Chiefs edge Durban scrap
21 Apr 2012
RYAN VREDE reports on the Chiefs’ 18-12 victory over the Sharks at Kings Park.
The Sharks spoke this week about finding the synergy and cohesion that has been lacking for most of their campaign. It didn’t happen for them tonight for a plethora of reasons, most notably their inability to retain the ball through enough phases for them to build line-depleting pressure on their opponents.
When they weren’t knocking the ball on in contact or, at times, under no pressure whatsoever, or overcooking lineouts, their ill-discipline further undermined their cause. Unseasonable humidity complicated handling, and while both sides were guilty of fundamental errors in this regard, the Sharks could have aided their effort by holding the ball through their forwards more often than they were willing to do.
Indeed they bossed possession and territory and when they were direct they looked capable of unlocking the Chiefs’ stingy defence. Instead they often went wide without earning the right to do so first, and were met by organised, physical and intelligent defence.
The Chiefs absorbed early pressure well then struck against the run of play. A multi-phase move eroded the Sharks’ defensive line and they shifted the ball wide to Aaron Cruden who cut through amidst calls of obstruction from Sharks players. A review of that score suggested they may have had a solid argument for a penalty. Cruden converted and later kicked a penalty to give his side breathing room.
Much of the Sharks’ focus had been on nullifying the efficient strike runners in the Chiefs’ pack as a means of diluting Sonny Bill Williams’ potency. But the midfielder rendered himself a relative non-factor with his worst performance in Super Rugby. His offloads failed to find their mark and his hands seemed to have been dipped in industrial strength lubricant before kick-off. However, even with the Chiefs’ most dangerous attacking weapon blunted, the Sharks couldn’t get the precision into their attacking game to capitalise.
Pat Lambie kicked three penalties either side of half-time to draw his side within a point. The Chiefs reverted to a more forward-orientated in the second half while the Sharks retained faith in their sterile method. Their fans would have hoped their replacements would have injected some penetration into their play, exploiting the Chiefs’ travel-weary legs and minds.
And they gradually grew in stature, Lambie kicking a penalty to set up a tense finish. You sensed the Sharks would end stronger but they never had the patience and tactical purpose to steal the victory. They became increasingly frantic as full-time neared and in so doing became easier to repel. Chiefs scrumhalf Augustine Pulu scored an audacious try after the siren sounded, faking to kick for touch then breaking through a gap and dancing down the touchline.
The Sharks needed to win this one to keep their charge for the conference title on track. Dropping home points has often been terminal to teams’ ambitions and you have to think that this one will come back to haunt them.
584 Comments
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21 Apr 2012, 17:39 pm
The Sharks look clueless!! Or is that coachless??
21 Apr 2012, 17:40 pm
The backs seems to have no passing skils!!!
21 Apr 2012, 17:42 pm
Not the players. It is the coaching.
21 Apr 2012, 17:45 pm
Lambie regards himself as the new Henry Honibal, except he can’t break the line without spiling the ball
21 Apr 2012, 17:47 pm
Slow game. Come on Sharks.
21 Apr 2012, 17:47 pm
Jannie Du Plessis is the k@kkest prop in the world. Can’t tackle, can’t take a ball up and can’t a fark scrum. How he’s a Bok is beyond me.
21 Apr 2012, 17:47 pm
15 handling errors so far.
21 Apr 2012, 17:48 pm
A lot of handling errors, what happened to those bicycle gloves players used couple of years ago?
21 Apr 2012, 17:48 pm
HG where are you? Sharks looking real k@k
21 Apr 2012, 17:48 pm
Sharks’ passing is pathetic today.
21 Apr 2012, 17:49 pm
Kaak handling
21 Apr 2012, 17:50 pm
Mcleod’s useless
21 Apr 2012, 17:50 pm
@ willie,
Should I remind you of your predictions this week
21 Apr 2012, 17:50 pm
I think the Sharks could still turn it around in the second half. Let’s see if they’re can change
21 Apr 2012, 17:51 pm
51@bottomline… Its weird we playing the game but we dont look coached.
21 Apr 2012, 17:52 pm
Shurrup all you WP brokebacks
21 Apr 2012, 17:52 pm
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-63: LOL, yep my bru has taken a pounding!!
21 Apr 2012, 17:53 pm
Jannie Dup “we can put big score on them”
He’s obviously referring to handling errors
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
21 Apr 2012, 17:53 pm
Chiefs are not playing that well, Sharks just playing worse.
Hopefully 2nd half will be better.
21 Apr 2012, 17:54 pm
Comedy of mass proportion !! Lucky the half time hooter sounded …lol
21 Apr 2012, 17:54 pm
Bunch of Dove deodorant wearing whatsits
21 Apr 2012, 17:54 pm
OMG JDP just said they have the edge in the scrums and that if they cut out the silly knock ons they can put a big score on the Chiefs – in the half time interview. Sorry Jannie but your head is being shoved straight through your *** in the scrums and you’re behind on the scoreboard hahahahahahaha! What a chop!
21 Apr 2012, 17:55 pm
Only positive in this game is Chiefs no8 otherwise useless including amateur commentary.
21 Apr 2012, 17:55 pm
I guess being asked to play 9 games in a row is telling today.
They clearly are not playing at 100% – no energy or commitment.
Viljoen, in particular, is having a terrible game and Whitehead and McLeod are not far behind.
No surprises here, the Sharks are playing to their consistent form – *****.
21 Apr 2012, 17:56 pm
JPP is clearly not skilled enough to be a centre. No rugby brain and hands aren’t up to it either.
21 Apr 2012, 17:56 pm
Oh ja, and the Chiefs’ try was lucky.
21 Apr 2012, 17:56 pm
Daniel and Botes can’t feature in the same line up, it’s too obvious
21 Apr 2012, 17:56 pm
@Pee Wee(Pee Wee)-72: Sharks scrum is actually doing well.
21 Apr 2012, 17:57 pm
Good to see Breyton again. One of my all time favorite players.
21 Apr 2012, 17:57 pm
Botes has been invisible.
21 Apr 2012, 17:58 pm
Hows this stat – Ludik has never scored a try in Super rugby.
If you have watched the movie Moneyball, then you will no doubt be shaking your head in dismay that this guy gets to start over other more attacking threats.
21 Apr 2012, 17:59 pm
lucky to have 3 points at the break, undeserved maybe lady luck bales them out their woefully inept lethargy today.
And some SharkieVarkie poefta were telling all and sundry that Sharks were the automatic choice for best saffa franchise in the conference this year..
Yeah sing us another SharkieVarkie f’ng lullaby Woeful Woesie Spurt and Horrible Guppyuppie higgledy giggle squirm.
21 Apr 2012, 18:00 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-81: I had high expectations of him when he was at the Lions. He just never seemed to kick on from there.
21 Apr 2012, 18:00 pm
Who’s the Chiefs scrummie? He’s piss poor LOL!
21 Apr 2012, 18:00 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-77: Botes looks a lot more effective then Daniel actually. Keegan probably only in, because he is captain. The Sharks should probably have co-captains, because its made someone undroppable, who should be dropped from time to time.
21 Apr 2012, 18:00 pm
Bring back Ruan and kick out useless Mcleod, buy Sias Ebersohn and play him at 10. Frans Steyn and Whitehead or Jordaan centres, JPP and Mvovo wings and Patricio at fullback.
And a new coach of course
21 Apr 2012, 18:01 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-82: you are making a fool of yourself old man. SADF yellow belly.
21 Apr 2012, 18:01 pm
@Woody, botes is kak today, bring on marcel!
21 Apr 2012, 18:02 pm
Coetzee on
21 Apr 2012, 18:03 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-76:
Unlucky that Cruden made JPP look like a tjop?Both sides battling with slippery ball,SBW would probably have caused far more havoc had he hung onto any of those one-handed passes.
21 Apr 2012, 18:03 pm
@HongKongSlong(HongKongSlong)-75:
He keeps hugging the Chiefs, it’s an embarrassment (instead of tackling)
Pay attention to his defence at the try, Mvovo also no where to be seen on a cover defence despite the Chiefs were clearly swinging it wide to the their left!
21 Apr 2012, 18:04 pm
immediately Coetsee makes a difference the only SharkieVarkie worthy of a Bok call up so far is Marcel Coetsee all the other wannabes are toast.
21 Apr 2012, 18:05 pm
Come on Sharkies!
Play back to your forwards.
You can’t out-muscle them out wide.
We need you to take these guys
21 Apr 2012, 18:06 pm
Mind your freaking mouth Sonny! Useless
21 Apr 2012, 18:06 pm
Sonny Bill coughs up a certain try
21 Apr 2012, 18:07 pm
Good grief!! This game is flat!! Even the crowd is falling asleep!
21 Apr 2012, 18:09 pm
Nice going number 3.
21 Apr 2012, 18:09 pm
@Markel77(Markel77)-86:
Makes a good sense
21 Apr 2012, 18:11 pm
No Albert and Jannie?
it looks better actually
21 Apr 2012, 18:11 pm
Chiefs should take that glory sonny off. He is useless
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