The first semi-final this Saturday sees the Sharks host the Cheetahs in a second versus thrid battle for a spot in the final next weekend. This is a replay of the 2009 semi-final that the Sharks went into as favourites and managed to somehow lose.
The Sharks team sees the return to the starting line-up for the full Springbok front row, with Beast, Bissie and Jannie ready to face off against the Coenie-less Cheetahs front row. Patrick Lambie will continue as the last line of defence while Fred Michalak continues his magic from the 10 position.
The Cheetahs welcome back both Johan Goosen and Boom Prinsloo to the starting line-up, with the Goosen vs Fred battle the most lip smacking of them all. Both flyhalves have been in amazing kicking form this season, with the youngster having the upper hand in the distance department.
This should be a cracking game, especially with the weather hilding up and Kings Park hopefully seeing a bigger crowd.
Sharks: 15 Patrick Lambie, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Stefan Terblanché, 12 Marius Joubert, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Conrad Hoffmann, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Keegan Daniel (captain), 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Jean Deysel/ Anton Bresler, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Eugene van Staden, 18 Marcell Coetzee, 19 Jacques Botes, 20 Ross Cronjé, 21 Adrian Jacobs, 22 Lwazi Mvovo.
Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Ryno Benjamin, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Cameron Jacobs, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Boom Prinsloo, 7 Ashley Johnson, 6 Pieter Labuschagne, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Philip van der Walt, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Marcel van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Johan Wessels, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Nico Scheepers.
Date: Saturday, October 22
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 14.30 (12.30 GMT)
Expected weather: Partly cloudy but no rain expected. Max 31° C Min 18° C, 20kph North Easterly wind
Referee: Marius Jonker
Assistant referees: Lesego Legoete, Marc van Zyl
TMO: JC Fortuin
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GO SHARKS !!!!!
Okay now let me get the bitch out the way.
It looks like they have cut the grass at angles across the field. It didn’t work last time, and it won’t work this time.
you can’t judge ANY angles at all.
GO SHARKS. WHOOP WHOOP
@juba_fan (Comment 3) :
Thank you Dr Zoidberg
Good luck Sharks
@KSA Shark © (Comment 2) :
Man. It is hot here today.
BLACK! WHITE! DYNAMITE! GO SHARKS
Right. Just got back from a laboured leg session at gym followed by a swim. Feeling good.
Got my two wors rolls at hand and ready for a good thrashing by the Sharks. 
@beet (Comment 6) : woohoo! come on Sharks
GO GO SHARKS!!!!
34C
Load shedding or something worse has reared its ugly head
RSG and SW will have to make due.
Go Sharks!!!!!!!!!!!
Heeeeeeeereeeee we goooooooooooooooo!!
Sharks have a scrum in the middle of the field, about 10m in Cheetahs territory.
@JarsonX (Comment 11) : that sucks
Sharks early engagement.
GO SHARKS!!!
With Mvovo out there are no weakneses on defense in the Sharks backline…Cheatahs will have to play well to break it…
However Goosen is a Q Cooper with a lot of skill…so will be interesting…
Thus far nothing in it…
@Hmmm (Comment 18) : You’re STILL going to lose today.
Daniel being stupid on Goosen after the whistle…that crap could cost the semi-final…
Penalty Sharks. Cheetahs offside. It’s on the 22, bang in front.
Lekke punte om te kom !!!!!
SuperPat hooks a sitter.
Very poor kick by Lambie
@Franshark (Comment 23) : Nee wat…
@klempie (Comment 20) : agaist WP…will be VERY surprised if we do…
@Hmmm (Comment 27) : Goed so. Ek verwag later snot en trane van jou af.
Goosen not looking all that good today…
Big occasion first game back…
Aaaaaaaaaaah!!! Patrick
@klempie (Comment 28) :
Cheetahs into Sharks 22 for the first time.
@klempie (Comment 28) : I can take it like a man…as a VERY loyal Lion who has lost plenty games…
Don’t think today is gonna be one of those though…
Joubert penalised for a high tackle on Daniller. Goosen setting up about 25m out,8m from left hand touch.
Over.
Sharks 0 – 3 Cheetahs
14 mins
It sounds like its all Cheetahs at this stage
Cheetahs backline looking dangerous…
Cheetahs get first score with Goosen penalty who now has 31 out of 32 career kicks…
@Hmmm (Comment 33) : I can take it like a man…as a VERY loyal Lion who has lost plenty games…
En daarom het ons baie respek vir jou ou swaer.
Fredie to equal the score…
Poor rugby from the Sharks so far – need more patience on attack and less fancy stuff. Build phases with structure, use the big runners to draw attackers, and then go away.
Michalak misses another easy penalty.
@JarsonX (Comment 35) : would not say that at all, kicking poor
Fredie’s kick as bad as Lambie’s just the other side of the poles…
Ai
Beast penalised for slapping Johnson.
There must be something very wrong with Shark rugby, the stadium is 1/2 empty. FFS it is a semi final.
that was stupid beast!!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 1) : We will walk home so you don’t have to miss the end of the game x
Goosen puts one over from halfway in front
Sharks 0 – 6 Cheetahs
18 mins
Cheetahs blown for knock-on the Tendai slaps someone and Cheetahs get the penalty…
Goosen going for poles about 55/6 on angle…
Slotted…
Cheetahs 6 – 0 Sharks
Cheetahs putting in big tackles…
Even big hits on Alberts and Bissie
Cheetahs hands letting them down and Sharks discipline letting them down…
Fuck Deysel.
Sharks finally string a few phases together and Deysel dives over the ruck.
this is poor stuff by some shark idividuals, cheethas looking more composed
Sharks making really stupid decisions.
PATHETIC!!
Cheetahs tackling the poop out of the Sharks on their tryline…
Well done Sharks
TRYYYYYYYYY VRYSTAAAAAAAAT!
Daniller try.
And converted.
Sharks 0 – 13 Cheetahs
24 mins
Try Cheetahs…
Converted by the guy who got the initial break…
Cheetahs 13 – 0 Sharks
Goosen is SA next flyhalf
Goodnight Sharks!
What the hell!!! How bad have the Sharks been on defense!!!
Well, and at kicking and attack too…
Goosen finding his form as the game goes on after a shakey start…
The winner here will probably host the final, I’m a Lions but can’t see them beating WP
Penalty Sharks for a scrum infringement.
Frederick has another opportunity to miss a sitter.
Any Shark brave enough to take this kick?
come on mich
And he doesn’t disappoint.
`
Sharks 0 – 13 Cheetahs
what the hell
What the hell Freddie??????
How the hell did Frenchie miss that?
Another crappy kick from Fredie…
Lambie and Fredie just kicked the 3 worst consecutive kicks from in front of the posts I have ever seen…
Turning into a nightmare…
I guess this will be a kick for the corner… if they cant get it from in front, there no point trying from there.
Going for the lineout interesting
And the frog lasts all of 28 minutes
Sharks penalty for hands in the ruck. They choose to take a lineout in what usually would be considered a kickable penalty.
Lambie in his best position now
COME ON!!!!
Sharks have a 5m lineout.
the sharks are playing super k@k, dit lyk of hulle betaal word om te verloor
They set up the maul. Bis has it at the back.
JP over but held up…
The maul collapses, JP gets it and falls over the line but he’s held up.
Sharks 5m scrum.
Great defense from Robert E
5 m scrum sharks?
Sharks are really giving it to the Sharks come scrum time so this could be a pushover try if they work it right…
ag no man, all my fl players leaving the field
If the sharks dont score here… its going to be a long long game and a long wait till next year.
Now what?
Alberts being TMO’d.
Freddie off? Mvovo on?
Alberts ripping ball from Kanko…I think he scored it…going upstairs though
On replay it’s a clear knock by Alberts…
Looks that way… another blown chance
Knock on.
Cheetahs 5 meters def scrum…
Sharks absolutely have to put points on before the half!!!
No Gavin Cowley. It’s NOT called “the bounce of the ball” in cricket.
Commentators saying Cheetahs have bounce of ball…I don’t agree…they making their tackles and making their kicks…that is the dif…
Cheetahs steal the ball on the ground.
Good defense Vrystaat
Odwa throwing a massive forward pass and then still surprised at the ref…
Ha-Ha-Ha
Damn, lost my feed.
and is this gonna be over?
Sharks attempting 4th PG…
Lambie taking it…
As Aus proved against SA, takes more than scrum dominance to win a game. Sharks need to sort themselves out
better, lets hope this lifts the team
Pen slotted…
Sharks 3 – 13 Cheetahs 37 min
Thunder showers is eminent. The Sharks managed to get points on the board
Finally the Sharks get on the board
good run by kanko
Oh crap, 3 more to vrystaat on the half. Down 13 is a bad bad way to end a first half.
ST with a shoulder charge at the ruck.
Goosen from the halfway line, 15m from left hand touch.
geewiz man
Missed.
Is the tide turning????
Anyone know the possession and territory stats? I get the feel this is a mirror of the WC quarterfinal game..
Stef penalised for shoulder charge trying to take Goosen out the game…
52 meters penalty kick…
Enough distance but shaved the upright to miss for the 2nd time ever in his CC career..
Wow, so only 10 points down then. Should be a single pointer after 3 easy sharks misses.
this was a very fustrating half
@Mutley (Comment 120) : Thats optimism for you.
HT Sharks 3 – 13 Cheetahs
Halftime
Cheetahs 13
Sharks 3
Goosen misses DG afer times up…
Final pplay for 1st half…
Hope Beast gives Plum a good smack.
The Sharks have to score right after the break if they want to host the final
Common Sharks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the back line has no creativity as expected. The sooner adi comes on the better. Sharks have no game plan here, u can tell that bcos the scrumhalf is taking too long to get the ball out, he doesnt know what to do.
The Sharks are going some good things out there to put FS under pressure. We just need to finish off these moves in this half.
We can still win this one.
Come on Sharks!!!
What on earth is wrong with the Sharks kicking?
The Cheetahs are looking hungrier for the win, I wonder if their forward advantage created a bit of complacency in the Sharks before the game started.
The Sharks just have to keep in touch with the Cheetahs, they always concede points in the last 10min, just score after halftime and they are in for it
@beet (Comment 133) : “The Sharks are going some good things out there to put FS under pressure.”
Are you watching a re-run perhaps?
enuf fooling around boys.time to play some rugby
Sharks come back gonna happen, watch this space..
not looking good so far, but also not time to panic…. we’ve seen that we have them in the forwards if we keep it tight, so why not play that game? Flinging the ball around just plays to their strength, not ours
@klempie (Comment 136) : He means they are lulling the FS into a false sense of security by missing kicks and dropping the ball over the line. Also dont forget the shoulder charge from Stef on Goosen. Since that time he has missed his second career kick and a drop goal.
sharks to come out guns blasing in the second half
So frustrated! All this way for this!
where are our Sharks?
GO SHARS.WE BELIEVE
And the last 40 of the season for 1 team starts
this is it
ok not yet, first a knockon
ok here we go now
Sharks penalty. Mvovo held back by Benjamin after a chip through.
Sharks go for the lineout.
Sharks have a maul going.
line out time
Would never have been a try…Mvovo not fast enough and it was a poor kick by Mvovo…
This is much better for Sharks
TRY!!!!
yes boytjies
And the Sharks are over via The Beast
Where??
Get the kick!! Then only a 3 pointer!!
The tide is turning
good stuff lambi
Beast crashes over with support from Joubert after a few phases off the lineout.
Lambie caresses it through.
Sharks 10 – 13 Cheetahs
45 mins
Sharks try and converted..m
Sharks 10 – 13 45 min
Come on now. More of that!!
bad bounce, no worries
Unlucky.
Sharks trying to spread the ball, but at the wrong times.
yea baby
Strauss throws in skew and the Sharks have a scrum in Cheetahs territory.
Cheetahs making basic errors…not in straight in lineout…
BIg open side.. look for a loosie to break.
Or sharks to milk a scrum penalty
the sharks, not doing well at breake down…..
Deysel!! Again!!
Deysel conceding his 3rd/4th break down penalty…
Cheetahs set pieces not firing
Lucky break at the lineout
Sharks have 86% possession in second half.
Adrian Strauss giving away ball again…
Sharks at the line!
Keep it tight!
ODD ONE!!!!
Finally the Sharks are starting to gel!!
And the Sharks get their second
oh yeaaaaaa
YES!!!!!!
But can we get the kick?
Good patience shown by the Sharks their after they got to the line on a number of occasions.
SuperPat converts.
Sharks 17 – 13 Cheetahs
54 mins
Sharks try awarded in spite of a ruck time knock…
Converted
Sharks 17 – 13 Cheetahs
Yes the momentum has shifted
no fantasy tries yet but who cares GO SHARKS
Sharks need to get this beyond a one score game.
Marius Jonker: “You’re talking too much. That’s why you’re breathing so heavily.”
Pressure getting to the Cheetahs
nog ene
Make it a 7 pointer for goodness sakes!
Sharks penalty. Nel not rolling away. Lambie from from 25m.
Another penalty goal opp for Lamie…
Missed…
ai jai jai
Lambie misses his second
Slides past the left hand post.
Eish hope these misses dont come back to haunt them
Cheetahs have had to make 3 times as many tackles as the Sharks
how many penalty s at breake down is that now… comon
Cheetahs lose another lineout
@Franshark (Comment 200) : Too many! Sharks lack of a fetcher really hurts them there.
Hofmann gives the Cheetahs 60 metres by kicking it over the dead ball line.
Sharks kicking out of hand poor…
Cheetahs lineout poor…
even if that ball did not go dead what was the purpose of that kick
Cheetahs have a 6m lineout.
Good play Cheetahs
Time to show some defense.
the cheetahs actualy slowing the game down
After a flurry of action, the Cheetahs lose it forward.
Pressure getting to the Cheetahs poor play on their own line out
@Mutley (Comment 207) : agree, giving the ball back to the sharks
Sharks need to put this ball far downfield and build an attack again.
Battery dead…will catch you guys later…
Cheetahs have a 5m lienout.
Sharks lucky to get away with that
Shouldnt that be a scrum?
Sharks turn it over.
sharks under presure. …
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 217) : Was ruled Hofmann hand into touch.
That was way to tight. Sharks still looking a bit suspect on defense. Need to tighten up
Lambie much better at FH than at FB
Haha. There’s no way that wasn’t a knock on by Odwa.
good clearense by lambi, love him @ 10
@klempie (Comment 220) : Oh right. My live feed is so stop start, Im getting about every 20th second of play as a freeze frame.
Adi replaces Joubert.
13min to go…. com- on SHARKS!!!!
Still, a 4 point lead is worrying. Sharks need some more points on the board to avoid a tragedy.
we need 2 get more than 7 ahead!
Are the Sharks going to grind out a victory or will the Cheetahs do one of their famous rise from the ashes win
@klempie (Comment 226) : improofment…..
Big scrum needed.
Crap!!
@Mutley (Comment 230) : Given the score atm, I’d say the latter.
I can’t believe it the Cheetahs won a line out
Heart in my throat as Odwa passes to Mvovo in our 22 under pressure. Luckily no harm done.
van Staden on from Jannie
that was so cloes by kanko
Penalty advantage right? This is too tight
Benjamin scragged inside his 22
Get the ball!!!
Sharks have it in the Cheetahs 22
Penalty advantage bang in front.
Get some points now!! Lets seal this game off
Sharks within 5!
@klempie (Comment 243) : We want the try
Going back for the penalty.
lambi to get us 7 points ahead…
we need this 3 points!
@klempie (Comment 247) : Pity, but will make it a 7 point lead… if he gets it. A try would have ended this game.
Lambie makes it a 7 point game
Sharks 20 – 13 Cheetahs
75 mins
Wheeeww…. tense last 6 mins
Hoffmans tactical kicking needs wotk
Daniller spills it in his 22.
@klempie (Comment 255) : Lucky break.
76 mins
Looks like its going to be a repeat of last years final
Come on, end this in style!! Just 10 meters out
Sharks on the line!
Johnson steals the ball but van der Walt spills it in their 22.
77 mins
Botes on for Skeate
100 caps in CC for Botes
@klempie (Comment 260) : How did sharks not score!!
Johnson drives Daniel 15m back.
78 mins
Van staaden hasnt had a great cameo so far
Just keep the damn ball!
Pro feels he hasn’t had the chance to screw the game up yet. So calls Botes for a shoulder charge.
Cheetahs have a lineout in their own half.
Oh hell. Touch judge has seen something
79 mins
Sharks have a lineout deep in Cheetahs territory and that should seal it.
Can the Cheetahs draw it in the last minute or will the Sharks hold on
BAD CALL, AR just wanna get involved too
80 mins up.
The Sharks are in the Final
Slow this down. A win is a win. Dont give them the chance
FT Sharks 20 – 13 Cheetahs
20 unanswered points… not too shabby.
fuck yes!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 279) : Pity about the 13 unanswered points before that.
And all 10 000 people in the stadium erupt with apathy.
THATS THE WAY SHARKS!!!
Wooohooo!!!
On a side-note – I see that Semi-Pro still managed to get his ugly mug on tv again – innocuous challenge by Botes.
Sharks played very well second half although they were let off with 4 knocks and a skew through by Jonker..m
oh yea oh yea oh yea, GO SHARKS GO SHARKS!!!!!!!
@Hmmm (Comment 284) : ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ah
@Hmmm (Comment 284) : Which is fine given that the Cheetahs were let off with 3 missed penalties in the first half.
And PS. You’re STILL going to lose!
@klempie (Comment 287) : The Cheetahs missed 2 so almost quits there…
Keegan is MoM
@Hmmm (Comment 288) : Good luck with the game, boeta.
@Franshark (Comment 286) : and seconds after 1 of those kocks Odwa sacored
We had to wait almost to the end for Pro…
Great come back okes, but I am moeg ge-nerve!!!
Whoooooo-oooooo FINALS!!!!
Still early days, but I feel that my call for Goosen to move to 15 was reiterated by his performance today.
He disappeared on defence, was a poor kicking option both on defence and attack, and looked most comfortable in broken play.
@klempie (Comment 290) : thanks guy…you be near coke park to watch the final next week?
@Hmmm (Comment 294) : No. I’m driving down to Durbs for it.
@klempie (Comment 295) : ha-ha
Can they please stop making ad’s where Tendai has to talk…
@Hmmm (Comment 297) : Must be cool having Wahl Bartmann looking after your wardrobe though.
@Big Fish (Comment 293) : agree with you… in short, as a flyhalf, the lad was average. Not quite a shoe-in for the Boks yet
In my opinion (bar place kicking), don’t know if Goosen handled the “big” rugga well…
we have survived
@robdylan (Comment 299) : was he considered
@Ice Ice Bokkie (Comment 300) : cheetahs got another willem
@rekinek (Comment 303) :
We survived indeed!!!
@rekinek (Comment 302) : the blogosphere seems to think the oke is a shoe-in for Bok 10 NEXT YEAR
@robdylan (Comment 305) : I must be outside the blogosphere.
Well done Sharks.
I really thought we had it in us to win this one, even after the disappointing 1st half.
We seemed to have their number in the scrums and lineouts and in open play our set ups definitely didn’t look like some of the braindead stuff we’d seen earlier in the campaign.
There were a lot of unforced errors but once we got clinical in the red zone, we killed off their challenged.
The Cheetahs really didn’t have anything on us.
Goosen was still one of the better players on the field. Their is a good rugby brain ticking in this teenager.
@robdylan (Comment 305) : i am so out of touch
he had like one good game (against the sharks – and this is not always a benchmark 
You and the “blogosphere” are smoking. Goosen is nowhere near the running for a Bok call-up. He’s got zero superugby experience and IMO will have a much tougher second season. Look how quickly they brought Ebersohn on when he missed his kicks. The guy’s a one hit wonder.
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 309) : Shaz, again with all due respect – you seem to be “attacking” the wrong people here on SW….Rob merely said what was going on in the blogosphere – not that it was his opinion….?
Same with Lambie @ 10…no one doubts the kid. But we have to face facts…Fred is here and as long as he is, Lambs might see himself donning the 15 jersey….and I’ll rather have him wearing that, than no jersey for the Sharks at all! (face it – he brought another dimension when he was moved to 10, but if Fred was on the ball, he would have made a special contro @ 15 too, of that I am SURE!)
Not you or anyone else who would rather see him in 10 will change that. Do we doubt him at 10? No we dont. Simple as that.
@JarsonX (Comment 11) : 11 freaking hours without power. Only in SA
Well done Sharks!
Going to love the Jantjies vs Lambie FH battle next week, the Sharks with Lambie @10 played a much better game and I hope they keep him at 10
Well done Sharks!
yep