The first Friday night game in South Africa in a while, The Sharks host the Bulls in Durban, where the Sharks are fighting for a place in the playoffs while the Bulls could end that dream with a victory away from home, bolstering their position in the top half of the log.
The Sharks, after a somewhat surprising loss to the Lions before the break, are fighting for a very slim chance of playing in the playoffs, and with certain results not going their way, and now a host of injury concerns, have their backs against the wall before even taking the field. To have any chance of playing further than the regular season, the Sharks require 5 points from tonight’s match, and that is a non-negotiable.
The Bulls are sitting pretty in the playoff zone, as it stands before the start of this round, they are in fourth spot and will have a home ‘quarter-final’ before going into semi-final weekend. A win for them will keep them in that spot, and will prevent them from having to tour for their first playoff match.
Sharks: 1. Tendai Mtawarira , 2. Bismarck du Plessis , 3. Jannie du Plessis , 4. Anton Bresler , 5. Pieter-Steph du Toit , 6. Keegan Daniel (Captain) , 7. Marcell Coetzee , 8. Ryan Kankowski , 9. Charl McLeod , 10. Frederic Michalak , 11. Lwazi Mvovo , 12. Francois Steyn , 13. Tim Whitehead , 14. JP Pietersen , 15. Louis Ludik
Replacements , 16. Craig Burden , 17. Wiehahn Herbst , 18. Jandre Marais , 19. Jean Deysel , 20. Cobus Reinach , 21. Meyer Bosman , 22. Odwa Ndungane
Bulls: Zane Kirchner, Akona Ndungane, JJ Engelbrecht, Wynand Olivier, Bjorn Basson, Morne Steyn, Francois Hougaard, Pierre Spies (captain), Jacques Potgieter, Dewald Potgieter, Juandre Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Werner Kruger, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Dean Greyling.
Replacements: Willie Wepener, Frik Kirsten, Wilhelm Steenkamp, CJ Stander, Jano Vermaak, Louis Fouche, Francois Venter.
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant Ref 1:Marius Jonker
Assistant Ref 2:Tiaan Jonker
TMO : Shaun Veldsman
This is it boys (and gals).
Time for the nay-sayers to go hide under their beds and pray for mercy.
Need we be reminded where this long and bitter rivalry first started, have we already forgotten that dark afternoon in Durban on that fateful day…can we really call ourselves Sharks supporters whilst hoping for our demise against the old enemy?
Remember the pain (that’s a statement, not a question – as in go back into your memory banks and dwell on it): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5S7XopFL5g
Now tell me you wanna see the Sharks lose yet another all important game to these vermin
P.S. – I hope I am allowed to post inspirational videos
Go Sharks!!!
Not going to be at home so I’m watching this game on my Walka. It’ll have to do.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 1) : That’s NOT cool! That game is a very touchy subject on this site!
@Ben (Comment 4) : What game is that? Dont watch youtube on my phone
@Die Kriek (Comment 5) : 2007 Super 14 final.
@Ben (Comment 4) : It’s the shock factor – getting everyone back on board with this team and why we are here.
Have to shock the negativity out of the fair-weather supporter, even Mega is feeling sorry for us – we have gone too far
GOOOO SHARRRKKKSSSS!!!
YOU CAN DO THIS!!! YES, YOU CAN!!!
Goooo sharks!!!!! Come on boys u can do it!!
Come on guys, play that game that we’ve been waiting for the whole season! I would love Fransie to run over/around Meisiekind a couple of times! Sharks FOREVER!!!!!
This is it, time to redeem ourselves!
come on Sharks! Let’s GOOOOO
Hallo Everybody !!! Hoping for some entertaining rugby on a wet Friday Evening in Cape Town !!! GO SHARKS !!!
@Charlie (Comment 13) : howsit masekind! Haven’t seen you in ages!
@Charlie (Comment 13) : How have you been?!
It seems Morne Steyn has a black eye already and Frans isn`t even on the field yet . . .
I’m soooooo nervous…..
@Original Pierre (Comment 15) : haha
@ Rob…you make feel very old now !
@ Pierre… I am good, still going strong !!!
Sushi or Pink Cows, who is going to win it?
the bulls have won the last 3 super rugby games in Durban
@Mutley (Comment 19) : neither…. THE SHARKS!!!!!!
jinne, I’m nervous okes
ooooohhhhh
Sharks running and Morne kicking is what I predict
I actually wanted to see Lambie v Steyn, at least I can see F Steyn v Barbie
@Mutley (Comment 25) :
Sharks scrum looks strong
First penalty, line out opted
Strong run Coetzee
two bulls in from the wrong side and the sharks gets penalized
That`s a missed opportunity . . .
Penalty for the Sharks, hands in by the bulls
First kickable penalty
Michelak misses
Fred PK miss
Sharks good in the set pieces so far
Du Toit looks full of running
psdt getting FLATTENED!
Kanko also looking good so far
Penalty and Mcloed takes a quick one
Bissie over
Bismark what power try
Great play by the Sharks…….
13min
Sharks 7
Bulls 0
Fred converts
Sharks 7 – 0 Bulls
13min
Sharks 7 – 0 Bulls after 13 min
Marcell is having a CRACKER so far!
Penalty for the bulls
Penalty M Steyn
Bulls 3
Sharks 7
16min
awesome work by Marcell so far!
Morne PK
Sharks 7 – 3 Bulls
15min
Sharks 7 – 3 Bulls after 15 min
Great break by Hougaard
Penalty for the Sharks, bulls opstruckting
F Steyn with a long kick
Sharks 10 – 3 Bulls
17min
F Steyn going for posts
Over
Sharks 10
Bulls 3
18min
Sharks 10 -3 Bulls after 18 min
Sharks look like they wanna play
20 min gone…… time for that 2nd try…..
no waaaaaaay that was legal…..
Great defence by the Sharks
I sense I big fight coming
TMO try Jp???
Just Give It!
JPP over…. TMO
Tryyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!
Best result would be Sharks winning with Sharks getting 5 bonus point and Bulls 2
Looks like a try to me and its awarded
Fred conversion over
Sharks 17 – 3 Bulls
25min
26min
Sharks 17
Bulls 3
Try converted
Sharks 15 – 3 Bulls after 25 min
The Sharks should score bonus point try in this half….
Sharks 17 – 3Bulls after 26 min
The Sharks back-3 looks a lot more steady and impressive when Ludik plays….
But if Lambie and JPP are there then only makes sense to be at the expense of Mvovo…
Sharks definitely looking the better side…Bulls not had much quality possession…
JPP tackled the poop out of Chilly….LoL
Freeeeeken awesome stuffffffff
Sharks def winning the breakdown…
Could be the dif in the game….
When do we see a yellow card for slowing down the ball on the ground I wonder . . .
PK Michelak
Sharks 20
Bulls 3
32min
Kanko showing Spies how to play rugby…….
Sharks should go for the lineout not at goal….agggggg
Freddie slots the penalty for Bulls infringement in the ruck…
Sharks 20 – 3 Bulls
Sharks 20 – 3 Bulls after 32 minutes
Bulls going for the line out
A sign of desperation???
@Franshark (Comment 79) :
Spies has not been half the Spies of the old days for some time….Kanko just has to show up to show Spies up….lol
But good for SA rugby if he playing better….
@Hmmm (Comment 83) :
@Mutley (Comment 82) :
But it is good….
I need a 4 try each game here….I want 3 SA sides in the playoff’s
Kanko a monster……. tonight
Bulls doing window shopping in the Mall…lose the ball but lucky for a Shark had in the middle that was ruled as a knock…
Bulls scrum about 5 out….
Tmo try for Akona??
Greeeaaaat Mvovo……
No try. Akona out
@Mutley (Comment 88) : Are you kidding that was almost over the add boards!
JJE showing great strength…creating space out wide but Akno failing to stretch and score….
Shark are gonna make me cry if they keep this up…….
Line out are great, scrums are awesome… driving good, breakdown good….
Sharks 5 meter scrum from the failed Akona attempted try…Sharks win it but almost lose it after Daniel makes some ground…
Sharks manage to retain and clear for touch about 5 outside their 22…
@Hmmm (Comment 92) : From my point of view Mvovo tackled him into row C !
@Original Pierre (Comment 96) :
Mvovo did well…but it was still not a good attempt….if you compare that to how JPP did….Mvovo hardly moved Akona sideways…but he still went into touch with a dragging leg….
JPP is angry today…he is going in hard with every tackle…
LOVE IT
geeeeeeeeez……. hold on boys
@Original Pierre (Comment 96) :
Piet Shark De Toit going off injured…. great game by him…..
JJE looks very strong….he showed tremendous pace last week against the Cheetahs…
Seems Heineke has an eye for talent….
That’s half time…..
Spies tries to palm off Coetsee of the base of the scrum..Coetzee drags him down and Spies knocks the ball…
Bulls will do themselves a favour to replace Spies…
Sharks 20 – 3 Bulls at half time.
Meisiekind looking a little dejected. Think someone hid his hair products?
not looking bad hey team?
Ef me George!! What high intensity!! Hope we can keep this up, will be a BREAKER!
Federer beat Djokovic to go into his 100th Wimbledon final…..lol
@Original Pierre (Comment 106) : Cause his hair is girly long again….lol
@Ice (Comment 108) :
Who is George?
@robdylan (Comment 107) :
Looking good…
Even your lineouts are better…..could Kanko be the dif?
@steve_hofmeyr: Kankowski nailing the BULLS singlehandedly, and then there’s the SHARKS too…
Kanko is really looking good, Coetzee and JP to, Hougaard looking good for the Bulls
@Hmmm (Comment 112) : Kanko is having a huge impact tonight
2nd half starts
Spies still has his pace
Geez Spies still has pace….he hauled in Tim Whitehead like Spies was the wing and Whitehead the prop…
Great defense Bulls
Sharks still maintain possession from the Tim breakaway run from turnover possession…
Getting close and almost over the line but great def by Bulls….
Daniels try
Yeeeeeeeessssssss
Sharks lose ball…Morne kicks but not out…Shaks spread ball around and great offload to Jannie to Frans who carries well….
Daniel try….
45min
Sharks 25
Bulls 3
Conversion missed
Freddie misses conversion…
Sharks 25 – 3 Bulls
Sharks 25 – 3 Bulls after 44 min
the lady’s on the side feeling all alone……
Jonker weighs in with a flag. Who could`ve predicted that?
Deliberate knock, ouch harsh call on Frans
Bulls going for line out but looses the ball
Bulls losing another lineout 5 meters out…Sharks get lifeline….
Another penalty to the Bulls and goes for the scrum
Bulls smack the ball back like 10/15 meters from the lineout after the Sharks clearance…
However a great run by JJE get them into the an attacking situation…
Sharks penalised in middle of field about 8 meters out….Bulls opt for scrum (I guess cause they hardly win a lineout)…
@Hmmm (Comment 111) : hahaha!
Try Krusty
Bulls move the ball left nad then alllllllll the way right for Kirshner to score…
Comon Sharks don’t let this goooooo!!!!!
52 min
Bulls 10
Sharks 25
Conversions over
Morne converts…
Sharks 25 – 10 Bulls
30 min one try Sharks,,,,,,,,,,
Sharks 25 – 10 Bulls after 51 min
@robdylan (Comment 115) :
He is….general play and lineout….
Another kick to far by F Steyn
60 meter PK for F Steyn…..
short
Another PK attempt by Frans but short
Frans misses just under 60 meter PK after Bulls get penalised at the scrum the won from a Frans punt that went to far…
Bulls steals a line out from the Sharks
Bizzy loses his first lineout of the game…
Hehehehe Chilli in front of the kick. Maybe he was on a hot lap?
Sharks defense pushing the Bulls back
In this phase of play…both potgieters take the ball up and get well over the advantage line…
Spies gets the ball…slows down before contact and gets tackled back….
Michelak having a good game
Sharks have too keep the ball, Mcloed kicking away possession now…..
Hougaardt box kicks giving the Sharks an advantage….
Great kick by Krusty
J Potgieter loses a lot of balls in contact…I know he goes into contact at full pace everytime…but no use he loses it half the time…
Time is ticking…. come Sharks…..
Bulls just can’t break the Sharks defense, but the Sharks still needs 1 try
One more try please guys.
Engelbreght has also been good for the Bulls
Bissie!!!!!!!
game gone dead the last 10 minutes
@Mutley (Comment 161) :
Very good…
Strong and the 2nd fastest on the field after Basson….
10min left
9 min
Jano on for Hougaart…
That is not good for the Sharks…means more pace and faster feed to backline for Bulls…
Sharks need to take a risk…….
Spies looks like Tarzan but plays like Jane
7 min…. Sharks line out…..
@Mutley (Comment 169) :
Great play by Bosman
Come on Sharks…score try no 4
Sharks take the line out
Good kick by Frans
Try Ludick
That’s the 4th try. Congratulations Sharks
Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes ……..
F#CK YEAH!!! I’m so happy right now!!!
Great finish by Ludik to score after a maul from the lineout got collapsed by Bulls…
Sharks got the bonus
Bosman converts
Sharks 32
Bulls 10
79min
Bosman converts…
Sharks 30 – 10 Bulls
Would `Well, I´ll be damned!!!`, suffice?
Awesome Sharkies!!!
Full Time
Sharks 32
Bulls 10
Sharks win 32-10!!!!
Wow!! Didn’t watch the game…fantastic…what does this mean?
Congratulations to all the Sharks. Man of the Match is between Coetzee, Bismark and Kankowski
Winners are grinners!
Well done lads. Still in with a shout. Some really good rugby and great individual performances there.
Today we celebrate.
Now imagine the Sharks with proper coaching staff. They would perform like this consistently!
Good performance !!! GO SHARKS
We live to fight another day……
jaaaaaa Kanko MOTM!!!!!
Coetzee was huge, one of the better performances by a Shark in many moons!
Kanko you beauty. My boy is back!!!
Didn’t get to watch the game – hope to catch the highlights. Sounds like our boys ptched up to play! And Kanko had an epic game. Sharks!
Crowd attendance figures anyone?
I wanna be first to say that McLeod played his best game this year…. good for you……
Bulls 17 points ahead of the Sharks but as Victor just said, better to end 6 than 5……
@Franshark (Comment 198) : Been saying that all along.
@Ben (Comment 199) :
How so…is there a rule that I don’t know about?
@Hmmm (Comment 200) : If you finish 6th you’ll play the Brumbies away. Much easier than finishing 5th and playing the Crusaders away.
well, well… can we do it!!!
@Hmmm (Comment 200) : 6th will play 3rd, which will most probably be the Brumbies. 5th will play 4th, which will most probably be the Crusaders.
@Ben (Comment 201) :
Oh yeh…LoL
That is if the Crusaders finish 4th….if the Sharks and Bulls win with bonus points and Crusaders lose the go to 4th and 5th respectively…
The the Crusaders will play the Bulls or Sharks away
@Hmmm (Comment 204) :
Ag the Crusaders are playing the Force…so whats the chances….
@Charlie (Comment 13) : YAYYYYYYYYYYYY JY LEEF.
HOWZIT CHARLIE.