For local fans, this will be the match of the weekend, the match between two teams vying for that top spot in the South African conference. The Sharks host the Stormers at Mr Price Kings Park in a very late game, drawing a curtain on the weekend action, with hopefully an entertaining match.
The Sharks welcome back Pat Lambie and have selected him at fullback for the first time this season, while Michalak continues in the pivot role. There is also a change in the midfield, where Tim Whitehead misses out on facing his old team, with Meyer Bosman starting instead. The match up I am most keen on seeing is in the front row, where the Stormers scrum has been in good form, and face up to a Springbok front row.
The Stormers have lost Joe Pietersen to injury, with Gio Aplon filling in as the last line of defence and Gerhard van den Heever coming onto the wing. The back three all have exceptional pace, and will look to run at the Sharks as much as they can. It will be interesting to see how Elstadt manages against the off form Willem Alberts, with the former just being able to upset the Bok flanker.
This will be an intense match, which could put the Sharks right in the mix in terms of the South African log, or can simply end a season that has been filled with a mixed bag of hope and disappointment.
Stormers: 15. Gio Aplon,14. Gerhard van den Heever,13. Juan de Jongh,12. Jean de Villiers (C),11. Bryan Habana,10. Peter Grant ,9. Dewaldt Duvenage ,8. Jebb Sinclair ,7. Rynhardt Elstadt ,6. Siya Kolisi ,5. Andries Bekker (VC),4. Eben Etzebeth ,3. Brok Harris,2. Tiaan Liebenberg ,1. Steven Kitshoff
Reserves:16. Deon Fourie ,17. Frans Malherbe ,18. De Kock Steenkamp ,19. Don Armand,20. Nick Fenton-Wells,21. Louis Schreuder,22. Burton Francis
Sharks: 15. Patrick Lambie , 14. JP Pietersen , 13. Paul Jordaan , 12. Meyer Bosman , 11. Lwazi Mvovo , 10. Frederic Michalak , 9. Charl McLeod , 8. Keegan Daniel (C) , 7. Willem Alberts , 6. Marcell Coetzee , 5. Anton Bresler , 4. Steven Sykes , 3. Jannie du Plessis , 2. Bismarck du Plessis , 1. Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements , 16. Craig Burden , 17. Wiehahn Herbst , 18. Pieter-Steph du Toit , 19. Ryan Kankowski , 20. Jacques Botes , 21. Odwa Ndungane , 22. Louis Ludik.
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant Ref 1:Lourens Van der Merwe
Assistant Ref 2:Reuben Roussouw
TMO : Johann Meuwesen
Go Sharks!!!
Bresler needs to upstage Etsebeth tonight. Mcloed needs to bring his A game and Mvovo must realy show up. Come on boys!!!
@KILLER SHARK (Comment 2) : I believe we are going to win. BUT Bresler upstage Etsebeth?????
The best for last…
GO SHARKS!!!
I back the Sharks to take this one….
Great to see Odwa on the bench….
@KILLER SHARK (Comment 4) : Optimism at its best. Bresler could grind Etsebeth into the ground this game and make him his bitch, and it wont change the fact that Etsebeth will be starting against the English and Bresler will be watching on tv. Etsebeth has had 11 world class games this super tournament. Bresler, not so much.
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 8) : Hahaha. Got to agree with your succinct roundup.
Go Sharkies!
kolisi out injured
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SHARKSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Game time! Sharkies!!!!!!
@sharks_lover (Comment 11) : Wow, at this rate every flank in Cape Town will have had a game for the Stormers. Last year they gave flyhalves a chance, this year its loose forwards.
Unfortunately won’t be able to watch the game so relying on you guys for updates
let’s hope my team performs
Go Sharks!!
http://www.firstrowsports.eu/watch/124450/1/watch-sharks-vs-stormers.html for anyone who wants…
I don’t see the Sharks winning much of their own ball…unless they worked out a few tricks…lol
Hmm 2 messy lineouts… could be a long night in that department.
Bizzy should work on his lineout game…but he might look great if he was throwing to Bekker and Elstadt and Etsabeth…
Great work Bismark
But now the sharks have to kick it out… and will they get it back?
@Hmmm (Comment 20) : Sharks up against the best line-out forward in SA and it’s showing I guess…
Oh hell penalty advantage.. offsides Mvovo
The Stormers backline just look like they have no idea what to do with ball in hand…which is not good considering 5 of the 7 playing now is in the Bokke squad…
Stooormeerrs
Stormers 3 – 0 Sharks
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 23) :
Well Bizzy has been struggling with that for some time now…
I did say I am not sure if it is him being off or the Sharks jumpers just not up to it…not an expert in that department….
Habana has been plying better rugby than he has for some years…
Good to see him on form…
Chance for Lambie to level up..
and does. 3 all
The Stormers doing most of the play….
Sharks to give 3 straight back
@Hmmm (Comment 28) : Well with respect to that department I have some experience and it could very well be Bissy’s throwing. Our locks are also shorter than the Stormers locks so they have a height advantage whick makes a helluva difference believe me. The lifters might not be getting the guys up high enough either or our tactics are just inferior to those of the Stormers and we are being read.
Stormers have all the possession and territory, but my goodness, they are making the 80s era Bulls look exciting in comparison
Strafskop
!!
As I say that the Sharks get a second wind…lol
Did he score??
5 for the sharks!!! Great decision by Macleod
10 – 6 Sharks
Beast!
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 34) :
So it could be various reasons…however you not just been struggling against he Stormers…so maybe it is a combination of all of the above…
If the lifters change a lot does that ad to the pressure?
That no 5 owes Tendai big time….wow what a grip keeping him up there….
@Hmmm (Comment 43) : Incredible strength. True Beast
Bresler owes Beast his life for that one. And that is why we call him the Beast!
@Hmmm (Comment 42) : At Super Rugby level it shouldn’t, because there the people know their basic ish. So I doubt its that but I mean with every aspect of rugby, if the same team plays together their synergy will get better and better as the guys begin to understand each other.
Fourie is having a big game at flank.
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 46) :
Well something they have to work on if they want to go all they way in the competition…
@Die Kriek (Comment 45) : He is a star!
Penalty Sharks. Chance to make it a 7 point lead… Stormers defense is solid, you have to give them that.
@Hmmm (Comment 48) : Yeah we need to get it right! But we’ve had a shaky lineout for a while now!
Sharks 13 – 6 Stormers
If the Sharks get a healthy lead they should win this one…
The Stormers backline are nowhere on attack….and have not shown ability to score tries…
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 50) : Best in the competition by far! Hasn’t won THEM a trophy as of yet though…
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 52) :
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 51) :
And you got some big guys at flank to give options…should not be the case…
@Hmmm (Comment 56) : I personally feel a lot of it lies in the coaching box… But there’s no way of proving that!
@Hmmm (Comment 53) : It’s way waaaay to early to begin opening the champagne bottle yet chum. Half time talks can have a big effect on a team!
The Sharks centre’s showing up the Stormers centre’s so far…
Thanks Pablo and co for the updates. I’m not able to watch the game so I do appreciate the commentary. could I pls ask for a little more live commentary and less debates about line out technique and whatnot …
Wow, Stormers are struggling with their lineout too. I didnt see that coming.
@CapeShark (Comment 60) : Stormers lose their own linout between Sharks 10 and halfway. Sharks scrum
Freddie kicks the ball out into the Stormers 22
Freddie havin a great game today.
@CapeShark (Comment 60) : We can’t help you fail to understand the intracacies of the lineout
Sharks hold up the maul, sharks scrum 20 meters out from stormers line
Sorry for my ignorance, but what has happened to ol’ Tim Whitehead?
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 65) : heh-heh, yeah it is pretty fascinating…
J-P loses the inside pass forward. Stormers scrum, same place
@JarsonX (Comment 64) : French flair
He had a good game against the Cheetahs as well and I see Morne Steyn rates Lambie as a fullback, not a flyhalf (in SA Rugby Mag), so maybe this is not a bad thing moving Lambie back to 15 and bringing Michalak in at 10.
Sharks demolish stormers scrum, drive over and get the scrum 15 meters out from stormers line.
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 61) : Is their a strong breeze on the field?
DANIEL !!!!!
Daniels try!!!!!
@CapeShark (Comment 68) : @Pablo Dinero (Comment 71) : Happy that you getting your on-field commentry now?
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 72) : Swirling… its not easy for kicking, but none have been missed so far.
Sharks 20 – 6 Stormers
Alberts is coming back to his storming self quickly.
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 70) :
Seems Plum made a good call….
Come on sharks, close out the half
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 75) : very happy, shot thanks
Macleod tried the box kick once too often
Sharks steal another lineout
Sharks give away penalty in Stormers 22..
Bresler through away a probable try there by ignoring the overlap.
Last lineout on halfway
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 76) : Yeah but there is another reason why the lineouts could be messy. Wind makes it a lil harder to keep your throws straight!
Stormers absolutely butcher a line movement. Halftime Sharks 20 – 6 Stormers
Sharks playing quite good this far.
Our lineout has been brilliant tonight!! Stealing 3(?) from what is likely going to be the Bok locks. Great for us, bad for the Bokke
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 88) : Seems like the Stormers are feeling the Currie Cup 2012 final wrath of the Sharks!!
@Big Fish (Comment 85) : Could have led to the try that put these guys away. We´ve been ahead 18-3 against the Stormers at half time before and lost. This score isn´t far off.
@Die Kriek (Comment 90) : They will pick their game up for the Bokke, right now though I don’t mind them doing badly! We (the Sharks) need it!
@JarsonX (Comment 89) : that’s what I like to hear! Sounds like the sharks are the hungrier team.
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 91) : Let´s hope and pray, dude! We can´t let the Chiefs´ win go unrewarded.
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 70) : Of course Steyn rates Lambie as a fullback. He is poep scared of the competition for the 10 jersey and he isn’t exactly going to say that Lambie is a better flyhalf than he is. Lambie is also a better 15 than a lot of the guys too.
@rhineshark (Comment 92) : I agree, 20-6 is not enough of a gap at all! The Sharks need to keep ticking the scoreboard up in the second half. 14 points is not nearly enough of a gap!
@rhineshark (Comment 95) : True that! Would be a waste
@lostfish (Comment 96) : Hahaha
true but I mean Steyn’s reasoning behind it was logical enough and they guy knows rugby having played at the Top Level, give him that, so we shall see 
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 97) : Game isnt over till the fat lady sings, and she is still on the field at 3 for the Stormers. We have been hard on the Sharks at times, but to give credit where its due, Sharks are playing very well against quality opposition.
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 97) : Except for against the Canes, I can´t remember us badly lsoing a second half this year, so hopefully we don´t go into ´defending the lead´ mode.
Well, the 2 tries ewe got in the first half are our first tries vs. Stormers since 2010, so we are doing very well I’ll say
@Die Kriek (Comment 102) : crazy stat. we were pretty abysmal last year against the stormers. How is Bosman playing? is he facing up to his nemesis jdv?
Mvovo!!!!!!
Very very close
Should be a try…
Try time!
MVOVOOOOOOOO!!!!
Would be a travesty if its not…
What the hell has happened lately! Was there a major ´forward skill brain implant´ in Durban?
I think I´m in shock.
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 100) : Now they just need to keep it up
Try!!!!
25 – 6 with conversion to come
@rhineshark (Comment 109) : hah-hah
@CapeShark (Comment 103) : Very much so, not seeing much of the ball, but the revolving door we saw last year seems to have been locked
Kick away, stays at 25 – 6
@Die Kriek (Comment 107) : One more and we got our BP
we’ll still sit at 6 though, coz the ‘Saders have a better PD 
Aweful kick off take by sharks, straight under pressure 10 meters out from sharks line
Stormers…. lose ball over the sharks line, but penalty advantage anyway
Back for penalty 5 out
Stormers opt for lineout
Stormers knock on. Excellent defense from Sharks
TBH the Stormers are not at their best. And to be more honest, who cares.
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 121) : Thats the kind of sequence of events that wins games
And Liebenberg butchers there best move yet
Lambie clears to between 22 and 10 meter
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 121) : doesn’t sound like they pitched up for the game, we can’t afford anymore of those silly restart mistakes.
Sharks snub stormers again, sharks 22 drop
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 120) : Absolute sign of defeat that, especially in the beginning of the second half when there’s still plenty of time left. Stormers might have well clapped at the Sharks defence.
Stormers move the ball back and forward and pass into touch on the sharks 10 meter
Odwa takes ball out of Aplons hands, sharks moving the ball over half way
Throwaway pass gifts Aplon a try
Aplon scores runaway try after sharks throw wayward pass on stormers 22. Bad error, give the stormers some hope.
Grant adds the 2
Hope that´s not Freddy´s turnaround in this game.
Stupid pass. Sharks didnt need to gift points, that should have stayed tight
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 132) : #£%&!!!
stupid mistakes!
Sharks lose the ball forward. Stormers scrum 20 m inside their own half
Sharks 25 – 13 Stormers
They just said on the radio that the Canadian may not play in the playoff stages…
Did not know that, wonder why?
Our scrums have been absolutely amazing, we are pushing them back almost every time!
Sharks scrum 15 meters outside their 22.
By their I mean the sharks 22
@Die Kriek (Comment 140) : Beast has made a HUGE difference.
Sounds like McLeod is kicking away possession again…
Sharks need to get a bonus point….they need to stay ahead of Highlanders…
Back and forward play again, and Freddie kicks out on the halfway
@rhineshark (Comment 143) : Been playing a Beast of a game!
Rain coming down…
We´re just in cruise mode. This doesn´t bode well.
Penalty Stormers… kickable, sharks need to stop bleeding points
Nope, stormers opt for lineout… and Ive lost my feed
Raining now…
Marcel Coetzee out and out deserved and deserving his call to the Bokke…
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 146) : why are we starting to go off the boil, I hate those silly errors that always let the team back into the game… if michalak is withering, get him off!
The Stormers will have to be better than they have been all year to come back from this….and they don’t look it…
However if they score from this 5 meter lineout they will only be 5/7 out…then it is anyones game…
Sharks defending on their line. Penalty Stormers. Another lineout 5 m out
Sharks push the maul out… sharks lineout 5 m from their own line
Shark’s defence facing its ultimate test right now… another Mvovo 80m try?
Sharks lose lineout… Stormers with ball 10 m out
@CapeShark (Comment 154) : M
My thoughts exactly.
The Sharks have to win for the sole reason that there are waay to many people I tuned before the match that are going to stick it in my face if we don’t…
and another penalty to Stormers. Keegan getting a talking to. Warning… could be a card for another negative play.
F@!# Sharks! Stop waiting for the hooter and play the game!!
We´re going in the wrong direction. Come on Sharks. WAKE UP FFS!!!!!!
Sharks are showing good aggression…should be enough to pull through….
Freddie straight through, loses pass, but stormers knock on. Scrum sharks on stormers 22
Better! Great break by Freddie
Penalty stormers 5 m inside their 22. Sharks hanging on
@Die Kriek (Comment 167) : And not a line of support runners one would expect.
Linout on Stormers 10 m. Stormers change both locks
Stormers move up to sharks 22 m, into final 10 mins
Freddie knocks on an attempted intercept. Scrum stormers 5 m from sharks 10 m line
Aplon straight through. Try stormers
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 173) : FFS! take the Frenchman off, he’s having his usual french meltdown…
anyones game again… sharks blowing it
ShiiiiiiT!!!!
Try Aplon…
Easy kick and it’s a 5 pointer…
VERY much forward that pass!!!!
WTF that was miles forward!
Sharks 25 – stormers 20, clear forward pass to Aplon for the try
Now the Sharks starting to make mistakes…
and lambie kicks the kickoff direct into touch
Sharks penalty on halfway… this needs to go over
Long kick in pouring rain…
Stormers score from a try where their TH is pretty much lying on the ground and the scoring pass is about 2m forward.
now we have to try and hold on for 5 mins. how did it come to this?
Kick no good
4 mins, sharks linout 5 m inside stormers half
I can’t watch…
We´re losing the second half BIG TIME.
Sharks looking to slow the game down and close out… very tight
Sharks need a 4th try for a bonus….
Would be nice if the Stormers get a losing bonus point too…but not enough time left for both….lol
Bissie loses ball forward, stormers scrum, 3 mins left, ball on stormers 10 m
JdV loses ball forward, scrum sharks on Stormers 10 m
Come on Sharkies! Keep it tight now! Another try would be a bonus, but please just keep it tight
@Big Fish (Comment 186) :
I have NO idea how none of the officials saw that…you did not even need to be in line to see that that was forward…
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 194) : We are just as likely to now lose his game as get a lucky 4th try.
90 secs to play, can sharks keep the ball for that time.
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 199) : Let’s hope!
Sharks peel gain 5 and another sharks scrum
30 secs left, sharks scrum
PLEASE!!!!
Was a good game….
Nice win Sharks…
Game over sharks win!!!!
And we have the win! Well played boytjies!!
Vrekkit….
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 205) : first half sounded sublime, second half sounded shambolic. we should have got 4 tries, regrettably.
Bresler made Etzebeth his puppy. Just saying.
@CapeShark (Comment 208) : we just beat the log leaders… let’s celebrate and not nitpick
Sharks move ahead of Highlanders and Canes….
WHAT a turnaround Sharks….impressed
we just can never finish a game off in style. I just hope this victory is not enough to save plum. What a bittersweet victory.
@robdylan (Comment 210) : I know, just saying.
always happy with a win, payback for last year.
Not even Jaco Peyper could save the Stormers!!
Great stuff!!
Would have loved more bonus points for both teams…
relax guys there is no turnaround. We normally play 2 good games a year which means the bulls are next but after that its the same old!
@robdylan (Comment 209) : Indeed he did, but as I pointed out in comment 8…
@robdylan (Comment 209) :
So true!! 
Has Keegan been watching Super Rugby….he just said the Lions are a formidable team?????
I am most probably the most die-heart Lions fan…but that must be the most inaccurate description of my team I have ever heard…
But I am so desperate for a win…and since the Sharks are ahead fo the Highlanders and Crusaders and they playing each other next week…I am backing the Lions ALL THE WAY…but I know I am VERY VERY wishful….or call it by its name…desperate….lol
@robdylan (Comment 209) : will have to watch the highlights. bit worried about michalak having 3 games at flyhalf. don’t trust that continental temperement. would prefer the lamb at 10 any day.
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 218) :
Yes but you are only as good as your last game. Meyer as got to see that there are now several more option. I believe Bresler might get a call up as well 
I AM HAPPY TO SAY: ” I TOLD YOU SO”!!!! Awsome awsome Sharks!!
Always love hearing the Vic accent…never gets old….lol
@cody007 (Comment 217) : Dude, 4 consecutive wins, the last against the top team on the log… I would need to check the stats, but I think the sharks have won more games in the last 4 weeks than the Lions have won in the last 4 years
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 225) : never mind that dude, he sounds a little glum.
@Hmmm (Comment 220) : Keegan has learned that it’s better to say something nice. One of those “life lesson” things…
@CapeShark (Comment 226) : So how was my commentary? Stransky move over, Im on it
Let me give credit where it is due. Well done Plum and co!
@robdylan (Comment 227) : Yip and our discipline was outstanding!!
@Ben (Comment 229) : YES!! Well done plum and Co!!! Congrats!
@cody007 (Comment 212) : you’re being a chop… go away and pick another occasion to sow bitterness and discontent because after the boys dug deep like that for THEIR fans, they deserve better than what you are giving them.
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 228) : just gotta say thanks, awesome job. this is definitely the place for live updates
HOw does PYPer get away with this cheating everytime he whistles a Sharks match?? the man has no conscience
DISGRACEFUL, funny first half i was saying damn he has changed and is blowing pretty fair bar one or 2 things
then is was all just for the stormers 2nd half
@robdylan (Comment 227) :
So it is an outright lie?
@sharks_lover (Comment 234) : penalties again 11-8 against. He let the Stormers literally dive into the ruck however they wanted all night.
@sharks_lover (Comment 234) : that seems to be the general consensus on other sites too. plenty of neutral supporters saying that Peyper was doing his utmost to bring the shwarmers back into it. maybe some refs just love a thrilling finale! har-har.
@robdylan (Comment 227) : That and the fact that the Lions sometimes come from effing no-where and stuff things up…mostly because they have nothing to lose.
GUYS – I am super STOKED!! Our scrums made the Stormers their biatch!!! Monsieur LeFrog had a blinder, Marcell was utter SUPERB! Bresler is getting more awsome by the day – all in all, Our boykies did us proud… And Keegan was out of this world!
I hope this undeserved bonuspoint for the Stormers, don’t come back to bite us.
@Hmmm (Comment 235) : it’s called being diplomatic – I guess you were smoking behind the bikeshed during Guidance lessons
@Ice (Comment 238) : it’s a problem hey… because remember if we finish level on points with them, they’ll always go through ahead of us because of more wins. We really did need to prevent them getting a point… so that was sad.
Great victory!
Big ups to the Stormers – they never gave up and shouldn’t be disheartened.
But for us – awesome gameplan and execution – coaching team planned well and the boys implemented well.
Top of the SA log is not unthinkable anymore.
@robdylan (Comment 239) : WAPA!
@robdylan (Comment 240) :
Just for a laugh: tell me again how Chadwick is a better scrummager than Beast.
@Big Fish (Comment 241) : like I said to Ice, I’d be feeling better about that if we’d got 5 tonight (or the Drips had got 0).
We need a Bulls win by 8 points next week, but without a bonus for them.
What happened in the beginning of the season..I don’t know this sharks team..every week they suprise us all..bonus point wins..team work..strong scrumming..playing as a unit..
Good win today..the stormers were gifted both tries..they will never be super champs as they haven’t learnt to come back from behind..
@Big Fish (Comment 243) : haha… no he isn’t.
Stormers scrum killed us last time out. Then again, Toetie has played those three poor props into the ground. I reckon my gran could outscrum them now.
@robdylan (Comment 240) : its out of our hands now… because the ref let it go forward out of their hands… we’ll just have to barnstorm two more bonus victories and hope!
@robdylan (Comment 240) : How?? With refs and AR’s that wears spectacles? LOL
@Big Fish (Comment 241) : my calcs must be wrong then, but can’t see us topping except if Cheetahs beat Bulls at Loftus?
@catfish (Comment 249) :
A draw for them with the Stormers would help next week, plus we have a bye (with 4 points) in hand.
@Big Fish (Comment 241) : … But we have a bye and 4pts still coming?!!! Whoaaa! Go Sharkies!
@sharks_lover (Comment 234) : He stuffed up big time with the missed forward pass.
Call him incompetent, useless, blind, etc. BUT DON’T MAKE ACCUSATIONS OF CHEATING UNLESS YOU CAN SUBSTANTIATE THEM!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 252) : agree, and the fact that he has 2 assistante referees that should see it…but we have seen the lack of commitment from AR’s when it mattered SO much in this tournament so far. I can still forgive a ref…but TWO assistants being blind…?
@Ice (Comment 253) : maybe Rasta is their mentor?
Well played Sharks
7 from 7 with 6 margin points and the Grandslam point aint bad at all
Jarson, I would have been in that position had that Brumbies final kick gone over.
Congrats.
@Ice (Comment 253) : Spot on Icey…I actually thought Peyper did a fairly good job. He should have picked up the forward pass but the TJ’s/AR’s are more guilty in this respect as it’s easier for them to pick this up.