The Sharks were brought back down to earth on Friday night as Griquas beat them 43 – 22 in Kimberly, where the Sharks came undone in last year’s Currie Cup as well. Griquas scored 4 tries to 1 as they dominated the Sharks in the second half, even the Springbok replacements not able to stop them.
The match started in the opposite way to the Sharks’ start against the Cheetahs a week ago. After a good start in the possession stakes, the Sharks could not make it count as Marcell Coetzee was stopped centimeters short of the line. This was the only moment of excitement in the first 10 minutes.
When Rose and the Griquas backline finally did get some ball, they were on the attack after a lovely attack from Rose. This resulted in a penalty to Griquas after yet another scrum infringement, where Griquas decided to take the lineout. From the lineout, Keegan Daniel took the legs out from a player and was sent to the sin bin to rest for 10 minutes. This eventually resulted in a try for Ryno Barnes, falling over the line after the third attacking lineout.
From the kick off, Sbura Sithole did a great job chasing the ball and putting enough pressure to force the error, collected the ball and got a penalty, which Fred Michalak duly converted to get the Sharks on the board.
This didn’t stop a rampant Griquas team, who after building up 24 phases of constant attack, Hendrik Roodt shoved Mark Richards out the way to dot down the pou-blou’s second of the night. The fact that Keegan Daniel wasn’t on the field didn’t help matters as the Sharks were made to make plenty of tackles.
A fantastic break from Ludik almost culminated in a Sharks try, chipping and chasing only to be saved by Viljoen. Ludik was obstructed though, and the Sharks took the three points on offer to keep the score board ticking over. Minutes later the Sharks got another penalty at scrum time, this time opting for the 5m lineout, which ultimately resulted in Craig Burden scoring from the maul. Michalak’s boot converted from the sideline to cut the deficit to a mere 1 point with minutes to play in the first half. This was used to great effect by the Sharks to milk another penalty and take the lead at half time.
Griquas were first to score in the second half, a good try by Lourens Adriaanse after Michalak got himself stranded covering at the back. This got Plumtree to react by bringing Eugene van Staden, Charl McLeod and Pat Lambie onto the park. Lambie was immediately called upon to kick a penalty, which he stroked between the poles.
This lead to the two kickers exchanging penalties, with Vogt eventually stretching the lead to 11 points, before Captain Jonathan Mokuena scored the bonus point try, pretty much wrapping up the match as a contest.
The Sharks let themselves down by not doing the basics right, Stefan Terblanche somehow managing to not kick the 10m at kick off twice! The scrums went against the men in black in the second half, with Chadwick getting blown up at almost every set piece.
The Springboks that made their way onto the park had little impact as Griquas kept playing to their strengths, keeping ball in hand and taking the points through the impeccable boot of Rudi Vogt, who kicked 9 out of 9, scoring 23 points.
Scorers:
Sharks:
Tries: Craig Burden
Conversions: Fred Michalak (1)
Penalties: Fred Michalak (3) Pat Lambie (2)
Griquas:
Tries: Ryno Barnes, Hendrik Roodt, Lourens Adriaanse, Jonathan Mokuena
Conversions: Rudi Vogt (4)
Penalties: Rudi Vogt (5)
Griquas deserved the victory tonight. Well done to them!
Any idea what the pumas vs leopards score was??
@francoiswies (Comment 2) : Leopards won 27 – 15
Well done Griquas, they comprehensively outplayed the Sharks. Though it was disappointing to lose, I’m still willing to accept that in exchange for the exposure given to the youngsters. I thought that Sithole and Coetzee confirmed their credentials at this level. Couple of issues I hope will be highlighted during the Sharks post-match video analysis:
1: Griquas’ ball retention and protection was exemplary – learn from it
2: Ditto for the Griquas’ speed of recycling
3: Our centers. ‘Nuff said.
4: Bresler’s haircut. Dude, seriously
Well I don’t know bout pens against chadwick..?? Anyway,looked as if scrummie was putting ball in under his locks feet at some of those scrums..can remember one scrum where chadwick was def in the wrong,though.anyway,I’ve still been really impressed with him.
Kwasse was harassing as at the breakdown..don’t now if it was always legal though..?seemed liked they were playing our players off the ball a lot there,preventing them from getting across in cover defence work.that’s why I’m thinking we weren’t really keen on “the fight”for the win tonight.you need to let the other team now that you not going to be played off the ball..
Apart from the Griquas winning the breakdown contest, the wind was a big factor, so was the way the ref interpretted events on the field. Anyone no point being a sore loser. Well done to Griquas for taking full advantage of their chances.
Speaking of haircuts, I just figured out what happened to Kanko’s.
He gave it to Breytie. Serious mop on Mr Paulse’s head.
And we thought the Cheetahs were our bogey team.
@Charlie (Comment 3) : that means 76 losers on LMS already!
well done to griquas but a really poor performance by the sharks if it could even be cold a performance
The lessons of life are not learnt as much when coasting through the easy times as when fighting through the hard times. Lessons were learnt tonight and the team will ultimately be stronger for it.
Griquas win Leopards win my Superbru is in shambles 0/2. So the WP and Lions are must wins
If the Lions manage to win and the Bulls don’t get a point they will finish bottom on the log after the week
eish! just got back from work, not a good result
No Griquas team should EVER beat a Sharks team by 4 tries to 1. Extremely disappointing. Particularly as the Griquas beat the Sharks in Kimberley last year and it’s not like we would have underestimated them…
Why do we persist with Grandad Terblanche and Turnstile Bosman as a centre pair when they failed so dismally in the S15? Are we planning on trying anyone different before the S15 next year?
My doubts over Plumtree as head coach, following a few seasons of Super rugby disappointment, remain…
I warned about the midfield attack from the Kwaggas…
With our midfield we sadly need to “watch out” for every other team’s midfield, Leopard’s included.
@Rahul (Comment 10) : I am one
@Charlie (Comment 17) : yes u did
@Franshark (Comment 19) : ksa as well! Its a blood bath
Please don’t tell me the Sharks have a new boogey team???
@Charlie (Comment 3) : Oh great! A 0/2 start to my weekend on SuperBru, and now watch the All Blacks go stuff it up now and give me 0/3!!!
Well done Griquas on playing us off our feet and showing how valuable a decent midfield is. If this game didn’t show Straueli what a plonker he is for buying Meyer Bosman nothing will. The dude is useless even by Currie Cup standards.
Sorry for your loss guys . dam this season is up and down . dont know who to pick any more
kinda puts the Lions victory in Kimberly into perspective . you dont go there get a win handed to you on a platter .. i think teams like WP and Bulls will fall ..
now lets hope the Lions can keep this up !!!
Mind bottling
Play the ball not the ref yet he was shocking as penalty count shows it. Some very harsh decisions which ultimately broke the sharks stride. Its a mental thing and the kwagaas love to beat us at their graveyard. Cannot wait for return leg ….well done we got beat and thats what we need to knock out taking games easy.
I should`ve seen this coming. We lost this fixture last year as well.
Opportunity missed.