The Sharks started their tour down under on a positive note with a five try win over the Western Force team, with a score that flatters the Sharks somewhat at 39 – 12.
The game was barred by ill discipline from both sides, starting in the 7th minute when Odwa Ndungane, after scoring the opening try, was tip tackled by two Force players, and had to be stretchered off, after which Rory Sidey was red carded. There is no news on Odwa as yet, but as it becomes available we will let you know.
The Sharks can take heart from the fact that they nullified the Force’s much vaunted backline, with a third game in which the Sharks have not let a try past them. It must be mentioned though that the Sharks took a bit of a step back after Bismarck scored the second try, and it looked as if they were playing a man down, such was the play from the Force.
But the Force would never have been able to keep up the pace with a man down, and it showed in end, with the Sharks climbing in with five tries in total, and another two which Mvovo scored after the whistle. Sykes scored the third early in the second half, and after some consistent attacking, Alberts finally fell over the chalk for the Sharks’ first bonus point of the season.
Lambie rounded off a great night with a scrappy try under the poles, which pushed his match return to 19 points. His kicking has improved in leaps and bounds and he managed to get a few trickier and longer range efforts through the poles.
The win might have come at quite a cost though, with Odwa being taken straight to hospital, and then later in the game JP Pietersen was also helped off the park with a suspected knee injury. Botes and Alberts both took knocks during the game as well, with Botes clutching his ribs and Alberts taking a knee to the head.
All in all, it was a good game for the spectators with a lot of running and some great tries. The Sharks next face the Melbourne Rebels, and with a great win like this, should take huge confidence into the next fixture, where we will all be expecting another fie pointer.
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That was really commanding performance.
liked what Ashwin said after the game, that although Force played with 14 men one must not loose sight from the fact that the Sharks controlled it very well.
@rekinek (Comment 2) : no he said “although Force played with 14 men one must not loose sight from the fact that the SHAAKS controlled it very well”.
Congrats boys. A well deserved victory.
Agree well done Sharks
@Danman110 (Comment 3) : no he said “although Force played with 14 men one must not loose sight from the fact that the SHARKS controlled it very well”.
@chaz (Comment 5) : he did not say sharks he said SARKS 😆
@sharks_lover (Comment 6) : Yup, he said Sarks 🙂 Haha. But fair play to Ashwin, he was right when he said we dominated proceedings.
Very nervous to hear about Odwa, hope he’s ok – he puts his heart and soul into everything he does, what a legend!
@sharks_lover (Comment 6) : ok if you say so i didn’t hear what he said busy busy and just corrected the sharks word right but wth i was wrong to but the way u spell it it all sounds the same SHAAKS SARKS and SHARKS
Its Black and White and nothing else matters 😉
@MerckZ (Comment 7) : you can that again what a guy
@MerckZ (Comment 7) : Atleast Rory Sidey got cited hope he gets a long ban.
I know it’s only the third game of the season but look at that log to your right and tell me you’re not smiling if you’re a Sharks fan.
Any news on Odwa? It was a great game, but an expensive one in terms of injuries! Hope none too serious..
@Ice (Comment 12) : I felt a bit sick when I saw Odwa go down. I don’t think there was any malice in that tackle. Just 2 hard tackles from different directions. I hope he isn’t seriously hurt.
@lostfish (Comment 13) : Same here…did not look good…
@Danman110 (Comment 10) : Although he was party to the tackle, I don’t think he was really the one responsible for the tip and drive. A red card was warranted, but if anything it should have gone to Fairbanks.
Holding thumbs for Odwa. Ice, have you checked your Facebook account recently? 🙂
Well done Sharks.
Really hope our win never came with a huge price. Do hope the injuries are not as bad as they looked. Odwa looked in bad shape after that tackle. They replayed it over and over where I was watching and it looked really bad, looked like he came down with his neck bent. Also when they lifted him on the strecther his arms looked limp. NOT a good sign, it could be a neck injury. What a bad tackle on him. Damn hope Odwa is okay. Our outstanding wing for a long time now. Good luck Odwa, hope you alright mate. Also hope Alberts and JPP are fine.
What a price for win if those players are injured.
@Puma (Comment 17) : Amen.
Well done team! Get well soon Odwa. Our thoughts and prayers with you.
The 14-man Force had the upper hand for a long period, and with the injuries we’ve suffered, I truly cant say that I’m confident 😕
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 20) : What’s with the negative waves? Think positive thoughts, and have a nice day 😛
Odwa is fine.
Am I the only one that saw Ludik go down badly? He look concussed.
Great games by:
Bismark…
Odwa (he has been the inform 14 of SA players)
JPP (he has found some pace and nimbleness :shock:)
Lambie (def the best flyhalf in SA at the moment)
Seems Sharks are going to have a tough time fielding a good back 3 next week from the injuries…
Any news on Odwa? And the others?
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 26) : No official news but apparently Supersport said last night that he is okay.
Now whether that means he will play next week or it means he won’t lose a limb is something I can’t answer.
Our back 3 is fine,just bring in AJ,oupa and jlp can play wing.
Simple as that.
Reading the Tribune and see Odwa is fine, has concussion so probably won’t play against the Rebels, he stays on tour though. BAD news is JPP is on his way home with a cartilage tear, will go for scans in Durbs. Shame man, feel for him. Just got back to playing in the team. See Mark Richards will probably fly over to take JPP’s place on tour. Alberts and Bosman still have to wait on their fitness for the game against the Rebels.
WOW!! That win yesterday has come with a price. Hope the rest of the team are ready for the next game. We might have to rotate this week, probably must. Need our best against the kiwi sides.
Then this Rebel side beat Brumies on home turf, a game we might be looking to take the 5 points.
no worries,we still have the team.
@Puma (Comment 29) : Incredibly relieved to hear Odders only has concussion. As I said before, it is bad enough to get injured playing, but to get injured as a result of foul play is just horrible. Can’t wait to see him back on the pitch.
Gutted for JP, I still think that Odders and JPP are our best wing combo, Mvovo is so talented and strong, but really has to watch Odders work rate and learn how to do that. JPP is about the best defensive wing in the world, so he will be sorely missed. I just hope he gets a chance to fully recover and not continue this horrible cycle he is in.
Ludik played a fair bit of wing for the Lions, so he can play on the wing with Stef at fullback. I would not feel bad with a back three of Mvovo, Stef and Ludik, with Adi at 13, he needs the game time.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 32) : Yes,No need for us to worry.
We have more then enough.
True story
@Honey Badger (Comment 33) : And, not to take any Super Rugby team lightly, but the next game is against the Rebels. Might not be a bad match to start JLP at 10 and rest Lambie, Bosman at 12, Adi at 13 and the back three I mentioned above.
Lambie covers a lot of positions from the bench. Might be a good match to have a 5-2 split on the bench, Burden can be emergency back line cover if needed.
1 – Smit
2 – Bissie
3 – Jannie
4 – Sykes
5 – Hargreaves
6 – Keegs
7 – Alberts
8 – Kanko
9 – Charl
10 – JLP
11 – Mvovo
12 – Bosman
13 – Adi
14 – Lukik
15 – Stef
16 – Burden
17 – Beast
18 – Bressler
19 – Botes
20 – Deysel
21 – Hoffman
22 – Lambie
Might be a good lineup for the Rebels.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 35) : Keegan can slot into the backline as well
@Dancing Bear (Comment 36) : And while we are at it let’s throw Alberts into the centres. 🙂
@Ben (Comment 38) : hehe, nope, Alberts gets one half, with Deysel coming on the second half, Botes is emergency back row cover. Gives him and Alberts a bit of a rest.
I got it all worked out. 😉 😀
@Ben (Comment 38) : Although Alberts would be a very scary sight for anyone trying to defend the 12/13 channel. 😆
@Dancing Bear (Comment 40) : Would love to see Nonu and Alberts having a go at eachother from the centres. 😉
@Ben (Comment 41) : Nah, Nonu is a Centre, Alberts is a monster! 😆
Deysel? Is he on his way to Aus?