Coming off a bye last weekend the Sharks are extra wary of the potential of the Reds to upset their best laid plans for their Super 14 rugby clash at the Absa Stadium in Durban on Saturday evening.
In the past the Reds have upset the best laid plans of the Sharks on more than one occasion according to head coach Dick Muir at a media briefing on Tuesday morning.
News24 reports that Muir said that while the Sharks side had still to be finalised the management team was working on a pre-set rotation plan and that means that most probably Frans Steyn will get a second run at flyhalf in the possible starting lineup.
The Sharks head for down under on Sunday and hope to take with them an unbeaten record ahead of their five-match programme in Australia and New Zealand.
Muir said of Queensland that the Reds had improved no end as witnessed in their match against the Bulls. They had a mobile pack of forwards and their ball retention has been good especially on the counter attack with Chris Latham rather obviously the danger man.
They had solid running backs and as a result there was no room for complacency ahead of the trip as was the case last year when the Sharks, who went on to win the Super 14 log race and become losing finalists to the Bulls, slipped up against the Brumbies in the corresponding game in Durban prior to departure.
They also lost their first away game of the trip to Wallaby and All Black territory.
Muir said: “This time we have made the most of our weekend rest but from now until Saturday it will be a case of working hard towards our goal of preserving our unbeaten run at home.”
After the tour the Sharks have two home games in May to complete the league stage of the 2008 Super 14 competition.
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that means that most probably Frans Steyn will get a second run at flyhalf in the possible starting lineup.
PLEASE NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
👿
From R365.
Reds have the edge over Sharks
Some would say the Sharks have it easy this weekend against the Reds, but the Brisbane-based team have been somewhat of a bogey team for Johann Muller’s men over the years.
They say stats never lie, and looking at previous meetings between the two sides you would have to say that the Reds will fancy their chances in Durban on Saturday.
The two teams have met on 10 occasions, with the Reds winning seven of those clashes.
That’s a resounding record in anyone’s language.
The Sharks have won the previous two encounters but lost seven on the trot before that.
The most famous of those losses, for all the wrong reasons, came in 2004 in Durban.
It was dubbed the worst game in Super Rugby history, and looking at the scoreboard, one can see why.
The Reds won 6-5 in what was a dreadful game littered with errors.
It remained the lowest scoring game in Super Rugby history until last year, when the Reds broke their own record!
The 3-6 loss to the Brumbies in Canberra eclipsed the Durban bore-a-thon and would have put even the most hardened of insomniacs to sleep.
The Reds have an excellent record in Sharks country, winning three out of their five encounters.
However the Sharks will take heart from the fact that last year’s result – a resounding 59-16 victory in Brisbane – was the biggest victory margin between the two team’s.
The Reds biggest margin of victory came courtesy of a 34-13 win way back in 1999.
Other than that, the clashes have been extremely tight between the two team’s.
In the 10 previous encounters, a victory margin of 10 or less points has occurred on seven occasions, indicating that Saturday’s match could be a real nailbiter.
A loss for the home team will be devastating on their semifinal aspirations, while the Reds will be in the play-off race if they achieve their fourth win in Durban.
It’s no wonder the Sharks assistant coach, John Plumtree said that they were treating the Reds with the utmost of respect!
Past Results:
2007: Sharks won 59-16, Brisbane
2006: Sharks won 36-28, Durban
2005: Reds won 30-25, Brisbane
2004: Reds won 6-5, Durban
2003: Reds won 22-13, Brisbane
2002: Reds won 30-29, Durban
2001: Reds won 32-27, Brisbane
2000: Reds won 24-13, Durban
1999: Reds won 34-13, Brisbane
1998: Sharks won 30-20, Durban
Steyn at flyhalf sounds good. As long as it’s the Wildebesst we’re talking about
YIP!
Steyn @ 10…as John Robbie says, it will be a disaster… 👿
I don’t want to pick at old wounds 😉 but I think everybody knows where I think Steyn should play and it is NOT #10.
Agreeeeeeeeeee to above…and I have been smashed a couple of times as to where I prefer him…..playing rugby that is…no innuendo’s here.. 😆
🙂
Just incase someone missed it…….. I prefer him at 12 maybe 15 if needed but NOT at 10.
KSA – I like him at wing 😳 and 12 and then only 15. I dont believe he has the necessary experience to play 15 or 10 yet, his decision making is still a bit “raw”….but he has plenty of rugby in him for many more years (no injuries hopefully). 😛
I just wish Jake or one of his staff would read this and do as we ask for a change. 😉
Anyone wanna join me for breakfast?? I am having Lemon Meringue!!! 😆 😆
Jake ❓ ❓
Ice,
One slice please…My favourite, actually makes 1 per week myself…
Oh Charlie??!! You can MAKE it?? **aplouss** ek is useless – ek koop maar. Not a sweet tooth at all – but when I opened up the fridge to get milk for my coffee, it literally shouted ” eat me, eat me” – so that how it became brekkies! (It has egg, milk just not bacon) 😆 😆
Ice,
“…his decision making is still a bit “raw”…”
This is a vital aspect to play @ 12…Flyhalf & inside centre play have nowadays adept the same style of play & thinking to create oppertunities for the outside backs…The Crusaders already have proven this by playing Dan Carter & Stephen Brett in the respective pivotal positions… 😀
Ice,
Jip, I can be handy in the kitchen… Not so much with food, but baking, chocolate cake, malvapudding, muffins etc….
Ice,
A little sweet now & then can only be good…
Ag jinne ou Charles – dan ek ma ‘n ou rugby skool girl! 😆 😆 Still feel its not AS critical as Flyhalf and fullback – maybe wrong and maybe know f-all about rugby…but thats still what my woman intuition tells me… 😎
BTW – I think Stephen Brett is GREAT! Very exciting player!
Ice,
You not that bad at all, knowing about rugby… 😉
From 365 again.
Man I hope we can stay unbeaten.
Muir’s unbeaten goal
Coming off a bye last weekend the Sharks are extra wary of the potential of the Reds to upset their best laid plans for their Super 14 clash in Durban Saturday.
Muir has made it clear his team is determined to preserve their unbeaten record this year, as they push for another top-of-the-table finish – just as they did last year.
In the past the Reds have upset the best laid plans of the Sharks on more than one occasion, according to head coach Dick Muir at a media briefing Tuesday.
The Sharks head for Australasia on Sunday and hope to take with them an unbeaten record ahead of their five-match programme abroad.
After the tour the Sharks have two home games in May to complete the league stage of the Super 14 competition.
However, they must first overcome the threat posed by the Reds.
Muir said that the Reds had improved no end as witnessed in their match against the Bulls.
They had a mobile pack of forwards and their ball retention has been good especially on the counter attack with Chris Latham rather obviously the danger man.
They had solid running backs and as a result there was no room for complacency ahead of the trip as was the case last year when the Sharks, who went on to win the Super 14 log race and become losing finalists to the Bulls, slipped up against the Brumbies in the corresponding game in Durban prior to departure.
They also lost their first away game of the trip to Wallaby and All Black territory.
“This time we have made the most of our weekend rest but from now until Saturday it will be a case of working hard towards our goal of preserving our unbeaten run at home,” Muir said.
Muir said that while the Sharks side had still to be finalised the management team was working on a pre-set rotation plan and that means that most probably Frans Steyn will get a second run at flyhalf in the possible starting lineup.
I just wish Jake or one of his staff would read this and do as we ask for a change.
26.03.08 07:53:21 – KSA Shark ©
Who’s Jake?
Anyway…Frans is bound to return to form…and this would be a good time to do it.
Hey Charlie – then you and I are alike. I love baking. Lemon Meringue is my favourite. Not that keen on cooking – but love baking.
😳 😳
that was supposed to be Dick not Jake. 😳 😳
I don’t think he will find his form at 10 though.
And that raises my old question. How can you judge if a player is out of form or not when you play him out of position?
Kette Rocks at baking. 😎
Melktert!!!!!!
Lemon meringue!!!!!!
Chocolate mousse!!!!!!!!!
Brownies!!!!!!!!!!!
And the list go onnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn 😎
KSA – then she is just like me. I make a killer chocolate mousse (if I may say so myself). 😉
Steyntjie sal sy gat moet roer…die World Cup honeymoon is lankal verby… 🙄
Hallo Ness,
Jip, not practicing 2nite, so I can get busy in the kitchen… 😎
finding the rigth dark chocolate for the Mousse usually requires a trip to bahrain but WELLLL worth it.
The thing i miss the most since moving here is Kette’s homemade Pizza bases. 🙁
I love here pie bases though 😎
Who woulda thunk that when i married a soutie chic I would still have all the “boere bakery” from when i grew up.
Charlie – you had better practice for when I am in Cape Town.
Steyntjie sal sy gat moet roer… 😆 😆
love here pie bases though 😎
One day when I am big, I will hire Charlie, Ness and kette to be my personal bakers!
KSA – I don’t mind coming to Bahrain to buy the chocolate – just think my credit card may cry! 😉
“one day when I am big” 😀 – Tiger has given up on ever been “big”.
Will bake for you any time Ice.
🙂 Thanks Ness!!
Ice,
You better grow up fast…
So eat all your vegetables… 😉
Ice,
Maybe you can open a shop then, called “Ice Delights” 😆
Vegewhat???? 😉 😉 That a new beer? 😆
Thats bloody Marvelous, Charlie!!! I like the name!
No my sissie, green stuff…Not Heineken nor Amstels…
Durban poison!!!! 😀 😀
Durban poison!!!!
26.03.08 09:57:30 – Ice Edit
Been trying to get Kette to put some in the brownies, but she won’t go for it 🙁 😉
KSA – thats what Vegetables are!! 😉 😉 And tell her Charlie says vegetables are GOOd for you!! 😆 😆
Charlie Says Vegetables = green stuff (but not beer) = Durban Poison (now thats what I call logic!! 😉 ) and Charlie says Vegetables = good for you….so ther you have it!!! Out of the mouth of CHARLIE!!
If Tiger has to eat vegetables to grow taller – it is not going to happen. She is not a big veggie person – she only eats peas.
I am hungy… Let’s have a bite first… 😆
peas? GROSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!
You would have to eat an awful lot of peas to get taller I would think.
KSA – do you eat veggies?
BTW, Ice & Nessa are Charlie’s Angels, but still needs to find the 3rd one… 😉
Ice the fighter (table smasher) & Nessa the baker (luckily the muffins won’t be use as a weapon)
All the gross stuff are good…although it taste bad, it won’t kill you…
LOL @ Charlie! 😉 Don’t know about “angels”. More like the 3 musketeers.
Heh, never really taken part in the Steyn debate. 😀 But…
…I still think he could someday be a real killer at 10. Who else do we really have as a stellar prospect for the Springbok 10 jersey? He’s big, strong, has pace, solid defense and good vision.
He needs to build some consistency above all else I think. It doesn’t help being able to kick 50+ meter drop-goals if 70% of them end up looking like grubbers. Also, the odd pass might be nice.
In any case I certainly don’t relish the thought of Steyn at 10 for key games like Saturday’s. He’s not quite there yet, but I’m hopeful in the long run. Remember that Danny-boy Carter played mostly at 12 before he became the world’s premier flyhalf.
Nessa
I am a strange guy (none of the obvious responses please 😉 ) when it comes to eating veg.
I eat the uncommon stuff but not really the regular stuff.
I eat and enjoy
Cauliflower
Brusselsprouts
Broccolli
Gemsquash
I may eat (depending on the preperations style)
beans (boere way with chpped up potatoe and onions in is the best way)
carrots (same as above)
WON’T touch
peas
cabbage
pumpkin
butternut
Waz
I actually think his size is his problem at 10. a bit to big to be nimble IMO.
Peter Grant is my choice as the Bok 10 if Butch James is not available.
Good morning Waz! 😉
Exactly – Steyn needs to play 12 first! Don’t like him at 15 or on the wing.
KSA – at least you eat some veggies then.
Must agree with you – Peter Grant would be my choice at flyhalf for the Boks if Butch is not available.
Exactly – Steyn needs to play 12 first! Don’t like him at 15 or on the wing.
26.03.08 10:23:55 – Nessa Edit
Listen to your parents they always know best. 🙂
Especially your mother!!!
KSA:
Really like Grant, but somehow he hasn’t really shone this season. At least not yet. Thought he was the best of our S14 10s last year.
Interestingly, noticed that Grant has bulked up phenomenally since last year? Perhaps trying to correct weaknesses on the physical side?
I must say that I was never a huge Butch fan. Those crazy armless tackles missed the mark more often than not, and I wasn’t convinced of his skills at national level either. He sure proved me wrong (I’m happy to say) at the RWC last year.
What I HAVE always liked about Butch is the fact that he is a “scary” flyhalf: he can mix the physical stuff with the best of them. I really think there’s something to be said for that. Hougaard can rack up the points with his boot, Carter and Fred routinely pull bits of brilliance out of their…uh…hats, but they’re none of them the type of players that strike fear into the hearts of the opposition.
In that regard I see some parallels with Butch and Steyn.
Waz
you didn’t take part, but i hope you read them. 😉
We are like broken records really we have the same discussion with the same points and we just can’t seem to get each other to change their minds. 😳
My points are this
Steyn is a RWC winning 12.
You can’t judge his ability to play 12 by judging his form at 10 or 15.
Stick to those points and TryTime will be your friend for life. 😉
I actually eat ALL veg and love them!!! (especially done the boere way with loads of sugar and butter mashed into them!) And have eaten Wit Lobf (?) a belgium veg tasting like cabbage – oh my gooodness now I am HUNGRY!)
Hi Waz!! You joining us tomorrow night?
Talking about Danny -boy – he’s game has taken a bit of a dive – or dont yu agree?
Yes Waz – are you joining us tomorrow night?
Peter Grant for Bok flyhalf, BTW PDV rates him highly… 😉
Waz
I watched the S14 final with Murph the irishman who supports the Cheetahs and he (while sober) said similar things about Butch and I tend to agree.
To reinforce your point.
How many #10’s are there in the world who would stike fear into their opponents with their tackles?
How many 10’s clean at the rucks the way Butch does?
The answer to both questions, is very few if any.
Steyn is nice and big and that helps on the defence becasue he does tackle damn well, but he is almost too big for a 10. it tends to slow him down a bit. At least that is what I attribute his “slowness” at 10 to.
Grant has been doing well this season and with Brown next to him he will get better and better.
Oh and he is from Maritzburg college and we only win RWC’s with College halves. 😉
Ness – he seems to be avoiding our question… 😉
I hate veggies, all of them.
I don’t bake.
I think Steyn should play 12.
15 as a distant second choice. But not 10.
Thank you.
Ice
Carter has taken a bit of a dip. I hope it continues for a few weeks to come. Stephen brett at 12 was awesome for them and he is out injured so with carter not firing, we may have a chance when the time comes.
Rachel 🙂
Ha ha ha …don’t try to bully the poor boy.
Butch wasn’t exactly the smallest flyhalf…
Ice – think he is working on a contract basis at the moment at a client and they don’t like him to blog while they are paying him a fortune per hour – can’t say I blame them. So he tends to send one comment every half hour and sort of loses the plot a bit.
I also want to work on a contract basis and get paid a fortune… 😕 😆 😆
have you heard from Neen yet, Ness?
KSA = I like the way you think, boet!
Hi Mumsy and Ice. 🙂 I should be able to make tomorrow night: no baby-sitting.
KSA:
I think all internet discussion sites are similar in that way; circular topics are perennial. 🙂
That said, Steyn was great at 12 in the RWC, I agree. All the more reason to groom him for 10! I think he showed incredible composure under pressure, when some of his considerably older brothers faired poorly. SA rugby has some deep waters to plumb for 12s and 13s, but we find ourselves with dry ankles at 10. Still, I’d be pretty happy with Grant at 10. He really isn’t bad at all.
Ice:
Danny was off his form last year, but this year he appears to be back with some big points to prove. I think he’s had a strong season so far. However, his Achilles-heel is his physicality (IMO): he has heaps of skill and flare, but I think that as he gets older he’s the type of guy who will progressively shy away from the rough stuff.
Die ou banggat, Danny!! 😆 😆
Good the we might see you – come to think of it – You the only one of Ness’s eggs I have not met yet!
Today I’m awaiting some changes on the Prod ERP system, so can chat a bit for a change. 🙂
Ice – didn’t realise you haven’t met Waz yet. He was at Loftus with me but I only saw you very briefly and he was already upstairs. Neen will go with tomorrow if Waz goes.
Waz – meet at our place tomorrow then and we can maybe get a bite to eat there?
Ice:
The only one of two eggs, unless there’s something she’s not telling me. 😀
I have two eggs of my own you know. *cough*
“Today I’m awaiting some changes on the Prod ERP system:
Glad you know what that means! 😉
No can do on the meet at your place, since I’m in Randfontein and it would be very difficult to come past Linbro first. 🙁 I’ll have to meet you at Lifestyle.
I have two eggs of my own you know. *cough* – Two cute ones too! 😉
Okie dokie – we will meet there then. Didn’t realise you were still out at Randfontein.
Ness – you not keeping an eye on your eggs in the basket??? 😎
Ice – to the contrary. I always know where my eggs are! 😀
When did this move from “NO Steyn at 10” to eggs? 😯
😆 😆
Ok – I promises myself I will be good today – so not even gonna GO there…. 😈 😈
BS – actually it was the other way around – it went from eggs to Steyn at No. 10. Go figure! 😉
Ag you girls all think young Frans is a 10………….. 😉
KSA – you have hit the nail on the head. 😉 10 out of 10 is our young Frans.
😯 🙄 😯
Eggs are my favourite vegetable.
racheltjie,
Do they grow on trees ❓
😆 @ Nessa…
What came first…the eggs or Steyn at 10…?
Anyway…we’ll just have to see what transpires at the Shark-Tank this weekend…
yeah i remember that reds in 2004 game where brent russell pitched up hungover after a good night out the night before. he was shocking that night at full back. that game threw the sharks chances out the window.
yeah looks like she is giving me the silent treatment. 😆