Sharks tops in Newlands streetfight
28 Jul 2012
JON CARDINELLI writes the Sharks were tactically and physically superior in their epic 26-19 semi-final win over the Stormers on Saturday.
The result means that the Sharks will battle the Chiefs for the Super Rugby title next Saturday.
The Sharks will journey to Australasia for the decider, but on the back of a spirited showing in the semi-final, you wouldn’t rule out the possibility of Keegan Daniel lifting that coveted trophy.
They’ve have shown themselves to be the side for the big occasion in 2012, winning the crunch league match against the Bulls in Durban and then smashing the Reds in Brisbane in the qualifying play-off.
They were deserved winners in Saturday’s semi-final, and again it was the way they finished that proved decisive to the outcome. They absorbed a tremendous amount of pressure, picked their moment, and then Daniel made the turnover that killed the contest.
That is not to say that there was anything wrong with the way they started. There was always a danger that the Sharks would run out of puff in the final quarter, and so they needed to put the Stormers under pressure from the outset.
There were some moments when it seemed as if the Stormers would get on top. Lock Eben Etzebeth bulldozed Bismarck du Plessis early in the piece, and for a few seconds the Springbok hooker looked a punch-drunk boxer, teetering and swaying, and many would have anticipated a plunge to the proverbial canvas.
But like his team, Du Plessis not only recovered from the early knock, but soldiered on powerfully. The backlash was quite a thing to behold.
Those who had come to Newlands expecting a clash of styles must have been bitterly disappointed. The Sharks played clinical, smart rugby.
Just as their physicality at the collisions and power at the scrums were highlights, their halfbacks used that possession expertly to force the Stormers into costly errors.
Charl McLeod was on target with his box kicks, and Freddie Michalak produced a virtuoso performance from the flyhalf position. The Stormers battled to deal with the aerial bombardment, dropping a number of high balls or in some cases completely misjudging the garrowen.
A late change to the Sharks’ line-up saw Riaan Viljoen starting at fullback, and his cannon of a boot was expertly utilised. The Sharks had troubled the Stormers for much of the first half, but it was Viljoen’s mortar bomb that allowed the visitors to strike a telling blow. Viljoen put the ball up and Louis Ludik beat Stormers fullback Joe Pietersen in the air, and evaded the cover defence to score.
Michalak kicked the conversion to stretch the Sharks’ lead to 10 points. Peter Grant managed to narrow the deficit right before half-time to leave his side trailing by seven, but the Stormers would have been bitterly disappointed with that first-half return. They had enjoyed numerous visits to the opposition’s 22, but shocking handling and decision making had let the Sharks off the hook.
Some may call it a choke, but the Stormers never got themselves into a position to win this match. They failed to take their opportunities early in the game, and then were forced to play catch-up rugby in the second half.
The Sharks changed tack in the third quarter, keeping it close and striving to build on their seven-point lead.
After sending two drop-goal attempts wide, Michalak nailed a penalty. Grant answered with one at the other end, but it was the Sharks who had the better of territory during this period and made the most of another key opportunity, with JP Pietersen scoring on the hour.
At 23-9 the game looked to be over, but as anticipated, the Sharks started to feel the negative effects of travel. The Stormers took advantage, with Gio Aplon crossing the tryline in the 67th minute.
Grant goaled a further penalty to make it a four-point ball game, but it was here that the Sharks showed their defensive mettle. For the Stormers, it was a period where they showcased their attacking impotence, and lack of composure.
The Stormers were well placed in the opposition 22 but their attack was too lateral. And the Sharks never panicked.
They maintained their discipline on defence, and again, when the big opportunity arrived, they took it.
This time it was the captain who made the big play: a breakdown steal that won the game. The Sharks counter-rucked and Daniel latched onto the ball, wrenching it away and hacking it into the crowd.
898 Comments
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29 Jul 2012, 01:24 am
@Transformation-646: On his backside after knocking 3 Stormers to ground like mere skittles and making at least 5m… come now wake up man… Kolisi was nowhere… A mere Bambi in Headlights
Siya who… Siya Bambino, thats who!
29 Jul 2012, 01:25 am
@optiplay-644: Stormers rely on single individuals to produce master strokes of individual brilliance.. it don’t work like that
Grant is hardly attacking on the front foot because the entire flow of the backline orientation is non attritional .. if de Jongh was at 12 where he should be.. they would hit up in support of each other.. not the way Etsebeth or Bekker or JdV or olisi or Habana all go single dimension into the fray aiming at some sheer miraculous wishful thinking attack mode…
Watch when SBW goes through the first tackle how quickly the full back or outside center are on his shoulder picking up the offload… Stormers are way behind the strike runner who is going in solo every time..
Grant has broached the adv line often enough but then its nullified by nobody coming in behind or with him off his shoulder.. same when Etsebeth or Fourie or Liebenberg or Bekker or JdV go headlong into the crash ball situation they go in solo with nobody backing up or going through the crash ball with them.
Simply very weak coaching strategy as far as Stormers one dimensional game plan is executed
29 Jul 2012, 01:30 am
@Heavens Game-651: the whole team was below par playing poor directionless rugby.. but Kolisi was not outplayed by any Sharkshit today. where was your famous wunderkind Coetsee.. just as quiet as Kolisi.. and Kanko wasn’t that active either.. about as effective as Bekker.. in fact Bekker provided more open play dimension than Kankowski did..
with 3 min to play you were lucky not to concede a try to take the game to extra time… if Stormers were more composed on attack we had more opportunity than you did at close range.. only two lucky breaks one by Ludick the other by Pietersen set you apart.
29 Jul 2012, 01:30 am
Jeez… Tomorrow I will just have to do a survey and regurgitation of the absolute ridiculous quotes from arrogantcunts who were dismissive of the dynamite before today…. Gonna be instructive and highly embarrassing for the gerbil loving fools who really counted their Stormer chickens long before hatching…
Schweetness is a Sharkshagging.
29 Jul 2012, 01:34 am
@fitz1ella-653: Kanko dominated the lineouts… Coetzee did his job… Knocked em down, provided support… Thats what he’s there to do…. Kolisi was crying after the 15th to 20th tackle of either one of Coetzee, Alberts, Kanko, Beast, Daniel, Bissy for at least the fifth time each… and then having to take on Deysel in the 2nd half of the 2nd half… Poorfucker… I hope he recovers – I rate him, I really do – but I actually reckon he may be ruined for life after today
29 Jul 2012, 01:36 am
And then we had the Ghost Rider at lucky 13… unlucky for the Farts in the Wind though…
29 Jul 2012, 01:38 am
@fitz1ella-652: Very interesting . Could work. But you still need a better 9.
29 Jul 2012, 01:42 am
@Heavens Game-655: Daniel stood out amongst the loose forwards. How is it that he does not get his due praise? Superb rugby player!!!
29 Jul 2012, 01:44 am
JPP born in Cape Town.. between Ludick from Joburg.. JPP from Cape Town.. Alberts from Joburg.. Bissie from Bethlehem.. Deysel from Joburg… Freddy from Frogland Viljoen from Kimberly and Beast from Harare these sharkshits preen their foreign feathers thinking they own SA rugby.. meanwhile not one of their mercenaries is home bred or fed.
Pity they not more respectful of the fact that not one of their game breaking hero’s is actually from sugar cane plantation country.. even their coach is a foreign legionnaire.. all from way other side of the mountain or the ocean come the foreign legion of money made mercenaries.. it won’t last beyond next week though.
29 Jul 2012, 01:46 am
@optiplay-658: he disappears in international rugby.. not abrasive or powerful enough at the higher level of enterprise.. see how he goes next week..
29 Jul 2012, 01:46 am
@optiplay-658: He does… At least from this humble supporter… Daniel the Lionheart!
Farken Cappie of the best goddamned Team on the planet… after the Boks, of course….
29 Jul 2012, 01:47 am
@fitz1ella-653: Etsebeth,Fourie,Jdv and Habs were your good players today.Kolisi defended well but that is where it stops. The rest of your payers just did not arrive today.had they come up with a lucky score it would not have been a reflection of what happened on the turf today. Players have to take responsibility for their own poor showings.
29 Jul 2012, 01:49 am
@fitz1ella-659: “not one of their game breaking hero’s is actually from sugar cane plantation country”…. and Pat Lambie?
Or Wrecking Ball Coetzee…?
Ahem… Dumbfuck
29 Jul 2012, 01:50 am
@fitz1ella-659: Sad little man, The Sharks Academy alone has produced 11 Boks and 1 English player, this in about 5 years.
Jealously just makes you look desperate.
Besides, it’s pro sport, money talks.
And Coetzee went to Port Natal, I think we are okay.
29 Jul 2012, 01:51 am
Time to sleep..
at least got a couple weeks real sporting excellence to watch with the greatest sporting spectacle on earth happening in downtown London Town
some big names already blown away.. Phelps upstaged by his compatriot.. and the GB riders getting done in the cycle race.. and little 16 year old Chinese girl smashing the WR in the ladies IM..
I reckon Bolt gonna go down to Blake in the sprints just the same. . fascinating stuff the Olympics.. world sporting excellence on the biggest sporting stage.
29 Jul 2012, 01:51 am
@fitz1ella-659: Why were these players not picked up by their own provinces? Does it matter where a player comes from? Like any businessman they go where the best job opportunity is . It is the same as any other job..
29 Jul 2012, 01:52 am
And one Australian and Lambie
29 Jul 2012, 01:53 am
@Heavens Game-663: neither of those 2 are game breaking hero’s.. take your mercenaries out the equation and you guys are absolutely NOWHERE in comparison.. 2 little Natal boys does NOT a winning S15 team make..
.. same goes for you @goyougoodthing2-664: moronic dumb fck
29 Jul 2012, 01:55 am
@fitz1ella-668: Nothing worse than a crying WP brokeback… boo hoo
29 Jul 2012, 01:56 am
I didn;t realise being a BOK meant you were average…
29 Jul 2012, 01:57 am
night night.. next week the SBW show .. maybe Lambiekins and Coetsee can steal the limelight
29 Jul 2012, 02:01 am
FFS this explains our loss with Brycie
http://www.supersport.com/rugby/international/news/120728/Henry_suspected_matchfixing_after_world_cup_loss
29 Jul 2012, 02:02 am
Well done Sharks….Good luck next weekend.
29 Jul 2012, 02:05 am
@fitz1ella-668: Hahahahaha…. Coetzee was better than all Stormers loosies put together today… and he is a Sharkie born and bred… If SuperPat was there it would have probably been another 10 pts on the board for the Sharks… so count yourself lucky you were only playing the dynamite B team after a full circumference trip of the planet… otherwise that could have been another 8-10 points on the board too – Your ross tuckerfucker guru reckoned thats what it was worth… So, in all likelihood Sharks A team left 20points off the scoreboard…. Take that to a sugar plantation of your choice…
29 Jul 2012, 02:10 am
@fitz1ella-665: Oh dear… while you sit enthralled watching Women’s powerlifting, I shall be watching the Sharks take on the Chiefs in the miracle Final….
A Beyootiful thing that….
I will be watching “Finals” rugby in an actual final… lol
29 Jul 2012, 02:13 am
Sharks vs Chiefs…
The Miracle Final…
Could it be that 15 men in Black and White all walk on water together in Hamilton… Could it actually be?
I will dream dreams this week… Farken Miracle Dreams…Farken Dynamite dreams…
BOOM!
29 Jul 2012, 03:21 am
@nama1-628:
Agree entirely. Schroeder is the real deal. BMT. Dewaldt is good, but not brilliant. And a top franchise needs a brilliant scrummie.
29 Jul 2012, 03:22 am
Bwahahaha… that old toothless dog Skopshite upstaged AGAIN in his ‘predictions’!
Why bother pal… you have to be the worst rugby tipsters in the history of this site from the SharkVarkies to Jake White!!!!
29 Jul 2012, 03:22 am
@Heavens Game-676:
Enjoy. The Sharks are the best team in SA. They proved it. But don’t spoil the honour with scorn. It’s bad luck,
29 Jul 2012, 03:30 am
The Poofta Vindgats(stormers) have too many individuals playing, need team players.
Did you see HAbanana grab the ball and slip on his own banana peel. He does this every game. Doesnt know how to balance himself when changing direction.
I laughed myself silly,……pity he is playing for the boks. I expect him to do this every game. Sometimes i wonder how he reached top scorer for the boks, shocking…
A man in form – hardly. I think what goes through his head when he gets the ball is
“run forest run… doesnt matter where just run…. even when your on the ground… carry on running…. ” – lol
The guy needs to go and play 7′s rugby for 6 months and learn how to play in the backline, really shocking player.Too many blind people out there think he is great. As much as we all like the dancing shoes of aplon and de Jongh these boys play too much individual rugby. Aplons head like Habanana is too big. They need to be brought down to earth. Sooner the better.
29 Jul 2012, 03:35 am
@Greenies-680:
So much anger in victory? You clearly do not feel truly victorious. Rubbing your rival’s face in the mud is not necessary.
29 Jul 2012, 04:35 am
@Greenies-680:
Bollocks pal… Habana is as good as ever and had an excellent Super and test season… I’d happily have him on the other wing with JPP at the Sharks…
29 Jul 2012, 04:51 am
@goyougoodthing2-672:
bah, stop talking cr@p. He didnt say anything about the Boks loss
In fact if you can look at archives on here and go back to that fateful day in 2007, 95 % of the bloggers thought it was the best reffed game. Now why go you guys think match fixing is happening in rugby?
So if it happens to other teams, it does not exist,turn a blind eye. But if the Boks lose once due to some odd calls, then you believe in match fixing. lol. Now you think the ABs were ripped off in 2007 lol, just keeps getting better.
Anyway back to the thread.
Well done Sharky supporters. Just shows even though you cant score tries, win all but 2 games upto Semis and top the competition leaderboard at the end ( that no one will even remember ) does not mean the comp in won. Sharks outplayed the Stormers i thought quite easily actually.
Chiefs could spoil it for these sharky fans and of course i hope so but the Chiefs have been average upto the last game against the Saders. Lets hope they do not fall into satisfactory mode as they will need to be at their best to best the Sharks.
29 Jul 2012, 04:54 am
And as for the Poll.
Why do so many think Pieterson is the best winger in the world?
I would rate Jane over him all day long. And i didnt let the Hurricane brain cloud my judgment either
29 Jul 2012, 05:00 am
The Brown brothers and SBW to shred the Sharks next week.
29 Jul 2012, 05:02 am
@Hurricane-684:
Yip he does very little in a Bokke jersey against quality opposition, a bit like JDV over the last 2 years but all of a sudden these guys are the best in the world.
29 Jul 2012, 06:16 am
@NZINCHINA-686: Who actually said “best in the world”? JP in very good form at the moment. If you can,t see that, then I am sorry you are just another bias rugby supporter.
29 Jul 2012, 06:21 am
@optiplay-687:
Yip he has been in very good form over the last few matches, the KEO punters reckon he’s the best around, I know I know its only a poll but half of them actually believe that.
29 Jul 2012, 06:43 am
@goyougoodthing2-672:
France were the most disciplined side in the history of the game for those 50 minutes, not 1 penalty awarded and you thought Bryce was bad.
He found the All Blacks had an overwhelming 73 percent territorial advantage, won 166 rucks to 42 and made only 73 tackles in comparison to France’s 331.
Yet, New Zealand did not receive a single penalty in the last 50 minutes of the match. Henry says his final analysis suggested Barnes missed 40 penalty infringements by France and that if New Zealand had been awarded the most obvious of those penalties, the final score could been 42-3 or 42-6.
29 Jul 2012, 06:47 am
NZ were clearly the best side in the world in 07′ having beaten the Bokke at home a few months before the world cup and then thumping them in 08′, we was robbed….
29 Jul 2012, 07:52 am
It is Sunday the 29th of July 2012, and i just gotta say this,
It’s so nice being a Sharks supporter!
………………..
As for the Stormer supporters, I wonder when WEEPEE and StormerfirlifeELCRAPPO will make their appearances?? Although being his usual idiot self skoppie atleast had the nuts to show face.
For the good Stormer supporters, BAd luck chaps toy team did you proud and although there is much anger and sadness etc, remember you team is on the way up compared to how they wre a few years ago. They however do need to Start getting the Youngsters comming through,
An example of Sharks youngsters comming through?
And i mean for example from the Academy.
Lambie 21
Jordaan 20
Marcel 20
Bresler 23
PSDT 19
Reinach scrummy 20
Mvovo 22 or 23 not 100% sure
These are very young players that have a long road ahead of them
29 Jul 2012, 07:54 am
To the good Stormer supporters i was meaning to say tough luck,
29 Jul 2012, 07:58 am
Some news for the Sharks fans and you heard it here first!!!
Bok Squad to be announced soon? i dont know all the specifics, but i can tell you there will be 12 Sharks and 6 Stormers in it, balance will be Bulls Lions and Cheetahs and i aint sure what the squad total will be
29 Jul 2012, 08:02 am
@optiplay-687:
Who Says he the best in the world?
So far 337 people on here and counting. lol
29 Jul 2012, 08:08 am
morning hurricane
stormers supporters are waking up right now,reality dawns and they are doing crocodile death rolls with their duvets tucked between their legs.
BOOM!
At the final whistle b utt plugs and gerbils were s hat out in unison
Naais!
High five anyone?
29 Jul 2012, 08:12 am
@sharks_lover-691:
Well done to you and your team mate.
Surely must be happy with the outcome so far.
29 Jul 2012, 08:13 am
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19-695:
Morning Fernly.
I see there is a bit of happiness in that post of yours
29 Jul 2012, 08:16 am
@sharks_lover-693:
Well lets hope Bok coach agrees with you mate.
But there is one more game to go, if the Sharks lose by alot, then their maybe some shuffles around in that list of yours.
29 Jul 2012, 08:21 am
Well done to my team the Sharks for beating WeePee yesterday but unfortunately the odds are stacked against them this coming week. I fear the Chiefs will be to much of a hurdle this time round.
To the WeePee supporters all I can say is hardluck and maybe next year will be the year
29 Jul 2012, 08:22 am
hurricane i am backing my side again to win a final a lot of peeps said they would not reach
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