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, 20:41 pm
Folk who will never be invited to a MENSA gathering:
Greyling and Jacque P……..
6 Jul 2012, 20:43 pm
CJ Stander on !
6 Jul 2012, 20:44 pm
The Niknaks man knocked the ball on and Peyper just ignored it!
6 Jul 2012, 20:44 pm
Deysel on – we mins to go
6 Jul 2012, 20:44 pm
the bulls can camp on the sharks 22 the whole night without scoring, they did it against the stormers…
6 Jul 2012, 20:44 pm
Will He who walks on water Meyer be selecting players on form for the rugby championship?
6 Jul 2012, 20:45 pm
@brains_trust(brains_trust)-152:
Tra la!
6 Jul 2012, 20:46 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-151: And you’re a F***ing genius arent you….
6 Jul 2012, 20:47 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-156: well he picks mostly sharks players so he’s spot-on judging by this match
6 Jul 2012, 20:47 pm
Sies Spies!
6 Jul 2012, 20:47 pm
Wow!! The bulls are brilliant,top honours to the team maybe you guys need steve w.the referee
6 Jul 2012, 20:48 pm
Oh dear Spies.
Tacitus? What was the reasoning behind Spies being caught out at the back of the scrum like that? The coaching logic behind it?
6 Jul 2012, 20:48 pm
Boskak on, bonus point try off.
6 Jul 2012, 20:50 pm
Come on Sharks! Try time!
6 Jul 2012, 20:50 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-151: those two are dom as stones
6 Jul 2012, 20:51 pm
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-159:
Considering the Sharks were 8th before this match, it doesn’t say much for Bok rugby as a whole.
6 Jul 2012, 20:51 pm
@greybeard(greybeard)-158: Well I reckon I’m a little brighter than Jacque P for starters. In fact, a lot brighter.
You CAN NOT tell me Ludeke has ordered him not to pass the ball in any circumstances? Ever?
6 Jul 2012, 20:52 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-162: If he had resisted McLeod’s tackle he may have injured himself, thereby potentially shortening his career.
Bonus point try!
6 Jul 2012, 20:52 pm
Ek is bloubullebokbevok
6 Jul 2012, 20:53 pm
Much is said about the Stormers not scoring 4 tries in a match.
But the Bulls have leaked 4 tries in a match how many times?
Tac, I know you’re out there somewhere.
6 Jul 2012, 20:53 pm
Brilliant game by the Sharks. I think they found that can of whoopass the Bulls mislaid.
6 Jul 2012, 20:54 pm
@David(David)-166: Add to that the numerous undeserving Bulls players…….. sigh.
6 Jul 2012, 20:54 pm
Three SA teams in the playoffs as it stands! Great job Sharks!
6 Jul 2012, 20:55 pm
Greybeard why are you so rude
6 Jul 2012, 20:55 pm
Expect the Bulls to thrash a poor Lions side next week and for the hype to start again.
6 Jul 2012, 20:55 pm
Good job Sharks.
The Bulls were never in it.
6 Jul 2012, 20:55 pm
@kaksioek(kaksioek)-168: Makes sense. I’m sure Tacitus will confirm shortly.
6 Jul 2012, 20:56 pm
What a great win for the Sharks.
6 Jul 2012, 20:56 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-174: Probably a Bulls fan……
6 Jul 2012, 20:56 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-162: when mallett pointed this aspect of spies’ play he was called all sort of names
6 Jul 2012, 20:57 pm
BOOM!
6 Jul 2012, 20:57 pm
Nice Sharkies. Baie dankie. Much appreciated. Let me just say this again. Frans Steyn is a glory seeking, greedy mofo who regards himself waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too highly!
6 Jul 2012, 20:57 pm
@David(David)-166: the Sharks struggle with depth but their full complement include most of the best players SA has to offer, Steyn, Bismarck and Alberts were particularly destructive in the recent series. What other players do you feel have been overlooked that are crying out for selection?
6 Jul 2012, 20:57 pm
Wow – 22 points behind…. Fuggin Meyer better catch a wake up with his Bull Bok selections, Potgieter! Steyn and Spies are kak !!!
6 Jul 2012, 20:58 pm
Opgevok! Brilliant boys!
6 Jul 2012, 20:59 pm
Well, congrats, Sharks, just one try too much for the ideal result of the day but nevertheless great to see Bulls staying where they are and thus setting a photo-finish next weekend.
6 Jul 2012, 20:59 pm
Well done sharks.
Great results for Stormers today.
It is all beginning to fall into place……
6 Jul 2012, 20:59 pm
Woopass!
6 Jul 2012, 20:59 pm
@IAAS(I am a stormer)-170: and remember that Mcfarland oke is both the Bulls & Bok defence coach
6 Jul 2012, 20:59 pm
WOW that was kak par excellence!!!!
Well done Sharks you deserved that win, did not see that coming.
6 Jul 2012, 21:00 pm
The Sharks and Bulls are level on points with the Australian conference leaders.
6 Jul 2012, 21:00 pm
I enjoyed that. Sharks were great today and full value for their bonus point win. A few bullboks continue along their paths of mediocrity. I pray Goosen dumps MSteyn out of the Boks and Vermuelen/Burger replace Spies come the RC or some stage this year. Lambie in for Niknaks naturally, and JPotgieter has dissapointed since returning from injury.
6 Jul 2012, 21:01 pm
I told them don’t waste your energy on the cheetahs I was told “we(bulls)will mope up the tank you just watc”h
What can I say sharks eat anything pink(rare) or blue(well done)
Kanko-wow
Marcell-wow(kolisi)???
6 Jul 2012, 21:01 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-180: It happens to Spies so often, that I’m STILL appalled no-one ever mentioned it on tv before Mallet did that fateful day
But I warn you: there will be 101 coaching reasons as to why this happens. It’s all part of Meyer’s masterplan.
6 Jul 2012, 21:01 pm
Shaaaaaarrrrkkksss!!!!
6 Jul 2012, 21:02 pm
@kaksioek(kaksioek)-171: @THE MAULER(THE MAULER)-188: poor tac, he’s never going to live that down
6 Jul 2012, 21:02 pm
At least Spies can like to speak English.
6 Jul 2012, 21:03 pm
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-196: We won’t let him
6 Jul 2012, 21:04 pm
@David(David)-166: Cmon David the Sharks had a measurably more difficult programme than the Stormers. The Stormers had 4 out of their first 5 games at home, enough time to build confidence etc. The Sharks on the other were having to play catch up rugby from the beginning hence the 8 position on the log b4 this game. These teams are not hugely different from each other in talent etc. so the little things can make a big difference in how your season develops. I’m happy to see 3 SA sides in contention for the pla
6 Jul 2012, 21:05 pm
Bulls are flat track bullies…
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