Lambie boots Sharks into final
20 Oct 2012
JON CARDINELLI writes that Pat Lambie’s cool game management was decisive in the Sharks’ emphatic 20-3 win over the Blue Bulls in Durban.
If Saturday’s semi-final at Kings Park was a movie, Lambie was the show-stealing leading man.
This blockbuster boasted a strong supporting cast, with Marcel Coetzee and Keegan Daniel producing influential performances at the collisions, and Jannie du Plessis perpetuating the physical dominance with a powerful scrumming display.
But above and beyond all of that was Lambie’s decision making and execution. This allowed the Sharks to take advantage and eventually finish the game as deserved victors.
The wet conditions prescribed a conservative approach, and it was the Sharks who adapted best. The hosts enjoyed a wealth of possession and territory in the first stanza, and much of these advantages were earned through a superior kicking game.
Lambie, scrumhalf Cobus Reinach and fullback Louis Ludik shared the tactical kicking duties, keeping the Bulls pinned in their own territory with a series of probes and high-hanging up-and-unders. While the Bulls employed similar tactics, it was the Sharks, and especially Lambie, who were more accurate in the implementation of this strategy.
The Bulls were often beaten in the air when the ball went high, such was the precision of the Sharks’ kick as well as the timing of the chase. When they attempted to reply in kind, they were guilty of booting the ball too deep. It was because of these errors that they were unable to put the Sharks under the necessary pressure.
Morné Steyn has struggled with his kicking all season, and had another awful outing in Saturday’s semi-final. The out-of-sorts Bok flyhalf made mistakes from the kickoff that resulted in turnovers. There were several instances where he was charged down and where he kicked the ball out on the full.
But the blame for this defeat cannot be laid solely at Steyn’s door. The forwards were outplayed physically and technically, and the patent lack of discipline and composure of the Bulls’ collective cost them at key moments.
In the first half, Lambie had done well to switch between kicking and running. As the Sharks launched an attacking move on the Bulls’ 22m line, Lambie made the decision to chip and chase. It looked to be an excellent option with nobody sweeping at the back, but as Lambie raced to collect his own kick he was felled by Bulls prop Morné Mellet. Referee Mark Lawrence didn’t hesitate in sending Mellet to the sin-bin for tripping, and the Sharks proceeded to score six more points in Mellet’s absence.
The Bulls finished the first half with zero points and virtually no territory, and found themselves chasing the game in the second period. They enjoyed a brief period on the front-foot but were repeatedly undone by their own errors and indiscipline. To be fair, the Sharks did respond to this onslaught with a determined defensive display.
The hosts’ lineout wobbled and their scrum looked less secure when Du Plessis left the field before half-time, but they will be happy with the way they performed at the collisions, and the manner in which their flyhalf dictated play in the battle for territory.
They will enjoy home ground advantage in next week’s final, but these are the attributes that will make them favourites to win the Currie Cup trophy. They played to the conditions and kept their composure in the semi-final, and they have the right balance between individual brilliance and collective clout to ensure that they will go all the way.
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351 Comments
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20 Oct 2012, 18:28 pm
@phil72-244: Even the WP fans (such as I) aren’t expecting a knockout game Christmas miracle
….one can always hope the trend has to change at some stage, in some knockout game…..
20 Oct 2012, 18:29 pm
@Mighty Horua-226: very naive performance, will need to step up QUICKLY!
20 Oct 2012, 18:29 pm
@Dawn-245:
Have you seen Taken 2? That Liam Neeson? guy?
20 Oct 2012, 18:29 pm
Morne has not even had a F break, he needs a fkin 6-12 month layofff. 6 months off rugby and 6 months playing as far away from the bulls as possible.
Not picking lambie as bok 10 in Goosens absence is plain fking stupid only a seriously biast, short sighted, conservitive chop would not lick lambie for EOYT.
20 Oct 2012, 18:29 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-248: Yes we can, but a guy like Venter regressed because he played alongside two deep standing mediocre flyhalves. He will not evolve. Hopefully when Pollard arrives at the Bulls they will hand him a dvd off all Honiball’s games and say “Just copy that”.
20 Oct 2012, 18:30 pm
SA Rugby needs a mental shift, how does one explain kicking the ball when you are 9 points behind in the last 10 min.
This safety first mental is killing chances of any comebacks in the last 10 min of play and in general.
Guys like Hougie are awesome talent but are limited by the system. Something needs to change.
but in the meantime, SHARKSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
20 Oct 2012, 18:30 pm
Well done Sharks! Deserved winners.
Hard luck to the Bulls supporters too. It has been a tough few years but they will be back. As Horings says Steyn has proved once again just how his play has deteriorated and adds no value with his aimless kicking. The Bulls will be back…
20 Oct 2012, 18:30 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-239: Is there a bed open in your ward.?
20 Oct 2012, 18:31 pm
Bulls and Meyer have also almost single handedly fuked up Hougard as well. BUT if he can rise above it good stuff.
20 Oct 2012, 18:31 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-251:
Yeah! Expecting the Lions to come through. Lions Sharks final looking a good bet. It is wet here too…
20 Oct 2012, 18:31 pm
@Transformation-252:
Agree,
Nowhere on defence…..
20 Oct 2012, 18:31 pm
Not yet Horua
On my list
20 Oct 2012, 18:31 pm
There is nothing wrong with the up and under, right time right place. Alternate with with the little kick over the defenders heads but most of all running the ball, offloading and if its not on protecting your ball at the breakdown. If a flyhalve and backline can master those skills there will always be openings in defence.
20 Oct 2012, 18:31 pm
@suffer_guy-240: Your mother was a shy grade 7 ‘les been’ thats before someone stepped in the gutter and kicked her between the legs when she got pregnant with you. After that she became a ‘harbour favourite’
20 Oct 2012, 18:32 pm
@Transformation-252: itsho uphinde ntanga!
beku kakwa amapaina phezolo…
20 Oct 2012, 18:32 pm
Dear Bulls. You mofos need skills and not 2m 120kg giants. Domkrag is lankal dood al.
20 Oct 2012, 18:32 pm
@Horings-255:
Toughies mate! Us Province fans know the feeling… Things can only get better
20 Oct 2012, 18:32 pm
@Horings-255: It’s all down to WHAT your Ludekes and co work on in the off season.
Heyneke’s influence HAS to be ditched – totally.
In fact – you fellows should get some healers in to ‘cleanse’ Loftus of all the Meyer spirits full stop.
I hope the Bulls leadership have the b #lls to do what needs to be done…..it’s not that hard.
In all honesty – the Boks really DO need the Bulls to be strong.
20 Oct 2012, 18:33 pm
@Lang Giel-258: I own the place.
20 Oct 2012, 18:34 pm
Sies Dusky
20 Oct 2012, 18:34 pm
@bananaboy-242: Agreed. The game made me a convert to Lambieness.
20 Oct 2012, 18:34 pm
@Dusky-264:
You still in SA?
20 Oct 2012, 18:35 pm
@Horings-237: you’re asking for “compassion”?
bwahahahaha
20 Oct 2012, 18:35 pm
Lambie made a statement for sure…
20 Oct 2012, 18:35 pm
@Horings-255: Honiball, Stransky, Heunis (when he played flyhalf in ’89), Naas on attack… Anyone but copying bloody Morne.
20 Oct 2012, 18:36 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-269: They all say so. Now go and ask the male nurse if you can watch the Lions’ game too.
20 Oct 2012, 18:36 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-268: ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, cleanse Loftus of all the Meyer spirits, Ha ha ha ha.
20 Oct 2012, 18:36 pm
Must say Arno Botha is an immense talent. He rarely goes back in the tackle and has a huge physical impact. He has the heart (NO SPIES), and his ball handling is very good. He keeps the ball alive. Very few players have all these attributes in one.
20 Oct 2012, 18:38 pm
@Horings-278:
Arno is a good player for sure. I hope the Bulls nurture him properly. Let Spies go to Europe, he adds very little to the Bulls…and SA…
20 Oct 2012, 18:38 pm
@Horings-278: Agreed. Send Spies to France; hell, I’ll pack his bags myself.
20 Oct 2012, 18:38 pm
Well played to the Sharks, congratualtions to their supporters.
Bulls weren’t really in it the whole game unfortunately.
It’s just been that kind of season for them.
Things will get better, they will be back.
20 Oct 2012, 18:39 pm
@Dawn-270:
20 Oct 2012, 18:40 pm
@Horings-278: I was also impressed by him.
20 Oct 2012, 18:40 pm
phew…
thanks mark lawrence…
and coetzee and reinach and lambie and mvovo and jpp and ludick.
who next at the tank?
heart says lions….
but let’s see.
20 Oct 2012, 18:41 pm
@mabu-265: hahahaha inene…sp marais = deer in headlights, falie oelschieg edlala umbolo wodwa ekhaba ipossession yethu!
20 Oct 2012, 18:41 pm
@Mighty Horua-272: Nope.
20 Oct 2012, 18:41 pm
Blame Heineken Meyer for the Slothy Stain!
Blue Bull rugby is going nowhere slowly. Such a shame, they buy all the local talent, converting the schoolbois into 1trick ponies with that filthy attitudes!
20 Oct 2012, 18:41 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-268: Funny you say that. Heyneke Meyer always spoke of important assets to have in finals rugby. Discipline is nr 1. Defense nr 2 and controlling the game tactically. I think the Bulls conceded the most tries at one stage in the Currie Cup. What was the penalty count in this game? Did you notice our accuracy in our kicking game today?
We are currently playing the opposite of good Heyneke Meyer rugby.
20 Oct 2012, 18:42 pm
@Horings-278: I am NO Bulls fan….but in my 1st post today, I stated very clearly that he is a Bok captain in the waiting. (CJ leaving has pushed him up the list….) He is a real, “I will lead, you will follow” player. Great ball carrier, great in the lineout, great defence and he has deceptive speed.
If you fellows start with Spies at 8 in Super rugby – you are effectively ruining Botha’s career and destiny.
20 Oct 2012, 18:43 pm
@Dusky-286:
Where you at?
20 Oct 2012, 18:44 pm
@Mighty Horua-290: Svalbard, Norway.
20 Oct 2012, 18:44 pm
@Horings-288: They are trying to play Meyer rugby without Meyer’s intelligence. Not going to work.
20 Oct 2012, 18:44 pm
Well you know how totallyfucked my beloved WP’s chances are, when the only person backing them for a win, is the Bulls captain……….(who happened to be a WP fan when he was a kid) Oh dear.
20 Oct 2012, 18:45 pm
At least our U21s and U19s won today. Hopefully the Lions win tonight for us to see where our U21s are against a full strength WP U21 team.
The Bulls have the talent, but do not need them to play alongside Steyn, Spies, Olivier and Kirchner. We needed them to play alongside FdP, Matfield and Guthro.
20 Oct 2012, 18:45 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-293: I reckon WP will win. Also the bookies actually have them as favourites. Just BTW.
20 Oct 2012, 18:45 pm
@mikeybrass-292:
Meyer’s intelligence??? Really…
20 Oct 2012, 18:46 pm
Creative rugby has won over rigid and stereotypical rugby.
20 Oct 2012, 18:47 pm
@Dusky-291:
So you done with SA? or just for a holiday?
20 Oct 2012, 18:47 pm
@Dusky-295:
As a Province supporter I don’t think so… I hope so though…
20 Oct 2012, 18:47 pm
@Gumboots-296: Intelligent people can and do do stupid things.
@Peter Mkata-297: Totally.
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