Sharks snap losing streak
10 Mar 2012
JON CARDINELLI watched the Sharks beat the Lions 32-20 to end their winless run in the 2012 Super Rugby competition.
The Sharks were hammered by the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld and pipped by the Stormers at Newlands. They came into this clash desperately needing any kind of win, no matter how ugly.
From a results perspective, the men from Durban will be satisfied. They not only claimed their first win of the season but also a bonus-point for four tries. It may have taken them three games, but they are finally off the mark.
It was a stop-start game at Kings Park with both teams surrendering possession all too easily. The Sharks conceded a mass of penalties at the breakdown and also coughed up the ball in the tackle on too many occasions.
The Lions attempted to play the game at a lively pace but displayed very little control. Their counter-attacking surges often came to nought and coach John Mitchell will be livid with the high number of turnovers.
What helped the Sharks was their appreciation for territory. Flyhalf Pat Lambie had his best game of the season thus far, kicking the hosts into good field positions. He also converted some difficult goals during the first half to ensure the Sharks went to the shed with a substantial lead.
It was before the break where the Sharks scored the try of the game. The forwards finally managed to marry power and precision, keeping the ball through the phases to stretch the Lions’ defence. It was also during this movement that the Sharks backs showed some good hands, getting the ball to winger Lwazi Mvovo who highlighted his value as a finisher with a superb score.
For all their handling mistakes and lost possessions, the Lions just kept coming and coming. They marched the Sharks back towards the tryline and then struck through fullback Jaco Taute, who wrestled his way through several defenders to score.
It was an important strike on the hour, and ensured the Lions went into the final quarter with a chance of an upset.
Along with their inconsistencies at the breakdown, the Sharks battled to secure the ball at the lineout. Bismarck du Plessis failed to find his jumpers consistently and this robbed the hosts of a good attacking platform.
And yet, the Sharks still managed to get the ball back, such was the loose nature of this contest. As the game entered the final 10 minutes, neither team managed to control the ball and counter-attack after counter-attack was launched.
Again, it was the Sharks that came through a scrappy period of play as the big winners. Meyer Bosman latching onto the final pass to score what many believed was the clincher. At 27-13, the game was all but over.
But the Lions scored in the 75th minute through reserve prop Ruan Dreyer, and Butch James’s conversion set up a frantic finish. The Sharks were placed under pressure by a desperate Lions side, and it took a big tackle by Marcell Coetzee to win the ball back.
A kickable penalty was turned down by Sharks captain Keegan Daniel as the hosts set up a lineout deep in Lions territory. And to the delight of the Kings Park faithful, the Sharks finished the second half as they had the first, with a rare blend of power and precision.
On this occasion, Du Plessis found his jumper to set up the maul, and the forwards bulldozed their way over the line. Jacques Botes emerged from a pile of bodies and the referee awarded what was the bonus-point try.
While the Sharks may have finished this game strongly and 12 points ahead of the opposition, they will know that there is much to do before they meet the Reds next week. The game against the Lions was in the balance until the final minutes, and the Sharks will need to address their inconsistencies at the breakdown and lineout if they hope to challenge the better teams.
144 Comments
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10 Mar 2012, 18:46 pm
okay. Stuff my Bru, Lions grab something here please.
10 Mar 2012, 18:47 pm
That missed conversion can cost Lions their S15 status.
10 Mar 2012, 18:47 pm
OK all youse who don’t read posts, tmo is shaun veldsman
10 Mar 2012, 18:48 pm
Oh, my wrong.
10 Mar 2012, 18:48 pm
Lions are playing with hunger at the moment..
10 Mar 2012, 18:50 pm
Good result for SA rugby
10 Mar 2012, 18:50 pm
Back to tea and biscuits Kleuter
10 Mar 2012, 18:50 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-107: No, biltong and beer now for main course
10 Mar 2012, 18:51 pm
kak reffring, dont even get bonus point.
10 Mar 2012, 18:51 pm
Fukkit.
Less the 10 points handed to the Sharks in the first half for free, of course.
10 Mar 2012, 18:52 pm
Off to kids’ movie night at nursery school. Katman over and out.
10 Mar 2012, 18:53 pm
Lions again a bonus point milking team… Long season awaits them!!! Welcome kings to superrugby!!!
10 Mar 2012, 18:54 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-111: You guys just can’t handle injuries like other Unions unfortunately. No lack of effort from the Lions tonight.
Good to see JP doing so well at 13.
10 Mar 2012, 18:54 pm
Well done to the sharks..this was a very intresting match..lions showed hunger at times..first game this season I think Lambie looked good at 10 and his place kicking was excellent if you look at from where he kicked..all and all a very good game for SA..
10 Mar 2012, 18:56 pm
@weakoma(weakoma)-114: Who ws the smartypants that said Viljoen or Freddie should kick for goal because Lambie is useless? Eat that biscuit, Biscuit.
10 Mar 2012, 18:56 pm
@Kleuter(Kleuter)-115: Not you, just mentioning it to you
10 Mar 2012, 18:58 pm
@weakoma(weakoma)-114: Eish, I’m not even drunk. Was saying, I saw someone here during the week that said Lambie is useless and should not kick for goal.
10 Mar 2012, 18:59 pm
Lambie is still average, it’s just that Butch James is abysmal.
10 Mar 2012, 18:59 pm
Well done Sharks. Tough luck Lions.
That decision by the TMO Mewuesen (sic) could have effected the outcome of this match. And it was he who incorrectly called “no try” when Bjorn Basson scored last week. And then awarding Greyling’s try in the same game. And again didn’t adhere to the IRB TMO protocol by volunteering information to the referee in the Boks v AB test in PE last year. It is the on-field guys – the ref and players – who depend on technology being used correctly.
Mark Lawrence will have to check this guy’s eyes.
10 Mar 2012, 19:01 pm
What a bunch of amateurs!!! I stand by my team through thick and thin but this is ridicilous!!! They di nit deserve to play in this comp… Seems the lions will be a bonus point milking team again!! Go check who our opposittion is going forward… What chance do we really have? Get ready for our last season in super rugby.
10 Mar 2012, 19:01 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-103:
oops. but the guy I mentioned still makes mistakes. And today’s was another blatant error.
10 Mar 2012, 19:02 pm
@Kleuter(Kleuter)-116: I agree that his kicking was not the best in the first two games, 7 from 11 is not really an acceptable stat for your first choice kicker of the team..however I think that Plum is doing the right thing to keep him as the kicker, he will gain more confidence as he age and the accuracy will come..I was really excited for the clash of him and Jantjies, just hope Jantjies will be ready for our next game..
10 Mar 2012, 19:04 pm
The Sharks were k a k.
Uber k a k.
They got the full 5 points as you would expect them to do against the Lions.
They got their first win under their belt.
But man, do they need to frikken improve.
10 Mar 2012, 19:05 pm
@PieterJordaan(PieterJordaan)-120: You are way to negative. Have a cold one, tomorrow you’ll feel better.
10 Mar 2012, 19:06 pm
@weakoma(weakoma)-122: Agree with you. Very exited about the young 10′s we have.
10 Mar 2012, 19:07 pm
@Kleuter(Kleuter)-117: I remember reading a comment where somebody said the sharks will start winning once they hand over the kicking details..
@PieterJordaan(PieterJordaan)-120: Its a surprise that your a Lions fan, guess you are entitled to your own view, the young props did step up though..still think Vermaak was a big loss to the team, we need a good scrummie..
10 Mar 2012, 19:09 pm
agree sponer,that was a ugly win with lots of handling errors
10 Mar 2012, 19:09 pm
@weakoma(weakoma)-126: Something like that yes.
10 Mar 2012, 19:11 pm
@kleuter… Thanks boet, i really hope so!
10 Mar 2012, 19:12 pm
@Kleuter(Kleuter)-125: I though about it the other day, imagine a team with a 10-12 combo of Goosen and Steyn(Frans) and Taute at 15, three player all capable of slotting the odd 60m penalty and all very exciting on attack..
10 Mar 2012, 19:14 pm
@126 weakoma… Cant agree with you more… Blindesio is super kak !!! Sub scrummie wasnt bad… You know how tiring it is to constantly have faith and be constantly dissapointed!!! It borders on the definition of insanity: doing something the same over and over and expecting different results!! Im gonna pop an artery!!
10 Mar 2012, 19:22 pm
@PieterJordaan(PieterJordaan)-131: I know the feeling believe me..I do think its insane supporting them, but I do like to believe im a real fan of the team and the type of rugby they play..just a couple of key positions that we need new players in..really happy the loosies, like Killian and Taute at the back..Van Rensberg is really good on defence and steals the odd ball..Doppies is one of the most underated centre’s in SA..I like Hollenbach and Janties is really exciting..need a scrummie though..
10 Mar 2012, 19:29 pm
Sharks not looking good. And still getting bonus point win. What did the Stormers say last week? I’ll take that!
10 Mar 2012, 19:29 pm
@waekoma… Could not have said it better myself…. Killian needs to go too, he has became irrellevant
10 Mar 2012, 19:32 pm
@PieterJordaan(PieterJordaan)-120:
Try not posting when on the sauce …you’re a prick frankly !
Well played Sharks deserved win ..as for my Lions tough luck ..Im proud of the new boys ..long season ahead and Maruis Coetzer looks the business…
Lions can come from this with alot of positives.
10 Mar 2012, 19:34 pm
@PieterJordaan(PieterJordaan)-134:
Dear lord your stupity knows no bounds !
10 Mar 2012, 19:34 pm
@135… Thank you, youre very sweet…
10 Mar 2012, 19:36 pm
@135… Just as positive as HIV.
10 Mar 2012, 19:39 pm
@136… Are you not maybe on the juice? Killian missed tackles, knocked balls and were caught out of position more than a prostitute in church street..
11 Mar 2012, 00:14 am
Lions should seriously sort out their line outs.
Also let’s get Lawrence some specs, how he did not see the forward pass is baffling. Also who was the “special one” calling Josh’s ball rip on JP a high tackle?
3 weeks into Super 15 and refs are just plain kuk, is their some sort of floating trophy doing the rounds to see who’s the kukkest? If so… Keith Brown gets my vote for the weekend.
11 Mar 2012, 08:15 am
2 sh*t teams playing seriously sh*t rugby
and the whingers want ANOTHER team, right ?
11 Mar 2012, 12:54 pm
Rooooooooaaaaar!
11 Mar 2012, 14:55 pm
@PrickBoks going South(PrickBoks going South)-141: extremely childish. I bet you sometimes despair at yourself, in the quiet moments you probably recognise deep down that you have a social problem.
12 Mar 2012, 06:39 am
Pricky was once jilted by a cross dressing safari suit model from Polokwane. Hell hath no fury….
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