Last nights Neo Africa Tri Series match at Newlands was attended by 4222 people, made up of mostly Newlands staff, Sharks fans but there were about 7 very vocal Force fans.
This report is going to come across a bit negative but I promise you it wasn’t pretty last night.
Jean Deysel gets isolated and pinged for holding.
Force looked intent to run the ball a bit and had it not been for a pass going behind Sam Wykes would have been up 5-0 in the 4th minute.Two minutes later they did get their try when Sam Wykes went over in the corner and Pretorius kick flew wide to the right.
Craig Burden first lineout attempt for the night was probably intended for the back of the lineout but ended up in the centre of of the field somewhere, this was to continue for the rest of the game, Burden was industrious and carrys the ball well but he probably hit his jumpers cleanly in about 2 of 10 attempts.
If last nights game was anything to go by then the Sharks backline woes of last year are going to continue,there was absolutely no direction except sideways when the ball went down the line.Either the boys were told not to have a go or they just didn’t feel like it.Towards the end of the first half after the Sharks had snuffled an attack by James O ‘Connor a promising counter attack started byVulindulu was snuffled when Monty Dumond kicked the ball away aimlessly with about 3 players on his left.
The scrums were nothing to write home about either, but both teams were guilty of this, the first scrum had to be reset 5 times before the Sharks won a short arm penalty.Every other scrum that followed went straight down with only 2 scrums being “clean”.
The Sharks also didn’t dominate the breakdowns, but it was clear that with a few more games this area will correct itself, it looked alot more like rustiness than cluelessnes and Plumtree that the boys were a bit underdone but was not overly concerned, he was more worried about the lineout woes.
At the presser Plum didn’t seem overly concerned at the result but was glad to have come up against the quality of the opposition because it gave a better idea on what needs to be done.
Also the coach admitted there was plenty injuries in the team but would not say who was carrying niggles.
He pointed out that the Force had shown that counterrucking is still big in the game and that the boys need to work on dominating the collisions and big hits.
The score was no big deal because The Force conceded lots of penalties and in a game they would have taken the shots at goal instead of going for the lineout every time.
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Sharks seem pretty sh%#$. I suppose we must keep perspective, but mark my words this backline will stay crap and crab all over the field unless they start importing some fresh faces…
Scrums were appalling. Smit at 3 was a disaster. Tighthead given away when Sharks were pushed off the ball…..the Bok front row is a joke….rubbish….how Smit can ever play in the 3 jersey is a mystery to me….Get Bj Back….
Backs were slow and ponderous….i was shocked by the display….Sharks look unfit, set pieces hopeless….
Best spin in the world cant hide the deficiencies….
Hope S Meyer is the real deal…
@grant10 (Comment 2) : I was trying to hold back a bit, intended to to a blow by blow account but opted not to
@provincejoulekkading (Comment 3) : I was shocked…really ! The fall from grace of such a great team is so sad…..how are they going to get out this hole? The backs were so pedestrian…the front row manhandled, the loosies were sluggish…Daniels at least featured in some play….and Kockott tried….
Never thought i would say this but Plumtree must beg Ruan to play at 10…..unless Steve Meyer really steps up big time….Monty was no more than an average link…even A Pretoriuos shone facing him…
This is a challenge for SA Rugby as a whole. From what i saw the lack of team spirit was apparent as well….
I watched from the early warm ups…and had a great seat on halfway line …grand stand….watched every scrum with rapt interest…..what a shambles…that Nic Henderson of WF was laughing at Smit….it was embarressing!
Stop this ridiculous experiment now sharks…
Both front rows were shoddy.Deysel was missing all game.Kocket tried, someone disagreed with me last night on the basis that they don’t rate him, which made no sense at all.
@provincejoulekkading (Comment 5) : Both front rows the sharks fielded
START WIEHAHN HERBST AT 3!!!!!!!
@robdylan (Comment 7) : good plan
@provincejoulekkading (Comment 5) :
Deysel is overrated!!! FACT
He should never have toured ahead of Duane Vermeulen last year!!!
No mention of Alberts?? DId he play last night?? 😐
At least Willem Alberts got to play
@wpw (Comment 10) : apparently manie reynecke has filed an official complaint
@wpw (Comment 10) : He looked ok, also a bit overweight.
@war1 (Comment 12) :
Really?? 🙄
I’m gonna enjoy this one!! Where’s my popcorn?? 😈
I have the direct numbers and mobile numbers of 2 brilliant mind coaches!
Get Tim back into the Sharks setup pronto.
The Sharks (coaches and management) need some serious attitude adjustment.
@provincejoulekkading (Comment 13) :
Ekse, ek sal jou scope Vrydag by die game.
@Morné (Comment 15) : I’m gonna start a petition
@Morné (Comment 16) : Ons sal sien, jys a fader jy.
@provincejoulekkading (Comment 18) :
Kak man, I was always only going to the Sharks/Stormers game
@Morné (Comment 19) : you’ve been called out… 🙂
@Morné (Comment 19) : Sê maar soe!
wikus blaauw to show smit his bumhole on friday!
@provincejoulekkading (Comment 21) :
When I get there on Friday we will have to “Make da sikkel beega”
@Megatron (Comment 22) : them’s fightin words 🙂
@Megatron (Comment 22) :
What about Lambie ? How did he go ???