Sensational Sharks smash Reds
21 Jul 2012
JON CARDINELLI reports on the Sharks’ 30-17 hammering of the Reds in Saturday’s play-off in Brisbane.
After the Bulls’ dismal effort in Christchurch, the Sharks have turned in a rousing physical performance to not only keep their own title hopes alive, but those of a nation.
The resounding victory in Brisbane has set up a semi-final showdown against the Stormers. What this means is that one South African team will definitely progress to the grand final on 4 August.
The Stormers will be difficult to beat in Cape Town, but the Sharks will fancy their chances given the manner of victory at Suncorp Stadium.
It was a superior forward performance that set the platform for what will go down as one of the great Sharks Super Rugby victories. On the back of that forward dominance, the Sharks piled on the points in the first half, and defended like demons in the second.
Some might say that the Sharks had their fair share of luck in this encounter. Indeed, Reds coach Ewen McKenzie would have felt a strong sense of dejavu as starting flyhalf Ben Lucas was carried off in the 21st minute, an injury that forced star scrmhalf Will Genia to shift to No 10.
Lucas had been ineffective while he was on the park, and it didn’t help that his forwards were copping a hiding at the collisions and breakdowns. The Reds certainly missed Quade Cooper’s decision making in that key position, and after Lucas cried off with injury, the Reds also missed Genia’s impact at No 9.
But while this certainly worked in the Sharks’ favour, the visitors made a great deal of their own luck. Travelling across the world for this fixture was never going to be easy, and doing so without Frans Steyn and Pat Lambie was expected to detract from their performance.
They went into the game as underdogs, but from the first whistle they showed the mongrel, desire and precision to win the key battles and eventually the match.
Apart from the raw power at the collisions (the Sharks pack was superb and the decision to play Willem Alberts at No 4 was vindicated), the decision making by the heavies was a real highlight.
The Sharks forwards would place their counterparts under pressure at the rucks, force the turnover and then produce some dazzling offloads that kept the movement alive.
They converted every early opportunity, racing to a 10-0 lead inside 13 minutes. By the half-hour mark they were 20-3 up, Freddie Michalak nailing a drop goal to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Genia would leave his mark on this match with an important play moments later. Spotting Jannie du Plessis defending on the wing, Genia directed play left and linked up smartly with Scott Higginbotham. The Wallabies loosie delivered the final pass to Genia, and at 20-10 the Reds were still in with a chance.
The period before and after half-time belonged to the Reds, but they were undone by their high-error rate as well as some stunning Sharks defence.
In fact, it was a sharp piece of pressure defence that created the Sharks’ next try, Charl McLeod reading the play beautifully and picking off a Genia pass.
The scrumhalf raced 75m to score, and at 27-10, the whole complexion of the game changed again. Another Sharks score would win the game, and the Reds would resort to some desperate tactics in an attempt to close that massive gap.
They turned down numerous shots at goal in search of a seven-pointer that would bring them closer, but their inability to win the collisions cost them at every turn.
While the Sharks spent almost the entire third quarter defending in their own territory, their ferocity at the point of contact was as rabid as was at the start of the game. They turned the Reds over from five metres out on several occasions, and again it was sharp decision making that cut down the Reds’ attacking space.
The Sharks had a further chance to score when Lwazi Mvovo broke from deep to spark a great period of attacking rugby with the offload in contact again a prominent feature. The ball eventually flew to the hapless Meyer Bosman, who tripped over his own feet and fell agonisingly short of the tryline. Fortunately for the Sharks, it was a gaffe that didn’t cost them on the scoreboard.
The Reds finished strongly in the final five minutes, but by then the result was beyond doubt. Radike Samo crossed the tryline and Genia converted, but all this served to do was lend some respectability to the scoreline.
The Sharks were more dominant that the final scoreline suggested, and that final try will not detract from what was their best defensive performance in 2012.
Scorers:
Reds – Tries: Will Genia, Radike Samo. Conversions: Mike Harris, Genia. Penalty: Harris.
Sharks – Tries: JP Pietersen, Paul Jordaan, Charl McLeod. Conversions: Freddie Michalak (3). Penalties: Michalak (2). Drop goal: Michalak.
1,036 Comments
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21 Jul 2012, 20:16 pm
@Heavens Game-496:
yup HG, I also thought Kaplan was trying his best to keep the Reds in the game?? i actually watched the match again and my eyes nearly popped at what i saw 
NO doubt boet with all the travelling saturday for us will not be easy, Stormer have everything going for them, accept??????????
Like i said for a few weeks now, If the Sharks can again play exactly the same as against the Bulls?? and 2nd half againsy the Cheetahs and today the 80 min against the Reds? just might be possible
Again the answer is simple and take the travel factor aside, Mental prep, hunger, commitment, desire, etc etc, Both teams have great players etc, but if the factors i mentioned are there from the Sharks?? then yes we may just pull it off
21 Jul 2012, 20:17 pm
@IAAS-489: I’ll show you calmdown… Come here and I show you one farken big banana skin… On its way to Cape Town, all the way from Queensland… Once you’ve slipped and done the full 360 twice… then I show you calm…
21 Jul 2012, 20:19 pm
@Heavens Game-502:
hahaha you make me laugh a lot.
21 Jul 2012, 20:20 pm
Gdam HG going to go off like a bantamcock on crack cocaine – sharks played outstanding but no ways reds shoulda lost that game winning all those colissions and momentum – I never saw tge first 30 but sharks were tossing it around with *** abandon throughout
I think mckenzie going to be skopping gat up and down that xhangeroom whole night long – nevertheless it makes for a moerse enticing semi – only tram capable if beating saders is stormers at newlands but they need vermielen at least on the bench to do that I reckon.
Saders were in ominous form today – that is moerse well drilled epitome of cutting edge professional rugby outfit
21 Jul 2012, 20:20 pm
@Heavens Game-499:
Calm down. Kaplan helped you to get us the easier semi-final. So chew on that “mutant banana” you know I do not need it.
21 Jul 2012, 20:20 pm
@sharks_lover-501: Sharks play next week, like they did today, then the Conference Title “Holders” gonna also be also rans with the actual real deal… The Trophy…
Fark, the Reds are twice the team of the Stormers
And fark me George, the Sharks proved today that they are twice the Reds…
So next week is lining up to be sccccchhhhhhhhhhwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeet!
21 Jul 2012, 20:21 pm
@Heavens Game-497:
Fear is a man’s best friend — John Cale.
Its going to be a moerse match on Saturday. Highly unlikely that you are going to get such a “friendly” ref twice in a row though
I am hoping for Walsh.
21 Jul 2012, 20:23 pm
@cab-504: Farkoff Cabbie… This be my banana tripping pursuit of happyness now… Dont take it away, cuzzie
21 Jul 2012, 20:23 pm
@Heavens Game-506:
21 Jul 2012, 20:23 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree stole my password-505: Bietjie los, ne? Thats why
21 Jul 2012, 20:24 pm
@cab-504: CAbby thats where you are wrong mate, also trust me the first 30?? the Sharks practically already won it right there, they were simply brilliant
21 Jul 2012, 20:25 pm
Sorry HG didn’t mean to put a damper on proceedings – I picture you currently strutting around with your sharks jersey and kouse on and a piesang protruding from your gat as we speak..
21 Jul 2012, 20:26 pm
@cab-512:
damn bad visual 
21 Jul 2012, 20:26 pm
@Robzim-507: Friendly ref??? Jou ma se friendly ref, man…
Will take Walsh any day of the week over any SA ref with the farken brokeback cowboys…
You bring Walsh, and I bring you a Saaarks 15pt victory, cuzzie, if they play like today against your “Top” team with a hooker at no 8
21 Jul 2012, 20:27 pm
@cab-512:
lol hahahaha farkin funny..
21 Jul 2012, 20:27 pm
@cab-512: Hehehehe… TWAT
21 Jul 2012, 20:28 pm
Well done sharks Excellent win
21 Jul 2012, 20:29 pm
The ref was not the reason the sharks won
The sharks were just better Just like Crusaders were
21 Jul 2012, 20:30 pm
MOM again Keegan
21 Jul 2012, 20:31 pm
SL – yeah turned it on and saw 20-3 couldn’t believe my eyes – JP is brilliant but I thought if refs were more patient they could have won the game fairly easy after the try that took them back to 20-10 but mcleods intercept pretty much sealed it – but take nothing away from going off to suncorp and doing that – I think stormers might mow them a bit tho on sat..
21 Jul 2012, 20:31 pm
Hey if Kaplan had blown for the knock on genia would never have scored
Kaplan lets the game flow
TMO decision was correct You could not see if ball was over the line
21 Jul 2012, 20:32 pm
@Heavens Game-506:
So the Sharks are the favourites for Saturday. Because their supporters say so.
Oh, that’s the way, uh-huh uh-huh,
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh.
Oh, that’s the way, uh-huh uh-huh,
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh.
21 Jul 2012, 20:32 pm
@cab-520:
Maybe because of them been tired yes but sharks are playing well and Stormers need to have their A game
21 Jul 2012, 20:33 pm
@Heavens Game-514:
The top team had a quiet relaxing weekend in hermanus.
They wish the sharks a nice flight back to SA with lotsa turbelence.
Bekker and Eben in particular are licking their lips to meet that heavy legged injury proned no8/7 wannabe lock and the other lock (i forgot his name but it is the oke with the kak hairstyle)
That hooker at number 8 was just a decoy…. watch this space.
21 Jul 2012, 20:33 pm
@CoachPete-519: My MOM… Kanko… 100%
21 Jul 2012, 20:34 pm
@IAAS-522:
Stormers still must be favourties
They are playing at home
They have rested
They have best defense
Sharks have traveled to oz and now must travel back, and had to play a hard fast physical game to
21 Jul 2012, 20:35 pm
@CoachPete-519: Coetzee was boet, but Keegs was brilliant, agree with you, Kanko also, they just gelling brilliantly right now
21 Jul 2012, 20:35 pm
@Heavens Game-525:
Nope Daniels allover the park and involved in most tries stopped one try etc etc
21 Jul 2012, 20:36 pm
Pete – yeah true helluva result
21 Jul 2012, 20:36 pm
Let’s be honest, the referee was all kinds of awful, he missed more knocks, forward passes and accidental offsides, proper offsides, hands in etc than a blind man reading braille with no arms.
But the right team won.
21 Jul 2012, 20:36 pm
@sharks_lover-527:
Daniels work rate was amazing and his support play excellent and his defense on the line (stopped one try )
Not sure why some on here, and HM cant see this????
21 Jul 2012, 20:37 pm
@sharks_lover-527:
I think they peaked just too soon
21 Jul 2012, 20:38 pm
@IAAS-522: Dont be stupid man… After travelling the full circumference of the planet… after playing and beating the defending champs on home turf in a physical game… after showing a half of the best attacking rugby by a Saffa team… followed by a half of the best defensive game yet by a Saffa team…
and then have to take on the No 1 side, the Conference “title” holders in their own backyard – “Fortress” Newland with thousands of Crusaders supporters in attendance….
Farkright… Why the fark not
21 Jul 2012, 20:38 pm
@goyougoodthing2-530:
For both sides kaplan lets the play flow
if he had called the scrum for knock on by sharks Genia would not have scored.
Plays the advantage rule the best
21 Jul 2012, 20:38 pm
And I agree with HG, the SA refs will be gently reminded that a home final would be marvelous, don’t expect any Sharks favours come Saturday, unless it’s McBooze Walsh the AustroKiwinator
21 Jul 2012, 20:39 pm
@Heavens Game-525:
I thought Kanko gave Spies an exhibition in eighthman play. He is playing good rugby at the moment.
I hope Spies was watching.
21 Jul 2012, 20:40 pm
@Heavens Game-533:
You just explained why the Sharks wont win
21 Jul 2012, 20:41 pm
@CoachPete-528: What didnt Kanko do…? No 1 lineout jumper… brutal defence… groundbreaking runs… supporting back 3 with kicks… ruck steals… A classic, complete No 8 game today… Put Spies to shame.
Daniel did the play of the match though – backflip offload to Jordaan… Beyoootiful!
21 Jul 2012, 20:41 pm
512@Cab….lololololololololololol omg that is funny and am now going to picture HG like that always….to think I had pictured him as quite a large well groomed naughty Shark with an amazing talent for causing mayhem.
21 Jul 2012, 20:41 pm
@IAAS-536:
Bok scrum
Beast
Bismark
J dup
Alberts
Estabeth
Daniels
Coetzee
Kanko
21 Jul 2012, 20:42 pm
@goyougoodthing2-535: Straight shooting
21 Jul 2012, 20:43 pm
@Heavens Game-538:
Agreed about Showing up Spies And i have said if he is playing well he should be 8
Just not MY MOM
21 Jul 2012, 20:43 pm
@IAAS-536: 100%… Who the fark is that oke Duane Vermeulen again
21 Jul 2012, 20:43 pm
@Treehugger-539:
Congrats on your teams win
But i told you this last week
21 Jul 2012, 20:44 pm
@Heavens Game-538:
21 Jul 2012, 20:44 pm
@Heavens Game-533:
It’s going to be a ding-dong battle. Take no prisoners kind of game. Not for the faint hearted. A PG guidance sticker might be necessary.
And by the way, didn’t take much to wind you up.
21 Jul 2012, 20:45 pm
@CoachPete-537: Of course… The Sharks go into the match as favourite underdogs…
21 Jul 2012, 20:45 pm
@Heavens Game-538:
And saved a try with the Reds tap kick near goal post
21 Jul 2012, 20:46 pm
@Treehugger-539: Lol, agganee Tree… This Cab has really dunnit now… The prat
21 Jul 2012, 20:47 pm
Sharks are fck’d sing all your glory hallelujahs tonight because next week its tickets.. Stormers gonna take these big over fed guppy yuppies down..
Genia threw the game.. Reds were all over Sharks from half time whistle.. Reds were dominant and striking into the red zone at will.. then he goes for a 50/50 penalty and Harris misses.. that was the wrong turn he took.. Genia should have simply ploughed straight on into Sharkie territory like they did for 80% of second half and Sharks would have cracked… the intercept was the point were Reds were stuffed.. otherwise Reds were all over Sharks second half like a bad rash.
Kaplan slowed all the Reds breakdown momentum down.. every time he blew a penalty he enforced Reds to take foot off the gas which gave Sharks time to re organize. Kaplan very clever at making it look like he’s blowing straight meanwhile he’s blowing skew…
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