The Sharks claimed the top spot in the Currie Cup after an emphatic 34 –25 victory over their rivals, the Blue Bulls. The match that was billed a humdinger during the build-up certainly lived up to expectation and set a new tone for the local competition. With each team scoring four brilliant tries, the match was ultimately decided by the boot, and it was in this department that the Sharks’ Ruan Pienaar proved to be stronger than the Bulls’ Morne Steyn.
The game started at good pace, thanks to the beautiful weather conditions in Durban, but it was the visitors who drew first blood when Wynand Olivier broke the Sharks’ defensive line following a signature Matfield lineout take. Olivier handed off the young Frans Steyn before handing the ball over to his central partner Delport to score under the posts. Morne Steyn made no mistake with the simple conversion to give the visitors a 7-0 lead within the first 10 minutes on the clock.
The Sharks did not panic and they were rewarded roughly 10 minutes later, when the rejuvenated Stefan Terblanche made a superb run and managed to play a well-timed pass to Odwa Ndungane, who scored after being afforded too much space by his opposing wing Bryan Habana. Pienaar converted the try and added 3 more points via a penalty kick later in the half to ensure that the Sharks took a 10-7 lead to halftime.
The Sharks were dealt a cruel blow when Brad Barritt had to be replaced early in the second half after suffering a mild concussion. This dark cloud proved to have a silver lining though as his replacement JP Pietersen scored a magnificent try after a good steal by Fred Michalak. Pienaar extended the lead to 17-7, slotting in a potentially tricky conversion.
The mood in the stadium was soon to change though as Wynand Olivier ran through the Sharks and allowed skipper Matfield to pick up and score. Morne missed the conversion but Olivier made his presence felt again moments later when he collected an Akona Ndungane chip to level the scores at 17-17. Steyn’s conversion hit the upright but he did finally claim the lead for the Blue Bulls through a penalty. The Ndungane-Olivier connection tormented the Sharks again when a Ndungane grubber confused the Sharks defence, only for Olivier to pick up and score the bonus point try.
The colour blue suddenly dominated the Shark-Tank’s interior décor and everywhere you turned you were bound to spot Sharks’ fans shaking their heads in disbelief. The Sharks dug deep once again and Terblanche held on to a Michalak pass to score the Sharks third try of the match. Pienaar kept the Sharks in the game with the conversion that pushed the score to 24-25. It was Pienaar yet again who edged the Sharks to a 27-24 lead through a well-taken penalty with 10 minutes left to play.
Before the match I had predicted that this was going to be Frans Steyn’s comeback game; let’s just safely say I’m not about to add Nostradamus to my long list of nicknames. I did get it right though when I predicted a late Keegan Daniel bonus point try, and what a try it was. Some people tried to label that piece of magic as 50 percent skill and 50 percent luck but I was quick to point out that “fortune favours the brave”, and bravery in such a tough encounter certainly counts as skill. Take a bow Keegan! Ruan’s conversion stretched the lead to 34-25, which ensured that the Bulls were more than a converted try away and that was how it was to remain till the final whistle.
Man of the match went to Ruan Pienaar, who clearly he deserved it for winning his duels against Morne Steyn and Fourie Du Preez. As expected Matfield and his troop dominated the lineouts but the Sharks can pride themselves for matching the seemingly stronger Bulls in the rucks, especially in the second half. Fans and critics have dubbed this game as the rehearsal for the final; in that case all we can say is “Advantage Sharks”.
The Sharks will not spend too much time celebrating their revenge over the Bulls, as they now have to shift their focus towards the Cheetahs who also took advantage of a weaker Sharks squad earlier on in the competition. The Sharks are set to get stronger with the imminent return of key players such as Beast Mtawarira, Adi Jacobs, Ryan Kankowski and Bok skipper John Smit; the rest of the teams should surely be worried.
Awesome report from our man in the Press Box. Well done, BS!
Blackshark..you got too much time on your hands bro.
Shit – Hargs out for 3 weeks
@klempie (Comment 2) : you should also try your hand at writing “above the line”, pal…
@robdylan (Comment 4) : Above the line?
Oh I forgot to say…good report BS!
@klempie (Comment 5) : yes – above he comments line
@robdylan (Comment 7) : I might have to “get political” though big guy.
Just looking at the schedule coming up…
Sharks have:
Cheetahs (H)
Valke (A)
Lions (A)
Griquas (H)
Bulls have:
Kavs (H)
Cheetahs (A)
Griquas (A)
Valke (H)
Hmmmm…I’d say we have the marginally tougher run in with the Lions waiting for us.
Take a bow blackshark, great article.
Bulls have Cheetahs waya though.
@robdylan (Comment 1) : @klempie (Comment 6) : Thanks, I like Piet Pienaar’s version though.
@klempie (Comment 9) : Yeah…it will probably go down to that game at the Coke Factory.
For once a match lived up to the hype…and the Sharks ended up on the right side of the scoreboard. Can’t wait to see Adi back in the mix..Steyn still hasn’t impressed and to think we still have The Beast amd Kankowski to come back…delisious. For the first time I’m getting excited about the CC.And its about time we get some silverware again
cool report
You ready for next week?
BS, now all you need to do is stop picking the same score as me on SB.
@Salmonoid (Comment 10) : @KSA Shark © (Comment 14) : Sweet…
Salmo…did you notice that I’m in 3rd position now. Better pull up your socks. We need to dethrone those WP’s…
KSA
@blackshark (Comment 15) :
yeah in third with MY picks
@robdylan (Comment 3) : So
I must admit that I didn’t think the Sharks would be top of the log after the first couple of weeks of the CC
@Pokkel (Comment 18) : Some Bulls cockups, such as losing to the Valke have certainly helped.
@Pokkel (Comment 18) : Those ugly wins we were complaining about have laid the foundation for a classy finish. We won the games we were expected to win and collected the BP’s when we had to. Come on Sharks !!!
@blackshark – (Well done Serena!) (Comment 20) : As long as the ugly wins turn into wins like Saturday I won’t complain. The Super14 went from ugly wins to no wins and at least we’ve changed the trend. I’m happy..now for the Silverware which has been a long time coming for us faithfull Sharks supporters
One thing I HAVE to say…Wynand Olivier made all 3 your centers look a lil silly…
And the way he ran around Murray with the ball in two hands!??! What’s up with Murray and his pace!??!
@klempie (Comment 9) :
I agree?
@klempie (Comment 19) : huh?
@Hmmm (Comment 22) :
@klempie (Comment 8) : you should spend more time outside in the sunshine, rather
Lekka Sharks !!!
@Charlie (Comment 25) : let’s hope to see Adi in the starting lineup against the Cheetahs
@Hmmm (Comment 22) : Still a mistery
@Charlie (Comment 27) : Adi, we missed you on Saturday. I’m sure meisiekind wouldn’t have passes you that often
@robdylan (Comment 28) : The Sharks likes to play him from the bench, but with Barritt’s injury I would bring him in @ 12…
@Pokkel (Comment 30) : passed
@Pokkel (Comment 30) :
@Charlie (Comment 31) : I think the Sharks want him in the starting 15 now…
@Charlie (Comment 31) : apparently Brad is fine. Hargreaves is the only injury concern – out for 3 weeks.
I think we should look at Adi at 13 with Bradders at 12.
Sorry, Knersie, but it’s banktoe…
@Charlie (Comment 31) :
He is not strong enough on defense at 12…I’ll play Frans at 12 (he plays better there than at 13 in any case)…and play Adi at 13…
Steyn plays a lot like JdV at 12 and Adi can feed off that by running off his shoulder…which also gives him more space to use his stepping…
@Charlie (Comment 29) :
Yeh tell me about it…so either Wynand “Meisiekind” Olivier is faster than we thought or Waylon “Tractor” Murray is slower than we thought…
If it was not for Steyn’s pace in cross-defense Meisiekind would have had a hat-trick…against the Sharks defense!??!
@robdylan (Comment 35) :
Who is knersie? Frans?
@robdylan (Comment 24) : Sorry I got confused. I meant the Bulls losing to the Lions and Province.
@robdylan (Comment 35) : Agree
12 Brad
13 Adi
Surely JP will take his spot from Waylon…
@robdylan (Comment 26) : Are calling me a rock spider??
@Hmmm (Comment 36) : The BIG difference between JDV and Fransie is that JDV runs into the gap and not straight at the opposition and JDV can actually pass a ball.
@Pokkel (Comment 42) :
Like…not plays exactly the same…
Frans does step though…he is just not as effective as JdV….when JdV steps he stays strong on his feet and able to stand up to tackles…
@Hmmm (Comment 38) : korrek
@blackshark – (Well done Serena!) (Comment 40) : an absolute given. JP was AMAZING
@Pokkel (Comment 42) : and JDV knows how to turn and present the ball when tackled
@robdylan (Comment 35) : Barritt had become a softy, or he’s not honest enough about his injuries…
@Hmmm (Comment 36) : Jacobs outside Steyn won’t be that effective…pass, pass, pass… 
here is the team i posted yesterday on keo
231 sharks_lover Report comment
September 8th, 2008 at 11:59 am
15 stefan
14 odwa
13 adi
12 barritt
11 jpp
10 steyn
09 ruan
08 daniel / kanko will the coach start him or bench him ???
07 deyself
06 botes
05 muller
04 albert
03 jannie
02 bismark
01 carstens / beast
16 beast / carstens
17 daniel / kanko
18 sykes
19 cilleirs
20 murray
21 cockott
22 michelak
although this is how i see the team looking i would prefer to start with a front row of beast bismark and carstens as its not weakend with carstens at TH but carstens so mobile and good in the loose
quite honestly, the centre pairing that has me most excited is Jacobs and Swannie… doesn’t matter who plays 12/13… they will swap the whole game.
here is a thought ??
why cant cockott be converted into a flyhalf ??
Hmm, are you aware that Murray played at wing, and only later came into the centres, outside of Frans?
He didn’t miss any tackles, and cant be blamed for Olivier finding space between Barrit and Steyn – who shouldn’t ever play together at centre in my opinion.
It seems that you pick certain guys to continually have a go at for no logical reason – Mujati, JPP or Murray.
@Big Fish (Comment 51) : Waylon wasn’t on fire, although as you say there were many mitigating factors
rob is it true that that favourite lock of yours weighs the same as waylon?
@PJLD(RIP Bernie Mac) (Comment 53) : Probably pretty close. Ali has been hitting the pies, though. You seen him lately? He seems to have put on 5kg just in the last month
@robdylan (Comment 52) :
I didnt see him do anything bad at all Rob – he chased well, tackled well, and didnt come out of alignment, which many wings who play at centre tend to do. What didnt he do then?
@robdylan (Comment 54) : send him to athlone,he can swing 5kgs in a night at the right spot.
@Big Fish (Comment 55) : Run sideways and slow down before taking contact. Same thing he has done every time this year! Come on, dude, you know I’m the last person to point fingers, but you do have a bit of a blind spot when it comes to your old school mate
@PJLD(RIP Bernie Mac) (Comment 56) : We can put him on the Wes Diet
@robdylan (Comment 57) :
He has done that all season, correct – but that why they moved him to wing, and I don’t think he did that at all on Saturday.
Believe me, for the life of me I cant understand why a 105kg back would want to run sideways, so I am as perturbed about that as anyone, but forgive me if I question Hmmm’s comment – he makes the same comments on the same players every week.
And speaking of a bit of selective viewing, I bet you thought that Brad played well, and that Delport’s try was just Fran’s fault?
@Big Fish (Comment 59) : Brad won that game on his own, dude! And I thought you knew about back play!
You should know better than to get worked up about the stuff that Hmmm says. I would, though, drop Frans and Waylon and bring in Adi and JP
Ok, so the above was obviously a joke, but I’d still like to understand how the first Bulls try was anyone other than Steyn’t fault. It’s like everyone else listens to Brad, but he doesn’t
@robdylan (Comment 60) :
Hectic day man – legacy issues.
I would do the same – Frans and Waylon are in the team on reputation alone at the moment. Both are great disappointments to me, as I think they have great potential, but have taken huge steps backward this season.
How magic was JPP though? Or was that also my black and white tinted glasses?
@Big Fish (Comment 62) : Not at all, JP was pure class
@robdylan (Comment 61) :
Look, one consistent thing that I have heard about Brad is that he communicates very well and marshalls the backs very effectively. I would have been tempted to blame him as the Bulls were fanning out in that movement, which would have made Olivier Brad’s man (on his outside arm), but maybe they had a different alignment planned.
Frans does play too much on his own mandate though, and I think the Sharks have started focussing more on team play, if some of Plumtree’s remarks after the WP game are to be taken seriously.
This could have far-reaching selction repercussions.
Funny think is Brad and Frans are amongst the two better tacklers around, but together they don’t click, or should I say, didn’t click on defence against the Bulls.
Next weekend
Blue Bulls vs Boland in Pretoria
Referee: Marius Jonker
Touch judges: Gareth Lloyd-Jones, Cobus Wessels
Television match official: Michael Cupido
Assessor: Lusanda Menze
Western Province vs Valke at Newlands
Referee: Christie du Preez
Touch judges: François Veldsman, Eugenia Daniels
Assessor: Eugene Daniels
Lions vs Griquas in Johannesburg
Referee: JC Fortuin
Touch judges: Deon van Blommestein, Peter de Bruin
Television match official: Michael Cupido
Assessor: Richard Nash
Sharks vs Cheetahs in Durban
Referee: Willie Roos
Touch judges: Phillip Bosch, Reuben Rossouw
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman
Assessor: Andrew O’Connell
Willie Roos!
@robdylan (Comment 67) :
uh huh?
the three top guys are doing 3N duty.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 68) : Crap. Look, Willie has improved a lot. I think
@robdylan (Comment 69) :
Let’s hope so, We should be MORE than good enough to overcome a reffing error or two IF there is one.
If this game is close enough for a slip by the ref to cost us the game then we don’t deserve to win.
Arrogant? maybe.
Realistic? Definitely
when Roos or Fortuin blow a game there is seldom any continuity, they are just too pedantic and self-important…the matches are to a large degree usually spoiled.