The Sharks got back on track with a bonus point win over the Brumbies, as they came back from a disappointing start to record a 34 – 16 final score. After trailing by ten points at half time, they showed great heart and made quite the comeback with a great four try second half.
Giteau got his team on the board first courtesy of a penalty, which was followed up by another minutes later to double the lead. Lealiifano scored a runaway try for the Brumbies in the 22nd minute, after sustained pressure from the Sharks where they turned down two attempts at goal to take the lineuts, only for the ball to be turned over. Suddenly the lead was a massive thirteen points.
After more play in the Brumbiess 22m, captain Terblnache finally gave in and let young Lambie have a go at goal, bringing up the first points for the men in black and white. And minutes later Lambie struck another penalty to reduce the lead even further. The Sharks had more the three quarter of the possession in the first half hour and only had 6 points to show for it.
Giteau slotted another penalty just before half time to get the lead back to ten points, and that is how it stood at the break. I am sure the coach had a few stern words for his players, as they came out a different team in the second.
JP Pietersen scored a try just after half time after a good phase by phase build up, and was duly converted by Lambie to reduce that half time lead to a mere three points. More sustained pressure from the Sharks resulted in a penalty that Lambie pushed right, and the Sharks continued to camp in the Brumbies 22m. The Sharks managed to turn over a Brumbies scrum on our 5m which resulted in Sykes scoring in the corner, and the Sharks tasted the lead for the first time in the match.
Adi Jacobs finally got some game time when he replaced Meyer Bosman with 20 minutes to play, and what an impact he made! He made some incisive breaks before later being at the end of a counter attack and scoring in the corner. Lambie converted and suddenly the Sharks were leading by eleven points and looking for that bonus point try with 15 minutes to play.
Coach Plumtree cleared his bench and with minutes remaining on the clock, the Sharks were desperate to score their fourth try, and eventually got it with Bresler falling over the try line. Lambie converted and it was game set and match.
The Sharks’ second half performance far outshone the first as they kept the Brumbies scoreless and managed to score all four tries in the second forty. Keegan Daniel was the standout player for the Sharks, he put his body on the line and was a defensive beast.
The Sharks will have to work on their lineouts and work will have to be done to get players to the breakdown quicker, as this was the point of contact where they lost the most possession.
Tweet
Well i missed most of the game and when i did look we were behind but that is by gones and this game makes me a proud Sharks and will always be
again
WELL DONE TEAM
its Black and White all the way
Did the job but what a boring game of rugby …
Sharks need a jolt of some sought to get them out of a slump ,they hanging their heads a bit to easy . Backline looked static and mcleod`s passing isnt helping it. I think it is time for Jacobs to start . Lambie looking fairly complacent some need to remind the kid that their are now dozens of wannabee lambies who are actually starting to play good rugby -about 3 from wp and the cheetahs boys, time to up the tempo .
On a positive the bd was much better today ,willem alberts and keegan daniels playing good rugby- deysel body position needs coaching. Line outs a shamble but scrums decent .
Need some urgency sharks ,please .Imo I would have a closer look at bresler .
well done boys
Well done Sharks! Got the result and that’s all that matters! Stef had a great game yet again!
@Talent (Comment 2) : it was a great 2nd half
Day old braai and scrapie first half was not good for the system, but the pudding and a desent 2nd half was good to cheer me up…well done boys.. 5 points and closing in on stormpies he he he top spot must be the target. If we can end top and saders drop the blues in the semi we can get a home final… Bobs your uncle 🙂
@Ben (Comment 4) : 🙂
@franshark (Comment 7) : He’s playing far better rugby than Adi!
Good game but shit we could of pumped the brumbies..why don’t we swing the ball around more..always trying the forwards approach when we sit on the tryline
@Ben (Comment 8) : ja and that why adi’s on the bench
@franshark (Comment 10) : For sure. Gotta be mad to want to drop Stef! He’s in the form of his life and that number 13 suits his play the very best. Who’s Jaque Fourie? Stef for Bok 13!
@Ben (Comment 11) : ja but then well be stuck wirh adi in the cc…
Whoooooo did anyone notice someone got another star whoopie!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 3 horaas!!!!
Sharks were told to go easy on this game, no needless injuries, Deysel did what was required of him – good supportive play, decent defense and cleaning out, but could see didn’t give his all, going thru the motions to gain match fitness and be ready for the games after the bye. We can’t expect too much from him too early, watch out for the bulls game, the whole team will be switched on. Conrad Hoff needs a shot at starting…
@franshark (Comment 12) : Nah Marius Joubert will play. So luckily Adi will stay on the bench.
Sarcastic Ben?
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 16) : What do you think DD?
@Ben (Comment 17) : no no, Maruis, stef, bosman, JLP, all in one backline.. Exiting times ahead 🙂
@franshark (Comment 18) : Or maybe they will move a fullback into centre again, Ludik to play 13 in the CC? 🙂
@Ben (Comment 19) : gee that sadie guy play well for province, fresh is good..
@franshark (Comment 20) : Yip he looks like a talent. No future for him at province, send him this way please! 🙂
@Ben (Comment 21) : Looking forward to players like jordaan and richards… To play for us, we’re now out the vodacomcup so no excusee anymore, use the talent that’s there.
@franshark (Comment 22) : yeah not even metioning Marcell Coetzee. Got a very bright future ahead of him. Also think Kobus de Kock is worth having a look at.
Time to dive, we’ll be dreaming of all the talent and we’ll see the usual next time
Staying up very late tonight to watch the boxing at 3. Pacman vs Sugar Shane Mosley. Looking forward to this.
@Ben (Comment 25) : enjoy
@Ben (Comment 25) : Do you follow mma.
Sugar all the way!
I don’t like to say players bad, but I can’t stand the sight of Bosman dancing ballet rather than tackling anymore! Flip dude! You won’t break!
@Honey Badger (Comment 27) : Yeah I watch UFC. I hope sugar wins but pacman I far to good!
@KingRiaan (Comment 28) : It’s actually becoming a bit of a joke that Bosman and McCleod are allowed to clown around for 70 minutes each week while Adi and Hoffman sit on the bench.
@CapeShark (Comment 30) : agreed 👿
Just watched the game again. Agree with you CapeShark,those two are really clowning around! It was a crap performance guys, we expect a better performance from the Sharks. We must not settle for mediocrity. Our boys only have the 2nd half against the Crusaders to show that they are CC champions…even the Cheetahs are playing better rugby and this isn’t the CC. Let’s look at player performances’ over the duration they were on the field and not over the last 20mins of the game…whoever’s doing the player ratings this week..please..give your rating accordingly. I don’t want to be given a sense comfort that we are playing well and absolutely lose it when we get beaten up like we did last week, yet the tell tale signs where there all along – Force and Rebels almost had our number and the Chiefs beat us. Hope Plum hasn’t given the boys the entire week off this coming week, take a page from the Stormers’ book, they were only given Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday off before their game against us. A lot of work needs still needs to be done and our remaining games are against teams that know how to beat us – Cheetahs,Waratahs, Bulls and Lions. The one positive is that we started sending numbers to the rucks in the second half last night to prevent the counter ruck. Just need to work on giving the backline quick ball – it needs the advantage more than other teams do. Our game plan is only effective if our ball carriers get quick ball. If Mcleod can’t do that then what does he bring to the party? PDiv shouldn’t have picked Mcleod last year, maybe he would still be hungry…it seems that he achieved what he wanted and is now content…and we are taking the pain!
There are rumours that Ruan Pienaar could join the Bulls or Stormers within the next few weeks!
@war1 (Comment 33) : Where did you hear that?
@war1 (Comment 33) : and do what at the Bulls, play off the bench?
@Ben (Comment 34) : Twitter
By the way, is it just me or is Anton Bressler beefing up a bit?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 35) : Or start for the Stormers and they have left the 26th spot in their touring squad open.
@war1 (Comment 36) : Who said so on twitter?
Why would Ruan do that?? The SHARKS need him more…
@Ben (Comment 39) : Morne
@GreatSharksays (Comment 40) : If the Sharks don’t want him, it’s not his fault. This is a SARU thing to get him to play some Superrugby to get ready for the internationals so probably only a loan.
@war1 (Comment 42) : Well I hope its not a case of the Sharks not wanting him.
@Ben (Comment 43) : Either that or he doesn’t want to go back to the Sharks, which would be worse.
@war1 (Comment 44) : Both situation would be equally kak. Means there are big problems between him and the union.
Morne should no better than to give any credence to rumours.
Ruan has just been picked in the Magners league dream team and is the toast of the town in Ulster.
Ulster will play Magners league SF on 13 may and if the qualify they will play the Final on 28 May. Stormers would be stupid if they left a touring slot open for him.
Spreading rumours is irresponsible.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 46) : It would be feasible for it is a loan, Ulster’s season is almost over they just have Magner’s league semis to play and the final if they reach that.
@war1 (Comment 47) : Yeah they only have the play-offs left and those finish on 28 May after the Stormers have played 3 of their 4 tour games.
I don’t think any team administrators would keep a spot open for a player for 3 weeks so they could use him with heavy jetlag on the 4th.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 48) : Their semi is next week Friday. Final will probably be the week after that. It’s not an impossibility in my eyes but I’ll believe it when I see it.
Dammit Keegan has been cited for a high tackle on the 71min. 😈
@war1 (Comment 49) : The semi is 13May and the Finals are 28May.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 51) : So if Ulster reach the final it will really not be a good option to take him on tour, but if they don’t . . .
No man! Plum must speak to Ruan. We certainly miss him.
I`m just happy Adi showed us we do have some better options. Lets hope Plum took notice!
But yes, worried about the rest of our season.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 53) : yea
@Original Pierre (Comment 54) : Its not a walk in the park but well get there, I still believe.. 😕
smit going to saracens for 2 years after wc
Ruan pienaar must come back to sharks ,he will die at lions or bulls ,wp would actually make great use of him .But come back to the sharks ruan
Guys I am pretty certain Ruan will NOT be coming back to the Sharks this season.
stormers selected 26 players on tour but named 25 with the 26 th spot being A N Other….Ruan Pienaar?
@grant10 (Comment 60) : That would be good news for the stormers ,beyond good news infact, the only news that could be better was if stormers where able to sign a decent tight head.
In another shocking transfer rumour, whispers of Elton Jantjies to WP.
@war1 (Comment 62) : with gary van aswegen, l cronje and grant that would be strange indeed
@Talent (Comment 61) : is jannie available?
The stormers would do well to but the cheetahs 9 name escapes me right now
@grant10 (Comment 63) : It would.
@grant10 (Comment 64) : Bismarc would cry himself to sleep at night …
The amount of whinging he is doing nowdays might aswell play soccer
@grant10 (Comment 64) : He might be, but he won’t leave Bissie though.
@Talent (Comment 65) : Sarel Pretorius. Any SA side apart from the Bulls could do with him but I reckon he’ll go overseas.
@war1 (Comment 69) : Cheetahs are playing good rugby ,I think they have 9 bonus points …
What their season could have been …
@war1 (Comment 69) : Host of cheetahs players including sarel who are playing superb attacking rugby however untill they tighten up defence and add more structure they will only ever be mid table.
@Talent (Comment 71) : Maybe Dries Strauss’ injury hit them harder than we can imagine.
sias eberhohson has made the world of difference for cheetahs
Smith to Saracens would make sense. He could kickstart his coaching Career there as well.
Smit to Saracens would make sense. He could kickstart his coaching Career there as well.
Smit leaving just is too sad to think about. They better have a world XV match lined up at Kingspark on his last match lined up. Also declare that day a natural holiday.
And in other news the Lions have signed Freddie Michalak and Luke Watson will captain the Stormers in the place of Schalk for their tour..
Bloody idiotic rumours..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 77) : 😆 Yeah, but a little bit of speculataion was fun. The Jantjies one comes via Walter though.