Sharks pack pave way to title

Sharks pack pave way to title

25 Oct 2012

GARETH DUNCAN, reporting from Durban, says the Sharks’ powerful pack will be central in their expected victory over WP in Saturday’s Currie Cup final.

Sharks head coach John Plumtree made his intentions clear with the promotions of loosehead prop Beast Mtawarra, flank Willem Alberts and hooker Craig Burden this weekend. He aims to outmuscle the lighter and younger Province pack in the domestic showdown at Kings Park.

Plumtree’s decision not to promote in-form Baby Bok and Sharks U21 utility forward Pieter-Steph du Toit also reveals his plan for dominance up front. He’s opted for the heavier and more robust Anton Bresler and Steven Sykes in the second row, with Jandre Marais providing lock cover on the bench.

Du Toit was touted as a solution to the Sharks’ lineout woes, which Province will target on Saturday. However, skipper Keegan Daniel revealed to me earlier in the week that they will be better prepared at the set pieces and have come up with tactics to defend against the well-drilled Province rolling maul.

These selections and Plumtree’s management of his returning Springboks will play a key part in their hopes of achieving ascendancy among the forwards, which was central in their 20-3 semi-final win over the Blue Bulls last weekend, especially on defence.

The Bulls had several trying-scoring opportunities from striking range during the second half, which would’ve brought them back into the contest. However, the hosts’ strong defence, especially at the breakdowns, was successful in keeping their opposition out and they achieved a comfortable win.

The key pack match-ups on Saturday will be between the tight fives and loose forwards.

The Sharks have a stronger tight five, which should see them dominate the scrums. Surely you’d expect their front row, which includes two experienced Springbok props in Jannie du Plessis and Beast Mtawarira, to have the advantage against a green Province front line. Plumtree admitted that his team should have the upper hand in this facet of play.

However, WP forwards coach Matt Proudfoot is confident his young bucks can do the job: ‘I think we’ve scrummed generally well this season. [Props] Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe have developed really well during the year. If they play to their potential, they’ll do well against the Sharks.’

WP also have experienced front-rowers in Deon Carstens and Brok Harris on the bench, and they’ll be expected to strengthen the scrum efforts in the second half.

The loose forward battle will be a potential match-leveller.

While the Sharks have a stronger loose trio combination, the poaching capabilities of WP duo Duane Vermeulen and Deon Fourie (who’s been in great domestic form) will pose a threat.

Daniel believes his team will have to nullify this: ‘Deon has been in great from. He’s a strong ball-carrier and we’ve seen how effective he is on the ground. Duane has also done well this year. We just have to play to our strengths and keep our focus. The performance of the forwards up front will be crucial in who wins the Currie Cup final.’

However, Fourie has proven to be a hot-head this season. He’s been involved in several off-the-ball spats and has shown ill-discipline, even as captain. Head coach Allister Coetzee will need to restrict his aggression.

Province are without key heavies in hooker Tiaan Liebenberg and lock Andries Bekker, who picked up injuries in the final league game a fortnight ago. Their absence will be telling as I don’t think Scarra Ntubeni (despite his impressive form) and De Kock Steenkamp have the abilities to fill in effectively. Liebenberg’s power up front and Bekker’s lineout strengths will be missed.

A full-strength WP team would’ve been competitive against the Sharks in this weekend’s final. But the Cape side have lost too much firepower, especially among the forwards.

Follow Gareth on Twitter
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73 Comments

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  • 51.carol: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 19:31 pm

    Too old for rugby that is!! :-)

  • 52.carol: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 19:33 pm

    @assagai-46:

    Skop, your constant nic changing is so disconcerting!

    Have you planned your celebrations when WP beat The Sharks? :-)

  • 53.carol: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 19:34 pm

    @David-50:

    I wonder how many ‘views’?? ;-)

  • 54.assagai: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 19:36 pm

    there no avalanche nowhere because its all just a faux pas overrated song and dance about pretty much nothing.. and the greedy gratuitous money grubbers trying to fleece the rugby public for a fat ransom.. fat lotta good hiking the ticket prices beyond the break point range so now nobody gets to enjoy all the hoo ha fluster when it all goes flat as a pancake if the final gets played in a half full stadium in wet conditions then its a wet squib before it kicks off… that what greed gets them.. a big fat overrated non event.

  • 55.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 19:37 pm

    @carol-48:

    I must say our weather isn’t much better. Gauteng is like the Cape winter at the moment. Cold and overcast. :lol: Age is a bugger…

  • 56.assagai: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 19:40 pm

    @carol-52: don’t blame the messenger for the nick changes.. blame the man with the whistle

    If – or rather when WP smack the overrated guppies on Saturday.. I will just simply go about my standard business.. whats to celebrate when its pretty much a foregone conclusion as things stand anyway. Sharks getting their comeuppance this weekend, only they don’t know it yet.

  • 57.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 19:40 pm

    @assagai-54:

    For sure.

  • 58.Bagel: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 19:41 pm

    @assagai-54: I agree, Duvenage and Schreuder should be the future Bok halfback pairings!

  • 59.assagai: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 19:46 pm

    @Bagel-58: better than the overrated nonentities pretending to do justice to those positions now. So you agree.. you waking up out your juvenile slumber slowly sonny .

  • 60.David: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 20:03 pm

    @carol-53:
    When I checked there was one registered blogger and 7 guests, of which I was one. In fact most of the posts were you tube videos and nothing to do with “talking rugby”. :wink:

  • 61.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 20:21 pm

    @David-60: Also checked :) And to my amusement, S_L has gone from posting Lady Gaga songs, to segments from the Rocky Horror Picture show. And we’re brokebacks?

  • 62.John1976: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 21:02 pm

    Hi wtf is going on? Can’t read any post

  • 63.John1976: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 21:11 pm

    @David 60 It is an avalance vs what the RT guys are used or alternatively it is in super slowmotion

  • 64.John1976: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 21:14 pm

    @David 60: It is an avalance vs what the RT guys are used to or alternatively it is in super slowmotion

  • 65.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 22:14 pm

    i’m going to RT…f.cuk this

  • 66.whatever: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 22:25 pm

    um……….where is the comments stream? I can’t see what k uk poppadoos has spewed today, I may have to got into detox if I can’t see his bile :)

  • 67.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 22:30 pm

    whatever\

    you blog just to see what I post?

    wonderful

    here fishy fishy

  • 68.Bok Troop: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 23:29 pm

    ?

  • 69.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 23:41 pm

    Site is broken, just a story and comment box, but no comments to read

  • 70.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 06:04 am

    Sharks to win this one by 10

  • 71.trupisero: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 06:38 am

    Eishhh…

    Lines of coke, lines of text, the dwarf makes them all dissapear

  • 72.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 07:22 am

    post it?

  • 73.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 07:24 am

    testing
    patrick lambie will never be remembered as a great bok
    testing

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