Form will decide Super Rugby semis
23 Jul 2012
MARK KEOHANE, in his Business Day column, says play-offs are all about momentum – and all the momentum this weekend will be with the Sharks and Crusaders.
The Stormers’ and Chiefs’ reward for claiming the top two spots in the league stages was a home semi-final and a week’s breather in between games. But what was supposed to be a favour for the consistency of the season could be the curse that ends the Super Rugby season for the hosts of both semi-finals.
Form is definitely with the Sharks and Crusaders and form is all that will matter this weekend. League clashes count for nothing when the teams meet in a match in which there is no second chance.
The Stormers, in 2010 and 2011, were the best defensive team in the competition, yet losing in a final and a semi-final is the return of a good side and not a champion one.
This season they’ve exceeded expectation. Their defensive record is unrivalled and so too is their lack of attack. The players have shown impeccable discipline in respecting the coach’s strategic approach to what best suits the strengths of the team. The squad has been depleted through injury, yet the resolve of the reserve players has been strengthened.
You have to applaud the Stormers’ campaign, regardless of whether the climax is a first home final and a trophy or a second successive home semi-final defeat.
A year ago there was an expectation because of momentum and player availability. This year needs more perspective, even if it may bring no comfort.
The Stormers have the respect of every team in the competition and they are now recognised as among the most powerful in the league. It is a respect that has been earned over the past three years through consistent performance. A team whose players were once labelled pretty boys with no appetite for a scrap are now the biggest scrappers in the tournament. Again, this may not be enough to win the title. The quality of Stormers players in too many positions does not match the desire of those who will play on Saturday.
A team doesn’t fluke winning Super Rugby’s trophy. No limited or poor team has ever ended the season champions because when the big moments have come the quality players have produced — and that’s why I also give the Sharks an advantage, despite the travel back from Australia and the venue being in Cape Town.
The Sharks have the greater individual pedigree in the pack and big-name players are flexing their muscles at just the right time. The physicality that was absent earlier won the Sharks the match against the Reds, who had lost just two of their past 23 matches in Brisbane.
The Sharks, individually and as a unit, were brutal in the collisions, but never did the need to impose themselves physically come at the expense of composure or attacking intent.
It was a glorious evening for the Sharks and South African rugby. It also ensured one all-South African semi-final, which means SA will be represented in the final. That makes a statement that had to be made after the Boks’ disappointment of the 2011 World Cup.
It is also confirmation of the strength of the South African game, which is why South African players must always be expected to be among the leaders in the game
We have always had the players, but the belief of those players hasn’t always matched their playing pedigree.
The Sharks never doubted they could win against the Reds because they’ve won there before. The Bulls never believed they could win in Christchurch, despite all the pre-match boasts of changing history and fearing nothing. The result was as predictable as the traditional Bulls success at Loftus.
There is no need for crisis in Pretoria. The best Bulls team in the past decade couldn’t win in Christchurch.
The Crusaders, inconsistent this year, relied on the incomparable Richie McCaw and the equally magnificent Dan Carter. McCaw, in particular, was a beast and to produce a performance of such influence in his 11th season of Super Rugby was monumental, even by his incredible standards.
Carter was as imposing and as good as at any stage of his career, yet even if he had produced the worst game of his life it wouldn’t have changed the result. The Bulls were beaten before they got on the aircraft.
The Crusaders were very good because, like the Sharks, their best players stood tallest. It is why they will beat the Chiefs in Hamilton.
And while it isn’t the popular view in Cape Town, the Sharks have the better combinations and the better individuals.
476 Comments
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23 Jul 2012, 12:46 pm
Well done Stormers for the topping the log…. excellent display. From a Sharks supporter.
But the real competition starts now!! I can’t hardly wait for saturday. Bissie, Kanko, Beast, Keegan, Marcel all the boys will be chewing at the bit to get out there come 5pm Sat. And I expect no less from the Stormer brigade.
Will be good. Do or die.
23 Jul 2012, 12:48 pm
Too close to call but I go with Stormers by 3, by default of course.
What a way to end this year long fued between the two Coastals
23 Jul 2012, 12:49 pm
@Provvas-116: Undecided. Neither team have put forward a truly convincing argument for the katman’s support. Kind of like watching the Griffons play the Bulldogs. All you really can hope for is some entertaining rugby.
23 Jul 2012, 12:52 pm
@Transformation-133: I know
We are so BOOM fecked that I am going to fire off an email to coach Alistair ASAP. I am going to beg him to spare our boys the humiliation that awaits.
Mental injury is far harder to overcome than a buggered up cruciate, or a torn bicep. We have to throw the game, hand the more deserved SA team the Conference Cup as well for good measure, and tell them to skip CT, and head off to NZ.
This would be the right thing to do.
IRANZ coaching = Facebook petitions (2nd in quantity only to the Stop Rhino poaching batch which pop up daily)
23 Jul 2012, 12:53 pm
De Villiers drops one
23 Jul 2012, 12:54 pm
ahem..
ab knocks on.
scrum england.
23 Jul 2012, 12:55 pm
@sharks_lover-146:
hey SL…
how you holding up there…?
gonna be a ripsnorter on saturday…
don’t know how the fans are gonna cope with the stress…
sharks definitely the form team…
stormers seem to have stuttered and spluttered along all season… just making it to the finish line with a huge back-fire in a cloud of oil-laced exhaust smoke…
sharks looking like a humvee (GI spec) at the moment crushing ll before them with power, speed and style… sharks looking awesome from 1 to 22…
if form is to be the gauge (and what else is there to gauge the teams but current form…?) the sharks should do it without having to engage low-range…
the only thing going for the stormers… imo… is their never say die attitude and sheer determination to win… their bloody-mindedness hard-edged commitment all season has been what has set them apart… imo…
the other thing that has helped us.. is that because we just squeak our wins and don’t score tries or get bonus points and don’t play ‘attractive’ rugby… just about everybody… fans and players… keep underestimating the stormers…
so i fully expect a sharks win but will be hoping the stormers up their game and pull off a win…
even if it is a chorry-chorry-bang-bang splutter over the line on one spark plug…
23 Jul 2012, 12:55 pm
@wpstormerbok-152: Gonna be real tough mate, bome crunching stuff coming
23 Jul 2012, 12:56 pm
I wonder how much gum Vern goes through in a day.
23 Jul 2012, 12:59 pm
@charo-149:
hey bud…
yeah… you absolutely right about the old buggers doing it… those guys have literally been together as a team of nearly 60 years… same guys who stated the club… very close tight-knit enthusiastic bunch of guys who all look 20 years younger than they are… great bunch of guys…
and yes the club has done very well… but don’t think they’re champs this year… durbs are again…
23 Jul 2012, 13:02 pm
anything can happen on saturday…
all i keep hoping is that the result is not controversial…
if the sharks win i will fully back them to go back to NZ and win the final there…
if the stormers win… well will enjoy the final here and hope we beat the kiwis…
23 Jul 2012, 13:06 pm
Ernie’s odds with American bookies at the start of the Open were 40-1, and at the start of Sunday they came down to 25-1. But at one point towards the second half of Sunday, you could have got yourself odds of 469-1 on Ernie overtaking Scott. In the States, $70 was spent at these odds for a return of almost $33 000.
23 Jul 2012, 13:11 pm
@Transformation-84: Plumtree has been away too long if he doesn’t think NZ is struggling to compete with rugby league. It may not be as bad as in Oz but our player base is split – imagine Benji Marshall playing for the Chiefs, Cruden would be sitting on the bench.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glU35F_BqxQ
Not making excuses but the Blues consider league a bigger problem than Pat Lam was
23 Jul 2012, 13:17 pm
@ufo-161: Spot on.
23 Jul 2012, 13:19 pm
@ufo-157:
boet, yeah and the same for my team, I am not so sure about the Sharks victory thing, i reckon they might just run out of gas, thats my main concern
Also there is still no mention from the Sharks side as to possible injries, this will also be a factor
23 Jul 2012, 13:21 pm
@>^..^< katman-162:
There was no reason to put a wager on Ernie since it seemed he couldn’t care less about his woeful putting last two years although his game around the greens always been awesome
His 18th hole’s putt was nothing but sensational,
23 Jul 2012, 13:22 pm
@sharks_lover-158: Your team is on fire at the moment SL – worthy opponents. This weekend will be edge of the seat stuff.
23 Jul 2012, 13:22 pm
@sharks_lover-165: Or maybe the ‘heroic’ Sharks will just be klapped by a Stormers team who is better than them on the day.
You haven’t thought of that one yet have you?
So it’s only travel and injuries you have to worry about is it? Not showing the Stormers much respect here……..
#gleefulandcynicalsmileywithguppiemouthopeningandclosinggaspingforair#
23 Jul 2012, 13:23 pm
@stormer in a teacup-167: yup mate this is gonna be one heck of a match
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-168: grow up moron
23 Jul 2012, 13:24 pm
That flucking blue gumtree on your shoulder must be getting real heavy
23 Jul 2012, 13:25 pm
“Form will decide Super Rugby semis”
Unfortunately for the Sharks, it will be Messrs Walsh, Jonker and Peiper who will decide the winner, not the Sharks’ form ;(
23 Jul 2012, 13:26 pm
@Hondo-171: hopefully that will not be the case
23 Jul 2012, 13:28 pm
Good article by Steve Morris on Supersport!
“For Morne Steyn, Pierre Spies, Wynand Olivier and Zane Kirchner, the Springbok journey must surely be over.”
http://www.supersport.com/rugby/blogs/steve-morris/The_Revolution_must_start_now
23 Jul 2012, 13:29 pm
@stormer in a teacup-164:
shot bud…
@sharks_lover-165:
i think on the injury front the sharks are fine… we would’ve heard something by now if there was a problem… and can’t recall anyone being injured… except jannie doing a bit of astral traveling…
so i expect and hope the full sharks side to take to the field…
not as sure about the stormers though… is duane fit… isn’t he… will he play… won’t he…?
so looking forward to the team announcements too… then the buildup will be in full swing
23 Jul 2012, 13:29 pm
I swear the sharks supporters are treating this semi-final like it’s some kind of twitter contest, “the team whose fans post the most comments wins!” Sadly for the Sharks, rugby results are not based on democratic votes, let the sharks blabber on like over confident fisherman while they sail unassuming into the eye of the Storm.
23 Jul 2012, 13:29 pm
@sharks_lover-165: are they back in SA yet?
My analysis is exactly that:
Scenario 1: The stormers build up a lead in the first half as they have done the whole season. The sharks need to fight back in the second half to topple them as they did to a few teams whole season. But will the jetlag allow them?
Scenario 2: The sharks go in front early in the game on pure adrenalin and excitement pumping for the semis. The stormers then have to fight back in the second half to try and win in a way they have not done all season…. Will the Jetlag to the Sharks allow them to steal it?
Scenario 3: Its a borefest of penalty for you penalty for me.. at which either team win by 3… which I will not be able to talk about on Monday as my nerves will not make it…
23 Jul 2012, 13:31 pm
@ufo-174:
If Duane’s fit I’d start him and hope he can last for 60mins, instead of benching him and hoping he can last for 20mins.
Bit of a catch 22.
23 Jul 2012, 13:32 pm
@ufo-174: Not so sure UFO, Jordaan is suspect with that Hammy and Lambie and PSDT is not yet confirmed
F Steyn i doubt will be able to play, so there are still concerns
@Provvas-176: Mate they landed in DBN last night
23 Jul 2012, 13:33 pm
@Jeraldjay-177: Its playoffs risks will have to be taken
23 Jul 2012, 13:34 pm
@Jeraldjay-177:
yeah bud… i’m with you on that…
i would start him and tell him to give 100percent till he drops… tell him if he dies on the field we’ll put up a plaque for him on the tunnel wall…
then let deon come on when things are a bit looser…
23 Jul 2012, 13:35 pm
@Hondo-171: You must a brazillionaire by now, being able to predict rugby results just by who is reffing. Houses on the Riviera, superyachts and private jets. How I envy you.
23 Jul 2012, 13:36 pm
@sharks_lover-178:
sorry man… forgot the Lambie and PSDT… meant all the guys who rolled the reds…
did think of jordaan but reckon we’d have heard something by now…
hope he is fit and does play…
23 Jul 2012, 13:37 pm
@sharks_lover-169: All I did was ask you a fair question. And your answer: ‘grow up moron’.
Let me try again: Do you think (even in the furthest recesses of your wrinkled mind) that there is a chance the Sharks might lose simply because on the day – their opposition MIGHT be better?
Or is there no such thing? Only excuses about travel and injuries?
Think carefully before you answer, and don’t mangle your fingers in the frother.
23 Jul 2012, 13:41 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-168: the stormers “klap” other teams?
not likely.
beat them yes, klap them no.
23 Jul 2012, 13:42 pm
@ufo-180:
The week before the Bulls I thought the boys had no chance of winning at Loftus with a depleted team.
This week the stakes are higher against the Sharks and I think we want it more than they do.
23 Jul 2012, 13:43 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-183: Are you that stupid?? I have said over and over in here that i think the Stormers will win, do i think normall they are better then the Sharks NO , just as you and all the Stormers feel the Stormers are the better team, thats just an opinion we have
As for Saturday if the stormers win did i ever say it would not be because they were the better team
If they perform better then so be it, dont try to twists peoples words for you trouble making agenda, it is pretty clear for most to see what you do in here day in and day out, then you cry when you are not showin respect, boohoo
YOu start off with an insulting nic to jibe at the Sharks and then come act all innocent?? like i told you a few times before , you can FO as far as i am concerned,
23 Jul 2012, 13:44 pm
@ufo-182: Bro you lknow Plum knows how to hide secrets, and it will only be known come Thursday,
23 Jul 2012, 13:45 pm
@rangerman-184: You not comming down for the maTCH??
23 Jul 2012, 13:45 pm
BOOM!
23 Jul 2012, 13:46 pm
@ufo-180: Duane doesn’t do ‘warm-ups’ and getting back into the swing of things. He knows one way, and one way only. Go in hard, from the start and to maggots with everything else. Teams who play more expansively struggle to get their players ‘back into some sort of match suitability ‘ a lot more than teams like us, who can throw anyone in, as long as they know the D system and are hard as nails and 80% injury free. If he is fit, we need 40 minutes – that’s it. Flair players seem to struggle more to find their ‘matchday faces’ far more than the hard men. Duane is fortunately for us, not a flair player, although just a cool to watch.
I have a feeling we might see Duane’s name on the teamsheet, and Allistair has already said if he is fit – he starts. Deon off the bench when Sharks might be losing a little steam…a nice prospect.
23 Jul 2012, 13:47 pm
@WP Till I Die-189: BANG
23 Jul 2012, 13:48 pm
@>^..^< katman-162:
Earnie?
23 Jul 2012, 13:49 pm
CRASH BOOM BANG!
23 Jul 2012, 13:50 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-192: 900 000 squid.
23 Jul 2012, 13:50 pm
“MARK KEOHANE, in his Business Day column, says play-offs are all about momentum – and all the momentum this weekend will be with the Sharks and Crusaders”.
This one sentence sums up keo.comedy.
Keo it seems, does not live in the real world. his brain is fogged.
The Travel Factor will be the overriding influence on the result of the Stormers/Sharks match.
Sharkies are mere men after all, …………………………………..just like the rest of us.
If they win against the Stormers it will be a monumental win………………….against huge odds.
If they follow that up with a win in NZ…………………………………….it will be the greatest of Super Titles ever.
23 Jul 2012, 13:51 pm
@rangerman-184: We be winning though…and a win is as good as a klap
. Tell me, IF (against allllllllllllllllllll odds) the Sharks do somehow lose, what would you say after the game? Travel and Injuries 
Because on a serious note – the Sharks HAVE to be and ARE firm favourites. Can’t see them losing, neither can Tony Johnson, Keo, every other expert on the planet.It would be an upset if the Stormers won – no question about it
23 Jul 2012, 13:51 pm
@>^..^< katman-194:
That should put some gas in the G6.
23 Jul 2012, 13:51 pm
Johnny played guitar, Jenny played bass.
Name of hte band is The Human Race.
Everybody tell me have you heard?
POP goes the world.
23 Jul 2012, 13:52 pm
@Jeraldjay-185:
for sure… i also thought we’d lose that one…
if we play well we could take this one… but after our ‘effort’ against the force… well… we have to see who pitches up the stormers or the puffyclouds…
i hope both teams play to their best form…
@sharks_lover-187:
yeah he does hey… so will wait and see…
23 Jul 2012, 13:52 pm
How can the sharks be favourites if the Bookies have the stormers as favourites?
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