cough* tighthead….
6 Mar 2012, 15:41 pm
Kearsney College beat Sarel Cilliers 34-31.
Bad luck Sarel Cilliers but well played,watch some big heads roll this season against this side.
6 Mar 2012, 15:46 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-105: early season warm up game.
6 Mar 2012, 16:50 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-104: lol hiyaS meester M
6 Mar 2012, 19:56 pm
@LarryNkomo(LarryNkomo)-77:
Can’t recall seeing Kayser tackled anyone on the rugby field
6 Mar 2012, 20:52 pm
What a bunch of getalonggang poeftas.
It farken grates me no end that my mighty magnificent Sharkies undeservedly lost to a team so obviously supported by a bunchometrosexualcunts,
6 Mar 2012, 20:58 pm
Hee farken hee
Haa farken haa
Lets have a little wisecrack here …
and a little wisecrack there…
Keo.co.za is farked… One little cozy incestuous group of matey matey bul,lshit at the moment…
Bring on the proper passion for this game instead of this wa.nking groupfest of self congratulation…
Especially by these Keo “Captains of Industry”…
Twats
6 Mar 2012, 23:08 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-108: Remember this tackle by any chance?…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5MJoEuhHZw&feature=player_embedded
7 Mar 2012, 09:33 am
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-111: bwahahaha!! Classic !
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