Sean Everitt and his Sharks XV held on to beat a determined Free State side by 26 points to 17 on Saturday in the Vodacom Cup. The win moves the XV back to the top of the log, although their grip on first place is tenuous indeed, based only on points difference.
Sharksworld caught up with Sharks XV flanker Justin Downey – playing on the blindside this week – to get his thoughts on the game. In the interests of staying on the bleeding edge of technology, I decided to explore the possibilities that my new BlackBerry smartphone provides and I have great pleasure in bringing you the first ever Sharksworld interview conducted via BlackBerry chat! There’s no looking back now, ladies and gents!
The game took on a reasonably familiar tone, with the Sharks XV putting on a huge amount of pressure, yet not really managing to capitalise on that. Downey concurs. “The forwards stepped up physically,” he types, “but we’re playing a very expansive game and we didn’t capitalise on some of those opportunities. This weekend we camped in the Cheetahs half for quite a while and didn’t get points when we were in their 22. Just basic mistakes.”
The Sharks XV managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over via the boot of Monty Dumond in the first half, although former Lions flyhalf Louis Strydom was not far behind for tFree State and for the most part, the first quarter was a see-sawing battle with the XV holding a slender 3-point lead before hooker Kyle Cooper broke the deadlock with a try on 18 minutes. Dumond’s conversion was good and a further three points by either flyhalf saw the home side go into the break leading 16-9.
The second half was a similarly tight affair which the XV eventually shaded by 10 points to 8. Charl McLeod scored with 20 minutes to go, while Dumond added a second conversion and replacement Jacques Venter a penalty. The Free State team finished the stronger of the two sides, with George Whitehead scoring a try towards the end. The XV did well though to keep the winning margin above 7 and thus ensure that Free State did not move above them on the log. While not a perfect performance, it was a definite improvement on the week before’s result, when the XV lost agonisingly to Western Province at Newlands.
“Our scrums were again solid, but the backs still seem to be finding their feet, combination wise,” Downey reckons, “but we are definitely building every week. The guys are getting more and more confident; we believe in our style of play and are all buying into the plan. Sean is an incredible coach – he just puts that confidence in his players.” Asked if there was any particular facet of the game that went well, Downey is his modest self, “I don’t want to blow my own bubble here, but I think Mike [Rhodes], Skollie [Ndlovu] and I did really well as a loose forward combination.”
The trip home didn’t unfortunately proceed quite as smoothly, with the players’ bus involved in an accident on the highway on the way back. “We were all ok,” says Justin, “but it just didn’t feel real. The three people in the car that hit us died… We were all really shaken up and sorry about that and we send our condolences to their family and friends. It turned out to be a very long night as well – we only got home after 2am.”
Looking ahead to this weekend’s match, when the XV travel to George to face the SWD Eagles, Downey reckons “if we don’t stick to our structure, we could make it a long day for ourselves”. Sharks XV, we’re behind you boys all the way. Just do what you know how to do and the results will look after themselves!
White and black – nothing else matters.
Tweet
Sean for Sharks coach 😀
Good job guys…you will get your turn.
@Pokkel (Comment 1) : AMEN AMEN AMEN!!!!
by the way – Kelzfactor managed to get 2000 points for doing live scores from this game. Something to think about.
Who’s going to George this weekend?
I enjoy these interviews.
Time to up the tempo and get the Sharks to give interviews as well.
At least one Sharks team is flying the flag for the union…
“I don’t want to blow my own bubble here…. 😉 😆
@Salmonoid (Comment 5) : doing my best 😉
@robdylan (Comment 8) : Get Plum to comment on the Rift at the Sharks
@FireTheLooser (Comment 9) : he’s not on my blackberry contact list, would you believe?
@robdylan (Comment 8) :
To be honest I doubt any of the Sharks would talk to you after the rodgering you have givien them with your nameless postings, but it would be good if someone was willing to be interviewed.
@Salmonoid (Comment 11) : Would be better if someone was willing to tell the truth. 😉
@FireTheLooser (Comment 12) : Ja big differance between being interviewed and telling the truth.
Afternoon everyone 😉
Glad the guys are all ok
and will be wining the vc for their fans which is us 🙂 😉
@Pokkel (Comment 1) : now i think Sean will do quite well as a sharks coach
and bring our sharkies up to the top 😉
@Salmonoid (Comment 5) : agree on that one then we can here from there side what is wrong in the camp ❓
@robdylan (Comment 3) : Amen Amen Amen
😉
@FireTheLooser (Comment 9) : now i would love to hear the outcome from that interview 🙄 😉
@robdylan (Comment 10) : i thought you had all the contacts aahhh 🙂 but please get it and get us the info we’re waiting for 😆 🙂 😉
@FireTheLooser (Comment 12) : The truth never comes easly guys 😳
@Pokkel (Comment 13) : well, Salmo believes that I’m lying, hence whatever nuggets I manage to get from one of the players in the team would automatically be the truth.
It’s safe to say that nobody’s prepared to publicly break ranks right now and I can’t say I blame them for that.
@robdylan (Comment 22) : Not your fault the guys aren’t willing to talk.
Like somebody already mentioned, we’ll have to wait for the next biography to learn the truth.
Any word on Steve Meyer’s biography yet?
@FireTheLooser (Comment 23) : That tells me everything and there is no rif 😳 😉
@FireTheLooser (Comment 23) : he’s waiting for his girlfriend’s permission to write it 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 25) :
😆 
😆
@robdylan (Comment 25) : aahhhh no way 😳
ok – I’m on my way to the airport now. See you guys later
@FireTheLooser (Comment 26) :
😆 
😆
@robdylan (Comment 28) : enjoy
@robdylan (Comment 22) :
I never once said you were lying, what I did say was that on the one hand we have real people with names and faces who are prepared to be quoted and on the otherhand we have posts by namelss, faceless people who are willing to stoke the flames but not brave enough to be named.
Your spiel is probably quiet true but until someone is willing to be named it is actually is quiete immaterial.
Look at the above posts and the responses – its clear from them that no matter what anyone says our minds have been made up that there are huge problems in the camp and with individuals.
Its starting to get tedious now, much like the Smit at 3 special, but it does get you the hits you need so I can understand why its milked to the nth degree.
Geez Salmo, youre xtremely outspoken and provocative. Did i miss a tiff between you and Rob?
@JustPlainSHARK (Comment 32) :
@robdylan (Comment 4) : Rob forgot to ask when sharks play in Rustenburg and i’m there and give the score and a story do i also get the nice points
@Salmonoid (Comment 31) : salmo, have you actually watched any of the games? I’m not sure how you can persevere with your story that everything is fine! There are clearly huge problems and I am not prepared to play the ostrich game. Your continued accusations of hit-whoring are also not something I can reasonably defend myself against anyway, since you clearly don’t trust my motives and there’s no way for me to convince you otherwise
@Charmaine (Comment 34) : it will only happen if they play a semi or final against the leopards
@robdylan (Comment 35) : Evening Rob at the airport yet 😉
@robdylan (Comment 36) : ok just wanted to know so near to Rustenburg but just don’t get down there to watch the game but will make a point when they do i’m there and gee i’m going to get a lot of hugs and signing done 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 36) : Sorry what about friendly games
if you want to shit yourselves, go look at this link: http://www.zululandobserver.co.za/Pages/m12story1.html
@robdylan (Comment 40) :
😯 😯 😯 When they said “caught fire” I was expecting a few flames around the area where the car hit the bus. 😯 😯 😯
@KSA Shark © (Comment 41) : yeah. Me too. Wasn’t expecting towering inferno
@robdylan (Comment 40) : Guys were really lucky to escape serious injury or worse.
@JustPlainSHARK (Comment 32) :
No tiff, Im just airing my views, those being that I would rather refrain from dissing anyone on rumours alone.
@robdylan (Comment 35) :
Rob read my posts nicely, I have clearly stated that you are probably correct with your postings BUT as long as they remain nameless then I think they carry no weight and am not willing to jump on the bandwagon in further demoralising a team that is clearly hurting (from the losses) already.
Yes the team look awful on the field but to take that as proof of a rift (as opposed to coaching / gameplans / ball quality etc) is speculative.
Regarding your comment on getting hits, you yourself posted that it was necessary to post these articles or there would only be new content every few days.