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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22 Apr 2012, 14:30 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-300: cheers i am out too
22 Apr 2012, 14:33 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-296: You called me on the phone one day to make amends.. or you gonna be denying that too…
take you little spoonful of pompous spittle and shove that sh’t as far as you like where such sharkshit actually belongs… I got no time for two faced duplicitous punk eyed sniveling pompous snot nosed pom poms…
else why not go with the goody two shoes principles of the peace loving coalitions they insincerely try and spew across these two faced shape shifting boards..
22 Apr 2012, 14:33 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-299: Do you realise that the Sharks are the only union in SR without a defence coach! and it shows doesn’t it!
22 Apr 2012, 14:34 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-282:
yeah bud… i don’t sweat the small stuff and know where you were coming from… so took no offense at your comments at all…
i’ve always backed other the south african teams when the play foreign opposition so i simply don’t understand the mentality of people who feel they have to back the ‘other guys’…
but have also realized quite a long time back that their choices define them… i won’t let them define me… and won’t let their choices affect my own choices…
thing is bud… as stormersboy said a few weeks back… haters be a-hatin’… that’s just what they do… they can’t help themselves… you can’t rationalize or reason with them so don’t let them suck your positive energy by trying to… i just let them get on with it… i’m not going to take their bitterness or mean-spiritedness aboard and let them darken my soul…
they want to get just such a rise out of you… but my psyche is teflon coated and their hate has no long-term effect on me… no ways will i allow them any space in my life…
but i do understand your feelings over this issue and have no problem with it… i watch rugby because i love the game and love wp/stormers… the hater’s don’t even make it into my equation… they are really irrelevant…
but it is rather disturbing to see how fans of the winning teams come online to gloat and insult the fans of the losing team… it’s as if they have personally achieved something… just shows you how little substance they have in their lives…
most of the hatred on this site is… IMO… caused by the ungracious ‘winning fans’ who come and insult the (naturally) upset and angry losing fans…
a little more grace in victory would go a long way…
but of course that’s not what the haters want… because they thrive on the hating…
go figure…
22 Apr 2012, 14:36 pm
@ufo(ufo)-304: Post of the century. Big up.
Especially liked this bit:
“thing is bud… as stormersboy said a few weeks back… haters be a-hatin’… that’s just what they do… they can’t help themselves… you can’t rationalize or reason with them so don’t let them suck your positive energy by trying to… i just let them get on with it… i’m not going to take their bitterness or mean-spiritedness aboard and let them darken my soul… they want to get just such a rise out of you… but my psyche is teflon coated and their hate has no long-term effect on me… no ways will i allow them any space in my life…”
Especially liked the teflon bit. Great post.
22 Apr 2012, 14:39 pm
Describes skopshyte, skyewalker and Pee Wee to a tee. The gloating trio. Unfortunately, they are all Stormers fans so I guess that’s why we have people like Heaven’s Game reacting to them and it all becomes one big massive cycle of bitterness.
Funny that the Bulls fans aren’t really involved though. They just quietly get on with the rugby.
22 Apr 2012, 14:40 pm
@ufo(ufo)-304: AMEN!!! Well done best post in a very very very long time, maybe ever!
22 Apr 2012, 14:40 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-305:
shot bud…
22 Apr 2012, 14:43 pm
@Sharksgirl(Sharksgirl)-307:
thank you kind lady…
decency cost zip… one thing that makes you richer by giving it away…
22 Apr 2012, 14:52 pm
@ufo(ufo)-304:
who’s losing and who’s ‘winning’ here huh.. and who be your ‘haters’ ?
do you have ANY idea between a winner and a loser.. and a lover or a hater?
I doubt it MUCH
You wouldn’t know a loser from a winner from a hater from a peace lover if you had to trip over one or share a beer with one.. because it is CLEAR as goddamn day.. you dunno who the hell you affiliate your association of who or what either a ‘lover’ or a ‘hater’ IS…
One day you may find out..
22 Apr 2012, 14:59 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-306: you’re a spittle spewing spiteful little cn’t no matter how much goody two shoes insincere arse creeping you get up to.. that won’t ever change the cn’t you are…
@ufo(ufo)-309:
and your so called noble type sentiments might wash with those who place smileys at the end of their posts to hide the real sentiments they hold inside.. but it don’t fool me.. one little itsy weeny bitty.. because I KNOW when I meet true honest integrity and decency and when I don’t…
So stop fooling yourself and all else who wanna pretend otherwise … honesty, integrity, humility, and decency, are traits that don’t come willy nilly easy peasy bullshit baffles brains on a rugby blog… you go a LONG way to find the true humane peace lovers of the world .. and I guarantee you.. that its unlikely you find ANY of such true sterling REAL honest integrity ANYWHERE around here !
22 Apr 2012, 15:16 pm
@ufo(ufo)-304: fANTASTIC POST MATE, COULD NEVER HAVE SAID IT BETTER ,
22 Apr 2012, 15:31 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-612: So then stick to athletics or tennis or basketball or whatever tickles your fancy. Stop wasting your energy on the talentless, unathletic poor rugby players.
Go join a basketball blog or tennis blog or athletics blog and swear at the people there. See what happens. They, as supporters of the graceful, talented sport codes will likely not take kind to some oke from the fairest Cape that wants to tell everyone else to think exactly like him and if not, swear them in a language most people do not recognize as a language at all, but rather as bribberish constructed by a lonely man deprived of the greatest gift of all – that is LOVE.
22 Apr 2012, 15:37 pm
I don’t hate other SA teams,but in this super 15 system i will only support teams that can further the Stormers quest of winning the title.
22 Apr 2012, 15:42 pm
@ufo(ufo)-304:
Very well written! We all the know the feeling when our team loses – not a nice feeling either. But that is what sport is all about. It teaches us to be humble when winning and gracious in defeat.
As you said! We all love rugby and I for one enjoy each person’s views whether or not I agree with them.
22 Apr 2012, 15:42 pm
Will support the Bulls for one game on their overseas leg,but not for the other three.
22 Apr 2012, 15:46 pm
I only support the Stormers and the Boks. A supporter is someone loyal to a team. I cheer for South African teams though, although I will never support them.
22 Apr 2012, 15:48 pm
Bulls supporters really should grow a pair of steel balls.They are way too sensitive when it comes to criticism of their players.Yesterday this kleutertjie thing called me a troll for daring to suggest that Dean Greyling is a super rugby thug.
22 Apr 2012, 15:51 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-317:
we are on the same page! I cheer for SA teams when playing non SA teams but my only allegiance is to the Sharks and SA!
22 Apr 2012, 15:52 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-318:
22 Apr 2012, 15:54 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-318:
Kleuter is not such a bad oke at all. We have chatted a bit and I respect his views but mine are totally different. Doesn’t mean we can’t get on with each other and start insulting each other.
22 Apr 2012, 15:54 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-317: These guys still live in the stone ages…and this in the professional era where winning for a franchise means everything-increased sponsorship,shirt sales etc etc.
22 Apr 2012, 15:55 pm
@Sharksgirl(Sharksgirl)-319:
Yeah for sure!
I stick up for any SAFA team though… Strange but true…
22 Apr 2012, 15:56 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-306:
You just such a poor loser sourballs,sharkies used to be my 2nd team till I came across the venom spewed by nitwits like you and HG,can’t handle the heat then just fcukoff.The only reason I now support any teams but the sharks and the bulls is because of pissant supporters.I have changed sides and lovin’ it!
22 Apr 2012, 15:58 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-322:
Mate I’m a born and bred Capie! I’ve been living in Pretoria for 19 years now and you don’t even want to know what chirps I get with my Stormer Jersey on. My wife has said please don’t come shopping with it on anymore. Sometimes it is abusive. It is very different in these parts of the world. You are classified as a traitor if you not wearing Blue (Pink). Treason is a huge crime here. I’m used to it now and will never change my team – ever.
22 Apr 2012, 15:59 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-318: Repeat – Troll Alert!
You should learn to celebrate your team’s win without trying to hurt the feelings of others. You had no part in the Stormers win, just as much as the Sharks supporters had no part in their team’s loss.
Your reaction to a SHark would have been exactly the same as mine ( I’m a Bull) had things been reversed (ie. Stormers lost, Sharks won).
Grow some humbling ballas. Greyling is a “thug” according to you, but if he was a Stormer, he would be Mr. Saint.
One-eyed TROLL.
22 Apr 2012, 16:00 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-321: I thank you brother. We eat the same biltong, just in a different way.
22 Apr 2012, 16:01 pm
@skyewalker(skyewalker)-324:
They do make Shark supporters sound really bad. They are the exception though. Most are really nice people. There are a few Stormer Supporters who also spew **** and then the Bulls – well they are just purr(fectous). Tac is the best example of an un(biased) Bulls supporter…
22 Apr 2012, 16:02 pm
@skyewalker(skyewalker)-324: You should never allow a rugby blog to change your personality or outlook on life.I know that it’s difficult sometimes,especially with moronic characters like hg,wooden spoon,rangerman and others soiling this blog with their venom.
22 Apr 2012, 16:02 pm
@Sharksgirl(Sharksgirl)-319:
Likewise,to Stormers and Boks,and that means I support individual Boks playing good rugby for their respective franchises.The super 15 is now designed to not support other provinces ’cause the teams are now in direct competition with each other for the top of the conference trophy.Divide and conquor,it seems to be working.In the past it was much easier to support all sa teams,now it’s stormers and the rest can go paddle their canoes up sh*t creek!
22 Apr 2012, 16:03 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-328:
22 Apr 2012, 16:04 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-331:
… and we are the best of buddies too. Had our words but nothing will change our views…
22 Apr 2012, 16:06 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-325:
You a standup guy Bill,I spent 20 years up north and it was always risky walking into a bush pub with wp jersey,boneheads always want to pick a fight,especially if they on the losing side.
22 Apr 2012, 16:06 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-332: nope, but we also dont trash each others teams
22 Apr 2012, 16:08 pm
@skyewalker(skyewalker)-330: Well said….and just don’t call pink panty Dean Greyling a thug.
22 Apr 2012, 16:08 pm
@skyewalker(skyewalker)-333: Some, not all. You get real bonehead Bulls as much as you get real thug Stormers. Look at me, a classic example of someone who never has anything bad to say!
22 Apr 2012, 16:10 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-335: If the post was about Bekker being injured and I said “Bekker is a cnt for swearing at his team mates”, what would you call me? A good guy or a troll for saying something simply to get a reaction?
22 Apr 2012, 16:10 pm
@skyewalker(skyewalker)-333:
You know when the guys actually start knowing you, it changes. I have some great mates now. We go to Loftus together – me always with my Province or Stormers jersey. I have my ticket for 2 June – Grandstand – amongst the mighty Pink girls… hehehe
22 Apr 2012, 16:11 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-329:
Thing is,I’m far more relaxed and focussed now that I’m not supporting someone’s team that just throws it back in my face,and take a certain pleasure out of calling it right on superbru,don’t have to make calls with my heart anymore just sensible ones.
22 Apr 2012, 16:11 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-334:
What does it help.
I just love my rugby and I’m depressed when there is nothing to watch.
22 Apr 2012, 16:13 pm
@skyewalker(skyewalker)-333: I worked for ten months in the Benoni area and it was dangerous for your well-being to walk into the Van Riebeeck hotel(not sure of the name,as it was way back in 1993) wearing a WP jersey.
22 Apr 2012, 16:13 pm
@Kleuter(Kleuter)-337:
Yeah and you put me on my place when you put c behind Spies’ name…
Your views on Spies’ play yesterday? My thoughts don’t count – they could be biased.
22 Apr 2012, 16:13 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-338:
I hear you,but there’s always a chance that some disgruntled drunk may take offence to your presence,more so if it’s a race thing too.
22 Apr 2012, 16:15 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-342: Bad game. Especially his captaincy in last 20. Very disappointed.
22 Apr 2012, 16:15 pm
@skyewalker(skyewalker)-339: I know.You support them…and their three super titles are thrown into your face.
22 Apr 2012, 16:15 pm
@skyewalker(skyewalker)-343:
Do I know that!
22 Apr 2012, 16:18 pm
Skyewalker – you aint nothing but a hater (read ufo’s magnanimous post at #304 for a refresher). A hater hates, that’s just what you do. I accept it and smile at your misfortune. Nothing will change your bitterness, so I’m certainly not going to try.
22 Apr 2012, 16:18 pm
@Kleuter(Kleuter)-344:
My view is that he is far too inconsitent to ever be a great player. He plays ok behind a winning pack and disappears when the pack is going backwards. A great player can change his game and shine in either. He is too one-dimensional in my opinion. I think his place in Bulls side will come under scrutiny soon. Some really good players putting up their hands…
22 Apr 2012, 16:18 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-342: I had a respectable discussion on Spies with greatestgerber in regards to yesterday’s play.Not sure you gonna get it with sproetgesiggie.
22 Apr 2012, 16:19 pm
Sharks have been extremely frustrating to watch this season. No patience, composure or accuracy at all. You can probably count the number of times they’ve gone through ten phases this season on one hand.
Plumtree and the “coaching” staff have overstayed their welcome.
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