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, 18:47 pm
Time running out indeed.
21 Apr 2012, 18:47 pm
Terrible pass byBosman
21 Apr 2012, 18:47 pm
BOSMAN IS KAK
21 Apr 2012, 18:48 pm
If we should somehow win this I will feel relief not joy.
21 Apr 2012, 18:48 pm
This a stating the obvious, a very good defensive game. Yes handling errors, but that comes from good D. Also, the Masaga attempted tackle was wreckless.
21 Apr 2012, 18:48 pm
WHAT POINT IS A LOSING BONUS POINT TO THE SHARKS? THEIR SEASON IS NOW OVER.
PLUMTREE OUT.
21 Apr 2012, 18:48 pm
Guppy rubbish!!!!
21 Apr 2012, 18:48 pm
Heartbreak for sharkies!
21 Apr 2012, 18:48 pm
A great tackle by JP, that’s why they select him for the Boks
21 Apr 2012, 18:48 pm
Eish what a shocker of a game, well done Chiefs.
21 Apr 2012, 18:48 pm
Chiefs too cocky………..Sharks ummm
21 Apr 2012, 18:49 pm
Not a good game.
21 Apr 2012, 18:49 pm
heartbreak hotel….
21 Apr 2012, 18:49 pm
LOL bonus point
21 Apr 2012, 18:49 pm
Looks like the sharks bubble has burst lol.
On a serious note the sharks looked tired at the end there.
21 Apr 2012, 18:50 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-156:
Lucky to get that bp…could have been far more embarrasing.
21 Apr 2012, 18:50 pm
Sorry Sharks. But freak you! Screwed my superbru.
21 Apr 2012, 18:50 pm
Skop will now be unstoppable
21 Apr 2012, 18:51 pm
Hard luck Sharks. But there were just too many handling errors and lack of concentration at crucial times. Good sides turn those into points.
21 Apr 2012, 18:52 pm
Rudolf strauli, plumtree, keegan daniels, jannie Dup, michalak, ludick and bosman don’t add any value to the sharks.
~end of story~
21 Apr 2012, 18:52 pm
@Kleuter(Kleuter)-167:
Farked my bru up as well, i was heading for a fullhouse.
21 Apr 2012, 18:53 pm
so much for the potential 9 pts the sharks were going to pocket including their bye…
21 Apr 2012, 18:55 pm
Chiefs were bad, guppies were abyssmal. HG come get it you gutless git.
21 Apr 2012, 18:57 pm
lucky f’ng guppyuppies saved a bonus point, little scrummy was so surprised he made the try line he didn’t think to run around nearer to posts and then SharkieVarkie dream merchants wouldn’t have been gifted that BP
Daniel is a poor Kak captain, problem at SharkieVarkie country ain’t so much the coach its this fak’d up attitude of entitlement that they think they can buy their way to success.
Until they change that mercenary fak’d up attitude they never gonna amount to much.., far too much kop toe f’ng arrogance emanating from out that last bastion of soutie money makes the world go round SharkieVarkie tank.
21 Apr 2012, 18:58 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-172:
@Slappes(Slappes)-173:
Poor HG must be heartbroken.
A weekend from hell, starting with the Stormers victory.
Wonder if we will ever see him again.
21 Apr 2012, 18:58 pm
Disappointing. The Chiefs converted their opportunities better than the Sharks,
They could have done us a big favour here.
Pity. i picked the Sharks on the ‘Bru.
That’ll teach me.
21 Apr 2012, 18:59 pm
170.NoRugbyGuru_0_: Too true, the only one you forgot is Van Zyl who hired them
21 Apr 2012, 19:00 pm
Bad luck Sharks Not sure about the Chiefs 1st try
21 Apr 2012, 19:01 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-176:
I also picked them
Last week i picked the Blues to beat them
They my hoodoo team, lol.
21 Apr 2012, 19:02 pm
@ 175
hehe..him and Tacitus the same.Grootbek before the game and when they’re teams are winning.MIA if the result goes against them
21 Apr 2012, 19:02 pm
Sharks should have taken it in the 2nd half. Chiefs were out on their feet.
21 Apr 2012, 19:02 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-171: teach you to back these hopeless overrated self aggrandized wannabes
Where that proud prediction by HG how many points SharkieVarkie poeftas were gonna claim from their tour including their first games back home?
21 Apr 2012, 19:02 pm
Bottomline, you can’t win with that many errors and lack of concentration.
21 Apr 2012, 19:03 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-174:
problem is skoppie, we don’t do brawn in natal.
so we have to import it.
what we do though, is brains.
and then you guys buy it.
8)
21 Apr 2012, 19:04 pm
SKOP….give it a break ! You are truly pathetic, have you no shame.
21 Apr 2012, 19:04 pm
Well done Chiefs! This was really a game I believe the Sharks should have won. A pity as this Chiefs side is looking really good. Winning and yet not playing well. Going to be hard beating them in New Zealand.
Sorry to the Sharks fans, the team did well. I’m really impressed with Tim Whitehead. This guy is playing some good rugby… Mcloud continuous to disappoint and Lambie is showing some good signs.
21 Apr 2012, 19:05 pm
@charo(charo)-184:
or copy it
21 Apr 2012, 19:05 pm
@charo(charo)-184:
Hey Charo A game full of errors but Chiefs took their opportunities
Ref was not great
21 Apr 2012, 19:07 pm
Lambie reminds me of that famous warplane the Swordfish which sunk the Bismark
21 Apr 2012, 19:08 pm
Sorry Sharks.
There’s always next week. You can try again then.
This was actually not a high quality match. Some serious big hits though.
21 Apr 2012, 19:09 pm
Do Sharks have a bye next week?
21 Apr 2012, 19:10 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-185: suck it up sweety don’t lose your cool/.
21 Apr 2012, 19:11 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-188:
yep, pete, sharks were disappointing.
don’t really looked coached to me.
but then, the chiefs didn’t look like world beaters either.
to me, stormers, bulls and saders are better than them
21 Apr 2012, 19:12 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-191: yep
21 Apr 2012, 19:12 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-185:
He is only doing a HG on the Shark fans.
*** for tat.
21 Apr 2012, 19:13 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-194:
Thanks Transie.
21 Apr 2012, 19:13 pm
the chiefs have now beaten the sharks 3 YEARS in a row.
21 Apr 2012, 19:14 pm
@charo(charo)-184: I was with you till your last remark. Sharks are mostly imports. No young talent coming through the ranks. You’re way off bru.
21 Apr 2012, 19:14 pm
@charo(charo)-193:
I think the Chiefs can challenge for the trophy this year if the get their islanders to stop the dirty ****
They have a decent pack and really good backs
21 Apr 2012, 19:17 pm
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