Sharks finish in pole
12 Oct 2012
JON CARDINELLI reports that a 42-3 victory against Griquas has allowed the Sharks to finish the Currie Cup league in first place.
The Sharks went into this match having already secured a home semi-final. And yet, John Plumtree will be thrilled to have ended the league phase with such a resounding victory.
Friday’s result at the Shark Tank will see them taking plenty of momentum into the play-offs. It also places them in a strong position to host the Currie Cup final.
They cannot be overtaken by the other play-off contenders, and if they can win next week’s semi-final, they’ll feel confident that they can go all the way in a decider staged at Kings Park.
Griquas struggled to match the Sharks’ physicality in Friday’s match, and were guilty of too many basic errors. They were mistakes the Sharks punished, scoring 15 points inside the first half hour. It was a barrage from which Griquas did not recover.
The visitors had a chance to strike back when Sharks captain Keegan Daniel was sin-binned for cynical play in the 31st minute. But again, Griquas failed to hold on to the ball, handing possession back to the Sharks.
In fact, it was the Sharks who would score next despite the disadvantage, Lwazi Mvovo finishing to further stretch a commanding lead.
Griquas suffered a further setback when wing Jannie Boshoff was yellow-carded for a spear-tackle right before half-time. Pat Lambie failed with the ensuing penalty attempt, but managed to convert a subsequent opportunity after the break.
Lambie played a telling part in two of the Sharks’ three first-half tries. A well-weighted grubber created a try-scoring chance for Louis Ludik, as did an inside ball to Mvovo.
The Sharks flyhalf kicked well out of hand, and was successful with seven of his nine kicks at goal. It was an all-round performance that will boost Lambie’s confidence ahead of the play-offs, and also give national coach Heyneke Meyer food for thought ahead of that end-of-year tour to Europe.
Special mention should also be made of the Sharks’ defence. Once Griquas were more than two scores behind, they began kicking every penalty opportunity to touch. And on every occasion, the Sharks defence managed to hold out.
Griquas’ failure to secure any log points from this fixture means that they will remain in fourth position below Western Province. There is a chance, however, that Griquas will be overtaken by the Cheetahs and Blue Bulls on Saturday.
304 Comments
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12 Oct 2012, 18:45 pm
1st like the Sharks
12 Oct 2012, 18:46 pm
Both Sharks U19 and U21 teams through to semi’s after good victories today
12 Oct 2012, 18:56 pm
@sharks_lover-1:
Don’t you mean the Chiefs?
12 Oct 2012, 18:58 pm
@David-3: still HURTS dies it??
12 Oct 2012, 18:59 pm
@David-3: 4-1 says it all
12 Oct 2012, 18:59 pm
@sharks_lover-4: dies=does
12 Oct 2012, 19:02 pm
@sharks_lover-1: sharks, the 2010 champions, vs the griquas
12 Oct 2012, 19:05 pm
f0kken weird log with only The Lions & Sharks sure of a s/f place, thus we shall see that cruel rule of nature that dictates that this fixture is big time injury bait.
Even the last placed team can still make the semis
12 Oct 2012, 19:07 pm
Sharksworld.co.za?@sharksworld
late change for the Sharks… Marcell Coetzee starts. Jacques Botes out with a back injury
12 Oct 2012, 19:07 pm
@sharks_lover-4:
Hell no, once we had those injuries I was amazed we even made it to the semis, let alone winning the conference and ending on top of the Super log with only 2 losses.
12 Oct 2012, 19:10 pm
@David-10: Ouch excuses excuses
12 Oct 2012, 19:11 pm
How’s the weather there because Pretoria is just terrible
12 Oct 2012, 19:13 pm
@viewer-12: sunshine for a change
12 Oct 2012, 19:18 pm
@sharks_lover-13: huzzit Sharkie, you serious, sunshine in Durban, we heavy mist and rain. For seems forever, thought it would be another we game.
12 Oct 2012, 19:18 pm
@s_l kings park had a few matches where they could have played 30 man water polo instead
12 Oct 2012, 19:20 pm
Nice one Oddone, this guy really is timeless and under rated.
12 Oct 2012, 19:23 pm
@viewer-15: true@Treehugger-14: hiyAS HUN YOU well??
12 Oct 2012, 19:27 pm
Cobus for the Bokke
12 Oct 2012, 19:28 pm
@bananaboy-18: lol hiyas piesangs
That kid is pure class.
12 Oct 2012, 19:32 pm
@sharks_lover-19: hiyas SL think ill piss a number of people off with that comment ?
12 Oct 2012, 19:35 pm
@bananaboy-20: Specially a certain transie
12 Oct 2012, 19:36 pm
Sharks battling in the scrums
12 Oct 2012, 19:38 pm
Yebo baby !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
12 Oct 2012, 19:39 pm
@sharks_lover-21: yeah iquite honestly i would rather have them all playing for the Sharks after last weekend, bugger the Bokke they play thick rugby.
12 Oct 2012, 19:45 pm
@bananaboy-24: for sure mate
Lambie looking good so far, decision making very good
12 Oct 2012, 19:46 pm
Sharks just need a win , even without a BP, to host the final if they make it through next week’s s/f. They can even afford to play ugly for 80 minutes
12 Oct 2012, 19:51 pm
Deysel playing like a machine, lololol the Griqua guy passing forward to no one.
Yebo !!!! Another try SHARKsssss
12 Oct 2012, 19:51 pm
Reinachs passing a joy to behold
12 Oct 2012, 19:54 pm
Peyper blowing for Griquas that should have been red. He could have asked more questions of the touch judge
12 Oct 2012, 19:56 pm
Is Transformation an ex-Lions wing for whom the names Nathan Gray & Justin Harrison mean something?
12 Oct 2012, 20:00 pm
@bananaboy-29: Correct, with foul play the TMO should be used and is allowed.
Poor reffing
Deysel Huge tonight
12 Oct 2012, 20:00 pm
The referee’s assistant, Ruben Rossouw, should get a red card for making the wrong call on Jannie Boshoff,, but then again Andre Watson will have an excuse ready on tap.
12 Oct 2012, 20:11 pm
Utata ngifuna ugroote slap – ipow.
12 Oct 2012, 20:15 pm
I like what Pote has done with this Griquas side.
12 Oct 2012, 20:16 pm
SL – deysels had some big games lately – redneck jed game him a neat right hook tho. Just as well it’s rugby, cos jeb don’t look too sharp in that respect – stormers must have seen something but deysel look good again after long layoff – I remember when he vermeulen and brussow terrorised the BL in the Bok A dirtracker match where they nearly pulled off a godalmighty upset
12 Oct 2012, 20:16 pm
Jpp playing great rugby
12 Oct 2012, 20:18 pm
Keegan is a brain dead walking yellow card…. Good player but he will cost the sharks and boks with his discipline … He needs a few klappe from bakkies to just get one half of his brain working
12 Oct 2012, 20:20 pm
@suffer_guy-37: so howmany klapsdo you need to get your brain working cause u r talking absolute ****
12 Oct 2012, 20:21 pm
@suffer_guy-37: what game you watching??
12 Oct 2012, 20:24 pm
How the hell does Peyper not call for the player running into his own man and causing a block???
12 Oct 2012, 20:24 pm
Aren’t u watching the game… Keegan received a yellow card…. Again…. That’s about a yellow in every second game…. Heyneke was right and Keegan proving it every weekend… Does Keegan even have st 6
12 Oct 2012, 20:26 pm
Lambies line kicking is kak
12 Oct 2012, 20:26 pm
Should have been a penalty try…. Collapsing the ruck the whole time…. Shocking call that…
12 Oct 2012, 20:27 pm
Go sharks!!
Who has scored the points? Bleak missing this game ffs..
12 Oct 2012, 20:32 pm
I dont recall Daniels being yellowed every game and he is actually quite a cleaver player if U watched him throught thr SuperR series, he does play on the edge though. Would not be surprised if hes letting some frustration out for not being kept in boks squad but cant say he was the answer either. Vermulin needs to improve his fitness and speed though otherwise happy with last bok fielded trio. Would love Brussow back in the mix..
12 Oct 2012, 20:39 pm
Sharks moving the ball beautifully
12 Oct 2012, 20:41 pm
Griquas and Willie le roux … The boks are back…. This in real cc rugby…. You’d get a 30 point hiding every game if boks played in the currie cup… Kings will hope that cheetahs gets 2 bonus points.. Kings can beat this griquas team
12 Oct 2012, 20:49 pm
Ludick having a really good game. Totally different player this year.
Better than Kirschner IMO.
12 Oct 2012, 20:49 pm
Sharks really playing some stunning rugby.
12 Oct 2012, 20:51 pm
Well played Sharks, entertaining game to watch.
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