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, 13:55 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-197: Less the Ricci Roberts fee, of course. Saw an ESPN interview with him, and he was grinning from ear to ear. Like some of the farkers here at work when they announce that a catered lunch meeting has left-overs up for grabs.
23 Jul 2012, 13:55 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-190:
yeah i know… him and schalk incredibly hard men… pity we can’t have them both back…
keep dreamin’ and prayin’ that allister has been sly and schalk will be fit…!!
hey… a stormer supporter can dream too…!!
23 Jul 2012, 13:56 pm
Stormers where the better team in the first halve of the season, and the Sharks is the better team in the second halve of the season.
Imo the Sharks could only lose to the Stormers due to fatigue. But credit to the Stormers for puting themself in the situation to play a tired Sharks side.
Good luck to both teams
23 Jul 2012, 13:56 pm
@ufo-199:
he damn well keeps us nervous every week till he gives the side, thats why one can never predict the actual Sharks team before hand, cuzz come team announcement time, he suddenly tells us about injuries 
23 Jul 2012, 13:57 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-200: Bookies must be bluffing their odds. Must be.
23 Jul 2012, 13:57 pm
@sharks_lover-172:
I surely hope so but selection of the referees isn’t looked coincidental
One Concern is the TMO who has a record of seeing things the SARU preferred way
23 Jul 2012, 13:58 pm
They called him Ernie, (Ernieeeeeeeeeee)
And he had the straightest 3-putt in the west.
23 Jul 2012, 13:58 pm
Why is this site so kaput? Where is the business owner’s pride?
23 Jul 2012, 13:58 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-200:
No Gunner,
Keo has lost his marbles.
23 Jul 2012, 13:59 pm
@cane-209:
Hey that smilie worked.
23 Jul 2012, 13:59 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-200:
Looks like we going to chase a few in the end.
Bell is the key. Prior will always give you a chance.
23 Jul 2012, 14:00 pm
@ufo-199: You mean Rebels? Just think.. If you are already in the semis and have a few injuries, are you really gonna give everything agaisnt the lowest ranked Aussie side??
This form everybody talks about: The Stormers “form” is 14 / 16!!
lets talk consistency rather.. Sharks beat bulls but lose to Lions… and struggle agaisnt the Cheetahs at home in first half…
23 Jul 2012, 14:00 pm
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23 Jul 2012, 14:02 pm
KEO sold the site to HSM if i’m not mistaken
23 Jul 2012, 14:02 pm
Are we still happy with a part timer behind the stumps jerry?
I think not.
23 Jul 2012, 14:04 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-200: Because the bookies have nothing on Tony Johnson, Keo,HG and all the other worldy scribes and kenners. Didn’t you know that?
23 Jul 2012, 14:04 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-215:
I believe he dropped someone earlier. Who did he drop and was it a 50/50.
23 Jul 2012, 14:05 pm
@sharks_lover-204:
yeah… was it d3ck muir or kevin putt who once announced a team and then ran out another as a ambush tactic…? not stirring just remember something like that…
@Provvas-212:
yes… of ‘ourse i meant the rebels…
that’s my kinda optimistic logic…!! i like it…
optimistic prime…!
23 Jul 2012, 14:05 pm
@Provvas-212: Mate it matter not what you or me or anyone else has to say, what happens on the park come saturday is what counts, the fact that you played poorly of late or we whipped you the previous match means zip nada fokoll
23 Jul 2012, 14:06 pm
Good Weekend for SA Sport:
- Ernie gets a jug of claret.
- Alma goes over 300 for a SA record.
- Sharkies live to fight another day.
You Okes are peaking too soon.
Another Olympic disaster looming for SA??????????
Can SA head Togo in the years medal count.
23 Jul 2012, 14:07 pm
@ufo-218:
this is true boet, i know Mac did this in the CC final in 1990
Lock Andre Botha suddenly appeared on the field at the start
23 Jul 2012, 14:08 pm
@cane-220: Dont forget a South African Murray won the international Tri Athlon in Germany
23 Jul 2012, 14:10 pm
@cane-220: Togo to go tops.
23 Jul 2012, 14:10 pm
@cane-220: And you guys got a well deserved second in the Caddies category. Well done.
23 Jul 2012, 14:12 pm
@sharks_lover-222: Not to mention the half-South African, Roger Federer…
23 Jul 2012, 14:13 pm
@>^..^< katman-224:
omg Kat TFF
23 Jul 2012, 14:13 pm
@sharks_lover-221:
well… i hope there’re no such surprises this weekend…!!
weatherSA predicts clear skies 20k wind no rain…
so both teams can play the way they choose…
23 Jul 2012, 14:14 pm
@sharks_lover-222:
yeah right ………………………….like the real contenders were busting their gut to win.
23 Jul 2012, 14:15 pm
@>^..^< katman-225:
it’s so cool to be south african even harry potter is claiming his mum was born here…
23 Jul 2012, 14:16 pm
@ufo-227::lol: fo sho, you going to the match?? i know i’ll be there
@>^..^< katman-225: eish very true Kat, what a sporting month we are having, World beaters
23 Jul 2012, 14:16 pm
@ufo-229: Harry Potgieter?
23 Jul 2012, 14:16 pm
@>^..^< katman-225:
We’re claming him.
His mother is from Benoni.
Benonism is like Judaism and baldness.
You get it from your mothers side.
23 Jul 2012, 14:18 pm
@ufo-227:
This is Cape Town.
Any weather “forecast” for further than 48 hours into the future is pure speculation…
23 Jul 2012, 14:18 pm
@Jeraldjay-217:
He dropped Bellend.
And it was a farking sitter.
Keo could have could that after a 3 day bender on Peruvian Flake.
23 Jul 2012, 14:18 pm
@sharks_lover-219: For Sure!! But isnt it nice to banter the week before?
Lost my previous post that said the following:
Scenario 1: stormers go ahead comfortably first half as they have the whole season and sharks need to fight back in the 2nd.. will jetlag allow them to come back as they have doen this season?
scenario 2: Sharks go ahead early on pure rush and stomers need to fight back in the second half.. will jetlag allow stormers to come back in the last 20?
Scenario 3: Borefet with a 3 points for me 3 points for you game which either sides win by 3… which my heart will not allow me to talk about come Monday..
23 Jul 2012, 14:19 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-200:
The Bookies call it to the situation and the inside info, it’s about money and no room for sentiments
If the final moves to NZ then SARU stands to lose fortune, now you do the maths
23 Jul 2012, 14:19 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-232:
Like Onanism?
23 Jul 2012, 14:19 pm
@sharks_lover-230:
absolutely will be there…!!
23 Jul 2012, 14:20 pm
so anyone want to tell me kanko is a showpony?
the oke is awesome and just getting better all the time.
23 Jul 2012, 14:21 pm
@WP Till I Die-233:
okay mr pessimist prime…!!
yeah… this we know… but at least for now… they are predicting clear,…
better than predicting a repeat of this past weekend…
23 Jul 2012, 14:22 pm
@WP Till I Die-233:
Pure ejaculation.
23 Jul 2012, 14:22 pm
@>^..^< katman-231:
hehehe…
yeah… came to watch his brother dewald and his other brother dewald play….
23 Jul 2012, 14:23 pm
@sharks_lover-221:
I thought he was the Natal Captain?
23 Jul 2012, 14:23 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-241:
You always have something at hand, it seems.
23 Jul 2012, 14:25 pm
@rangerman-239: No, he’s 100% pure Lippizaner.
23 Jul 2012, 14:25 pm
@Provvas-235:
No jetlag flying WEST, only fatigue
23 Jul 2012, 14:27 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-196: sharks are the favourites?
thats awesome!
i always knew kenners rated our sharkies more than your stormers.
seriously though, if you need the underdogs tag to win in a semi you may as well go on strike for cash just before the game…..oh wait…
23 Jul 2012, 14:27 pm
@Provvas-235: It is nice to banter, its the insults that get thrown by some thats irratting, other then that i think we all have gotten along just fine
23 Jul 2012, 14:27 pm
213.>^..^< katman said:
23 Jul 2012, 14:00 pm
You are posting comments too quickly. Slow down.
For me, this is the final insult.
I type with two fingers.
One on the left hand,
one the right.
The cranium in the middle,
is not exactly light speed either.
And I AM TOO FAST.
Yeah Right.
23 Jul 2012, 14:28 pm
@>^..^< katman-245: nice analogy.
ze germans nearly did the lippanzaners in but there are no germans in the stormers team.
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