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, 08:26 am
@sharks_lover-691: Congratulations. SL. Your team have done brilliantly to get this far. Stormers are stuck in the mud. We need a backroom change to get the team potent on attack. HG, fern and Greenies – you are as embarassing a bunch of losers in victory as you would have been in defeat. If anything can taint a magnificent Sharks victory it is the behavior of sad little trolls like you.
29 Jul 2012, 08:29 am
@ShaunSwindon-699: Cheers Shaun. I will be barracking in full voice for the Sharks next weekend.
29 Jul 2012, 08:33 am
Lovely day here in Kaapstad
Time to wash the car
29 Jul 2012, 08:35 am
For once I agree with Dusky
Two lost semi finals is epic choking
Stormers may never recover
29 Jul 2012, 08:37 am
@Hurricane-696: Thanks mate, Must say, they busy performing miracles lol
Look as for Chiefs again with having to now again fly back to Kiwi?? surely the Sharks chances are very small, but as a supporter we keep hoping and just maybe they can pull it off,
What worries me is this,
Stormers i knew we have a better chance as the 9 and 10 at the Stormers are not always that good,
Chiefs have a solid 9 and 10, there lies the problem that i am worried about
29 Jul 2012, 08:38 am
A huge congrats Sharkies. Cynical or not, I was spot on was I not? The Sringsharks vs 2 fatties, a few teeagers, a 5 with a dodgy back, and the kakkest 9 and 10 combo in the competition. Not sure why you Sharkies disagreed with me last week, and are now crowing about the exact thing I said? Sharks backbone of the Bok team, and even more so now. Breaks my heart to say it, but this game ended the way it should have. To the Sharks team, well done. To John Plumtree, well done, and the chorus of Plum haters has suddenly gone quiet? Trying to earse the Facebook page? I trust those who whinged and moaned their way through the season are feeling suitably phucked?
This is your 5th final I think?
Don’t choke.
(Side note: Mothertrucker those Sharks fans at the stadium were a strong case for my provincial profiling…We even had to help a group of them find their rental car at 3am this morning, which we did, only to find that Sheldon their leader from KZN had lost the keys)
29 Jul 2012, 08:40 am
Sheldon!!
29 Jul 2012, 08:42 am
@stroker in a teacup
was your bf too crestfallen to even give you a handjob this morning?
we have been warning you backspitters all along.
pop!
29 Jul 2012, 08:45 am
@Dawn-707: Yes! Other morons we found wandering down Dean Street and could see were totally hammered and lost. The ones Sharks jersey was torn to shreds! I insisted we stop to help them (in a moment of madness and unheard of kindness to Sharks fans).
Finally worked out their car was on the other END of Newlands, Perth street side. There was one sober dude with them, trying to keep them in check. But when they realised the keys were gone, much chest beating and wailing. They were staying in the Waterfront! So we called a cab for them, and they will have to sort out the key thing with their rental agent today
Wasted, hammered, LOTS of mormon ^ 5ving….
29 Jul 2012, 08:48 am
Shame man! At least they had help.
29 Jul 2012, 08:51 am
@Dawn-710: You don’t want groups like that wandering around our suburbs at night – they might hurt someone
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19-708: I met a few Sharks fans in your mould at the stadium yesterday. Much gyrating of hips to go with the jeans so tight I doubt any of them could father children. Bangers and mash on display.
29 Jul 2012, 08:53 am
Naaah.
Someone might hurt them!
29 Jul 2012, 08:54 am
You are good samaritan indeed.
29 Jul 2012, 08:56 am
“What’s your name”
“Sheldon”
“Get out the car so I can moer you just for that!”
29 Jul 2012, 08:59 am
It’s a beautiful day
Sky falls, you feel like
It’s a beautiful day
Don’t let it get away
What you don’t have you don’t need it now
What you don’t know you can feel it somehow
What you don’t have you don’t need it now
Don’t need it now
Its a beautiful day
29 Jul 2012, 09:01 am
@Heavens Game-715:
good morning old chap. happiness is?????
29 Jul 2012, 09:02 am
Indeed!
Morning old chap!
29 Jul 2012, 09:03 am
Howzit Sheldon!
29 Jul 2012, 09:04 am
@Heavens Game-715: One thing about you, unlike many who were ready to slit Plumtree’s throat and install Mallet, or that Stonehouse fellow, you stood firm. For that, I am breaking the mould and giving you ONE Sheldon trademarked Mormon ^5.
However, in the grander scheme of things, you are still a bitofadoos.
29 Jul 2012, 09:05 am
@Dawn-718: Sheldon reminded me more a Fern type Sharks fan.
29 Jul 2012, 09:06 am
The sky has fallen…. my poor babbelaased head…
Lets face it – most of the brain power of the Dynamite is concentrated right on the one side of the front row in the form of Doc DuP… The rest of that mad young Keegan led Sharks team, are ignorant and dumb enough to believe they can win this whole goddamned tourny….
Its a beyootiful thing…
29 Jul 2012, 09:07 am
I will say this.
Am waiting for Reyhaan to pull out his “granitic” word for the Sharks.
29 Jul 2012, 09:08 am
@sharks_lover-716: Happiness is a babbelaas from Hades and the Devils water…sweet, sweet beer….
29 Jul 2012, 09:09 am
How come I haven’t had the SL toothless drunken hag thrown at me already?
Something aint right.
29 Jul 2012, 09:11 am
Forgot “attention seeking”
29 Jul 2012, 09:15 am
What a naais day
stop trawling for attention dawn
linkin park tickets for me and the gf sorted
the unbearable lightness of being chunt du fernly…
29 Jul 2012, 09:15 am
Congratulations to the Sharks and their fans… here’s hoping you take it all the way…!
Was I disappointed…? of course…!
But I’m still proud of the team and players for what they’ve achieved minus some very important players…
I’m not gone be hating our players or coaches… the guys played their hearts out and came up short… such is life…
29 Jul 2012, 09:18 am
@706 So for all the sarcasm/cynicism you can actually claim you made the right call… You are still full of Kak, but thanks for the congrats. 1 more week of magic from the Sharks!
29 Jul 2012, 09:19 am
Well done Sharkies. Epic battle.
Watched the game again this morning…. grrrr.
If you watch the Stormers body language in the changerooms before the game compared to the Sharks one could easily predict the outcome 80mins later.
The Stormers looked very nervous (big difference between nervous and focussed) whereas the Sharkies looked more at ease enjoying the moment.
The next time these guys get into a knock out phase of either the CC or
If you start the game
29 Jul 2012, 09:22 am
Chunder du fernly you naai
We ALL know about your konsert tickets already
How many more times you gonna post it?
29 Jul 2012, 09:23 am
@Jeraldjay-729:
This site is starting to go to the toilet.
The next time these guys get into a knock out phase of either CC or Super Rugby they need to forget about losing and focus on winning. Maybe use
If you start with a negative mindset
29 Jul 2012, 09:25 am
Maybe use Henning Gericke as the kop specialist.
29 Jul 2012, 09:26 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-719: I need no congrats or judgement from anyone… especially someone who, with your “special nic”, now looks like truly the dumbest sonofabitch on Keo… and thats saying something when considering the truly special twats on this Storming propaganda site….
29 Jul 2012, 09:30 am
And let the Sharkies supporters sing… Sing of their Great Team busy doing the impossible…
No more “Dumbtree” now especially with the type of rugby the dynamite are playing…
Sharks are playing Finals rugby the proper way…
29 Jul 2012, 09:31 am
Again … Morning Sheldon!
29 Jul 2012, 09:37 am
Nothing worse than an OTT reaction to winning a rugger game. Theres gotta be more to your life bud than standing on the jungle Jim shouting you the king of the castle? Doos!
29 Jul 2012, 09:40 am
Are the Sharks going to be Rugby’s version of the Buffalo Bills – the best team never to have won Super Rugby…. or the New Orleans Saints – the destiny team doing the impossible…
Let the Sharks be Saints…
WhooHa
29 Jul 2012, 09:42 am
All the Boks had a good game yesterday but I must say JPP is looking very impressive.
Bekker, Etzebeth, Beast, Bismark and Alberts………..
29 Jul 2012, 09:44 am
Sharks front row…. The Steel Wall… The 3 Great Whites…
The second row… Hammerheads
The loosies… Zambesis… Nasty
The backs… Makos all… with JPP a Super Mako…
Stuff of Legends
29 Jul 2012, 09:48 am
Dawn
As many times as i want
Have you got your tickets for their Cpt show yet?
Morning HG
Henry Coxwell,Lood,Mort et all must be super chuffed this morning
They were the pioneers and are legends
29 Jul 2012, 09:48 am
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19-700:
And so you should fern . Your side is playing good
29 Jul 2012, 09:51 am
@Hurricane-741:
Thats was my 3rd arttempt. My first 2 failed due to posting to fast. Keo needs to spend a little more money on his website. This has been going on for at least 4 days now.
Should not take that long to fix. I now copy before i submit commment cos Keo is too tight.
29 Jul 2012, 09:51 am
@Jeraldjay-738: Notafuck Bekker coming near a Bok side if King Heyneke actually knows whats good for him… And I suspect he does, already having identified the Sharks as the bulk of his Bok side… Lets face it, as good athletically Bekker actually is – he is soft – in body and mind… like Spies.
Now Etsebeth is another story all together… He is the one player from the Stormers pack who could actually play for the Sharks…. and in saying that, playing for the Sharks pack basically makes you a Bok…
So, room in the Sharks pack for a couple of locks… and those would be Etsebeth and Kruger… No room elsewhere… Current vacancies all full, other than some Bulls on the bench….
29 Jul 2012, 09:52 am
@Heavens Game-739: That was funny….haha.
Loosies….. Zambesis …. Fast and lethal…
29 Jul 2012, 09:55 am
My bok locks would be etzbeth and bressler, regrettably non of those boys run a lineout and that is important as a lock.sic.
29 Jul 2012, 09:55 am
hurricane i have a mate and his wife works in admin at kings park for the sharks
there is a sense of self believe from the players and everyone else
29 Jul 2012, 09:56 am
@Heavens Game-733: My nic will stay. Once you fellows ‘hit’ the 50 year mark of competitive rugby participation….. Once you have a university that can actually compete at a Varsity Cup level….Once 80% of your flip flopping fans start supporting the team in good times and bad, and start filling that stadium….Once 75% of Sharks fans actually read rugby 101…
29 Jul 2012, 09:57 am
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19-740: Banana Boys all…
Spirit of 1990 yesterday… Got to laugh at AC farking around the whole week with Vermeulen – To play or not to play….
And then Plum switches the whole backline on the Day… Just like Ian Mac did with the pack in 1990 against the Bulls….
Poor JdJ – used to rate that little guy, but the Stormers have fcked his career up by not playing him at 12…. and then he had to face JPP – Ghost Rider – at 13 yesterday…. He is finished, sorry to say, unless he finds a team elsewhere who will actually play him at 12…
29 Jul 2012, 09:57 am
morning puma
how are you sir?
29 Jul 2012, 09:59 am
@Heavens Game-748:
Maybe Mac gave him a little whisper,who knows
Charge of the Light Brigade on Saturday
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