Heavies need mettle, huge hearts
30 Jul 2012
RYAN VREDE hopes the Sharks’ forwards defy physical expectations and rouse themselves for their biggest challenge yet.
Brisbane-Durban-Cape Town-Durban-Sydney-Hamilton. Three weeks. Three demanding teams with an ultra-confident host to come. What have these Sharks got left? Have they depleted the reserves that accounted for an inspirational semi-final victory over the Stormers, the most brutal of opponents?
Now the Chiefs await. Galvanised by their unrelenting forwards, who elevated their play against a Crusaders pack laden with All Blacks, the Chiefs out-muscled their rivals in Friday’s derby. There were widespread lamentations about Dan Carter’s performance, the Saders’ fulcrum delivering one of his weakest showings in Super Rugby history. In a game of cause and effect, most assessments of Carter’s performance were lacking in appreciation for the Chiefs’ industry and guile in limiting his space and time. Robbed of a platform, Carter was made mortal.
Conversely, his counterpart, Aaron Cruden, thrived, certainly for the first 40 minutes, whereafter the Chiefs’ defensive aptitude was more sternly tested. Furthermore, the discipline with which they fronted amplified their challenge.
There are no superstars in the Chiefs’ pack, but at their best their synergy is incredible. Their potency in the ground-and-pound has been the bedrock upon which their success this season has been built. They’ve also rotated often throughout their campaign, accounting for their ability to sustain their defensive and attacking drive. This is the backdrop against which the Sharks’ primary on-field challenge plays out.
I had backed the Stormers to win on Saturday on the basis of a hectic travel schedule surely undermining the Sharks forwards’ efforts. When Eben Etzebeth transported Bismarck du Plessis to a parallel universe with a charge so forceful, so utterly dismissive of the Springbok Hercules, my belief was fuelled. I thought that moment was a reflection of the Stormers’ collective ethos. Instead it turned out to be a rare wow moment that was an insight into Etzebeth’s strength, mentality and desire – qualities his team-mates in jerseys No 1 through No 8 didn’t display in the measure of consistency they needed to.
However, to discount the Sharks’ role in the rudderless Stormers’ struggles would be remiss. It wasn’t uncharted territory for them. They had stifled them in their previous meetings. But viewed in the context of their extensive travel this was an effort nothing short of heroic.
The legitimate concern now is that, having left a part of themselves on the Newlands turf, the big boys will be spent. Willem Alberts and Beast Mtawarira are exceptions. Both have had their campaign curtailed by injuries. Their outstanding form is consistent with elite players who are building to a peak. The Sharks can draw confidence from this. Not so from the physical condition of Bismarck du Plessis, Marcell Coetzee, Jannie du Plessis and Keegan Daniel, most of whom have played in the bulk of their games and some whom have been involved with the Springboks.
That these men front will be decisive to the outcome, particularly in light of the Chiefs backs’ dynamism when allowed to engineer their opponent’s demise. If they do it will be a testament to their bulletproof minds and globe-sized hearts.
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27 Comments
30 Jul 2012, 09:30 am
Shark Dragons!
30 Jul 2012, 09:31 am
Go Powerful Dragons!
30 Jul 2012, 09:33 am
Hell i wish i have the time to search my post a while back when all were doom and gloom for the Sharks on this site…..
it was something like…. do not underestimate the Sharks.. they will be up there at the business end of the S15…
30 Jul 2012, 09:33 am
It will take an even bigger effort to win this game than all the previous games…
30 Jul 2012, 09:34 am
Staal you called it… And so did Willievz…
30 Jul 2012, 09:37 am
but to be honest – last week i thought Stormers were to tough to beat in Newlands.
shows you i know nothing!
30 Jul 2012, 09:40 am
I have been really impressed with the Chiefs.
After years of failing to deliver, or falling away after a promising start and getting trampled, this season has been a real turn around.
The Chiefs to me have always been a live in hope outfit, dangerous so long as they don’t get behind.
This year has been different. They have not folded under presuure like they used to and had it not been for a couple of outrageous TMO calls, they would have topped the standings before the playoffs.
30 Jul 2012, 09:44 am
Beast, Alberts and Kankowski have all had a fair bit of time off through injury.
Coetzee is young and full of energy.
Bismark has stored up a lot of pent-up enthusiasm after warming the bench for so long while Smit hung on.
Daniel is a terrier who has hardly had any taxing time at test level.
Only Jannie Dup is a genuine contender for burnout, given how much rugby he’s played plus the fact that he is also a practicing medical doctor. But his capacity to take on so much responsibility will stand him in good stead for the weekend.
Conclusion?
Sharks forwards will be up for it.
But Bosman must have the game of his life with Whitehead out injured.
30 Jul 2012, 09:51 am
Big up to the Sharks.
I said they would finish Top 8 at best earlier on in the year.
Respect.
30 Jul 2012, 09:52 am
Let’s hope the Chiefs do another 2009 final.
The Stormer fans water cooler (at work) talk is only the Eben and Bissy moment.
Nothing else….
30 Jul 2012, 09:59 am
@HHS-10: What else can they say ???
I think that Chiefs were helped by a Dan Carter that played like Morne last friday.
30 Jul 2012, 10:05 am
Brisbane-Durban-Cape Town-Durban-Sydney-Hamilton. Three weeks.
if the Sharks win this, it will be the biggest/legendary super rugby title win EVER! it will eclipse anything in the past. if the saders had won in brisbane last year after travelling the whole year there would be a case but this…
can the guppys do it? will the weight of greatness & immortality be too much a craig (burden) to carry?
30 Jul 2012, 10:06 am
I wake up this morning… and everything just seems good…
And I wonder why…
Could it be no hangover?
Could it be weekend legover?
Naaaaaaaah…
Its because the Dynamite blew up Super Rugby on Saturday.
So, Ryan Vrede reckons the Sharks “need” mettle and huge hearts for the Final…?
I reckon make the boy a rocket scientist….
Its not like mettle and huge hearts have already been on display for the 4 finals that the Sharks have already played in the last month…. Just one more final to go before glory and the greatest Super Rugby win in the History of the Competition…
Happy to see Super Pat and Jordaan back…
For Dynamite Destiny!
30 Jul 2012, 10:13 am
@Heavens Game-13: “blew up super rugby’? not yet but if they win on saturday, then i’ll hand it to your guppys…
1) Beat AUS Conference away from home – Check
2) Beat SA Conference winner away from home – Check
3) Beat NZ Conference winner away from home ?????
they will have blown the whole competition to smithereens!
30 Jul 2012, 10:23 am
@Transformation-12:
They’ll have more air miles than the ANC executive put together.
30 Jul 2012, 10:45 am
Sharks are gonna win this game.
4th final (5th if you include 1994 Super 10) They have to win it!
Bit of gloating…..
I may not post too often here but I called a Chiefs- Sharks final a couple weeks ago. And voted it on the panel here.
Before the 2011 season I called the Reds would win it, against the Saders. In 2010 I said Australia would win 2011 Tri Nations and possibly WC, was wrong about the WC though
In 2007 after 1st Samoan game I said the Boks would win the WC. Called the B&L series win. Called 3-0 against England this year but hey. 2-0 with a draw is not too far off.
And I reckon Sharks will win this one. I hope I’m not wrong!!! Bias could be clouding my judgement…..
Also Boks to win this years Tri Nations.
30 Jul 2012, 10:54 am
@Heavens Game-13: I was waiting to reply to you after you were bashing the Stormers last week…….. but I can’t and I doubt that I’ll ever be able to do so: the Stormers were simply outplayed by a better team. If AC and co can’t see that you can’t win a title by defence only, they should go. The mindset of the team to defend was illustrated a couple of times when Duvenhage went the wrong way (into the heavy traffic) with overlaps on the other side or kicking possession away etc. Instead of looking for the gaps they are simply not looking for it: it is as if they can’t see gaps anymore. Stormers / WP need a quality 9, 10 and tighthead prop. IMO Joe Pietersen was quite poor on the day as well
30 Jul 2012, 11:13 am
CharlesM as a Sharks supporter we are gracious in your support… There are some supporters slagging the Stormers off but take no notice…
30 Jul 2012, 11:25 am
So disappointed that the Stormers lost but it won’t be so bad if the Sharks manage the impossible and win the final. The game is not a foregone conclusion even if the odds are heavily stacked in the favour of the Chiefs.
30 Jul 2012, 13:10 pm
Must be honest I never thought Sharks would make it this far let alone knockouts
John Plumtree over last 2 yrs has had arguably the most talented squad yet had achieved little in superrugby
But over the last 8weeks or so Sharks have been outstanding playing the brand of rugby their talented athletes were BORN to play.JPPietersen has developed into the best winger on the planet and arguably front runner for both IRB &SA player of the Yr awards.Michalak at 10 has pealed back the yrs and playing his best rugby for almost a decade
Good on u Plum
I have been very harsh over last 18months but wow how quickly thingscanturn around.
Sharks Forever
30 Jul 2012, 13:45 pm
@CharlesM
I was happy that the Stormers lost on Saturday but it was for all the right reasons. The game plan that your guys employed this season doesn’t do justice to the players you have. JDV, De Jongh, Aplon, Habana… that is an attacking backline that teams would kill for and yet they’ve been reduced to defensive rugby. I remember a number of seasons ago when the Sharks were boasting the best defensive record in the Super 12 and I thought it was crazy because this players went onto the field that they were going to defend for 80 minutes. My hope in Saturday’s loss is that we’ll see the Stormers revert to their rugby of old, the stuff that used to have me as a Sharks fan grudgingly finding myself tuning into Stormers games to watch their brilliant backs… they used to play at a higher tempo than the other SA teams.
Stormers have an incredible forward pack that will dominate in seasons to come and a star studded backline. I hope they make use of it by playing their traditional brand of rugby again.
30 Jul 2012, 14:19 pm
@mshiniwami-20:
I think Peter Grant played himself out of Springbok contention on Saturday.
If he had helped take Stormers to final I don’t think Meyer could look past his dependability.
But he was outplayed and did not dominate.
He’s had a great season, but it seems to have ended with further confirmation that he is not a test player.
30 Jul 2012, 15:04 pm
Pfffaaa HA HA HA HA HA HA ! Stop trying to talk your way out of this Vrede.
30 Jul 2012, 15:11 pm
@CharlesM-17: Nope… You can’t
On the game, I was hellish disappointed in Peterson (Joe) as Bok prospect and was honestly worried about him as dangerman for the Stormers… He started well with a booming touch finder but then clearly found the intensity too much for the rest of the match… Not good for RC games against Kiwis, Oz and Argies…
Looks like Lambie is still the goto man at 15 for Boks, with Aplon and Kirchner the next best options. Like Grant, I suspect Pieterson played himself out of Bok contention on Sat.
30 Jul 2012, 15:23 pm
puff #22 – I still think Grant deserves another shot at Bok flyhalf. Remember he is playing to a predetermined game plan and Michelak is very flairy and unpredictable. Michelak has outplayed many flyhalves in his time
30 Jul 2012, 15:29 pm
@race of tan-25: imo peter grant won’t add anything to the bok cause, he is a waste of space. a flyhalf that can only kick for goal from +- 35m down..ppfftt the less said about his tactical kicking the better. we’ve heard for years from the likes of john cardinelli that he has an “understated distribution game” hehehehe where was it on saturday?
grant must go make his money in japan, period!
30 Jul 2012, 15:48 pm
Going to be tough, but we just could win this. Players must be on a all time adrenalin high after their two big wins. Players surely must be a good place mentally after those wins. Like a band of brothers with huge believe in each other. That goes for a long way.
Bulletproof minds and globe-sized hearts! … describes them well, even after the past two wins….lol. Perfect words Ryan….hahaha.
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