Sharks must counter Reds’ pressure play
14 Mar 2012
RYAN VREDE writes the Sharks will lose if they don’t find a way to combat the Reds’ efficient multi-phase approach.
The defending champions bring an unbeaten record to Durban on Saturday despite missing inspirational flyhalf Quade Cooper (serious knee injury) and having other injuries compromise selection continuity.
However, they have shown their class in adapting to these setbacks, tailoring their approach to the strengths of the available personnel as well as adapting to the referees’ current vigilance in punishing breakdown infringements. They’ve reigned in their preferred expansive approach, employing a phase-based method that has brought good reward.
They’ve played through 393 phases (131 per match) which has enabled them to build pressure on their opponents. While there has been little by way of linebreaks the Reds have forced numerous penalties, with flyhalf Mike Harris proving to be a deadly goalkicker to date, slotting 15 of 17 three-point attempts. Indeed 45 of their 71 points have come by way of penalties.
The Sharks didn’t respond well to this tactic in their defeat to the Bulls in the opening match, consistently infringing at ruck time and allowing Morné Steyn to build the Bulls’ lead. They improved slightly in this regard against the Stormers a week later, although it was once again their ill-discipline at the breakdown that cost them.
The Reds are by no means a one-dimensional team, with the likes of Will Genia, Digby Ioane, Ben Tapuai and Rod Davies among others capable of punishing teams in open field. However, it would be foolish to ignore the trend in their method. In this regard, discipline will be central to any Sharks victory.
Coach John Plumtree will be well advised to have a special word with Bismarck du Plessis. An undoubtedly gifted player, Du Plessis has the tendency to concede penalties at crucial times and in kickable positions. He leads the tournament in penalties conceded (8) and did so for much of 2011.
The Sharks snapped their two-match losing streak with a win over the Lions at the weekend and Plumtree stressed the importance of building on that platform.
‘Hopefully we get better now that we have a win under the belt. When you’re two-zip down in a tournament like this, you need to stay away from losing more games consecutively, so we’re pleased that we beat the Lions,’ he said. ‘Now, hopefully, we can press forward and improve on all of our processes. There are some aspects we’re happy with in our game but still others we’re not. We have to tidy that up.’
Plumtree also drove home the point of avoiding flat periods when in the ascendency.
‘At times against the Lions, we did go to sleep and let them get back into the game and you can’t allow that,’ he said. ‘We worked really hard to get into a good position and then took the foot off the pedal. That stressed us so we’ve got to be more ruthless in that area. The Reds will present something a little bit different on the weekend and we need to be able to cope with that.’
The Sharks are expected to be able to select from the same pool of players available to them last week. Keegan Daniel is nursing a slight ankle injury and Du Plessis is being treated for a knee injury but the medical team is optimistic about his recovery.
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60 Comments
14 Mar 2012, 12:20 pm
Sharks to get 4 points this weeknd Dragons!
It will be a war of attrition though:)
14 Mar 2012, 12:24 pm
come on you Reds !
14 Mar 2012, 12:29 pm
you sound like a commie !!!
14 Mar 2012, 12:37 pm
Cmon Sharkies, the Reds will have lots of easy games in their conference, we need to knock them in the other games!
14 Mar 2012, 12:44 pm
its going to hurt….
14 Mar 2012, 12:47 pm
willem…dis tyd om jou hand weer eens op te lig….
14 Mar 2012, 12:49 pm
Give Paul Jordaan a start Plum!
Young, Exciting, K*K fast, and Explosive!
14 Mar 2012, 12:58 pm
SHARKSSSSSSSSSS hope they give the reds a good rev this weekend.
14 Mar 2012, 13:14 pm
Sharks will take this one. They are the stronger side and in a hot and humid Durban, phase play won’t work for the boys from Brisbane. Handlings errors will be plentifull.
14 Mar 2012, 13:47 pm
I just hope the sharks can start showing some fluidity for once. The Reds are a solid team and will be very difficult to beat. Digby has been having a very quite start to the season and will definitely be one to watch.
14 Mar 2012, 13:52 pm
Think its going to be rainy this weekend and not to hot.
14 Mar 2012, 14:02 pm
Well i foresee a Sharks win.
14 Mar 2012, 14:09 pm
Lambie is stuttering with Michalak’s service, this is the number one issue for the Sharks
And their backs don’t defend, the Reds will pounce on them and rip them apart.
14 Mar 2012, 14:37 pm
lambie is gonna have a great match…!!
and the tank is gonna look like the shark got into the cage and snacked the tourists…
14 Mar 2012, 14:55 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-13:
The Sharks have a Springbok scrumhalf at their disposal. This particular player was selected ahead of Sarel Pretorius and Jano Vermaak.
Why don’t they use him?
14 Mar 2012, 14:58 pm
The Sharks should win these games at home.
I reckon they will, although it will be a tight affair.
In addition, the Sharks have got better every week (although they still have a lot of improving to do).
14 Mar 2012, 15:06 pm
What a rubbish article,the Sharks went 210 minutes with out conceding a try,were robbed away in Cape Town by Mark ”Hows my hair looking ”Lawrence,and scored a try to nothing away to the Bulls.
When you consider the players still out for the Sharks they can only get better,which is a lot more than can be said for the Stormers and the Bulls.
Both of whom have played their whole full hands and come up wanting.
14 Mar 2012, 15:09 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-16: I agree, they should.
They’ve had two tough derbies away from home, in which they did not concede a single try. This is a good Sharks team.
However, recent history suggests that the Sharks is a very unpredictable side at home. They often disappoint.
I will never forget their Super 12 season in 2004, where they won a few close games on the road and then had a home stretch of 6 games towards the end of the tournament – should have been plain sailing but they lost their last 4 games at ABSA Stadium, including 6-5 against the Reds who finished 10th overall, to miss out on a semi-final spot.
14 Mar 2012, 15:41 pm
@mad eye(mad eye)-17: the sharks backline is still as blunt as it was 2 years ago charlie, their only saving grace is countering the oppositions’ mistakes and in broken play. they haven’t put together a backline since d(ick muir left! as soon as other team limit the errors and keep things tight it will be back to tears for the guppys
14 Mar 2012, 15:54 pm
@Transformation-19,You write as much crud as Vrede”,only saving grace is countering the oppositions mistakes and in broken play.”
Superb defence,2 fantastic backline tries on Saturday where the ball moved through the hands,brilliant tactical kicking from Lambie, and an exciting 13 in Pietersen and 15 in Viljoen ..
Its early in the season,this team will get a lot better.
Jordaan is one for the future and even Boskak is looking good
14 Mar 2012, 15:56 pm
@willievz(willievz)-18: Willie
You’ve touched on a subject which, recently, has infuriated me with the Sharks.
A lack of consistency or perhaps ‘clinicalness’.
In 2004 the Sharks won 5 of their first 7 games. This included their tour. They then lost their last 4 games at home to slump to a mediocre 7th place on the log.
In 2006 the Sharks lost 5 of their first 7 games. They then won 5 of their last 6 games to finish agonisingly close to a semi, in 5th.
In 2009 the Sharks won 7 of their first 8 games, including their tour. I remember the foreign commentators during one match saying there was little point in the other teams even contesting the competition, the Sharks should simnply engrave their name on the winner’s trophy then and there… They lost 4 of their last 5 games, with 4 of those at home, to finish in 6th place.
In 2010 the Sharks lost their first 5 games on the trot. They then won 7 out of the remaining 8 games but this wasn’t enough to secure a semi, finishing in a paltry 9th place.
These swings in results are becoming far too frequent to be written off as “bounce of the ball” or “luck” or “one off” events. There is a problem there.
It is what separates the Sharks from the Bulls. Nothing else.
@Transformation(Transformation)-19: You are correct – the team lacks penetration and creativity in the backs. It has done for a significant while now. I am not sure what Grant Bashford is paid for. The last time the backs showed any incisiveness and purpose was when Campese coached them. For too long now the team has relied on one approach only – bashing it up with Alberts, Deysel, Bismark and now Coetzee – who all never pass and go to ground. This is very predictable to defend against as simple things such as the off load or running angles are non-existent (how the Blues created doubt in the Bulls defence this last weekend). No ‘unpredictability’.
Which is a shame really. With Whitehead and JP in the centres, Lambie or Michalak at 10 and exciting players such as Mvovo, Jordaan, Sithole and Viljoen in the mix, they really should be utilising them. I have been impressed with JP at 13 – there is at the very least that one shining light.
14 Mar 2012, 16:06 pm
‘clinicalness’.???
Really?
Sheeeshkabob.
Have you learned nothing here today??
14 Mar 2012, 16:06 pm
@mad eye(mad eye)-20: which tries where those? viljoen’s try was hoofed forward, Jpp’s try cam from a HELTER SKELTER 5 minute period of play where both teams played it LOOSE until the lions lost the ball in contact and marcell passed to jpp who scythed through a disorganised Lions “defence” that included props… so where are the two well worked tries you’re on about?
if you recall the try Botes scored @ Loftus, it was also from counter-attack where whitehead snatched the looseball & passed it forward to mcloed etc until it got to botes to go over the line…
with that useless Bashford & Hugh Reece-Edwards your backline is goin nowhere…how much money are the Sharks paying Marius “i’m a thinking playter now” Joubert not to even make the bench. R3 million?
14 Mar 2012, 16:08 pm
I can’t see any SA team making the playoffs this year. None of our provinces are on fire at the moment and i think this is down to rubbish coaching or lack of!!
14 Mar 2012, 16:14 pm
@mad eye(mad eye)-20: when was the last time you saw the sharks score a try from either first phase ball off a line out of scrum ie a SET PIECE? where either mcleod or lambie holds the ball either for a wing to cut at an angle into the oppositions 10-12 channel or anything resembling “this was practised at training and we are nailing it”?
14 Mar 2012, 16:14 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-21: @Transformation(Transformation)-19:
Exactly.All the “penetration” or any type of gain ground from Sharks comes from the grinding often predictable work from likes of Beast,Deysel,Bismark,Alberts,Coetzee and when on form a bit of magic from Daniel/Kankowski.The rest are blunt,nothing happens,The Michalak @ 9 experiment has failed,McCleod has been terrible since he was Bok in 2010.
One thing I wish Sharks loosies and power runners could learn to do is OFFLOAD in tackle. The Likes of Bismark,Alberts,Deysel now Coetzee attract so much attention-often 2/3 defenders…if the varied their play and offloaded at time theyd be hella effective and keep opposition on their toes.Because unless they have COMPLETE dominance physically which is few and far between they just will be running into walls.
Best Sharks team IMHO
1.Beast 2.Bismark 3.Du Plessis 4.Deysel 5.Sykes 6.Coetzee 7.Alberts 8.Kankowski 9.McCleod 10.Lambie 11.Mvovo 12.Jordaan 13.JPP 14.Sithole 15.Viljoen
Sykes,Hargreaves,Bresler are below par-would take my chances with Deysel at lock.Those 3 arent good in air and physically are not up to standard neither.While the 4-physical,5-athletic lock combo is good in principle if quality isnt there to fill both positions adequately,whats the use?
14 Mar 2012, 16:23 pm
And the youngsters from Sharks-Chadwick,Herbst,Bresler,Hargreaves etc arent anything special.they arent of high quality.Comapre them to Stormers-Kitshoff,Etzebeth,Kolisi,Elstadt etc Bulls-Greyling,Kruger,Stander,Venter,Engelbrecht etc
But its not like they dont have promising youngsters-Jordaan,Sithole,Mjekevu,Mthembu etc they just are soooooo conservative and wont give them a chance. Likes of Bosman,Joubert,Ndungane,Botes should be making way for the laaities.
Sharks are NOT gona make Top6,so why not REBUILD and play them NOW
14 Mar 2012, 16:23 pm
@willievz(willievz)-15:
It’s very true
In the wider context, they let go so much talent in the back: Styen, Barritt, Cockott, Andreis Strauss, Butch, Pienaar, it’s a mind boggles talent drain!
Budget constrains is the number one reason, but they have the money to pay Michalak who is surely not cheap, they had the money to pay Mapoe included his medical bills and buying out his contract, sound crazy!
14 Mar 2012, 16:28 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-27:
Hold judgement on Kolisi until Saturday
Playing under S. African cheating referees is one thing, playing under a Kiwi referee facing the Auckland Blues may be a different proposition altogether
14 Mar 2012, 16:31 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-28: i asked earlier how much are they paying joubert, R3 million like Butch @ the Lions?
14 Mar 2012, 16:36 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-29: What does that even mean? What did Kolisi get away with under SA refs? Do you even know what you mean, other than the fact that you’re not fond of blacks?
14 Mar 2012, 16:47 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-27: Yhikaka uPlumtree, uyasinyisa blind.
14 Mar 2012, 16:48 pm
Sharks will beat the Reds… You heard it here first!
14 Mar 2012, 16:49 pm
I wonder who is quicker between Mjekevu, Sithole and Mvovo…
14 Mar 2012, 16:51 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-29: how did cj stander go playing at openside gainst daniel braid being reffed by steve walsh?
has etzebeth ever played against kiwi opposition with the ref being a kiwi? why shouldnt HE be held back?
14 Mar 2012, 16:55 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-28:
Only ONE player in that group is worth having back and that’s Frans Steyn.
The rest are average,hasbeens or never was.
Would rather have McCleod at 9 than fatbottom lip Pienaar
Butch is finished-plus Lambie is a better 10 already
Cockott was terrible when he left and he is didnt make it at Lions ahead of the avg Bondesio.Mitch wouldnt have him neither
Strauss wouldnt trump Frans Steyn at 12 nor would he Whitehead or even Jordaan who is the future.
Barritt ditto Frans Steyn issue.All of Barritt,Steyn,Strauss are 12′s.Only Frans worth it.
About Kolisi you’re talking out your gat as usual.I suppose when one must hold one’s opinion on Etzebeth/Kitshoff/Malherbe etc too? Voetsek uyabheda
14 Mar 2012, 16:55 pm
@SHARKattack(mabu)-34: Dont know but have heard that Jordaan is quicker than all three.
14 Mar 2012, 16:56 pm
@SHARKattack(mabu)-34: i’d say sbura…no bias.
14 Mar 2012, 16:59 pm
@SHARKattack(mabu)-32:
inja uPlumtree.He should have never been made Head coach.He was good as a fwd coach kuphela.And Hugh Reece is a high school coach-thats it thats his ceiling….Bash is not a head honcho type,good guy but not sure what he’s adding to backs for last 2 yrs.
@SHARKattack(mabu)-34:
Sithole
Mjekevu
Mvovo
In that order.
Sithole is an out and out speedster
Mjekevu has the best feet/stepping ability of the lot.
Mvovo acceleration and power with ball in hand.
14 Mar 2012, 17:02 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-35: @SHARKattack(mabu)-32:
Cabanga
11.Sithole
12.Jordaan
13.Mjekevu
14.Mvovo
15.JPP
yooooooooo!!!!
14 Mar 2012, 17:06 pm
@SuperStirrer(SuperStirrer)-37:
@Transformation(Transformation)-38: yet Plum starts with Ndungane, not hating the man, but it must be said he has gone past being a fine wine and is now becoming vinegar.
14 Mar 2012, 17:07 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-30:
Who is paying Butch R3 Millions?
He is a wreck for all intents, cannot run, would never meet any physicals
Marius was let go by Clermonts, I doubt the Sharks paid him more than R750K bear in mind the saving on this wages in SA will be tripple compared to asaving from a European pay of a € 350K!
14 Mar 2012, 17:08 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-21:
Thank you for highlighting the inconsistencies in other years. Brilliant one part of the season, diabolical the other part.
I guess one can write a book entitled The Sharks – a Tale of two Super halves.
No doubt, there is a problem there.
14 Mar 2012, 17:10 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-40: iyatshisa tata hayi kancinci! we can keep dreaming about those backs, unless Cheeky Watson has other plans down eBhayi…
14 Mar 2012, 17:12 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-36:
Money talks, all of which are getting payed handsomely, better than the local, you are entitled for your opinion though
Kockott is playing very well in France
Kolisi is just another Lobbert rouge, the Kiwis will teach him a lesson at hitting from the blind side off the ball, they are the world experts!
14 Mar 2012, 17:13 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-42: the LIONS aree payign him R3 million
14 Mar 2012, 17:17 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-13: Lambie’s decision making is very poor. That more than Michalak is their problem. Their backs shift the ball wide too early and are too lateral in their motion of the ball. Very poor all round.
14 Mar 2012, 17:18 pm
So if the Sharks team ,and especially the backline is so shiiite then how come the Bulls and the Stormers couldn’t cross the tryline.
It’s early season,and as usual the Sharks got the draw from hell,plus somebody conspired to give them Mark,”girls don’t you wish your boyfriend looked like me ”Lawrence 2 games in a row.
Somebody should hit that prick on the head with a waterbottle.
14 Mar 2012, 17:24 pm
My Sharks backline
9. Mcleod
10. Patricio
11. Mjekevu
12. Jordaan
13. Whitehead
14. JP
15 Viljoen
14 Mar 2012, 17:31 pm
@mad eye(mad eye)-48: Bulls actually played better than the Sharks ball in hand. The Sharks are shocking, nothing to it then that. Bosman is their Shark’s best flyhalf. Bambie a very poor excuse for one. McLeod for the highly overrated and long-in-the-tooth Michalak. Not enough substance up front.
14 Mar 2012, 17:37 pm
Sharks:
15 Pat Lambie 14 JP Pietersen 13 JP Pietersen 12 Pat Lambie 11 JP Pietersen 10 Pat Lambie 9 Pat Lambie 8 Willem Alberts 7 Willem Alberts (c) 6 Bismarck du Plessis 5 Willem Alberts 4 Willem Alberts 3 Bismarck du Plessis 2 Bismark du Plessis 1 Bismarck du Plessis
Subs: 16 Bismarck du Plessis 17 Bismarck du Plessis 18 Willem Alberts 19 Willem Alberts 20 Pat Lambie 21 Pat Lambie 22 JP Pietersen
Strong team, sensible selections. If the Sharks play to their strengths they will take this one.
14 Mar 2012, 17:40 pm
@Alucard(Alucard)-47:
The backs shifting the ball wide on early phases is not a problem – it has worked for them for a number of seasons now, and has won them a CC final against a very strong WP defence.
They can afford to attack the wider channels earlier than most teams, and in the process shifting defensive lines. Why? Because their loose forwards are usually quicker than the opposition.
However, you make a very valid point in mentioning that they are too lateral in their motions. I would add their passing accuracy as another concern, which makes their attacks slower and less potent at the contact point.
In fact, all of our young flyhalves’ passing (and in particular Jantjies!!!) needs to step up.
The Sharks looked very threatening against the Bulls when Meyer Bosman shifted to 10.
14 Mar 2012, 17:47 pm
Uh-uh, Sharks must to nothing- they must just giving those Red raggamuffins a royal rogering.
I want to see at least how many stretchers they keep on reserve next to the field matchday.
For heavens sake Alberts, you’re not called the “Bone collector” for nothing. And next up: BULLS
14 Mar 2012, 17:55 pm
@willievz(willievz)-52: There’s no point simply passing the ball through the hands from a starting point behind the advantage line unless you have a numerical advantage. You only normally get a numerical advantage after sustained phases have disorganised the defensive line and/or drawn in defenders to the ruck area. The defensive lines these days are so expertly drilled simply passing the ball through the hands is nevr going to achieve much.
What the Sharks need is consistent ball in hand phase play incorporating more than just a short pop from the base of the ruck to Alberts, Bismark, Coetzee, etc. We need to create different angles, on some occasions we need to pass the ball through 2 or 3 sets of hands before the next ruck, we need to look for the off load, we need dummy runners, etc. This may all sound extremely simplistic but we need SOMETHING to create uncertainty in the defenders’ minds and when pulled off properly the above – after sustained phases – works like a charm. The downside (which the Sharks seem to struggle with) is to avoid turnovers at the breakdown and isolated runners.
14 Mar 2012, 17:56 pm
@mad eye(mad eye)-48: you are talking about DEFENCE…we are telling you they can’t attack for s(hit! they live off scrap created by their marauding LOOSIES& tight forwards…
are your eyes wide shut?
14 Mar 2012, 18:33 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-54: Some good points there.
You can certainly take the ball to wider channels early, provided your support runners can assist the tackle point efficiently. The ABs in particular make regular contact with their 13 from first phase, with Carter skipping Nonu to allow the latter as a carrier assist.
What this allow you is to suck in the defensive 12 (in a defensive rush) or the 10 (in a defensive drift) on phase one, leaving more forwards in the defensive line in the opposite direction on phase two.
The key is variation – go through defenses here, go around defenses there.
It is important to employ a mixture of attacking strategies to keep defensive lines guessing and realigning, taking into account the speed of your ruck ball and field position.
15 Mar 2012, 02:07 am
Sharks vs Genia
Reds by 10+
15 Mar 2012, 07:48 am
@logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck)-9: Brisbane is exactly like Durban ?????
15 Mar 2012, 08:11 am
Alucard Bulls looked more threatening?? Hahahahahahaha!! I was at the game! Bulls never ever looked like scoring a try thats why they reverted to kicking which worked!!
15 Mar 2012, 09:43 am
Not sure if this comment is accurate but I’ll make it anyway. A lot gets said about how we treasure our currie cup and how we are reluctant to let it go even thought super & trinations rugby fixtures are ever expanding but do the players buy into this treasure? It’s weird how our current currie cup champs who knocked over a this very same team only 6 months ago gets a 4 try bonus point taken of them. This leads me to believe that the players are almost taking the currie cup easy, maybe a time to try things in preparation for the big show aka Super rugby. Any comments?
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