Sharks need to stifle charging Chiefs
1 Aug 2012
JON CARDINELLI analyses the final and notes that the Chiefs and Sharks share attacking strengths, but not the same defensive weaknesses.
Why bother with an analysis? The Chiefs have been one of the most physical teams in the tournament, while the Sharks’ ability to produce an intense forward showing will be compromised by their taxing travelling schedule. The Sharks will be at a significant disadvantage this Saturday. Some might even call the final a mis-match.
What the stats and trends can show us is that the challenge facing the Sharks is greater than most expect. Forget the travel fatigue and the fact that this game will be staged in Hamilton – the Chiefs’ attack will be tough to repel and their defence difficult to breach.
According to ruckingoodstats.com, the Sharks are the highest-ranked team in terms of keeping the ball in play over the course of a match. They average 7.4 offloads (the second-best rate in the tournament) and break 16.9 tackles (seventh-best in the tournament) per game. These stats support the statement that they are a very dangerous attacking unit.
But then so too are the Chiefs. The men from Hamilton may not boast the possession stats of the Sharks, but when they do get their hands on the ball, they make their opportunities count.
They are the top-ranked team in terms of offloads (9.1 per match), and their robust ball carriers manage to break 20.9 tackles per match (third-best in the tournament). They are also particularly effective in the opposition’s 22, breaking 5.5 tackles per match. They are the best team in the competition in terms of linebreaks (3.3 per match), and flyhalf Aaron Cruden runs at the defence more than any other pivot.
While there may be similarities in the attacking strengths of these two finalists, their defensive records are vastly different.
The Sharks miss 20.7 tackles per match, making them the worst team in the tournament for tackles missed. It will interest the Chiefs to note that the Sharks miss 5.5 tackles on average in their own 22, and as previously mentioned, the Chiefs are a side that enjoys tackle-busting success in the red zone. The Sharks missed 23 tackles last week in the semi-final against the Stormers, so it’s not as if the total average miss-rate is an unfair reflection of their current defensive form.
By comparison, the Chiefs are one of the best defensive units in the comp. Their line speed has allowed them to stifle opponents and force them into errors. The stats substantiate this claim, as the Chiefs have effected the most charge downs and intercepts.
But the Chiefs are not without weakness. They have made more errors than any other team when kicking from hand. They have also conceded the most penalties overall, as well as the most penalties at the ruck and maul.
While the Sharks’ high tempo game has proved successful this season, they cannot hope to beat the Chiefs at their own game. The more prudent course of action is to attempt to slow the Chiefs down.
The Chiefs lineout hasn’t been that flash and the stats confirm that they are ranked third for quick throw-ins. This suggests that they enjoy playing the game at a lively pace and are not well equipped to combat a good opposition lineout.
The Sharks also have the most disciplined scrum in the tournament, and it is here where they will fancy themselves against the Chiefs. They should also attempt to draw the Chiefs into a battle at close quarters, as the Chiefs don’t have a good record when it comes to maintaining their discipline at the breakdowns and mauls (see above).
The Sharks are the more disciplined side, but will they need to improve on their breakdown performance against the Stormers. John Plumtree’s men may have won the battle at the collisions in that match, but they still conceded 10 penalties at the ruck and maul.
If they can sharpen up in that area, then they will stand a good chance of stifling the Chiefs.
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323 Comments
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1 Aug 2012, 14:52 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-246: where did I hate Casta? I just asked what category Casta would be competing in?
didnt casta get discovered/found out during a competition? seems rather dishonest dont you think?
1 Aug 2012, 14:53 pm
@SA rugby is k@k-245:
sheesh you are hilarious…
“the fact that one post from me gets so many wound up”
let me remind everyone… and you if you are capable…
that…
your post was in response to my posy about south africa having more medals than new zealand…
so the truth on this day 5 of the olympics is that…
one post from ufo got several kiwis all riled up…!!
and you said you don’t look for recognition…
EPIC FAIL…!!
nyukka nyukka nyukka…
1 Aug 2012, 14:54 pm
Faster has the same kind of unfair advantage as Usain Bolt.
1 Aug 2012, 14:55 pm
@ufo-252: dotn think so, my post was about you stating every kiwi needed recognition, so massive fail on your behalf, but you go on proving how superior you are, youre even beginning to sound like Gunther and Katgirl now..
well done chop..
1 Aug 2012, 14:55 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-246:
Caster is just a sub heading in his repertoire.
His main comedic material revolves around aids, child abuse, rape and murder.
He’s like Rain Man with Tourette’s.
1 Aug 2012, 14:56 pm
@cane-249:
Phelps’s parade was a success, it just started a little later than expected….
1 Aug 2012, 14:57 pm
Hey even autocorrect agrees with me. Faster = Caster.
1 Aug 2012, 14:58 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-255: right on cue, but no racist remark about my maori heritage this time?
tsk tsk, your other white friends will be very upset with you in not chastising the kiwi native..
1 Aug 2012, 14:58 pm
@ufo-252:
Dude, you didnt get me riled up at all.
In fact i was correct with what i had said. It was you that backed down as you should have.
1 Aug 2012, 14:59 pm
@Hurricane-250:
i think on that post…
saffas, kiwis and the odd togo-ese
(odd because they ain’t EVEN gonna be ahead of us)
can all agree…!!
keo needs to get his micro-geeks to sort the site out…
thought nikita had been sorting and testing earlier…
but alas… she was just consorting and teasing…
1 Aug 2012, 15:00 pm
@ufo-240:
I can’t spell.
I am hardly literate.
Without “spellcheck”"…………………………………………………………….I could be Skoppie.
F%$Kad11llly cnut.
1 Aug 2012, 15:00 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-255:
I thought you said pops brings all those nasty things up?
Yet here you are.
1 Aug 2012, 15:00 pm
@SA rugby is k@k-254:
“my post was about you stating every kiwi needed recognition”
so you again admit you were simply reacting to my post…
1 Aug 2012, 15:03 pm
What is the matter now Poep?
Having you been drinking the naartje koolaid with your buddy china?
Tell me what’s on your mind you sickfuck.
1 Aug 2012, 15:04 pm
@Hurricane-259:
hahaha…
i was being gentle with you…
after all… you did swallow the lure i cast upon the water…
can’t spit it out now you been reeled in…!!
fortunately for you i believe in sustainable fishing with my catch and release policy…
1 Aug 2012, 15:04 pm
@SA rugby is k@k-251: Caster S for all intents and purposes was a victim all round. Firstly: victim of those fecked up chromosones (which ‘could’ have been caused by terrible water pollution in the area of Limpopo she was born in. Many fish were born with M/F genitalia as well, due to to extreme pollution in the rivers servicing that rural area) Secondly: By her coaches, managers and the totally screwed up sports administrators here. Thirdly: The IAAF, with the dreadful way they handled her entire case.
Maybe I am little different to you, but I find her to be a victim full stop, and after GO D knows how many years of the jokes and sniggers – surely the time has come to just let her be.
Rather tear the skin off someone on this site if you are angry – that’s all. It’s not Caster’s fault someone on here p i ss e d you off.
1 Aug 2012, 15:05 pm
@ufo-260:
Hmmm hope she reports back to Keo that he needs to pull the platinum visa out and spend some money on this site.
1 Aug 2012, 15:06 pm
@Hurricane-262:
Oh no it’s not only that he brings them up.
He seems to find them amusant as well.
But I won’t argue with you as you seem to be a fan.
1 Aug 2012, 15:06 pm
@Hurricane-250:
sa it personals..?..
advertised in hobbiton?
craigslist..?..
i dont even want to imagine what a saffa it ‘personal’ involves…
1 Aug 2012, 15:07 pm
@cane-261:
you and me both…
thing is, i could handle the spellcheck… it’s this flippin’ %^&#$* auto-correct gizzmabob that keeps catching me offguard…
1 Aug 2012, 15:07 pm
@ufo-263: , do you feel like the big man now? you got me to reply to your post so now Im reacting? on a blog that is in itself inherent in people conversing and replying to other peoples posts?
enjoy, you are just far too superior and RIGHTEOUS than any kiwi I know..
1 Aug 2012, 15:09 pm
@ufo-265:
You do realise i keep biting until you run out of line, then i start on your hands.
1 Aug 2012, 15:10 pm
pooper so you only come here to mess up threads and get under peoples skin?
what a sad bitter life you have.
what are real normal keewees doing this time of night?
1 Aug 2012, 15:11 pm
@ufo-260:
Doing what?
1 Aug 2012, 15:12 pm
@ufo-263:
1 Aug 2012, 15:13 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-268: cmon gunther, one only has to see your posts to NZinChina to realise how racist you truly are…
or your subtle references to my upbringing the other day, I knew what you were getting at…. seems dead relatives is quite alright for Saffas to mock huh?
but its only ever me that slips to the gutter huh mate? as for your assertion that I find those things “amusing”, I know there is no truth in that statement, and thats all that matters…
1 Aug 2012, 15:14 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-266: pooper’s serve return puts federer to shame, no holds barred
1 Aug 2012, 15:14 pm
@wait for it, wait for it…-269:
OOOOOOKKKKKK
1 Aug 2012, 15:14 pm
Stop picking on the Kiwis. They contribute to my salary.
1 Aug 2012, 15:15 pm
@SA rugby is k@k-271:
awww… yaws feelin’ allz hurt… sowwi..
you bragged about bagging a few saffa fish… but fact is you were being played from the start…
that’s the trick with good fishing… the poor sucker mustn’t realize he’s swallowed the bait…
that way… the look of shock and indignation on the fishee’s face is priceless…
hehehe
you wanna know what i mean…?
look in the mirror…!
1 Aug 2012, 15:15 pm
@SA rugby is k@k-271:
are you “wound up” yet?
1 Aug 2012, 15:16 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-266:
poppa seems to be the kinda guy who’s been told to stfu by one too many pakeha bosses. him and cane seem to still be fighting apartheid..?.. wtf?
i’n pretty sure cane’s only joking though.
1 Aug 2012, 15:16 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19-273:
I am sleep blogging. Normal for Kiwis.
1 Aug 2012, 15:17 pm
@Nikita-279:
Yeah……what?
1 Aug 2012, 15:17 pm
@SA rugby is k@k-276:
What upbringing?
1 Aug 2012, 15:18 pm
@Hurricane-284:
Pardon
1 Aug 2012, 15:19 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-268:
Again not me or pops that bought that up, was you.
No need to be nasty now Gunther.
1 Aug 2012, 15:19 pm
@Transformation-281:
No but his getting there.
He’s googling some rape statistics as we speak.
1 Aug 2012, 15:21 pm
in other news:
i have still not received any reply from sanzar or saru about the outcome of the white card incident which occured in the chiefs – crusaders game…?….
hellloooo!
email to sanzar
email to sanzar
anybody there..?..
1 Aug 2012, 15:21 pm
@Hurricane-272:
hehehe
i’ve tagged and released you hurricane…
be free my kiwi friend.. be free…!! the ocean is vast… live…
any repeated biting now simply gets you a mouthful of water…
@Nikita-274:
well you sidled into the room on the pretext of testing and sorting… and even exclaimed that all was now fixed…
gonna have to be careful with you… i can see you’re a sly one… !
1 Aug 2012, 15:22 pm
@Transformation-281: yeah, does that make you squeal in delight Trans? does it appease your need to be part of the group? why dont you post some of my 2-3 year old posts, theyre always quality and do give you street cred
@wait for it, wait for it…-282: of course, ive never joked on here in my life.. I know saffas dont understand sarcasm..
but hey, I see Ive got the whole circus doing cartwheels trying to see who can get me the best..
wonderful..
1 Aug 2012, 15:23 pm
@ufo-290:
1 Aug 2012, 15:23 pm
@SA rugby is k@k-291:
go on pops,
fight the good fight
1 Aug 2012, 15:24 pm
Kiwis! You just have to love them.
Tana Umaga – ”I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother and father.”
Colin Cooper, Hurricanes head coach – ”You guys line up alphabetically by height”. And, “You guys pair up in groups of three, then line up in a circle.”
David Holwell – ”I want to reach for 150 or 200 points this season, whichever comes first.”
Ma’a Nonu – ”Colin has done a bit of mental arithmetic with a calculator.”
Jerry Collins – ”I’ve never had major knee surgery on any other part of my body.”
Tony Brown – ”That kick was absolutely unique, except for the one before it which was identical.”
And then a couple of classics from everyone’s favourite Kiwi commentator Murray Mexted:
Murray: Fighting hard against his natural instincts…
“Andy Ellis the 21 year old, who turned 22 a few weeks ago”.
“He scored that try after only 22 seconds – totally against the run of play”.
“I would not say he (Rico Gear) is the best left winger in the Super14, but there are none better”.
“Strangely, in slow motion replay, the ball seemed to hang in the air for even longer.”
And finally, the best for last…
“I don’t like these new rules because your first instinct when you see a man on the ground is to go down on him”.
1 Aug 2012, 15:25 pm
OK its 1.30 am here.
Gotta stop this late night blogging, not good for my health…..especially Bakkies
OK all enjoy the rest of your day, cyas
1 Aug 2012, 15:25 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19-273: normal kiwis are down at their dam, admiring the house theyre building with a few snoeks on the braai, living the good life..
when theyre not fabricating their own death on a blog that is…
1 Aug 2012, 15:27 pm
@Nikita-294:
lol
All i need to say is PDV.
Goodnight, hur..ri…ca…..ne ….sl…ee…py
1 Aug 2012, 15:27 pm
@Hurricane-295:
cheers bud…
crazy good banter today…!!
you know you’re going to dream about fish don’t you…??
1 Aug 2012, 15:29 pm
@Nikita-294:
that’s just nasty…!!
nyukka nyukka…
1 Aug 2012, 15:29 pm
@SA rugby is k@k-291: thanks for clearing up my question
as you were…
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