A lot has been said about the Sharks 2009 Super 14 draw. So how good is this draw really?
14 Feb Stormers (away): Well it doesn’t start very well. The Stormers are looking a top tier team this season and if the warm up games are anything to go by the Sharks aren’t in for an easy win. The only difference between the two teams is the Sharks experience depth and the Sharks superior tight five. This could be the Sharks hardest game and the winner will be the team that makes the least errors.
21 Feb Lions (home): This is the only game the Sharks have to play in the crazy heat of Durban. The humidity at Kingspark tends to force the Sharks to play a very basic game plan. This should be the thing that wins the game for the Sharks. By the Sharks being reserved the Lions will battle to feed off the mistakes the Sharks tend to make when playing their expansive game.
28 Feb Chiefs (away): The Chiefs have their first home game of the season after playing two tough away games against the Crusaders and the Waratahs. This will be a big game for the Sharks as they would have had very little practice, as they would have spent most the week travelling. The positive is this the worst of their travels is over and New Zealand’s weather should still be good. The Chiefs aren’t one of New Zealand’s top three teams so after the tough start they would have had to the Super 14, they might battle against the depth of the Sharks. The outcome of this game will hinge on how John Plumtree uses his substitutes.
7 Mar Blues (away): The Blues would ordinarily be the favourites, but they don’t have the best of starts. They will be battling jet lag after three games well away from home. After playing Force, Bulls and Stormers away expect them to start battling against the Sharks in the latter part of the game.
14 Mar Reds (away): Back over the Tasman and closer to home, the Sharks should be targeting this game as definate 5 points. The Reds are battling with depth and after playing all four South African teams (three of which were played in the Republic) they should be nicely tenderised for Shark devouring.
21 Mar Force (away): The Sharks should now be smelling the bunnys and braais wafting over the Indian Ocean. Although the Sharks tend to suffer from one-foot-on-the-plane-syndrome, the success of the tour should carry them through the game. The Force haven’t had the best of times at home and the Sharks won’t make it any easier. The Sharks should be very disappointed if they don’t win at least 3 of the tour games.
28 Mar Brumbies (home): The weather in Durban should now have cooled enough to allow the Sharks the chance to open up all valves for the Kingspark faithful. The speed of the Sharks should overcome the defence of the Brumbie pensioners. Expect the Sharks to flog the dead horse in the last 20 minutes.
4 Apr Hurricanes (home): This will be a good game for the Sharks to test themselves against a physical team, and as long as they don’t get bogged down with the dirty play of the Hurricanes, they should weather the storm easily.
11 Apr Cheetahs (away): The curse of the Shark’s development team has broken. The Cheetahs have regularly been a stumbling block for the Sharks, but since Rassies departure, they have battled against the depth of the Sharks.
18 Apr Crusaders (home): With the away games now complete, the Sharks can now focus on consolidating their position on top of the log. Crusaders aren’t an easy team, but their disadvantage is they come into this game after a bye. Byes tend to hinder teams as it messes with their flow. This game will be decided in the first 30 minutes. The Crusaders are traditionally slow starters, so some early tries by the Sharks could put the Crusaders under heavy pressure. If the Sharks are ten points up come half time, expect the second half to be an all Sharks affair.
2 May Highlanders (home): The Sharks should be a bit dis-orientated, but fresh after their bye and who better to play than one of the wooden spoon contenders. This game will start slow, but will open up as the Sharks get back into the swing.
9 May Waratahs (home): Grudge match time. The Waratahs and Bryce Lawrence were the stumbling block that ruined the Sharks season last year. Expect the Sharks to play Phil Waugh out the game. As long as they look after the ball at the break downs, the Waratahs won’t have enough to take the match.
16 May Bulls (home): The Sharks should by now have secured their home semi-final and will look to this game as a preparation game. As it is the last pool match Sharks will know what they need. Even if the Sharks need to secure points in this game, the Bulls aren’t as strong as they have been in the past and it shouldn’t be to hard to butcher them blue.
So looking at the games individually the fixture list does favour the Sharks this year and as has been said before the Sharks only real opposition is themselves. Go Sharks, it is yours to lose.
Tweet
“the Sharks aren’t in for an easy win”
FFS you okes are starting sound like arrogant Bulls fans…Turning up at Newlands and winning isn’t the doddle it used to be.
I think you all need to get out more.
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 1) : we are going to get out…get out our sjamboks and whip your asses like you guys like it.
@try time (Comment 2) : I rest my case.
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 1) : I think you’ll find the majority of Sharks fans are nervous as hell about that opening game.
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 1) :
if we were Bulls fans, he would have said we were in for an easy win, at least he acknowledges that we are going to have to play to win not just turn up. 😛
I’m saving this article for future reference..should be interesting doing the comparison later.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 5) : Its the assumption of the win thats so galling. 👿
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 7) : how can i be a sharks fan if i expect them to lose?
@try time (Comment 8) : Maybe i am too objective…but it says something about the *calibre of your intelligence if you think they going to be unbeaten for eternity 😆
* Meant in jest….you might be a rocket scientist.
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 9) : the sharks won’t go unbeaten this year, doesn’t mean i can’t hope for it. but looking at the two teams even if the sharks lose against the stormers it will be a lot easier for them to make up for the loss than it would be for the stormers if they lose. the sharks have the best possible draw and should easily recover from a first game defeat.
@try time (Comment 10) : The pot gets bigger…i might need a bigger spoon 😆
@try time (Comment 10) : you know, in a strange way, it might even work out to our advantage if we lose a game early on. Get the awful “unbeaten” bogey off our back
try and do an article on the stormers fixture list. crusaders, bulls, hurricanes, brumbies and waratahs away would make me worry a little if i was a stormer supporter.
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 7) :
I picked up on that bit. 😛
@robdylan (Comment 12) : although it would be nice to be the first sa team to ever do that. it will be good to watch kobus and naas choking on their arrogance.
are you guys gonna start a Six nations superbru by any chance?
@try time (Comment 13) : You forget that our away record tends to be better than our home record.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 14) : Very astute 😆
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 17) : that bodes well for the sharks then 😆
Nice analysis tt…but seeing that you’ve already been attacked for being too hopeful…how about you just go ahead and add your win-loss predictions for the games…
@try time (Comment 18) : Indeed. Although – Alistar Coetzee made it a bit of a fortress during the CC…hopefully they can continue the trend.
@blackshark (Comment 19) : Good addition. And its worth noting…this is an excellent format for a pre season article and TT is to be commended for it.
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 1) :
I for one will be on the site to ‘rub it in’ if we manage to beat the Sharks.
Judging by most of the comments I’ve read here it seems all they need to do is pitch up at the stadium and the win is theirs.
You so right about the arrogance!!! 👿
@wpw – Take that Chelsea!!! (Comment 22) : Nah its better to be magnaminous in victory. No need to take on the enemies worst habits 😀
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 21) :
Dude, didn’t we lose our first 3 games at home and then win the rest (after we returned from down under) 🙄
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 20) : yeah i predict stormers in the top five. and lions above bulls (dependent on whether jacque fourie or baywatch stay fit).
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 23) :
@wpw – Take that Chelsea!!! (Comment 22) : dude… it’s not arrogance, It’s confidence. There’s a difference.
@wpw – Take that Chelsea!!! (Comment 22) : close, we have to pitch up and play error free rugby and the win is ours.
@robdylan (Comment 27) : You sound like a spin doctor… 😆
i predict that if the sharks lose it will be a pass from frans that will get intercepted by jean de villiers.
@robdylan (Comment 27) :
Nah Rob. I know arrogance when I see it… Speaking of which, anyone see blackshark around??? 😉
@robdylan (Comment 27) : Took that off my fingers dude…
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 23) :
I’d love for Luke Watson to score the winning try!!! 🙄
@wpw – Take that Chelsea!!! (Comment 24) : Correct…don’t think we have lost at Newlands since those games.
@wpw – Take that Chelsea!!! (Comment 31) :
The Sharks are favourites for this game, are they not? 😈
Tough game, tough team, tough stadium, tough period of the competition for the players ( especially now after the Bulls’ sabotage)…no disrespect intended but if the Sharks carry on from the CC form…and if Frans plays the occasional pass…we should be ok…
@blackshark (Comment 32) :
speak of the devil…
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 29) : if you want to call me baby, then go ahead now
@blackshark (Comment 35) :
CC??
Who gives a damn about the CC???
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 34) : Dude if Loekmaan gets that try it will be the funniest thing ever.
@wpw – Take that Chelsea!!! (Comment 38) : only the teams who made the semis give a damn about it. The team that lost to Griquas and the Valke will pretend that it doesn’t matter.
@PJLD (Comment 39) : Don’t think there will be to much booing then….
@robdylan (Comment 37) : Pass. Does your wife know you secretly harbour ambitions of being a Stormers supporter
@robdylan (Comment 40) : I recall even you dodgey tjorks being thankful we didn’t make the semi’s…
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 1) : @wpw – Take that Chelsea!!! (Comment 22) : I obviously have a different understanding of the English language. Yes there has been a couple of arrogant comments, but reading and rereading the first paragraph of the article, I don’t see the arrogance in what TT wrote there..
14 Feb Stormers (away): Well it doesn’t start very well. The Stormers are looking a top tier team this season and if the warm up games are anything to go by the Sharks aren’t in for an easy win. The only difference between the two teams is the Sharks experience depth and the Sharks superior tight five. This could be the Sharks hardest game and the winner will be the team that makes the least errors.
You Stormers supporters are overly bloody sensitive. Read it again , the Stormers are being complimented
“by the Sharks aren’t in for an easy win”
Suggest you are a shoo in for the win. Read arrogance. 😆
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 1) : and never compare me to a Bulls fan 👿
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 44) : This Dutchman’s translation for
“by the Sharks aren’t in for an easy win”
‘Die Sharks beter fokken goed speel anders gaan hulle afkak’
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 41) : gah. Do you even REMEMBER the Spin Doctors?
so, um… Six nations superbru??
and…
2009 YEAR OF THE STORMERS!!!
I think I’ve just settled the argument
@PJLD (Comment 39) :
Did you see him run at full pace yet??? What a sight to behold… 😈
@wpw – Take that Chelsea!!! (Comment 38) :
🙄
Pokkel is right…you people are too sensitive…
The Sharks look good on paper…that’s all I’m saying…
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 44) : I would say that YOUR implication that the Sharks aren’t going to win at all, easily or otherwise, is pretty arrogant too
@robdylan (Comment 52) : spin spin spin 😈 😈
@wpw – Take that Chelsea!!! (Comment 50) :
@wpw – Take that Chelsea!!! (Comment 53) : 😀
@robdylan (Comment 52) : I haven’t stated any such fact…just pointing out the blue hue starting to show around here. 😈
I see the first day of play is Friday the 13th! 😮 Ominous… :
@Pokkel (Comment 43) : Limp wristies are always sensitive.
Thanks for the entertainment Stormers…but even you guys should know it’s hard to bet against a winning horse…especially if you’re a one-eyed supporter of that winning horse… 😆
Later…
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 9) : He’s got a point TT. Look at Aussie cricket fans. Do we want to become like them? 😉
I think you write the Chiefs and Force off too easily.
The Chiefs has had very little disruption to their team and last year they ended strongly.
Similarly, Perth is no longer a whipping ground for the Force, they are in my view one of the toughest Aussie teams.
Brumbies is a bit of a bogey team for the Sharks.
Hurricanes and Saders going to be helluva tough.
I think you might just go into the Bulls match needing a victory to scrape a semi spot.
@wpw – Take that Chelsea!!! (Comment 53) : getting dizzy yet?
@wpw – Take that Chelsea!!! (Comment 22) :
if we manage to beat the Sharks. Not exactly confidence inspiring. 😆
The Stormers are a very good team…I’m scared of the Stormers…so very very scared…but since the Sharks are not that crappy…I have a teeny weeny feeling that they may (if the weather is okay and all the forces are balanced)…maybe… just maybe…win the game by the tiniest margin possible.
With my humblest regards,
Not-so-arrogant blackshark
@Pokkel (Comment 46) :
Thats how I also understand it.
I think us Northern Natalians were teached the bestest.
@try time (Comment 30) : You had to…. 👿
@MorneN (Comment 60) : I agree , the Chiefs are an unpredictable side and the Force will not just roll over either
@klempie (Comment 59) : good point, its great when you are on top, but when you have to eat humble pie, it isn’t great anymore. good thing i won’t have to eat humble pie this year. 😆
@wpw – Take that Chelsea!!! (Comment 33) : Puke is going to be more of a liability than I think you guys want to believe. I reckon he’ll be off no later than 30 mins in.
Expect Grant and Percy to stick the ball in the corners quite a bit on the 14th.
A superior tight 5 is of little use if you cart them around the park all afternoon.
@klempie (Comment 65) : tell me you don’t have that as one of your nightmares. he does it so often.
@try time (Comment 67) : With ya buddy. 😉
@MorneN (Comment 69) :
And Ruan’s tactical ability at 10 is still in question, and let’s rather forget Steyn tactical or technical appreciation for the moment.
He will be so nervous watching JDV all afternoon he might forget to drop a few from halfway…
Might count in your favour.
@try time (Comment 70) : It’s just too perfect though. Frans’ crap decision making in the 22 coupled with JdV’s intercepts! 😮
Stormers should win the game, they are playing at Newlands afterall – huge advantage. If the Stormers dont win the game they should be mighty worried. They have to be firm favourites – except amongst us Shark folk.
@robdylan (Comment 40) : ROFL!!!!
@MorneN (Comment 60) : morne i wasn’t writing this as a bulls supporter. i think chiefs game will be difficult. it is always tough landing in nz and playing brilliantly. the force will also be tough because the sharks fall asleep in their last tour match. but i think it will be a game where the sharks lost it rather than the force won it. brumbies are geriatrics and won’t win.
@molly (Comment 49) : Why is everyone ignoring the only member of the fairer gender on this thread? Shame on you guys! 😡
Come to think of it, the superior Sharks tight 5 should be the tight 3, the front row.
But then again you insist on playing Bismarck ahead of Smit, and making Muller captain ahead of Smit.
Muller is a good lock, but not so sure on his partner Sykes and the back up.
Loosies even and if Lukas does not play, the Stormers edge that.
Great individual talent in the backs for the Sharks, but most of them as unproven combinations…
Will Toppie Terblanche survive the pace of S14 rugby?
Will Deysel suffer from 2nd seasons syndrome and now being marked?
Will Kanko try and prove too much to unseast Spies as Bok 8?
The difference last year was a yellow card between these teams at Kings Park.
Please play Bismarck cause it might be the same this year just reversed.
@MorneN (Comment 60) : I don’t think we’ve beaten the Chiefs in Hamilton in the last 10 years…
@klempie (Comment 77) : i’m talking to worcestershire sauce, morne and wpw.
@try time (Comment 76) :
I remember Rob telling me 2 years ago that there is no way in hell the Brumbies would beat them at Kings Park…
Did they not beat you last year too?…
@robdylan (Comment 79) : i am sure we broke a few of those hoodoos last year, so what is one more.
@robdylan (Comment 79) :
Chiefs and Force are my dark horses for the Australisian teams. In fact, I reckon the Chiefs will be one of the top two NZ teams this year.
@MorneN (Comment 81) : yes like bulls beat us in the s14 final, a little help from their friends.
@MorneN (Comment 83) : yeah i also thought that earlier this year, but i am changing my mind a little. haven’t they lost some big players this year?
@try time (Comment 84) :
Everyone apart from disgruntled Sharks supporters simply remember what the scoreboard read.
@try time (Comment 85) :
Chiefs did not lose any significant players as far as memory serves. Force neither…
I still have to study their squads however but the little browsing I did seemed to suggest very little disruption.
@MorneN (Comment 83) : yeah – I had the Chiefs in 4th this year. Always assuming Sione Lauaki manage to stay out of jail for the duration of the tournament…
@MorneN (Comment 86) :
Oh and the only friend that conspired to a Sharks loss in the 2007 final was Frans Steyn not kicking an easy conversion…
@MorneN (Comment 86) : i don’t mind being beaten, like waratahs did to us twice last year. but when a referee cheats it feels like the zuma saga.
@MorneN (Comment 89) : who said frans plays for the sharks? the jury is still out on that. rumour has it the sharks play for him.
@robdylan (Comment 88) :
😀 😀 😀
@try time (Comment 91) :
touche
@MorneN (Comment 89) : just another reason why i agree john must be captain. twice johan has cocked up badly by letting frans kick at crucial times.
@try time (Comment 94) :
Man you know how pissed off I am at that move???
And I am not even a Sharks supporter!
@try time (Comment 94) : actually, AJ was the captain when it happened in 2007.
The Sharks are the reigning CC Champs, they should win this one. 🙄
@MorneN (Comment 95) : it must be tough though for plum. john left and plum had to put his trust in a player. he cannot drop the guy now that john is back. but it still doesn’t seem right though.
@try time (Comment 98) :
I suppose you are right, a coach picks a captain that has his back and the other way around too.
we are forgetting one crucial thing… Stormers are going to go into the game with either Fatafehi or Koster at left wing, given Naqelevuki’s injury. There’s got to be a defensive liability there for the Sharks to exploit.
@wpw – Take that Chelsea!!! (Comment 97) : playing a game of “pass the favourites tag”, wes?
@wpw – Take that Chelsea!!! (Comment 97) : interesting thing is in the s14 both the sharks and stormers have the bok team back in their squads. so in the first game it is going to be tough. the difference between the teams will be seen later in the comp when crucial bok players are injured and the backup is called upon. thats where the currie cup players make the mark, and yes the sharks b team did win the cc. the stormers b team didn’t make the semis, so stormers supporters better pray they don’t get players injured.
@robdylan (Comment 101) :
Me?? NEVER… 😉
@robdylan (Comment 96) : sorry johan. but johan was the captain last year. so 50% is still a pass.
Lets be honest here. The Sharks have more depth than the Stormers and if anything happens to Bekker/Fondse or Mujati then we are in deep cack. 😕
@robdylan (Comment 100) : you trying to say Naqelevuki could defend? if i recall he was shocking on his defence. i am sure koster can’t be worse.
@try time (Comment 90) : carefuuuuuul. 😉
@humble wpw (Comment 105) : yeah lack of depth only shows later in the tournament. the first game between the 2 teams will be evenly contested.
hey some thief has stolen my article and put it on their site. who owns just rugby?
@try time (Comment 108) :
I don’t know hey… I think you guys are gonna outplay us.
I mean you have how many contracted Boks??? 😥
@try time (Comment 106) : well, he’s played wing at Super 14 level before… can’t say the same for the other two.
I rate Koster very highly – as a LOOSE FORWARD
@try time (Comment 109) : I’ll give you three guesses…
@robdylan (Comment 111) : and craig burden? three months is a long time in rugby.
@robdylan (Comment 112) : Generous.
@ Rob- 101 Dont you have to have the favourites tag first- before you can pass it on? 😕
Is it just me or has the service in this country gone down the toilet? Am trying to organise a a bus trip for the Brumbies game. Bus companies are junk. What a freaking mission!
@try time (Comment 113) : don’t you think that Burden’s dramatic slide backwards in the Currie Cup just proves the point that it’s not so easy making a positional switch?
@humble wpw (Comment 110) : It’s tough isn’t it? 😉
@MorneN (Comment 78) :
Your wish list, no doubt.
@robdylan (Comment 117) : Rob – i assume you talking about Koster? Everyone seems to forget he played his whole schoool career at centre if i am not mistaken…so its not like he hasn’t had game time in the backline.
@klempie (Comment 116) : Busses explode these days dude
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 120) : ok – didn’t realise that. By all means, then, play him there…
@PJLD (Comment 121) :
😯 In which part of Gaza do you live, you must have satelite comms, I thought that the landlines were destroyed.
@PJLD (Comment 121) : I didn’t phone SA Roadlink.
@klempie (Comment 124) :
@robdylan (Comment 117) : sorry internet crash then went home. i think the decline is more a result of not getting sufficient game time in the position. as i have always wondered why the big unions cannot have teams in the second division to keep the fringe players game fit.
Not a bad run at all… no room for excuses and stupid away losses…
@MorneN (Comment 86) : well then why bring up the might have beens of the Stormers vs Sharks 2008? look at the scoreboard! Like wise for the Bulls vs Stormers 2008 S14!
hell try time, your predictions aren’t half bad. especially considering you never had a look at the players or weren’t aware of injuries at the time. 😆 😆 lets hope the predictions continue to play out in actuality.
@try time (Comment 129) : Great predictions TT….Highlanders wooden spooners???? The surprise of the Super 14.
@Pokkel (Comment 130) : yeah i never expected them to be this good. and the blues to be so poor. chiefs i was expecting to do well, but not this well.
I just like how wpw was still a Stormer supporter on this thread… 😆
@blackshark (Comment 132) : 😆 😆
i miss his anti shark chirps. but it is good to convert. welcome to the fold wpw or rather wes-shark as you have been re-baptised as.
TT how I wish you were right 😥
@blackshark (Comment 132) : 😆 😆
GGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR 👿
@wpw (Comment 136) :
he lives!!!! 😆
@Pokkel (Comment 134) : he was kinda right. they lost it themselves 🙄
why are you torturing us with this old (semi positive thread) ❓ 😉
WP Backline : Pieterson, Koster, Jaque Fourie, Juan de Jongh, Habanero, Peter Grant, Duvenage.
Not bad.
Certainly a lot better than names like STRAUSS AND PIENAAR . . . sigh.