Sharks power to crucial win
26 May 2012
JON CARDINELLI watched the Sharks manhandle the Stormers in their 25-20 victory at Kings Park on Saturday.
The scoreline will suggest the visitors were in the contest until the final whistle, and it does not do the Sharks justice. The hosts were in control for 60 minutes of this match, and it took a bit of luck and one particularly bad call from the referee to allow the Stormers to come close to completing a comeback win.
The Stormers went into this game as underdogs, and they certainly looked the part in the early stages. It didn’t help that Siya Kolisi, one of their primary ball-carriers and most physical defenders, withdrew before the start with injury. It didn’t help that a number of their forwards were coming into this game fatigued. They were always there for the taking.
The first half belonged to the Sharks forwards, as they systematically destroyed their Stormers counterparts. Their scrum pulverised that of the Stormers, with Jebb Sinclair battling to control the ball at the back of a rapidly retreating pack.
The Sharks were superior at collisions, hammering the Stormers back on defence and gaining good ground on attack. Bismarck du Plessis along with loosies like Keegan Daniel and Marcell Coetzee had a productive match on the ground, while Willem Alberts turned in a ball-carrying performance that suggests he is starting to get back to his tackle-busting best.
If you can break tackles, that is if you can compromise a defensive unit like that of the Stormers, you must be doing something right.
It was a complete performance by the Sharks in the first 40, with backs combining with forwards to ensure the hosts went to the break with a 20-6 lead.
Charl McLeod and Freddie Michalak took good options in the halfback positions, and the decision to start Pat Lambie at fullback also proved inspired. Not only did he contribute strongly with ball in hand, but proved a vital cog in the Sharks’ tactical kicking machine.
Michalak scored the Sharks’ first try, but it was during the period before and after half-time that the hosts did the most damage. Having set the forward platform, a feat that included disrupting the much vaunted Stormers lineout, they started to grow in confidence.
Daniel was a threat off the back of the scrum and general play, and it was from a big set piece where he first created the go-forward. After Alberts had carried the ball to within an inch of the tryline, Daniel finished.
The tired Stormers forwards battled to prevent the Sharks from bossing the breakdowns, and while Du Plessis weighed in with some important steals in his own 22, it was also a pilfer that sparked the Sharks’ third try. Coetzee played a crucial part in the build up, getting a magical pass away to Lwazi Mvovo who obliged with an equally magical finish.
At 25-6, the Sharks should have rammed the advantage home. They looked well on course to becoming the first team in 2012 to pick up a four-try bonus point against the Stormers. They were also keeping the Stormers’ attack honest, although for the majority of the first half, the visitors’ attack was hardly a threat.
But then in the 52nd minute, Michalak made a mistake, throwing a speculative pass that failed to find its intended target. The ball bounced along the turf before being snapped up by Gio Aplon, who raced 60m to score.
While Aplon’s try was down to a Sharks’ mistake, the Stormers drew confidence from the seven-pointer. They began to build towards the Sharks tryline, although some determined Sharks defence kept them at bay.
The Sharks were not as dominant up front in the final 20 minutes, and the decision by Stormers coach Allister Coetzee to empty his bench had the desired effect. The Stormers began to put more pressure on the Sharks at the breakdown, and when they finally got the ball back from a set piece, Jean de Villiers played Aplon on a short ball and the fullback glided past several defenders for another thrilling score.
De Villiers’s pass to Aplon was clearly forward, but neither referee Jaco Peyper nor his assistants picked it up, and so the Stormers’ second try stood. Peter Grant converted to bring the Stormers closer at 25-20, and with seven minutes to play, the visitors were within striking distance.
The Sharks, however, did well to close the game out in the dying stages. This result takes them back into the top six and given the momentum they’ve picked up in recent weeks you’d have to say they are strong play-off contenders.
The Stormers’ late surge ensured they picked up a losing bonus point. Considering their depleted stocks up front and that they were at one stage some 19 points behind, one log point is a fair return.
1,139 Comments
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28 May 2012, 00:01 am
Fark, I’m sure the maid has been tucking into my Johnny black….
28 May 2012, 00:04 am
Lol, cruise missiles, exocets, scuds…..
Is the Bos your spud gun????
28 May 2012, 00:05 am
@JockBok(JockBok)-1099: Of course he had a super game… He farken embarrassed Grant no end and showed the way to put the ball beyond the once vaunted but now defunct Stormers D… You should be hating him for what other teams are going to do to your poor team
Forgive was a strong word, granted, maybe tolerate would have been better for the odd glaring Freddy brain short circuit which certainly gave Stormers an extra 7 points they never deserved or should have even dreamed of… Thats all.
28 May 2012, 00:06 am
@JockBok(JockBok)-1102: Farkoff man… That spud gun certainly put your Donkey down mercifully once and for all…
28 May 2012, 00:07 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-1100:
I don’t debate that he is good (one of the best) and I don’t debate that he is now our number 1 choice eightman and yes we do mix the positions up as per what is required for that specific moment and the gameplan.
I doubt however that they will consider him for the boks at 8.
28 May 2012, 00:11 am
@TheSharks(TheSharks)-1105: They are considering him for Boks at 8… He is in the squad or camp, yeah?
Meyer would be very one track minded and more than a little bit blindly enamoured with Spies to not at least try him for one of the games against England…
28 May 2012, 00:13 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-1106: Even Kanko and Deysel are in with a shout and they havent really shown how farken good they are yet… But it will happen.
28 May 2012, 00:16 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-1107: and dont forget that laaitie Du toit… He will make an impact soon too… Watch
28 May 2012, 00:17 am
Bos had a decent game actually. But how can PG be responsible for the whole Stormers D line?? He can’t obviously. He gets and gives quick ball and presents the options, but ACs retarded thinking kills the move before it starts. Look yesterday. Two passes, take the tackle. Two passes, take the tackle. Thats fecking it. How can you blame PG it?
28 May 2012, 00:18 am
yea well time will tell….
28 May 2012, 00:18 am
Am over and out for now…
Will be back tomorrow just to remind people of how good the Sharks actually are…
The truth will set them free…
28 May 2012, 00:22 am
Hmmm, went from D to A in mid sentence there. Forgive me, but I’m sure anyone reading will catchmy drift and allow me the excuse of a few toots of whisky and the bind of typing on a fecking iPad touch screen.
Either way, defence or attack, Peter Grant is my hero and a good back line coach would utilise him far more effectively than Coetzee has or ever will.
28 May 2012, 00:24 am
Kanko is not international,quality. He’s had his shot and done nothing.
28 May 2012, 00:31 am
@JockBok(JockBok)-1113:
Kanko a slightly better version of Spies which aint saying much
28 May 2012, 00:37 am
Kanko is a decent player, for sure. But i do beleive Spies is a fraud. I mean come on. My last schite was stronger than Pierre, and that was diarrhoea .
28 May 2012, 00:40 am
@JockBok(JockBok)-1115:
lol good explanation of your feelings
Mine are similar lol
28 May 2012, 00:47 am
Cheers Jock
Got to go
28 May 2012, 00:50 am
Don’t get me wrong Pete, Pierre is a superstar with all that padding and sweat bands? He looks like Will Ferrell and plays like Jane Fonda
28 May 2012, 00:51 am
Nite mate, me too.
28 May 2012, 01:02 am
let the games begin….
28 May 2012, 01:35 am
@JockBok(JockBok)-1093: It has been 4 years that I have rated Keegan very highly.On that end of year tour he played himself into that team . He was so consistent that even PDV had to chose him . Only to be sidelined by Stegmann ,who wasn’t even in the original squad.He had a decent few minutes on the park as a replacement and made a try saving tackle in cover defence. This is not a sudden liking in the player ,but merely pointing out his class. AGAIN.
28 May 2012, 01:36 am
Ah it feels good to beat the Stormers… as it always does… normal service resumed… the way it was… the way it should be… heads popped… where is skopshyte, Pee Wee and the Cape squirrel hunter Skyewalker now? Come and get yer eggs boys. Nice and fresh.
I guess on the evidence of the two games overall, it can be said the Sharks are the better team, no?
Better watch that log position Stompies, a loss to the Bulls and a 4 point bye to the Sharks and you chaps will be huiling all night long into your papsaks. One big pop.
PS congratulations on earning your 2nd bonus point. Nice consolation prize.
28 May 2012, 01:43 am
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-1096: Why is JDJ and Spies and Meisiekind and Kirschner and JDV and many more still in contention?And what chance did Keegan get on that tour. Did you even watch it.Yet you want to give an untested few Stormer guys the green and gold.They are only a defensive unit in super 15 yet your Bok team will be riddled with Stormers.If you do not the class in Keegan Daniel then it is your loss.
28 May 2012, 01:43 am
However it must be said you Stompies did not deserve the bonus point…. blatant cheat.
28 May 2012, 02:15 am
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-1124:
A bit harsh? hey WS
Look at the score line
Here’s a sharks teams at home full of confidence completely dominated all phases of the game and only won 25- 20 Hey one converted try away from a loss even
Who cheated? The ref?
Add back three loose forwards and Petersen and who knows
Thant pass to Aplon was off the hip and flat. Most if not all refs let that go
The angle and speed of the play aplon deserved the try
Poor tackling maybe too by Sharks.
Many Stormers supporters have praised the Sharks play . Stormers were flat with weak loosies. Game over
28 May 2012, 03:46 am
@JockBok(JockBok)-1109: GIVE PG a better no 9 and you will see the difference.I do not understand AC obsession with this guy.He is just average at best. Do you want to tell me you have no better No 9s?Then bring in someone else.Your backline is playing in 1st gear.
28 May 2012, 06:07 am
Aaaaaaaaaaaah I like this! Sharkies at full throttle here. How does it feel to have your destiny in the comp at the mercy of others? It will be a case of so near but yet so far lol. Let the games begin!
28 May 2012, 06:21 am
The mathematics are in full swing. At least the Sharkies are granting us a BP next week against the Bulls hahahahahahahahaha! How kind of them. Pietersen and Kolisi well rested for Bulls game. Fourie, Kolisi and Elstadt as a loos trio. Missed Kolisi’s tackling against Sharks. Alberts woulda landed on his fat @rse if he were there against the Sharks!
28 May 2012, 06:31 am
HG……………massacre in the same way the Bulls beat the Reds? You need the ball to do that. In the second half you didn’t have it. To think that the Stormers played so poor and came within one score of winning after the Sharks dominance. The Sharks performance in the second half was not much different to what the Stormers have been accused of.
28 May 2012, 06:39 am
O vok, now Litlle Condom heads try was a flatpass of the hip. You putty pushers are hilarious.
Now Fourie is rated as the saviour in Slaapstad circles. You know desperation sets in when the briesies start throwing names around like this.
Remeber 74-10…….Bulls to eclipse that on saturday. Bulls have BMT, something the briesies have always lacked.
Bekker his usual mediocre self.
28 May 2012, 07:03 am
@Xkreni-WP(Xkreni-WP)-1130: Taking another little break from bumfukking your brother again, I see.
28 May 2012, 07:05 am
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-1122: Thanks for your good wishes Spooner. We don’t rate the losing bonus point nearly as highly as you guys.
28 May 2012, 07:06 am
Now the Bulls are going to massacre the Stormers again. From a team that lost two on the trot. Nice man!
28 May 2012, 07:13 am
I see AC says that the only mistake Jebb Sinclair has made in the last two and a half games was the knock on blunder. It seems our coach can’t distinguish between class from doggy poo. Sinclair wouldn’t look out of place in current Kings setup!
28 May 2012, 07:15 am
@ Xkreni-WP
Jy skree nie ja – nou HJB hahahahahahaha
28 May 2012, 08:57 am
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-1125:
No come on dude, that was not flat!! The ball left JDV hands going foward. It’s different if it ‘drifts’ foward.
It didn’t change the game, but that was one of the worst calls I have ever seen in terms of a foward pass being let go.
28 May 2012, 09:30 am
HG @ 1086.
Strange how supporters all see a different game.All watch to reinforce
there prejudices.Amazed to read that Elstad manhandled our man (Alberts).
Alberts far superior in every aspect of the game.Hard and not dirty.
28 May 2012, 10:21 am
HG
So, even when you win you moan like a little menstrual girl about the ref. So the ref allowed the Stormers to score any points at all?
You redefine pathetic.
28 May 2012, 11:53 am
wow
Didnt think the game was 1138 posts good.
Mind you, 500 posts from the Keo public and 638 from HG.
I am telling you, if the Sharks win super 15, this site will be unbearable.
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