Sharks to see off Stormers
28 Feb 2013
MARK KEOHANE writes Stormers fans must prepare for more Super Rugby misery in Durban.
The Sharks will beat the Stormers in Durban. It won’t be an easy victory but when these two teams play one point is emphatic enough in the chase to being the best South African team in the competition.
The Sharks were magnificent in beating the Stormers in Cape Town in the 2012 semi-final season and in turn the Stormers, in the guise of Western Province in the Currie Cup final, were as magnificent in winning the title in Durban.
The Sharks were surprisingly edgy and tentative in the final quarter in Bloemfontein to hang on against the Cheetahs, but then the Cheetahs did beat the Stormers in Bloemfontein in a pre-season match.
I know Elton Jantjies will be better but the Stormers are missing the colossal presence of lock Eben Etzebeth more even than the Sharks are missing the influence of Bok hooker Bismark du Plessis.
The Sharks pack is good enough to get an edge, especially in the collisions, but it’s the Sharks back division that will trouble the Stormers more than the Bulls did.
Pat Lambie asks more attacking questions at flyhalf and Frans Steyn has a physicality at No 12 that wasn’t there in the Bulls line-up.
The back three of the Sharks, as a unit, also shades the visitors.
It is going to be difficult for the Stormers and while away defeats aren’t a train smash in the tournament, it does add to the pressure of a ‘must win’ situation when playing at home.
The Bulls will win easily against the Force and get the bonus point and the Cheetahs will be competitive against the Chiefs and may just get a bonus point for tries scored if the game opens up as expected. The Chiefs will win and get five league points.
The Kings will enjoy their second great weekend in the competition because of the bye. Thereafter it will become decidedly tougher and demanding for a squad blessed with passion and desire but very limited on pedigree at this level.
For those who like to forget when I do get it right, 3/3 last week in relation to the SA teams. That’s right I couldn’t find too many on Twitter and the inbox was predictably empty with the clever guys who offered such articulate abuse at me picking the Bulls and Kings to win.
I expect another slow post match response when the Sharks do the business in Durban.
731 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 3 [4] 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 … 15 » Show All
28 Feb 2013, 12:16 pm
By all accounts Stormers played kak last week. They were dominated up front but despite that:
* they outscored the Bulls 2 tries to 1;
* left at least 15 points on the park through Jantjies’ kak kicking;
* only lost by 8 points becaus of an illegal try awarderd to the Bulls.
Now taking into account the above awa the fact that the Bulls played very well according to reports from all, I feel that the Stormers have a very good chance of causing an upset on Saturday. In fact, I have them as winners by 4 points.
The Sharks, because of their homeground and them being SA’s best bet in the S15, will be overwhelming favorites but they’ll have to play very well if they want to win. I don’t know if they will be up to it. They’ll probably start like a house on fire and then fizzle out towards the end when Deysel, Kanko and Jannie show us their disappearing act in front of a few thousand people.
Final score: 19 – 15.
GO STORMERSSSSSS.
28 Feb 2013, 12:17 pm
@Sharks_are_gonna_get_you-147:
My favorite SAFFA team the boys from Cape Town, although I think the Sharks will take them this weekend.
28 Feb 2013, 12:17 pm
Who said the Bulls played well? *****.
28 Feb 2013, 12:19 pm
@Golden Boy-146: There are a few quota stupids around here.
@NZINCHINA-148: The trouble is JdV is big, strong, runs straight and remains reasonably fast. All the attributes Meyer loves. The problem of course being the other things like ball skills, a side-step, running into space…
28 Feb 2013, 12:20 pm
Honest Honeybadger Hondo trying to play the numbers game just right. Count how many darker shade of pigmentation on each team then back the lesser one.
He had Stormers to cream it till he realize the mercenary humping Sharkishits are playing at home now he not so sure anymore. Factor in a Durban born Cape Town residing ref and now the confounding conundrum gets even more confusing. Just go with your initial hunch Honest Hond of Horrifying Hope pick the team with the least POC’s and Bob is sure to be your aunt.
28 Feb 2013, 12:20 pm
Keo getting more and more cocky, I think he is forgetting who gets him these nice ads on the side of this website?
But yes, your calls last week were spot on, sharks will nail my out of sorts Stormers, seems like the lions loser mentality has infiltrated our ranks. Hope we eradicate those issues soon. Also see Steyn use Jantjies as a carpet this weekend, that is if Grant doesn’t make a half time entry.
28 Feb 2013, 12:21 pm
@Heavens Game-150: Please don’t “bracket me in” with Capo and Skop !!!! They do not represent the “average” supporter of the Stormers IMO !!
28 Feb 2013, 12:21 pm
@NZINCHINA-152: Pieterson etc need to be given the license to run. I can’t see the ball going beyond JdV so I hope to god the others try to get involved from broken play before he gets his mitts on the ball.
28 Feb 2013, 12:23 pm
@mikeybrass-154:
Correct he’s part of the problem with your back line play, to me there is a lack of vision with SAFFA teams when NZ teams see the smallest gap they exploit it and often score you hardly ever see your teams doing that.
28 Feb 2013, 12:23 pm
@kaksioek-153:
They didn’t?
No need to swear.
28 Feb 2013, 12:24 pm
@CharlesM-157: You and the rest of the decent WP/Stormers have my sincerest sympathies, Charles, it must be highly embarrassing to even think of them as “one of yours”.
28 Feb 2013, 12:26 pm
@NZINCHINA-152: Eish how could you lower you standards like that??
from Saders to Stormers?? nee man kom reg 
As fore the weekends match i think the Stormers by 13
28 Feb 2013, 12:26 pm
Stormers players are banned from running with the ball, under penalty of an overly severe back rub from Fleckie. Allister Coetzee is doing the same thing he did to the Bok backline under Jake White: ******* it up six love.
28 Feb 2013, 12:26 pm
@NZINCHINA-159: The difference between the turgid display of 2012 (in particular) and the Bok teams of the 80s couldn’t be more marked.
The partnership of JdJ and Fourie for the Stormers in 2010 was very fruitful. JdV came back in 2011 and phew, the Stormers backline play went downhill. Frankly the Stormers’ backline play has looked better whenever JdV hasn’t played in the last two years.
He has been a great servant but it is time he left.
28 Feb 2013, 12:27 pm
@Sharks_are_gonna_get_you-162:
Blues
Stormers
Brumbies
28 Feb 2013, 12:28 pm
I wonder if this is RL on another site:
“It is not so much that we support the Sharks, it is that we do not support the Stormers. Personally I would be very happy if this match ended in a draw. Pity both teams can’t lose.”
It probably rang true for HG as well when Stormers played against the Bulls last week.
28 Feb 2013, 12:28 pm
Dinner time back shortly.
28 Feb 2013, 12:28 pm
@skopdiekan-155: Already looking for excuses? Lets not forget that that very same “Factor in a Durban born Cape Town residing ref” handed you the match last year, yep ironically the 2nd match of the season last year, after he had blown the SHarks out of the Bulls match the week before! Roll your head in a little there, oh crazy one!
28 Feb 2013, 12:28 pm
@NZINCHINA-159: And more generally, yes you are right of course.
Imagine the likes of Mannetjies le Roux, Michael du Plessis, Danie Gerber etc etc being told not to take the gap.. Those boytjies had skill and vision.
28 Feb 2013, 12:31 pm
@Sharksgirl-168:
on no Sharksgirl ma’am, he will now go all 7 year old on you.
28 Feb 2013, 12:31 pm
Once again the Sharks are going to win the competition, every year it’s their best chance, they just get beter and beter. Take care Stormers, you are fronting up to the team of the decade, well they have been favourites for the past 10 years. every year it’s the same old thing. Hang on, I forgot, what time is the game, the dew, we forgot about the dew.
28 Feb 2013, 12:31 pm
@nama1-151: Causing an “upset”? How can the favourites for the Conference Title – the Current Conference Title holders and CC Champs – cause an “upset”?
And the fact that the Sharks are somehow “favourites” for the game, guaranteeing a Choke, cause an “upset”?
Your foregone prediction of a Stormers win is an “upset” too?
Come now – you fools are being dishonest by saying the result will be an “upset”, because should the “upset” happen, the hyperbole post “upset” will be very different to talk of Sharks being “favourites” et al pre “upset”…
Of course the Stormers will win…
They have the players
They have the history
They have the tradition
They have the titles
They have the Captain…
In comparison the Johnny Come Latelies from the sh.yte Third World African Dirtbin are nothing – thats what you really feel hey?
28 Feb 2013, 12:31 pm
@mikeybrass-164:
…and so say all of us.
Rather get out on your own before you get kicked out.
But he was promised the Bok captaincy for this year, so…
28 Feb 2013, 12:31 pm
All Stormers had to do last weekend was leave the Lions mercenary leeusers out the team and Bulls would have been well and truly thumped. I don’t know why the fck Stormers management got sucked into this mercenary humping business instead of playing their own home bred players and winning they gotta spend big money on mediocre f ‘ng mercenaries and in the process go down the goddam drain.
Weaknesses at Stormers at no. 10 and that is where the cookie gonna bust come day of delivery. Pity they so f’ng feeble in their players SWOT analysis and who to pick or leave out when and where.
28 Feb 2013, 12:33 pm
@NZINCHINA-165:
Good lad!
28 Feb 2013, 12:34 pm
Sharks vs. Stormers Humdinger of the Weekend:
http://wp.me/P2QxT1-5x
28 Feb 2013, 12:35 pm
Stupid doesnt stop. Terrified of losing on Sat.
28 Feb 2013, 12:35 pm
@skopdiekan-174: I know, right – they ******* sold out. Is nothing sacred anymore? The next thing that will happen is that the Stormers coaches might actually lose a few pounds and stop looking like a trio of ******* Buddhas.
28 Feb 2013, 12:36 pm
Hoping to see some more exciting rugby from our SA franchises this weekend.
28 Feb 2013, 12:36 pm
@BrumbiesBoy-161: Thanks! I don’t even read their comments anymore
28 Feb 2013, 12:36 pm
@Sharks_are_gonna_get_you-170:
@nama1-173: ok now I am going to have HG going all 7 year old on me, it seems its my day then
But its the same scenario we had 2 years ago when Bissie had to sit on the bench for the 2nd best hooker but so called best captain!
28 Feb 2013, 12:37 pm
I’m calling a Stormers victory.
28 Feb 2013, 12:38 pm
@kaksioek-178:
28 Feb 2013, 12:40 pm
@Heavens Game-172:
Of course the Sharks are the favorite. They are SA’s best chance to win the S15 this year, remember? You, Keo and everybody else said so when the squads were announced.
Now they are going to play on their home turf against a bunch of poofters from “brokeback region.” How can they not be favorites on their home ground?
Sharks the favorites…Stormers to win.
28 Feb 2013, 12:44 pm
@Sharksgirl-181: As 7 year old as when you reckoned Jimmy Stonehouse should be the new Kings Park messiah over “Dumbtree” when the Sharks were doing what they should be doing according to the esteemed kenners on this site and losing…
28 Feb 2013, 12:44 pm
@Sharksgirl-181:
That seems to be the case.
The difference being that Stormer supporters will call it as it is (ie. call for JdV to be dropped) unlike (some) Shark supporters who tried to defend the indefensible.
28 Feb 2013, 12:45 pm
@nama1-184: Rubbish, not everyone was saying that, don’t go and get all girly and assumes everyone, very few Sharks supporters believe all that spew, and KEO is not a Sharks supporter, or a KZN journo,
Stormers are the favourites and rightfully so.
28 Feb 2013, 12:47 pm
@nama1-184: So who said the Stormers, the current Conference Title holders and CC champs, are favourites for the Conference Title… The farken Godzille Toothfairy?
Something doesn’t add up with your logic here… Dont you think?
Or are you Toothfairy’s little Nama helper?
28 Feb 2013, 12:48 pm
Keo: The Sharks will win for not ONE reason you stated in your article!
The harks will win becasue of the out of date gameplan that Allister cannot let go in 2013! If you look at last years type of play from the Stormers, nothing changed at Loftus. Only the things they were doing good in the mentioned gameplan, was better executed last year ie: Gang tackling the ball carrier back with 2-3 yards everytime. This did not happen at Loftus.. Sustained pressure for pahse after phase on defense… always pressuring the other team to make mistakes.. this time round the Bulls got the upperhand.
So no the Sharks will win because they have the better Coaching staff having new ideas and having the correct type of gameplan.. Not all is sacrificed for just forward play nor is only an all out attack. The last 3 years showed that teams that played a more balanced gameplan were the victors.. The stormers did well to win games they should have lost… that will not happen again this year
So no, I hate to think what a Jake White/ Plumtree type of coach could do with the talent in the cape…
28 Feb 2013, 12:49 pm
@Transformation-95:
Daar sit die manne in die SARU Hotel
Hul ken mos vir almal, hul is almal se pêl
Luister ou vriend daar agter die bar
Hoe lyk dit met nog ‘n advertensie daar?
Nou stel ek voor my ou vriend Jurie
Daar’s niks te wêreld wat ou Jurie pla nie
Ontmoet in die straat en sê:” Betaal tog ou maat”
Sê Jurie: “Gannie betaal nie”!
Daar sit die manne in die SARU Hotel
28 Feb 2013, 12:50 pm
@Provvas-189: That’s it – kick Skop in the nuts why don’t you
28 Feb 2013, 12:50 pm
Who gives a flying fark who is favourite? Sharks will be handing some more whoopass this weekend.
The Bulls were hardly at their best but you sometimes tend to be limited in performance by how kak the team against you is playing as well.
28 Feb 2013, 12:50 pm
@nama1-186: Call it as it is? COUGHfuckingbullshitCOUGH
28 Feb 2013, 12:52 pm
@Heavens Game-185: Yep, at least I admited the error of my ways, and publicly acknowledged my mistake
Have nothing to be ashamed of, one errs in judgement every now and then!
@nama1-186: John was a hero in KZN, and he was loyal to the Sharks so understandable.
I call it a Sharks win by 7.
28 Feb 2013, 12:52 pm
@nama1-173: How I groaned at that…
28 Feb 2013, 12:53 pm
@Heavens Game-172: Luister hier klein pisgesig:
Volgens jou eie redenasie:
1. Sharks het weg gespeel en gewen, stormers het weg gespeel en verloor = Sharks fav
2. Stormers speel weer weg, Sharks by die huis = Sharks fav
3. Sharks het final gespeel laas jaar stormers het nie = sharks fav
4. Stormers het teen sharks verloor in semi van Sup rugby = Sharks fav
5. Stormers se rekord met Kaplan as ref = 50% Sharks 66.66% = Sharks fav
So hou op om jou te gedra soos ‘, f0kkin snotkop kind wat jy is en praat sense vir n verandering.
Jy gaan soos een groot d00s lyk Maandag as julle verloor.
28 Feb 2013, 12:53 pm
@KWAGGA ROBERTSE-192: lol Kwagga het jy gesien hoe stil is hully oor Meisiekind wat oor Jantjies gehardloop het?
28 Feb 2013, 12:54 pm
You beat the Sharks by going through their defense, not around it.
And in De Allende and De Villiers, the Stormers have the midfield to keep the ball close to the forwards.
Etzebeth, I should add though, is the single biggest loss the Stormers are feeling at the moment.
28 Feb 2013, 12:54 pm
@nama1-184: Sharks have been overwhelming favourites to win the WHOLE THING since 2009!
3 weeks ago they were the pundits’ numero uno saffa team by a mile.
nothing has changed despite the facetious protestations.
28 Feb 2013, 12:55 pm
@Heavens Game-172:
That’s why they place an age restriction on programs like “The Secret” and “”What the bleep…”
Children like yourself obviously got the wrong message……
Pages: « 1 2 3 [4] 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 … 15 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.