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.
Follow Ryan on Twitter
Follow SA Rugby magazine on Twitter
711 Comments
Pages: « 1 … 3 4 5 6 7 [8] 9 10 11 12 13 … 15 » Show All
6 Jul 2012, 22:31 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-329: the drop began with you! instead of celebrating your team’s victory you couldn’t resist digs @ the stormers & their fans.
u’re the type of sharks fan HG has been describing for the past week, nowhere when the team is in the doldrums but lekker groot bek when they win. FAIRWEATHER much?
6 Jul 2012, 22:33 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-342: With you on that Rob. I also like a fast 8 but skilfull and must get stuck in though if he has too. Kanko never stood back anytime tonight. Was outstanding in the lineouts as well.
6 Jul 2012, 22:33 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-349:
Yes,it will probably be something like that unless they move Alberts to number 4.
6 Jul 2012, 22:33 pm
@fitz1ella(fitz1ella)-347: Plumtree must go. 6th place is not good enough. Fact.
6 Jul 2012, 22:33 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-349: Alberts on the bench, I say.
6 Jul 2012, 22:35 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-351: ***, at least I have a team. You were nowhere before the Kings were given a freebie by the government. Talk about ‘fairweather’!
6 Jul 2012, 22:37 pm
@fitz1ella(fitz1ella)-347: It’s clearer than ever that Plumtree needs to go now that we’ve seen what these players are capable of. Kankowski has hardly got on the park this season and only did thanks to injuries. Look what we’ve been missing.
6 Jul 2012, 22:37 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-349: You can’t drop Marcel. Just far too good to be on the bench. I know some might not agree, but for now I would have Keegan on the bench. He is our captain I know, he is explosive off the bench. Alberts only plays for 60min normally.
Though Keegan has been outstanding this year. So not so sure, but we can’t leave out Alberts or Marcel. Now we definitley can’t leave our Kanko he was awesome in the lineouts. Something that has not been working for Sharks this year.
6 Jul 2012, 22:38 pm
Spies is no captain – never was one never will be one.. I don’t know who in Tsawne Stad got the hair brain idea to make that nonentity man the Bulls captain.. if it was Meyer then he don’t know squat about what comprises leadership credentials.. he was even forced into accepting JdV as his captain by default – he wanted FdP or Matfield as his go to guys…
Bulls recruiting policy is outright kak and now they bearing the result of their ingenuity….their best player on the park tonight was Dewalt Potgieter… that other Potgieter is a nobody crash baller worse than Schalk Burger… and Meyer rates these idiots as Springboks..
I hope to hell he catches an almighty wake up before they run on in the Rugby Championship in green and gold coming up soon.
6 Jul 2012, 22:39 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-349: Nope Katman, Sykes wont be ready for next weeks match , chances are with PSDT injured ? ALberts will play 4
6 Jul 2012, 22:39 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-346: luke is strangely still injured, it’s been a while.
6 Jul 2012, 22:41 pm
How pathetic is Brendon Nel of SS?? his article up no problem , then he has a pic os Skeate up?? Skeate aint even in the country
6 Jul 2012, 22:43 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-360: Perfect solution.
6 Jul 2012, 22:43 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-356: bwahahahaha it still does not change that your are the worst sharks fan on here! putrid attitude.
you resorting to using my name on this blog betrays your class. clearly i hit a nerve
truth hurts spooner.
6 Jul 2012, 22:44 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-354: @kaksioek(kaksioek)-357: Kanko got injured early in the season and they had to make space for Keegan as captain and Marcell because of the way he was playing.
If you look at the Sharks results we could quite easily have ended higher with the bounce of the ball or the ref favouring us
. Just look at the BP’ s we’ve had and you will realise we lost a lot of games closely and the only real blight on the season was the Lions result.
6 Jul 2012, 22:44 pm
@kaksioek(kaksioek)-363: lol exactly
Now how good a Lock pair can PSDT be with Etsebeth??? ffs they 2 19 year olds
6 Jul 2012, 22:45 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-360: That will happen if those are injured. I thought Katman was talking more for next year though.
6 Jul 2012, 22:46 pm
Kankowski is only NOW beginning to play rugby at a level which is vaguely reminiscent of top flight rugby.. he has been POOR for the past 6 years.. he has recently bulked up and done some strength work to enable for him to compete in the rough tough arena … its obvious he’s been working on getting his bulk and strength up because he used to be a waif of a number 8 that would get flung around like a rag doll.. .. and now he’s off to Japan…
but for the past 6 years Kankowski’s contributions in international rugby have been on a par or worse than Spies… starting with his mammoth bravado feat of getting crunched between two big six second rowers from ITALY of all towering behemoths to have laid him low.
6 Jul 2012, 22:46 pm
Anyways outtahere going to finish a good Clive Cussler novel.
6 Jul 2012, 22:46 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-366: Yes makes you wonder. So young and so bloody good both of them. Just hope that injury he picked up is not serious and only a sprain.
6 Jul 2012, 22:47 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-366: I would retain Kruger and Etsebeth for now. We need experience and Kruger has that. Perhaps get PSDT into the squad for EOYT.
6 Jul 2012, 22:47 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-364: yaaaawn trrrrrransie. You are like a broken record. Stuck in place. No need to be so contentious in life. It will give you stomach ulcers. Live a little.
6 Jul 2012, 22:48 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-366: So what happens to Kanko if he goes to Japan, can he still play for the Boks if selected? Will his club be okay with that?
6 Jul 2012, 22:49 pm
ok Good night all
6 Jul 2012, 22:50 pm
@Puma(Puma)-373: yes it depends if he gets a call from HM, after tonight?? no doubt lol
6 Jul 2012, 22:50 pm
@kaksioek(kaksioek)-357:
So, before tonight, if you had a choice between Coetzee, Daniel, Alberts, Deysel and Kanko, who would’ve been YOUR loose trio?
Oh yes, WELL DONE SAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRKKKSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.
HG going to eat up many SSARRRRRKKKKKKK supporter and spit them out again this week to come.
It’ll be very much funny.
6 Jul 2012, 22:50 pm
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-369: Cheers bud, enjoy it. Those long evening are a pleasure this time of year too.
6 Jul 2012, 22:50 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-374: Cheers, enjoy the win.
6 Jul 2012, 22:51 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-375: I think he will. He totally showed up Spies. Meyer will have seen that and know we all saw it too.
6 Jul 2012, 22:52 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-374: Cheers bro.
6 Jul 2012, 22:52 pm
@kaksioek(kaksioek)-378: thanks mate u2 ciao
6 Jul 2012, 22:52 pm
@Puma(Puma)-380: gn bro
6 Jul 2012, 22:53 pm
Coetsee plays FAR better at his ball carry role from No.7 and dare I say it he should actually be Sharks No.8
Kankowski is a Japanese geisha girl from next year so it should be
Coetsee
Du Toit
Daniel
Alberts
in that order….
Yup Alberts to share 7 with Du Toit.. one starting and the other off bench.
Deysel to share 4 with Marais and Bressler the other 2nd rower.
Forget Kankowski he’s tickets..
and if you were real Sharkshit supporters Plumtree would remain because he’s beaten the 2 top SA conference leaders already in one season.
6 Jul 2012, 22:53 pm
@nama1(nama1)-376: I would probably have picked Daniel, Coetzee and Alberts – but that’s only because Plum hasn’t given us a look at Kanko. The coach gets to attend practices – we don’t.
6 Jul 2012, 22:54 pm
@fitz1ella(fitz1ella)-368: He hardly had been given any chance. He had been given as many chances as Spies he would have been at this level years back. He was always great for the Sharks. He missed out mostly this year due to injury and just never got back in. That normally happens if one gets injured they sometimes lose their place and that is a real pity. We needed him this year, Sharks lineout was one of our biggest problems this year.
6 Jul 2012, 22:55 pm
@Puma(Puma)-373: Hopefully he’s put a clause in his contract.
6 Jul 2012, 22:57 pm
@kaksioek(kaksioek)-384: Well Meyer saw something in Kanko in the Bok practice because he sure as heck never saw it from the Sharks. Plum just never selected Kanko. He had been injured but once he was ready, just never got back in. Thank goodness Meyer saw something in him otherwise we might not have had Kanko start tonight.
6 Jul 2012, 22:59 pm
Good win but both packs are too lightweight for test rugby – the sharks backrow will grt owned by some hard-hitting kiwis. The best team in sa by quite some distance is the stormers but they need their players back to win it – otherwise they lose. Vermeluen bekker burger etsebeth elstadt all back fromninjury and they take any team kiwis included – Coetzee should be picking deon fourie nit the newbies at flank – fourie is just what is needed – he should be 1st choice hooker but if luebenberg there play him.at 6. Stormers pack would beat boks – the only 2 that make a massive difference otherwise are Bismarck and alberts.
6 Jul 2012, 23:00 pm
@kaksioek(kaksioek)-386: Hope so.
Do hope he comes back to the Sharks at the end of the year. He said he was, but some going to Japan just never come back. Look at J. Fourie? He is making huge amounts and just said he was not going back to Stormers when he was supposed too.
6 Jul 2012, 23:01 pm
@fitz1ella(fitz1ella)-383: Kanko is the best we have in the lineout though. He was superb there tonight.
6 Jul 2012, 23:02 pm
@Puma(Puma)-387: I wonder if he’s sufficiently impressed to pick him when he’s playing in Japan. Mind you, it could work out. If he has a clause that says he can miss club games to play Tests and plays in the RC he will only miss the CC, then play EOYT and then back to SA with extra cash in his pocket.
6 Jul 2012, 23:02 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-372: take your own advice, celebrate your team’s win and stop obsessing over the stormers
within three posts on this thread you were already spewing bile, maybe it’s becausr you were here the whole time denigrating your team hehehehe
fairweatherf orever?!
6 Jul 2012, 23:02 pm
Stormers all fit would beat current bok pack in a trial match I bet – except for maybe beast Bismarck and alberts but even then they’d still beat sharks pack if they had their full squad
6 Jul 2012, 23:04 pm
@Puma(Puma)-385: Kankowski was utter garbage for Boks numerous times staring back in 2008 as the reserve bench option in PdV’s team for almost entire 4 years..
Both Spies and Kankowski are garbage compared to Vermeulen and Alberts and Josh Strauss who should have all been ahead of both of them in the pecking order and Boks would NOT have had the abysmal record of losses they did since 2008 (barring one good year in 2009 when Brussow stole the show.)
Other than that Spies, Smith, Burger and Kankowski were the Bok loose trio since 2008.. see how ell they have done with that other moron Smit running and ruining the pack…. only now you realize what Bismark brings that Smit never could ever.. yet some of you still would have had Smit as captain and Kankowski as your No.8…
Go figure..no wonder Boks couldn’t buy a win under those palookas for the past 4 years (barring a purple patch in 2009 when ELV laws favored Brussows terrier type tactics).
Vermeulen should have been Bok 8 LONG before Spies or Kanko and Alberts should have started at 7 not played off bench behind Burger or Spies.
Kankowski is not international class loose forward .. same as Spies isn’t either.
6 Jul 2012, 23:06 pm
I’m really starting to suspect that cab and skopsuster are one and the same.
6 Jul 2012, 23:06 pm
Okay I am out of here.
Cheers everyone. Catch up tomorrow.
Good luck to Stormers tomorrow. I know I should be neutral for the game tomorrow, but I too like Victor said tonight, would like to see a saffa team top of the log and holding a final here and not NZ.
Okay now off to bed.
6 Jul 2012, 23:07 pm
Kitshoff fourie Harris etsebeth bekker kolisi elstadt vermeulen
malherbe liebenberg dekok burger
kiss your *** goodbye – don’t care who u are, provided they keep it tight stormers will win
6 Jul 2012, 23:09 pm
@fitz1ella(fitz1ella)-394: He never got the same chances as Spies. Not ever. He should have started many more games and we could have seen what he could do. Can’t give a player a chance only coming off the bench or starting once or twice. How many times has Spies started? So many I can’t count. AND he is still there. If Kanko had that amount of chances he would be far, far better.
Okay I am off to bed ou maat. Cheers catch up tomorrow. Good luck to your Stormers tomorrow. They should win.
6 Jul 2012, 23:09 pm
@fitz1ella(fitz1ella)-394: Things are never that black-and-white – except for the colour of the winning jersey tonight
6 Jul 2012, 23:10 pm
@kaksioek(kaksioek)-384:
But you KNOW Kanko. He has been playing for how many years now and yet he is not in your 1st choice loose trio.
Don’t blame Plum.
Kanko is like Spies. They’ll have one or two brilliant games in a season and their fans will go gaga when it happens. The fact remains, they both are still mediocre compared to the internetional talent out there.
What did you think of Fransie today.
Horrible, wasn’t he?
PS: Don’t mention his long range penalty.
Pages: « 1 … 3 4 5 6 7 [8] 9 10 11 12 13 … 15 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.