Good day, it has been 3 months since my last confession….
For some weird and unknown reason I am very worried about Saturday’s Game between the Sharks and the Lions – and I say this from a Sharks point of view, off course. And knowing the Achilles hill factor.
I am sure after reading that first paragraph, the majority on here is going “but WHY??”. On paper we look good or better, our stats are pretty much better…okay, not that THAT is something to write home about this season!
One team does not know where the try line is and the other does not know how to keep the opposition off theirs!
In 8 games played, the Sharks managed 12 tries, whilst the Cubs could not defend their territory successfully on 43 occasions. The Shark nets did not hold 18 times, with the Stormers not storming down 9 tries, the Saders 12 and the Brumbies was unsuccessful in defending their stables on 17 occasions.
What is a worrying factor is also that we (read SHARKIES) have only managed a maximum of 3 tries in a game and with the emphasis on “A” as in one game…
And, by the way, I know this all, because I can like to read a newspaper!
Fact: we need full marks for the next five games to be in contention for the semi’s. Ja-ja – I know…the ultimate optimist in me, but I cannot give up on them until I see proof that there is REALLY not a snowballs hope in hell!
I just wish I could shake this feeling… Please forgive me.
Untill my next confession….Sharks Forever!!
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Welcome back Ice….missed you here
Good to see you and TT back.
I’m always nervous about these derby’s but the Sharks have no place for complacency like they did last year against the Cheetah’s…Sharks by 20
Ice, Ice
has she disappeared again
@Pokkel (Comment 2) : me too.
i’m going to Ellis for this game in my new jersey. my last jersey was also first tested on S14 against lions and the Sharks won (but it was a messy affair, though truth be told the rain was just lashing out of the skies) .
Don’t worry. Ellis Park is happy hunting ground, like Shark Alley, only without the flat mountain in the background.
@rhineshark (Comment 5) :
and there is also a very good support there for the Sharks in the crowd, I think more than for the Lions really.
@rekinek (Comment 6) : Exactly
.
And we haven’t lost against the Lions/Cats at Ellis Park for 13 years.
Just like we have our bogey sides, the Lions’ bogey is playing the Sharks at Ellis Park.
I would have been a little restless had the game been in Durban. This weekend in Joburg? Nah.
@rhineshark (Comment 7) : ya. 2007 CC semi comes to mind
I didn’t realise that Sharks have such good stats at Ellis. I have been going there for the last 2 years and there is always more Sharks supporters, but Lions having been setting the world alight in recent years.
Actually even if you go to Loftus this days when Bulls play Sharks there is plenty of black jerseys. Plenty of Sharks fans in Gauteng (judging by car stickers).
Welcome back Ice. I hope you’re back for good!!
@rekinek (Comment 8) : That’s true.
A few seasons ago during a Currie Cup game at Loftus, when we beat the Bulls, the Bulls supporter I was with got annoyed, because of the number of people shouting Beeeaaast whenever Mtawarira touched the ball
@rekinek (Comment 3) : @wpw (Comment 9) : I think Ice just posted and left
Ice please to meet you
No, don’t worry Ice, this game is in the bag. The Lions won’t win against the Sharks this year.
@rekinek (Comment 4) : I wish I could go, I love watching the Sharks play at Ellis Park…it feels like our second home, and Ellis Park is a pretty cool stadium to be at on any given day.
editor
@lostfish (Comment 15) :
@lostfish (Comment 15) : please don’t confuse us – we already are
@Letgo (Comment 14) : that’s what I say. I like going to Ellis, but a lot of people moan about safety.
@rhineshark (Comment 10) : hehe – but sometimes you hear beast cries even abroad, I wonder whether locals do not join in on occassions.
@Pokkel (Comment 11) :
@rekinek (Comment 18) : Why, it seems safe enough for me.
On an entirely different note,…where would you play James O’Conner? It seems he doesn’t mind to play anywhere on the team, unlike our guys who whines about getting game time in one position, O’conner seems to be embracing it.
Was worried until i read the team sheet, am now quietly confident, our forwards are excellent our backs
and oupa at center seems to do ok, and Ruan, well we just have to wait and see.
Eish…my power is out and my PC can only hold so long on its external power…see ya.
After many years of watching all codes of the oval ball game (Union, League and Gridiron – I don’t count Aussie Rules because it is really just Hurling with a rugby ball), there seems to be one constant. Generally, when a weak defensive side, with a strong offense full of flair takes on a strong defensive side with a more dour offense, the strong defensive side comes out on top more often than not. The reason the Sharks only have scored 12 tries is that every team in the league tries to defend against them knowing they will have difficulty scoring themselves. Against the Lions it is all green lights, so no need to worry about defending against them. I mean seriously, how can one even count the tries the Lions scored after the Chiefs were ahead of them something like 300 million to 21. The Chiefs stopped playing defensively because they didn’t have to. This, to be honest has been the Lions MO this season, allow the opposition to get so far ahead they just stop playing and allow the Lions to score lots of cheap and easy tries.
@Letgo (Comment 21) : same here. Never had a problem, but I almost only go for Sharks games (went only twice for Lions). According to CSB if you go more often bigger chances to come across some elements.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 25) : can’t fault your argument. this is why in the past you often had these boring teams win.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 25) : That is very true and thats why I think the Bulls will struggle against the Stormers at the moment.
@rekinek (Comment 17) : @Letgo (Comment 16) :
It’s a throw back from my school days. I had an anal English teacher.
dont worry letgo ill enjoy the game at the coke tin on behalf of you
I see Dick have benched Queen dis-Spencer. interesting.
@sharks_lover (Comment 30) : Okay, then I’ll enjoy the Blues game on behalf you you next week
… 
@Letgo (Comment 32) : Right? We are playing the Blues next week!
@sharks_lover (Comment 30) : Enjoy it and shout as loud as you can. I’m happy as long as the Sharks out number the snoil.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 31) :
@Letgo (Comment 34) : i think we have good chances to do so. I actually feel for Snoil fans – they’ve been put through a lot last year and specially this.
It looks like theý’ve sold quite a bit of tickets – my usual seat was already taken
@rekinek (Comment 36) : Yeah, I do feel for them, the snoiL are due for a good season, but for some reason they just can’t produce.
I like Lions supporters, because they’re not cocky…they have nothing to be cocky about.
I did it backwards, I meant to write snoiL.
…I think that’s going to become a thing…even in the media. Whoever came up with it, well done, I like it.
@Letgo (Comment 39) : firethelooser did well that is where i saw it first
@Letgo (Comment 39) : @Chaz (Comment 40) : yip. FireTheLooser must be credited and we will be able to say that we blog with a famous author
@rekinek (Comment 41) : and don’t forget sheepish tjietas
@rekinek (Comment 41) : @rekinek (Comment 42) : yes he is good always comes up with strange names and pic
ice – not to worry. i have never watched a sharksgame that the sharks lost, and that includes one currie cup final and i`m sure u will remember a super 14 win against the bulls at loftus 2 years ago…. (a game we were losing with ten minutes to go… can still hear the ‘Ole ole ole’ after the game from the sharks fans – at loftus) – 3 tries in seven minutes! oh man, what a game!!
@VanWilder (Comment 44) : oh ja, and my point is, got my tickets in my wallet!!
@VanWilder (Comment 44) : well now that was a great game
my throat was so sore after that game coundn’t speek for a week had to make flight bookings with no voice 
great game my flag was hanging in the front of the yard on a flag pole right in front of me yard and its long as long as me house 
from the begining of the season and gee what good luck we had 
@VanWilder (Comment 45) :
well sleep tight
GO SHARKS GO 
and like always
eeeeaaaaahhhhhh
SSSSSHHHHHAAAARRRRKKKKKKKsss
@Pokkel (Comment 28) : It doesn’t make me happy to say this, but the Sharks are not a complete team. Since Plum has become coach, the Sharks have been a very defensively oriented team, primarily living off opposition mistakes. The Sharks have generally had difficulty setting up tries, and finishing it off, as I said, they have tended to score on the counter. The Bulls are a complete team right now, from the front all the way to the reserve bench. There are very few if any weaknesses in their team. They defend very well, their forwards can dominate a game, while their backs have enough attacking nous and flair to score well worked tries, as well as the ability to counter. I think anyone, including the Stormers will have a difficult time beating the Bulls this year.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 49) : and the defence is letting the Sharks down this year. Probably this is why they are struggling this year.
Interestingly Naas was just saying on B&A that the Sharks create much more opportunities to score than other teams but they are not finishing it off.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 49) : also as far as I remember there was a talk about Sharks inability to get BP for 4 tries in 2007 when both Muir and Campo were there.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 49) : In my opinion, the only way to beat the Bulls (assuming they Bulls are playing as well as they can) is to be very aggressive while defending. Never let them cross the gain line, always tackle them backwards, and commit players to the counter ruck. Mistakes and turnovers will happen and be quick to counter with players running intelligent support lines.
@rekinek (Comment 50) : The Sharks problem since Plum has been coach is not finishing off tries. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard that from any number of commentators.
@rekinek (Comment 51) : As I recall, it was early in the season, and the humid Durbs weather was blamed. The Sharks did improve their attacking play in the mid and later stages of the Super 14 in 2007 though.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 54) : Of course Muir did have an in form Waylon Murray, Brad Barritt, and Adi to cover the centres, not to mention Butch at 10.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 52) : after Blues win over Bulls the comments were, do not try to run around the Bulls, take them on. This is pretty much the way the Sharks won 2008 CC final.
@rekinek (Comment 56) : I believe that to beat the Bulls, one must win the individual battles at the point of contact first.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 57) : And then pray for a mistake or three.
@rekinek (Comment 56) : Fortunately that is Plum’s style, which is why I still hold out hope the Sharks will be able to beat the Bulls this year.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 52) :
100% Last weekend they got KILLED in the rucks because the Chiefs decided that they were going to have a go at counter rucking.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 60) : Evening KSA!
What about the sias Ebersohn coming to the sharks?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 60) : But what do I know? I only have 3 little bronze stars, nothing like your three big silver ones.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 61) :
Hey Howzit.
I am just popping in to get my FL teram finalised. Have had a loooooooong day and have to be up at 6am tomorrow for a splash and dash swim/run event over here.
And now the crusaders indicate that Carter may not be playing and he is my Fl Captain. i was hoping he’d be converting 15 tries for me against the cheetahs.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 54) : i don’t remember stats exactly, but sharks ended with only i think 42 points and didn’t loose too many games.
@morneL (Comment 62) :
If he is then it is a screw up. He is the wrong one. Robert would be cool Sias is not a patch on his brother.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 63) : The size of the star indicates the size of your mouth. I have a pretty darn BIG mouth.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 59) : i would like that
@Dancing Bear (Comment 54) :
@rekinek (Comment 65) :
Very useful site. http://www.pickandgo.info/ go to Super 14 and have a look around.
But I can tell you in 2007 we ended TOP with 45 points and we scored 5 BPs for tries. Those BPs were scored in Rnds 7, 10, 12, 13, 14. None in the early Humid part.
All info from the above site.
@rekinek (Comment 65) : Sharks ended the season on 45 points, with 5 bonus points from 10 wins. I don’t believe they got any bonus points from their three losses.
Night people. 23:33 already here.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 60) : the Chiefs still lost though
@morneL (Comment 62) : he is bit small, isn’t he? what position would he play ? FL?
@Dancing Bear (Comment 69) : Sharks were second best defensive team behind the Brumbies (points allowed) and were the third best offensive team behind the Bulls and Crusaders, and tied with the Blues on 355 points scored.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 68) : wow, gonna have a quick look
@Dancing Bear (Comment 69) : so from now on they need to score BPs every game plus they are 2 losses ahead of 2007 .
just had a look at this site that KSA recommended.
Last year after Round 9 the Sharks were first on the log
Crusaders who were the fourth team to get to semis were on 8th position with 22 points, which is 6 more than the Sharks have now.
@rekinek (Comment 75) : I think everyone agrees that the Sharks need to win with bonus points, the remainder of their games to have any hope of making the semis. In my opinion, too much emphasis is placed on getting the four try bonus. Perfect example is last year against the Bulls in the Super 14, ran and ran at them, and scored tries, but still lost. The key is to keep the pressure on even when in the lead.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 77) : the Sharks should have first secured the win quickly and then start running, but they only got 4try bonus points in 2 games that season. So no wonder that looked liked close to impossible and they were impatient. But it’s easy talk after the fact.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 70) : night night.
Should also run – want to get up in 6 hours.
cheers
Bottom line is that we will not make the semis this year even if we winn everything WITH BPs from here on out.
Our run for the semis is over, we need to concentrate on getting a top 6 /7 finish.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 80) : C’mon…you must have something in you that feels the Sharks still has a tiny little chance to make the semi’s.
@Letgo (Comment 81) :
Nope.
I’m not saying we won’t have a chance of winning all our remaining games, but I do believe we will STILL not make the semis even if we do.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 80) : according to your cool site in 2006 Bulls made 4th place with 5 losses and 38 points otherwise the lowest to get to semis was 41, which sharks can still make with 5 wins with bonus points. and I know I know I know depends on other teams.
so me thinks we need 2 clear leaders and the rest scratching.
@rekinek (Comment 83) : Leaders…Crusaders and Bulls…Scratching, well, the rest.
I’ll do another post with Logs of how our chances looks, but only if the Sharks gets a bonus point.
@Letgo (Comment 84) : yip. that’s kinda my thinking – no need for reds or whoever taking the points from bulls whom we are not going to catch anyway but we have better chance to catch the reds.
@rekinek (Comment 83) :
I just don’t think it will happen this season.
Super 14 points to make the semis have been as follows;
2006 38Pts Bulls (4th Bulls, 5th Sharks and 6th Brumbies all had 38 but Bulls had better PD)
2007 42Pts Blues (2nd Bulls, 3rd Crusaders, 4th Blues all ended on 42)
2008 41Pts Hurricanes (4th Hurricanes and 5th Stormers had 41Pts
2009 41Pts Crusaders (4th Crusaders and 5th Waratahs had 41Pts
@Letgo (Comment 38) : They were quite cocky at the beginning of the S14 but that soon went away.
@VanWilder (Comment 44) : I remember that game. That’s were the Bulls supporters had to learn how to put champange corks back in the bottle.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 49) : I’m not under the illusion that that Sharks are playing well by any means but I think our pack is really up there with the best at the moment. The Sharks back are probably among the worst in the competition at the moment attacking wise.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 49) : The Stormers ARE the one team that has been defending aggresively and tackeling people backwards. I believe a Stormers team on form will beat a Bulls team on form purely because off the reason you stated
BTW…if the Hurricanes and the Chiefs can win this weekend, it considerably increases the chances of a semi spot for the Sharks.
@Letgo (Comment 92) : i was thinking the same thing, but this causes me a bit of a dillemmaa I do not want to shout for chiefs against stormers
@Letgo (Comment 92) : and the Cheetah’s