The Sharks have beaten the Reds by 30 points to 17 to advance to next week’s Super Rugby semi-final against the Stormers, in Cape Town.
A superb first half by the Sharks that saw them race out to a 17-3 lead laid the platform for the win, with early tries to JP Pietersen and Paul Jordaan both set up by great teamwork. A drop goal by Fred Michalak extended the lead, but it was the Reds who had the last laugh in the opening period, with Will Genia scoring just before the hooter.
An early intercept try by Charl McLeod opened the lead up again, after which the Sharks did superbly to defend their lines for well on 15 minutes, with the Reds continuing to press hard on attack. When they finally did break out, Michalak slotted a penalty to take the visitors out to an unassailable 30-10 lead, which they held right up until the 80th minute when Radike Samo crashed over for a late consolation. It was too little too late, though, as the Sharks fly home to face the Stormers next week.
Scorers:
Reds: Tries Genia, Samo. Conversions Harris, Genia. Penalty Harris
Sharks: Tries Pietersen, Jordaan, McLeod. Conversions Michalak (3), Penalties Michalak (2). Drop Goal Michalak
I’m sooo happy!!!
Well done Sharks…Stormers be very afraid!
@Pokkel (Comment 2) : yes
Mooi so Sharkies.
Stormers hier kom ons!
whooohooo sharkies!!!:D
Awesome game boys!
Some huge guts on display, as well as skill, power and pace. Also nice to see our backs outshine the Aussies. JP was a huge part of that.
Looking forward to taking on the Stormers but it will be a huge ask with us travelling again and them well-rested.
I have to say, appalling lack of class in defeat from Genia and the spectators in general.
2 FL tries and 10 kicks
Yeah, you always know you’re the better team when the opposition blames everything including global warming for their loss but won’t congratulate you for completely outplaying them in every aspect of that game called rugby.
I love how the ozzies still haven’t figured out that scrumaging is an integral part of rugby, even happier that they won’t be allowed to defile the semis and final.
Well done boys…let’s keep our feet on the ground and not get arrogant. Yes, we played well today but next week is a different ball game. Let’s keep our eyes on the prize.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 9) : for sure
@Big Fish (Comment 6) : It was.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 8) : Loved the way the Aus commentators kept moaning!
@Big Fish (Comment 6) :
What happened after the game i.e. Genia and the crowed…
I see Reunion (NZ rugby show) picks Basson and JPP as the best wings for this year…
With Bizzy, Beast, Etsabeth and Coetzee the other SA players…
I still cant understand how the Reds crowd boo`ed Kaplan. In the second half i feel he missed alot of reds forward passes, Reds players taking up space offside at rucktime and even the “no-arms” tackle of Digby on Mvovo.
Anycase, what a wonderful performance. All my stormers friends say we will fall apart next weekend, as they feel that we cant give 2 great performances in a row… Thats what we like you to believe… in any case, the stormers could not even give a mediocre performance for the last 3 games against the cheetahs, lions and Rebels…
Anyway round, its going to be a humdinger of a game, likewise the Chiefs vs Crusaders. The best 4 teams of the comp eventually ended up as semi-final opponents.
Now for the big question do I book my ticket for the cape or hold on for NZ can only afford one.
@Big Fish (Comment 6) : agree 100%! Every single call from the ref against the Reds were Boo`ed.
It was amazing to see the Sharks offload in tackles, especially the offload by Keegan for Jordaan`s try.
Not even mentioning our defence. Great stuff, what a way to kick off a saturday…
Hi have just returned from the ground – what an great night.Absolutely hourse. There were very few Sharks supporters tonight. Going to watch it on TV now. The crowd detested Kaplan.I was going to ask the blokes behind whether it was Kaplin’s fault that the TV ref did not award the try. My wife stopped me. I am very glad for Plum – he is a true Shark. Mallet has not got the Sharks at heart. The Sharks were fantastic
@Big Fish (Comment 6) : lack of class? Mate, they are Aussies after all… be realistic in your expectations.
@robdylan (Comment 19) ::lol:
@robdylan (Comment 19) : Rob, please use your contacts to find out how Paul is doing and let us know, thanks. That boy is too good, we need him next weekend.
Well done to the Sharks. What a complete performance.
I think that you will be heading to NZ in 2 weeks.
Go Sharks
Made my day!!! Unfortunately haven’t watched the game yet
What a performance, super stoked. That try from Jordaan was quite superb. Well done boys, huge guts on defence and boy were those passes sticking on attack today!
@Big Fish (Comment 6) : @robdylan (Comment 19) : Well, you know the saying, the difference between yoghurt and Australia is that yoghurt has some culture in it…
@Culling Song (Comment 26) :
@GreatSharksays (Comment 21) : Paul and Timmy gelled like chocolate mousse and cream today!
Hey guys who was man-of-the match, missed that.
@CapeShark (Comment 29) : no motm in overseas games..
Well done Sharkies!
Missed the game due to work but kept up to date with live scoring on the phone. Looking forward to watching it later tonight!
@Culling Song (Comment 26) :
Classic!
@CapeShark (Comment 29) :
Probably JP, although everyone played very well. Only definite non-candidate was Bosman for falling over his own feet with an open tryline. He almost collected a fivebob from Bismark for that.
Cue Springbok…
What a game! Well played boys!
This team can do the impossible, we can go all the way if the boys keep playing like they did today!
@Big Fish (Comment 32) : Heh-heh, that Bosman is sure something special. Jordaan better recover quick!
Well done Sharks. Now we have an all South-African semi-final. Enjoy the flight home. We’ll be waiting.
Genia is being an idiot. Even if the Reds had got that disallowed try, it would have only got them to 24-30. Fact is, sharks never looked like they were gonna lose and the late Samo try really was a consolation score. My opinion on Goddard call is that he was technically correct: If you can’t see the try line as your point of comparison, then you can’t rule conclusively that the ball crossed it.
I didn’t get to see who was man of the match but watching it I would have said Keegan put up his hand ,he was worth a 14 point deficit at the end of it all ;that unbelievable tackle on Iaone and that deft offload to Jordaan ,who did well to beat his man. Other than that he was all over them .
Things that concern me; poor driving maul, poor tactical kicking and slack defence around the fringes of the rucks at times .
I feel a bit sorry for Bosman, beside tripping over his own feet near the try line he was actually pretty good ,he is such a handy player to have on the bench ! And has improved exponentially at tackling this season.
Finally Ludik and Michalak deserve to start next weekend ,I don’t care if Lambie is fit he should play off the bench, that would be fair player management.
With regards to the aussies not being classy in defeat, yes Genia wasnt very congratulating but then again he doesnt have to be since he is right. They made so many stupid mistakes at crucial times which he admitted to and Kaplan had a shocking game. Im a delighted Shark but if the shoe was on the other foot then I wouldnt be too please. The reds flanker score the try and that was around the 55min mark. That is stil a lot of rugby to be played. So he was correct in saying they would have been in with a shout. We werent dominating the second half and I felt the entire time that the reds could still snatch the win. The ausie commentators were saying that the sharks were the best team on the day and I dont think anyone is denying that. I think it was a matter of Genia expressing his frustrations. Anyway thats just my 5 cents.
I hope we klap those stormers!!!!!!!!!
@CapeShark (Comment 36) : Goddard’s decision was based on the question asked by Kaplan. He asked about the first grounding (Digby) not the second grounding (flank). As far as im concerned that was a try. and with 25min left in the game things could have been different.
Screw genia and the Reds if it werent for their piss poor conference theyd be having a small holiday now.
@Talent (Comment 40) : Thats true:)
@OZBok – Thats rugby isn’t it. If you look at all your games – no matter which side you are – there will be calls that go for you and calls the go against you over all your games. It kind of averages itself out.
One thing that Kaplan was particularly weak on,I thought, was spotting the legitimate turnover ie player hanging on to ball, defender on feet trying to rip.
In that ‘try’ that you speak the first Ioane attempt Bismarch was on his feet trying to rip that…many other refs would have awarded a penalty against the Reds.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 21) : he said on Twitter that it’s “not too bad”… I guess we’ll need to get a more detailed prognosis when they get back to training.
@neilster (Comment 42) : that was irritating the crap out of me as well – Bismarck too, I suspect
@Ozbok (Comment 39) : No try. The reds player was off his feet all the time. You can’t lie on top of a maul and grab the ball and score a try. Should have been a penalty to the Sharks.
@Talent (Comment 37) : Agree with everything on ur comment.@robdylan (Comment 43) : Thanks.
@CapeShark (Comment 29) : @Ice (Comment 30) : I nominate McLeod or Ludik . . .
If Lambie is fit for Saturday . . . where do we use him, off the bench?
@CapeShark (Comment 29) :
was at Suncorp guys and JP was awarded MOTM!!!
And this dude who thinks McLeod should be mentioned in the same breath as ‘man of the match’ watched a different game.
Intercept aside, Mcleod was woeful once more…
@Original Pierre (Comment 47) : Lambie off the bench
@pienaar111 (Comment 48) : McLeod played his best game of the year yesterday, just saying.
Congratulations to the Sharks ….that was truly 1 of the best displays by any SA Team in many a year down under! I hope that the performance was a wake up call to Heyneke Meyer and that we have now seen the back of Spies and M Steyn ….the Sharks blueprint is the way to go forward . Marcelle Coetsee is an absolute machine, and the form of Keegan Daniels and Kankowski has created an awesome loose trio….I have my tickets booked for Saturday, going to be a classic….The Sharks made all Saffas very proud yesterday, as for the Buls, well….woeful comes to mind.
@grant10 (Comment 51) : WTF where ya been you crazy old coot??
Got my tickets for saturdayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy , yes yes yes
@grant10 (Comment 51) : I am worried about the form of some of the Bulls players’ because they will be picked no matter what state of form they are in and no matter what capabilities/limitations they have. One thing to me is certain; a team that has suffered in recent weeks like the Bulls have cannot make up a significant portion of a national team. Certain players need to be sent back to Currie Cup rugby and told to improve in areas or not expect game time. One just has to look at how Plumtree has handled players this year and how he is reaping the rewards of their form, a complete turnaround in philosophy from last year, but one that has worked.
@Ozbok (Comment 39) :
If the 1st grounding was short, then it should have been a penalty for the Sharks because the ball was picked up inside a ruck.
Kaplan probably asked the question, the way he did because he saw the illegal pickup and the 2nd grounding himself, but he needed to know whether a try has been scored before the infringement or not.
Goddard’s ruling of, Red scrum, does not make much sense.
Lambie at scrumhalf?
@fyndraai (Comment 55) : the other side of it is it seems to haveb been dropped by Gill and then his hand goes onto it on the floor
Be it what may thoughm Bosmans knock on was not one, he did control the ball and rolling it back off his leg towards his own goalline is not a knock on
The forwad pass from Genia to Higginbottom was also missed, so there is many if and buts, mistakes were made both ways, thats how it goes
@sharks_lover (Comment 57) :
And Kaplan warned the Reds several times about off-side interference at the rucks but never penalized them.
The Aus press worked the “Kaplan will screw us” angle all week. In the mind of the crowd it was set in stone already by the time the 1st penalty was given, so they had to boo.
@fyndraai (Comment 58) : Agree 100% with you, done in poor taste
@fyndraai (Comment 58) : Penalty count was 12-4 against us
@sharks_lover (Comment 60) : Well that says nothing, those 12 penalties given against the Sharks must have been given ’cause Kaplan knew the Reds was about to score tries – had to be
How I love a sore loser, just makes the win taste so much better
Oh yeah, and my moment of the match:
Freddie blowing a kiss to the crowd after slotting that final penalty – priceless
Forgot that reading comments on Keo makes me sick. Those guys are something else.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 63) : You know ‘the-site which-shall-not-be-named’ carries serious health risks! If you read their T’s&C’s you will find the ‘caution: may contain nuts’ warning
@GreatSharksays (Comment 63) : I was on there for the first and last time. You wil not find me there anytime soon.
Anybody know when they will be arriving back? Are they back already? Sure gonna be a hell-u-va challenge considering the travelling…
@FireTheLooser (Comment 62) : He is going to be doing a lot of that as well on Saturday… The Newlands crowd are also well-known for their boos and jeers…
After the un-sportsman like post match interview from Genia, I absolutely LOVE Plumtrees snipe at Genia
“Genia turned from hero to villain soon after half-time when his flat cut-out pass was intercepted by Sharks scrum-half Charl McLeod, who raced 70 metres to score under the posts for the match-clinching try.
“I was a little surprised that they didn’t put (inside centre Mike) Harris at 10,” said Plumtree.
“Will allowed us into the game because he was throwing a lot of skip passes and we read that.”
What a sporting weekiend for SA. Well done Sharks, Amla and Ernie you beauty!!!
Plumtree must be applauded for adding the extra dimension to the team….even the Beast and Jannie are offloading. I take back whet I previously said although at the time it was relevant.
The Sharks now seem to be playing NZ type offloading rugby and it’s a thing of beauty. I fear the travel will eventually catch up to us if not this weekend then next weekend.
@Pokkel (Comment 70) :
Having said that though if the Sharks win this whole competition it will be absolutely amazing.
I believe the Sharks would actually make super history should we beat Stormers. No side has won a semi / final on the return leg of a travel stint.
@Pokkel (Comment 70) : I’m still so pumped up I almost started crying just by reading your comment…
@Bokhoring (Comment 72) : Going to be a tough ask. Sharks are going have to dig deep for this one.
@Pokkel (Comment 70) : Remember last month i lamented the fact that only Keegan Daniels had an off-load game @ the Sharks? at the time i was comparing the performances of marcell vs sam cane!
i’m convinced Plum reads this blog
@Megatron (Comment 75) :
So you think the Sharks will take the Stormers this weekend?
@Megatron (Comment 75) : Marcell made 4 offloads, 80 metres with ball in hand and 18 tackles – according to rugbystats
But how about Bissies pinpoint passes – envy of most SA centres
The Aussies must be really pi$$ed about the Reds loss – they all (rugbystats, rugbyheaven) have the Bulls playing the Stormers in the semi
@SharksRTB (Comment 66) : they arrived back late yesterday
@robdylan (Comment 78) : Any news on Jordaan.
@Bokhoring (Comment 77) : good for him, but at the time when i mentioned his lack of awareness/offloading he wasn’t doing it, he was dying with the ball every single time after breaching the gainline.
clearly someone spoke to him, in fact the whole team.
@Pokkel (Comment 76) : give me some time to think about it…
Congratulations O Finned Supporters – job extremely well done!
No reason your team can’t go all the way & lift that trophy this year 
@diablo (Comment 82) :
Thanks Diablo
@robdylan (Comment 78) : Fantastic!
@diablo (Comment 82) :
Dankie!
@Megatron (Comment 80) :
I remember; and while you weren’t alone in saying that, it was absolutely true. The other big contributor for the Sharks is the willingness to bring the backdrop into the game. I’m hoping to write an article on the impact playing 13 and being recognised ssh a senior player has had on JP, but I think it’s clear we finally have some backline leaders making good decisions in general.
Sharks are definitely the form team at the moment…
I predict a Sharks win!!
@wpw (Comment 86) : I dunno Wes – facing a rested Stormers side at home with their miserly defence. Very tough one to call but I reckon the Stormers should still be considered favourites.