Scintillating Sharks blow away Bulls
6 Jul 2012
RYAN VREDE reports on an excellent all-round performance from the Sharks that saw them get the bonus point in beating the Bulls 32-10 to keep their Super Rugby campaign alive.
If the Sharks can replicate the characteristics that earned them this most critical of victories – energy, purpose, physicality, accuracy of execution and killer instinct – they will be formidable opponents going forward. Their inconsistency has undermined their cause in recent matches, but tonight they were largely flawless in their approach and execution when they most needed to be.
The Bulls, laden with Springboks, are no soft touch, even away from home. But they were comprehensively outmuscled at the collisions and seldom allowed to get any momentum into their attacks. The Sharks would score four tries, but this win was built on their industry, accuracy and brutality on defence. With their key strike runners nullified, the Bulls’ potency was significantly diluted. Furthermore, the Sharks played above themselves at lineout time and their scrum fronted to further stifle the Bulls.
The Sharks starved them of possession and pinned them in their territory for the first 30 minutes of the contest, scoring two converted tries and two penalties to establish a 20-3 lead at the break, then struck the telling blow of the match three minutes into the second half. The Sharks’ first five pointer came after erosive phase play, Marcell Coetzee setting up Bismarck du Plessis for a try with a deft offload. Their second came after they punched up left then snapped right, JP Pietersen rounding off in the corner.
The Bulls were stunned and their response reflected this, loose, unstructured attacks marking the second quarter. Lwazi Mvovo scrambled well to deny Akona Ndungane a try in the 34th minute and the Bulls couldn’t convert subsequent pressure into the points they needed to stir belief going into the change rooms.
The Sharks then fractured the Bulls’ psyche further when Keegan Daniel alluded the cover defence after another wave of pressure had depleted the numbers in their defensive line.
But the Bulls’ resolve is well known and they rallied in search of what would have been one of the great comebacks. Zane Kirchner finished close to the corner with Morne Steyn converting. And while they enjoyed plenty of time on the ball in the period that followed, their play became increasingly desperate in the face of the Sharks’ immense tackle fight and rabid breakdown contest, the latter yielding numerous turnovers.
Having negotiated the best the Bulls could offer the Sharks set about capturing the five-point win they so needed to improve their chances of making the play-offs. The composure and intelligence they showed in achieving that goal was inspiring and their wild celebrations upon Louis Ludik touching down said everything about how much they had invested in achieving this crucial result.
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711 Comments
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6 Jul 2012, 18:15 pm
Can you believe it. A Pom two thirds of the way into the final of Wimbledon.
This happens only once in 80 years.
Amazing
6 Jul 2012, 18:18 pm
And on the subject of rare feats did you know that the Stormers only score four tries in a super match once every 10 years … yes according to the experts on Reunion. Fact.
6 Jul 2012, 18:27 pm
Yeah and no brit has won since fred perry which was pre professional era. Also no french man has won either. Think Roger the rabbit looks pretty unstoppable though so may be a disappointed uk come Sunday.
6 Jul 2012, 18:36 pm
@RL(RL)-2:
And the rarest feat of them all:
The Lions have ended either last or second last in the Super rugby competition for 10 years in a row (in a week’s time it will be eleven years in a row). Possibly the worst sustained performance by any team in the history of “main line” professional sport.
6 Jul 2012, 18:48 pm
GO SHARKS.
6 Jul 2012, 18:48 pm
Where are the Sharks praise singers?
This should be a walk in Kings Park should it not? Only 4 injuries for the Sharks, the Stormers have played with gajillions and still win games that count: i.e. Bulls at Loftus. Not so Sharks fans?
You’re at home, the wunderkind Steyn back, Bok front row, Bok loosies, Bok backs all over – easy peasy lemon squeezy.
Go Sharks
6 Jul 2012, 18:51 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-4:
After Luyt there was a coloured guy name Van Rooyan who took over the union and ran it to the ground financially, he then moved to head SARU, so it looks accordingly
Try to Imagin Messrs Titus, Averil and Wakefield running WP Rugby instead of Rob Wagner, what would you get?
;(
6 Jul 2012, 18:52 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-4: they didn’t mention that on Reunion
6 Jul 2012, 18:52 pm
Lol, Tsonga caught without a box
6 Jul 2012, 18:54 pm
@RL(RL)-8:
also true
6 Jul 2012, 18:59 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-10:
6 Jul 2012, 18:59 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-7: Dear Hondo
You’re despicable and a waste of life. If you hate black people why do live in Africa?
Sincerely,
Bagel
6 Jul 2012, 19:00 pm
@Puma(Puma)-5:
I thought you were watching the tennis Puma!
6 Jul 2012, 19:01 pm
@RL(RL)-1:
Murray is Scottish and possibly the dullest man in sport!
Are the Irish ‘Pom’s too?
6 Jul 2012, 19:03 pm
Ai Keo scribes.
“Love updates”
6 Jul 2012, 19:03 pm
Backing the Bulls here. Would fancy them in the knockouts over the Sharks and they’ve had a far more consistent season. Feels like the Sharks only came to the party the last handful of games.
6 Jul 2012, 19:04 pm
@carol(carol)-11:
I don’t drink on Friday’s
You better hope Andy does not choke – are you watching?
6 Jul 2012, 19:05 pm
Would luv the Sharks to win it with a bonus point and the Bulls to secure a BP or 2 as well.
6 Jul 2012, 19:06 pm
@carol(carol)-14: oh hell I didn’t know that he is a Jock. That changes everything!
Go Froggy – take that Jock out. :angry:
6 Jul 2012, 19:07 pm
@Spiesisworthless1(Spiesisworthless1)-16: They’ve had a tough programme this year kicking off with the Bulls and Stormers away and then on the road early. Also having to rebuild the tight 5 with the locks gone and no Beast and JS in the beginning, so not too shabby position after that.
6 Jul 2012, 19:08 pm
@carol(carol)-14:
Tim Henman was even duller.
What is it with the Brits?
6 Jul 2012, 19:09 pm
Go Bullies.
6 Jul 2012, 19:10 pm
Murray on fire now.
6 Jul 2012, 19:11 pm
Go Peyper.
6 Jul 2012, 19:12 pm
Why is everyone watching tennis
6 Jul 2012, 19:13 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-17:
Your resolve is fantastic…..Fridays are made for SB.
Re Tim Henman, in the boring stakes I will agree it is a close run thing between Henman and Murray, however Murray has the worst voice in the history of broadcast interviews.
6 Jul 2012, 19:13 pm
Go my boy Coetzee – smash them.
6 Jul 2012, 19:13 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-23:
On fire, well I will not waste water putting him out!
6 Jul 2012, 19:14 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-23: Come on Rob!
6 Jul 2012, 19:15 pm
@RL(RL)-19:
Shame he does not play in a kilt and tam o shanter. Dawn would watch him then!
6 Jul 2012, 19:17 pm
Damn du Toit was crushed by the Pottie.
6 Jul 2012, 19:20 pm
Nooooo Carol not Murray!!!!
6 Jul 2012, 19:21 pm
@carol(carol)-30: if he played in a kilt a bet that the tv numbers will sky rocket (half of Cape Town tuned in for sure). A real Scot does not wear anything underneath his kilt.
6 Jul 2012, 19:24 pm
What an offlaod from Coetzee – he created that try.
What a player.
6 Jul 2012, 19:25 pm
Awesome try. Sharks really impressive. Great work from Coetzee.
6 Jul 2012, 19:25 pm
bissy flattens kirchner
6 Jul 2012, 19:27 pm
I see we got a fern wannabe here
6 Jul 2012, 19:35 pm
that’s what you get from fransie…
6 Jul 2012, 19:40 pm
After last weekend’s friendly, the Bulls now have a game on their hands.
6 Jul 2012, 19:40 pm
Sharks a really playing well. Pietersen try.
6 Jul 2012, 19:41 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-36:
but everybody flattens Kirchner
6 Jul 2012, 19:41 pm
Go Freddie, go Sharks!
6 Jul 2012, 19:41 pm
Spies and Jaque Potgieter have to be the 2 kakkest loose forwards in Superugby full stop. Potgieter does f okk ol, he just ‘looks’ busy but spends half his time throwing his hair back, losing the ball and making contact with his head…….
Spies, well, words they are few
Go Sharks. Deny the Bulls a point.
6 Jul 2012, 19:42 pm
Shamelessly successful effort for the Bulls to get a July ski trip to the South Island
6 Jul 2012, 19:43 pm
This is not a match – is the real Ludeke showing his true colours.
Heieken left him without his defense coach and without his forward coach and without a clue.
6 Jul 2012, 19:45 pm
Blocking from the Sharks there.
6 Jul 2012, 19:46 pm
Come on Spies. Inspire your boys and lead from the front
6 Jul 2012, 19:47 pm
Go Sharks!
6 Jul 2012, 19:47 pm
If I knew we were gonna play like this I would rather have stayed at home. Disgraceful.
6 Jul 2012, 19:48 pm
I meant at work.
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