‘WP have formula to beat Sharks’
25 Oct 2012
WP defence coach Jacques Nienaber believes his team has the blueprint to become the first SA side to beat the Sharks at Kings Park this year.
Nienaber is praised as the guru who has masterminded the Cape teams’ defensive structures, which excelled during Super Rugby and the Currie Cup over the last three years.
The Stormers’ strong guard helped them qualify for two semi-finals (2011 and 2012) and one final (2010) in Super Rugby. WP also featured in one semi-final (2011) and a final (2010) on the domestic scene.
However, those teams all lost their respective play-off matches, extending their title drought to 11 years. The last piece of silverware added to the Newlands trophy cabinet was the 2001 Currie Cup (that’s if you exclude the over-hyped South African conference title won in Super Rugby).
These three years of finals rugby heartache forced the management to rethink their game plan. Backline coach Robbie Fleck revealed to this site in September that this year’s domestic campaign would be used to implement a stronger attacking game, which their players have bought into.
Gio Aplon told me midway during the league phase: ‘We’ve realised the hard way that a strong defence won’t win semi-finals and finals. It’s good enough to get you to the top of the league, but you have to be able to attack well if you want to win those play-off games.’
As a result, WP have scored the second most tries in the tournament (behind the Sharks) and are the third top point-scorers (close behind the Sharks and Golden Lions). They showed great composure with ball in hand to score a late try for a 21-16 comeback semi-final win over the Lions at Ellis Park.
They now have the opportunity to carry that momentum into the final against the Sharks, who have beaten all South African teams at Kings Park during Super Rugby and the Currie Cup in 2012.
While the Sharks have beaten the Stormers and WP four out of five times during these tournaments, Nienaber said the last two defeats have helped the team progress.
‘We were beaten 43-27 in Durban during round two, but we played with 12 men at one stage,’ Nienaber told keo.co.za. ‘We were still in the game before we were issued those two red cards and the final yellow card just made things even more difficult. The Sharks scored three tries with a greater man advantage.
‘But earlier in the game, we were very competitive. We manned up against their powerful pack and had the technical game plan that troubled them.
‘The 25-23 loss in Cape Town in the opening round was a learning curve for us. While we were placing a greater focus on attack, it revealed we didn’t have an effective scramble defence. Most of their tries came from turnovers in possession. But the situation has improved since then. We’ve lost many of our first-choice players to injury, but we have the formula to beat the Sharks in the final.
‘This greater balance between attack, defence and tactical kicking plan also bodes well for Super Rugby next year.’
Nienaber added that the Sharks’ defence and kicking game have been key in their successful year, especially during the Currie Cup.
‘Many people believe the Sharks are doing well because of their strong attack,’ he said. ‘But the Sharks have improved very well on defence. They’re also kicking the ball a lot. The Currie Cup stats show that they’ve kicked the most during the tournament. They even had six more kicks than the Blue Bulls in the semi-final. I don’t think anyone has picked up on that.’
Nienaber believes discipline will be vital in Saturday’s Currie Cup showdown: ‘The Lions conceded more penalties than us at Ellis Park last weekend, but we leaked too many in kickable positions and gave Elton Jantjies a chance to boot his team to victory. We can’t afford that against the Sharks and Pat Lambie.’
By Gareth Duncan
251 Comments
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25 Oct 2012, 10:56 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-90: Agree 100′s on CC and resting Boks. Now we can only hope and pray that SANZAR ditches the ridiculous conference format. Would far prefer something along the lines of Heineken Cup pools. Sadly, I suspect the chances of this are around 0
25 Oct 2012, 10:56 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-94: good luck with that.
@wp_boytjie-96: ek is ‘n bietjie van ‘n ***** ja.
25 Oct 2012, 10:57 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-99: not from where i am sitting.
25 Oct 2012, 10:58 am
@wp. winning nothing never looked so easy-98: Blue steel more likely. Straight from the Zoolander centre for guppies who can’t read so good.
25 Oct 2012, 10:59 am
To be honest…I would’ve been much more excited if this final was between WP and die Bulle..no disrespect to the Sharks.
25 Oct 2012, 10:59 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-94: They might. or they might get cleaned in a big way
25 Oct 2012, 11:00 am
i want to briefly revisit that idiot gavin rich’s articles over the last few weeks.
he claims lambie played 15 all year and therefore was justifiably ignored by that blue eyed fool heyneker mayer.
then, after two games at 10 he hails lambie as the heir apparent.
wp have polluted his brain.
25 Oct 2012, 11:01 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-104: “cant read so good”?
can for like to chirp eh?
delicious.
@Rage-105: no offence taken. old rivalries.
would be like abba reforming.
25 Oct 2012, 11:04 am
ok, my work is done.
you weer probbers can go back to your lovefest.
25 Oct 2012, 11:04 am
@Anomander-101: Less than zero. Which is why instaed of filling me with hope, these EOYT’s fill me with dread.
Why can the Kiwis head north and smash all the Home unions, and then on their way out of Eurpoe kick France in the nuts as a farewell?
Watch fellas like Jannie Dup and Bryan Habs (who have played sh y te loads of rugga this year) on the EOYT….
25 Oct 2012, 11:05 am
@grant10-85:
Thats my fear as well. And I have expressed as much here.
Wet conditions and one side with nothing to lose?
Dangerous combo. It wont be a walk over.
25 Oct 2012, 11:06 am
@wp. winning nothing never looked so easy-109:
Ja Kevin Putt maak spore
25 Oct 2012, 11:07 am
Never seen Province fans so weak and pathetic. Its kids this inexpiriance that.
25 Oct 2012, 11:07 am
@nkqo6-47: ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, yeses! ngamaqitala kak’bi!
25 Oct 2012, 11:09 am
@mabu-114: hahaha kakhulu mkhuluwa wam
25 Oct 2012, 11:09 am
Saru Rugby Player of the Year:
1. Keegan Daniel
2. Eben Etzebeth
3. Bryan Habana
4. Pat Lambie
5. JP Pietersen
Young Player of the Year:
1. Marcell Coetzee
2. Eben Etzebeth
3. Johan Goosen
4. Elton Jantjies
5. Raymond Rhule
Absa Team of the Year:
1. Eastern Province Kings (Absa Currie Cup First Division)
2. The Sharks (Vodacom Super Rugby)
3. The Sharks (Absa Currie Cup)
4. South Africa Under-20 (IRB Junior World Championship)
5. DHL Stormers (Vodacom Super Rugby)
Absa Coach of the Year:
1. Allister Coetzee (DHL Stormers and Western Province)
2. Pote Human (GWK Griquas)
3. John Plumtree (The Sharks)
4. Alan Solomons (EP Kings)
5. Dawie Theron (SA Under-20)
Vodacom Super Rugby Player of the Year:
1. Marcell Coetzee (The Sharks)
2. Keegan Daniel (The Sharks)
3. Bismarck du Plessis (The Sharks)
4. Eben Etzebeth (DHL Stormers)
5. JP Pietersen (The Sharks)
Absa Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year:
1. Deon Fourie (DHL Western Province)
2. JC Janse van Rensburg (MTN Golden Lions)
3. Elton Jantjies (MTN Golden Lions)
4. Louis Ludik (The Sharks)
5. Raymond Rhule (Toyota Free State Cheetahs)
Absa Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year:
1. Hansie Graaff (Griffons)
2. JW Jonker (Ford Pumas)
3. Rudi Mathee (Ford Pumas)
4. Paul Perez (EP Kings)
5. Luke Watson (EP Kings)
Vodacom Cup Player of the Year:
1. Marcel Brache (DHL Western Province)
2. Demetri Catrakilis (DHL Western Province)
3. Jaco Kriel (MTN Golden Lions)
4. Gouws Prinsloo (Sharks XV)
5. Jan Serfontein (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
25 Oct 2012, 11:10 am
@KWAGGA ROBERTSE-97: Thats a good thing right?
25 Oct 2012, 11:10 am
@nkqo6-93: nazi iNkumkani manene! Kubo…
25 Oct 2012, 11:12 am
@wp_boytjie-112: moenie so wees nie ou pellie, is jy toks van der linde?
25 Oct 2012, 11:13 am
To be honest, if this WP side beat the Sharks at KP, I’ll be slightly miffed, but at the same token, I’ll be full of praise for the WP side.
They would have done what sides with Burger, Bekker, JdV etc hasnt been able to and I will conly be able to give credit where it is due.
25 Oct 2012, 11:15 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-94: Big weakness without Botes and Deysel….and Cooper…
Sharks have a gap there….they will also use Keegan as a regular supply of lineout ball….we must compete aggressively on sharks throw ins…@mxhosa-95: WP surprised me ….I thought altitude and the desperate Lions with a point to prove may have been a bit too much for the chokers from CT…..I was so happy to be wrong.
25 Oct 2012, 11:19 am
@Sasuke-117: Hehehehe. I guess you’re right.
25 Oct 2012, 11:22 am
@skunk-113: Our team have never experienced such a stress free build up to any final. There is no pressure on the boys at all. Zero expectation either. (apart from the pressure they put on themselves as athletes that is).
The players and coaches will tell you this themselves……
There has never been such a one sided finals build up – in which WP have been the team totally written off by all and sundry before a ball has been kicked.
To say that the players and coaches haven’t enjoyed this, would be an understatement
25 Oct 2012, 11:30 am
Wouldn’t it be nice if Coetsee and Plum got together before the game and made an agreement of sorts, that a maximum of 2 boks be part of their respective 22′s and can only be utilised off the bench as injury replacement or after 50mins of play.
This i feel would do well for the resting of players who still have to tour, and add a nice bit a spice to the competition.
jus saying, its nice to dream
25 Oct 2012, 11:34 am
@BokkeYouBeauties-124: i use the term boks loosely, i mean players like JP and Lambie, Keegan should not be counted as the boks to exclude
25 Oct 2012, 11:36 am
@BokkeYouBeauties-124: Jannie Dup, Beast, Habana, Eben, Alberts are all ready for sleep therapy. They might not break down on Saturday, or even on the EOYT, but expect the backlash somewhere – i.e. woeful form going into the S15 next year……
25 Oct 2012, 11:37 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-123:
Yes and you have been the praise singer for those “all and sundry”
25 Oct 2012, 11:41 am
@Mr Black-127: I am contributing to my team’s current positive emotional state by writing them off. Can’t you see that? They certainly can…..
25 Oct 2012, 11:47 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-128:
Have you watched the movie “moneyball”?
Was on the telly last night, what a great movie.
25 Oct 2012, 12:02 pm
@Mr Black-129: Brilliant movie. It makes all kinds of sporting sense….
25 Oct 2012, 12:03 pm
@Mr Black-129: Cool movie, and a true story. I’m hoping someone at the Lions will employ a business graduate with a sports stats fascination and build them a team for next to nothing that can “get on first”.
25 Oct 2012, 12:06 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-130:
I think that is what the Kings are trying
They are buying all the s.hit players nobody wants. Transie, are you the fat kid in the movie at the Kings? 
25 Oct 2012, 12:08 pm
@Mr Black-132: That would make Luke the surly 36 year old black batter with the attitude problem.
25 Oct 2012, 12:12 pm
@katman-131:
I hope the best for the Lions, and for their sake that they can clean their house next year.
SA will be poorer without the Lions.
25 Oct 2012, 12:17 pm
@katman-133:
He he, most of his followers see him as a black hero
25 Oct 2012, 12:20 pm
Go SHARKS.
Do it for Puma, Shark shagger and Sharkgirlie.\
Go.
25 Oct 2012, 12:20 pm
@Mr Black-132: no, i’m brad pitt!
25 Oct 2012, 12:29 pm
@Transformation-137: No, you are ‘Billy Beane’.
25 Oct 2012, 12:51 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-138: yeah, the GM dude.
25 Oct 2012, 13:08 pm
@Transformation-139: you are genetically modified?
25 Oct 2012, 13:13 pm
@cane-136:
Justice 4….
25 Oct 2012, 13:18 pm
sharks fans running from keo are nothing to applaud.
this site will become as sanitised as silverfern if the brokebacks get their way.
25 Oct 2012, 13:27 pm
ok, i will play nice.
wp have a 20% chance of winning in Durban.
i have given them such a high likelihood of winning because of the rain otherwise their backline and ponderous backrow would have been taken into account.
25 Oct 2012, 13:32 pm
is it arrogance to think your team will pound another team into the dirt before kickoff?
i dont think so.
if we look at history between the sides, the home record of the team hosting the game and the quality of the players on the park weighted with their experience then it should be an emotionless decision.
it is sport and the upsets make it interesting but overwhelmingly, the contests are won by the favourites.
the sharks are the favourites for saturday.
as such i expect them to gring wp bones into dust for their bread.
een man se brood is ‘n ander se dood sadly for wpians.
25 Oct 2012, 13:36 pm
oh well, looks like the wpians have stopped polluting this site for now.
i will be back to confront this pollution when it starts smelling up the place again.
25 Oct 2012, 13:49 pm
Do WP have the blueprint? Sure.
Do WP have the players? Not so sure.
25 Oct 2012, 14:07 pm
Blackberry blogging is not very speedy
25 Oct 2012, 14:17 pm
Of course we have the formula…and the players…and the supporters…and the coaches.
That’s why we’ll win it.
GO WEEPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
25 Oct 2012, 14:18 pm
@nama1-148: Nama, I hope so.
But, honestly, it will be a very difficult mission.
25 Oct 2012, 14:20 pm
Sharks team:
A Bok front row.
A Bok back row.
A Bok back three.
A Bok FH.
4 more Boks on the bench.
10 run on Boks with another 4 on the bench.
WP team:
Three 20 year old kids in the front row.
One Bok, a converted hooker and a youngster in the back row.
A very good back three.
A young inexperienced FH with an even more inexperienced SH partner.
An unimpressive bench.
5 run on Boks
Surely the Sharks must win…but they won’t.
WP by 10.
GO WEEPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
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