Desperate Sharks edge Canberra scrap
31 Mar 2012
JON CARDINELLI reports that guts ultimately proved more valuable than accuracy in an important 29-26 win for Sharks over the Brumbies.
Regardless of a reflection that will reveal both teams were guilty of stupid mistakes, the upshot is that the Sharks have recorded a bonus-point victory in a city where they haven’t won since 1998. There is plenty to criticise and plenty to laud, but there’s no getting round this fact.
The result ensures the Sharks remain in the Super Rugby race after a string of inconsistent showings. They fell short against the Waratahs last week and desperately needed this win to keep them in the hunt. They were never in control in Canberra and the problems in their game still persist, but for the moment they will savour a performance that has brought them five log points and a crucial win Down Under.
Moving forward, though, they will need to address a few shortcomings that continue to hamper their ability to dominate a match.
Indeed it was their ability to stifle the Brumbies at the breakdown and force some telling turnovers that won them the game. Jake White will be livid with his players for coughing up possession whenever the hosts ventured into the Sharks’ 22. In these pressure situations, the Sharks prevailed, showing incredible tenacity as well as an accuracy that was absent from many other areas of their game.
It may seem harsh to criticise an attack that scored four tries against what is a good Brumbies defence, but many of these tries were created from turnover ball.
There were moments of clear desperation that garnered points, such as when Odwa Ndungane found himself defending against three Brumbies players and still managed to snaffle an intercept that led to a try. In the second half, there was a brilliant breakdown turnover on the Sharks tryline that was quickly shifted wide, and Lwazi Mvovo produced a thrilling finish to secure the bonus-point try.
The accurate boot of Freddie Michalak also ensured that the Sharks turned three of their four tries into seven-pointers. And yet, that high-try count is misleading, as the Sharks battled to control possession for much of the game.
Not for the first time in 2012, their failure to set a good platform before unleashing the backs led to some frantic play. And six rounds into the competition, there still seems to be a lack of synergy that is hampering their attacking execution.
Sharks fans will point to the scoreboard and denounce these claims, but it must be noted just how many opportunities the Brumbies botched on Saturday. Their first try was scored through fullback Jesse Mogg, who initially profited from a forward pass and then showed a superb piece of individual skill to finish. Between that point and just seconds before full time, the Brumbies enjoyed many more opportunities but were undone by turnovers.
When they had a chance to counter-attack, they were also guilty of silly mistakes and poor decisions. The Sharks kicked terribly out of hand, but unfortunately for the hosts, the Brumbies just could not capitalise. It is surely something White will want to address with this young and inexperienced side.
For the Sharks, it’s time to start putting some complete performances together. Like the win against the Reds two weeks previously, this result in Canberra highlighted the guts and tenacity that runs through the side, but they need to be honest about where they are falling short, they need to start executing efficiently if they are to build on a solid start to their Australasian tour.
They lost the match against the Waratahs in the final minutes, and so nearly relinquished a 10-point lead in the dying stages of the clash against the Brumbies. It took a Brumbies knock-on in the final play for the Sharks to escape with the spoils.
The scoreboard may tell a different story, but the Sharks still have a long way to go if they are going to topple the better teams.
210 Comments
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31 Mar 2012, 09:52 am
Come on Sharks
31 Mar 2012, 10:01 am
Go Jake & The Boys!!!!!!!!!!
31 Mar 2012, 10:08 am
Go Sharks… The Cheetahs have shown how to do it…!
31 Mar 2012, 10:22 am
Sharks have to win.I see there is no argument around if Kanko is better than that kid that plays for Menlo Park two’s.Seems the kid is winning hands down as at least he is starting the games for his team
31 Mar 2012, 10:26 am
S H A R K K K S S S S S S S S !!!!!
31 Mar 2012, 10:28 am
Sharks have an uphill battle. They will struggle to win if they play like they did last week!
31 Mar 2012, 10:36 am
This is a must win game for the Sharks.
31 Mar 2012, 10:42 am
Go the Sharks!
31 Mar 2012, 10:48 am
i support jake,the saffa.go brumbies!
31 Mar 2012, 10:57 am
should have been a yellow card also.good work brumbies.
31 Mar 2012, 11:01 am
Yebo babYyyyyyYyyyyyyy SHARKssssssss
31 Mar 2012, 11:03 am
Capecrusty, supporting a white SA male?! Have you had your tablets today?
31 Mar 2012, 11:04 am
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-11:
Slow down Hugs, still long way to go…pace yourself!
31 Mar 2012, 11:06 am
@Slarty
31 Mar 2012, 11:06 am
come on you f(ucking guppys!!!
If ya lose this one ya can forget about a home semi! Now moer hom!
31 Mar 2012, 11:07 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-12: it’s not about race,buddy.
31 Mar 2012, 11:09 am
Feckfeckfeckfeckfeck
31 Mar 2012, 11:09 am
oh yes!typical jake white rugby!!!habana must be missing the great man.
31 Mar 2012, 11:09 am
Oohh gaats! Great try though.
31 Mar 2012, 11:09 am
Hw forward was that pass ffs
31 Mar 2012, 11:09 am
The Bumbies bite back,
8)
31 Mar 2012, 11:10 am
great try by die brumbies fullback.
31 Mar 2012, 11:11 am
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-17:
Hehehe sorry Hugs but that made me smile!
PS Sharks look like they on holidays, not 100 commited or into it or something…
31 Mar 2012, 11:11 am
@ Capecrusader : Are you too going to switch allegiance -like so many of my arrogant Crusader supporting mates – who now suddenly support all NZ teams seeing that their team is horse manure this season?
31 Mar 2012, 11:13 am
Where the f is the Sharks halfback
31 Mar 2012, 11:14 am
whitehead not very impressive.i can see why wp carted him off to the sharks.ndungane just as slow as his brother.keegan daniel leads the super stats for the most missed tackles and you can see why.
31 Mar 2012, 11:14 am
Mild applause sharks go Gani.
31 Mar 2012, 11:19 am
You jinxing us Slarty !!
31 Mar 2012, 11:19 am
@Pee Wee(Pee Wee)-24: nothing wrong with the crusaders.in any case the national team is more important than any franchise ….except for you losers down there in the republic.
31 Mar 2012, 11:20 am
Mallet to coach the sharks. Plum has shown all his cards season after season and he has always been found wanting. He is a 80% coach, who consistently lacks the other 20% needed to get the team firing week after week.
The sharks play way below their potential. Meh …I’m getting rather apathetic about the whole thing.
31 Mar 2012, 11:21 am
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-27:
OK I will uncross my legs for the second half…
31 Mar 2012, 11:22 am
@Cambridge(Cambridge)-30: Unfortunately the 20% Plum is missing is basic common sense.
His choice of Captain is a bad idea, the choices Keegan makes are poor, where is McCleod today, 5 seconds too slow and Whitehead is appalling.
31 Mar 2012, 11:24 am
Cape Crusader…… You one sad lonely thing if you feel the need to come here and slag off anything South African. I suppose any attention is better than nothing in your case.
31 Mar 2012, 11:24 am
Morning gents and Hugz.
Awesome win this morning Slarti, made my weekend regardless of what happens at Newlands.
31 Mar 2012, 11:25 am
Sharks hv been terrible, how many passes have gone behind the reciever. Whitehead is a major liability, JPP is lazy and walks on the field, by coming out of the defensive line JPP gifted the space to the Brumbies to score their try.
Ndungane – fancy a carthorse anyone?
How slow is McCloud as getting to the rucks and clearing the ball….?
Time for Plum to get the boot – Mallet to coach the Sharks
31 Mar 2012, 11:27 am
@brains_trust(brains_trust)-35: Are you going to pay Mallet?
31 Mar 2012, 11:27 am
Faarking make sharp Sharks!!! Common big second half!! ffs!!!
31 Mar 2012, 11:27 am
@Slarty lolololol… Carefull not to tight, you don’t want to damage anything.
31 Mar 2012, 11:28 am
@brains_trust(brains_trust)-35:
Perhaps some fatigue is setting in?
31 Mar 2012, 11:28 am
Sharks also need locks and Mvovo is a bang broek on defense – say what u want about Habana but he puts his body on the line (unlike MVovo)
31 Mar 2012, 11:29 am
Or Frustration. Lack of hunger & killer instinct!
ffs!
31 Mar 2012, 11:29 am
Yeah, i’m a committed fan and all that, but watching the sharks does make me wonder why i bother with them. The big issue is there is nothing to look forward to. Does anyone think it will be any different/better six months from now?
Its time to clean house at the top. The sharks play like a bunch of mates who occasionally get together to throw ball around for ***** and giggles. Clearly this rugby business is getting in the way of their braaing.
31 Mar 2012, 11:30 am
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-33:
Just leave the poor sod alone, he will leave soon.
@JockBok(JockBok)-34:
Thanks Jock, it was great and loved it.
@brains_trust(brains_trust)-35:
Something a miss, I blame the coach.
31 Mar 2012, 11:30 am
Huzzit Jock.
31 Mar 2012, 11:31 am
@Guns(Guns)-39: Hey boet, hope you guys have the ammo to close this one out, I have you to take this on Superbru,
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-38: Morning Hugsy, how’s the minkeys?
31 Mar 2012, 11:32 am
just love the way jake has transformed this brumbies team.@brains_trust(brains_trust)-35: mallet will never go there buddy.only desperate people live in kzn
31 Mar 2012, 11:32 am
I am not going to pay Mallet – the Sharks can cut Freddie from his contract and free up the cash, btw I support the Stormers just hate seeing the Sharks play the k@k !!!
31 Mar 2012, 11:35 am
Lololololol what a try
31 Mar 2012, 11:35 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-43:
Great stuff, only saw the second half but man, so chuffed for the eTahs
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-44:
Howdy Hugs. another hour and a bit of inconvenience (work) then I can join in the rugby chat. Go Sharkies meantime.
Oh, and ……..
STORMERSSSSS
31 Mar 2012, 11:39 am
Sharks looking good – alberts is the obvious choice for tge Boks – he’s absolutely massive and basically is the sharks, he and Bismarck.
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