We finish the weekend at the best stadium in world rugby, good old Kings Park, where we will be seeing a massive battle between the Sharks and the Bulls, a game that is set to decide which of the two teams will be contending towards the end of the season.
The Sharks have a few concerns in the loose forwards where Kankowski has been ruled out with a jaw injury and Keegan Daniel being suspended for this match, which has forced Plumtree to select Botes, Deysel and Alberts as the loose trio, which could work really well or it could come back to haunt us. The coach has also stuck to his guns, or should I say water pistols in the midfield, with Adi Jacobs remaining a bench warmer.
The Bulls come off a few good games where they are starting to show some of the form we were all expecting to see at the beginning of the season. The battle between Morne Steyn and Pat Lambie will be very interesting to see unfold as both are in some decent form at the moment, the only difference being that the Bulls have a class scrumhalf in Fourie du Preez to feed Steyn.
This humdinger of test match proportions kicks off at 19h10.
Sharks – 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Stefan Terblanche (c), 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Eugene van Staden, 18 Gerhard Mostert, 19 Marcel Coetzee, 20 Conrad Hoffmann, 21 Adi Jacobs, 22 Lwazi Mvovo.
Bulls – 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dean Greyling.
Subs: 16 Gary Botha, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Danie Rossouw, 20 Derick Kuün, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Gerhard van den Heever
Tweet
Go Bulls! 😈 😉
Come boys..I didn’t drive to durban for nothing..a win is needed..aseblief..
richard’s new avatar scares me 😯
@McLovin (Comment 1) : hello – I am busy mailing administrators to remove this offensive comment (this is a family site ):mrgreen:
SHARKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@rekinek (Comment 4) : Could be a banning offence. 😈
@McLovin (Comment 6) : could be 😈
ok. full tummy (perhaps not the best thing if it’sd a stressfull game), glass full – me is ready 😆
Where is the resident ref? I need a ruling…
@rekinek (Comment 7) : We’ll just put our heads together and come up with a way of sorting it out.
maybe a headbutt will do. 😛
@Rahul (Comment 9) : Wazzup!!!!!!!!!!
Okay media blackout for me. I’m recording the game and will be about an hour behind actual events.
GO Sharks!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rahul you have 3 minutes to ask your question or the answer will have to wait until after the game 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 12) : full time is up, but the ref already awarded a scrum. He awards a free kick after that for early engagement. Is that now game over or is the kick played?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 12) : oh and… Hello. How was the birthday?
Anyone looking for a link. Found a good high def one online…
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 15) : nice…. someone on twitter was looking for a link. Post it here, it will be ok
http://www.soccertvlive.net/watch/65698/2/watch-cheetahs-vs-rebels.html
I know it says Cheetahs vs Rebels, but it is a carry on from that match
adi at12!
Bosman dropped!!!bwahahahahahahahahahaha 😀
@RuckingFun (Comment 19) : Plum playing games is he… its about damn time.
YAAAAAAAYYYYYYY!
Adi starts! 😆
@Megatron (Comment 20) : Dude for once we agree…
Adi is starting!!! Yeah! 🙂
whenever the bulls play there is always a fat guy with horns and a beer 😀
@rekinek (Comment 25) : and a ring through his nose ❓
@Megatron (Comment 20) : oh nooo 😀
long time coming
Okay business time! Go Sharks!!!
would be nice for jean to have a good game. he’s being quiet since return from injury.
Adi on for Bosman go Sharks!!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 12) : that was 2 min 29 sec??? 🙁
Oh boy!
bulls penalty after van der heever run – few missed tackles 😐
That was poor defense… seems its contagious
0 – 3 to bulls 🙄
1st adi tackle miss
sharks LO in sharks 22
Geez, how easily was that turned over!!
@rekinek (Comment 37) : Nice change 🙂
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 39) : and we managed to win this lineout 😀
Boy, the Bulls will be happy to kick into the corner all day if we keep losing lineouts
missed lineout and bulls try 😕
That was shocking
sharks lose their first lineout in the 4th minute…yoh
try hougaard…it’s going to be LONG night 😀
@Megatron (Comment 44) : big concern!
@Megatron (Comment 44) : that was our second LO lost 😈
3 back… but still 7 down
we just giving the bulls a bit off false hope
nice kick from lambie 😛
bulls second try 😕
This is just getting worse and worse.
Can’t complain about our Defence! There is none!!!
glad I’m not watching this.
Can someone explain why it was left to a number 9 to tackle meisiekind off first phase ball!! and then how easily Adi dropped off number 1. This is looking bad, very bad
So, I kinda feared we were gonna lose cos of the weak lineouts and huge deficiency at lock: seems its coming to pass.
We can’t concede set-pieces like that, while the locks aren’t even being effective at the rucks.
Now do your job Stefan. Regather your recruits and get your heads back in this game!
No way he gets this
Impressed, but trading penalties for tries isnt going to win us shite
Sharks are not in the game. Bulls this far ahead…it’s as good as over. We need a stronger captain.
Collapsing the maul???
don’t worry the Sharks will pull a stormers-like comeback 😀
Giving Morne a second chance.. never a good idea. Sharks need a try in the next 10 mins or this is going the same way as the Stormers game
Bulls forwards quite impressive so far.
Yawn and another penalty..
Out cleaners are very slow today – first cleaner on Beast was Lambie, then Botes: brothers du Plessis very late.
Mcleod’s runs to nowhere are making it worse.
WHY DID HE KICK THAT!!!!
Hargreeves isn’t doing his job at lineout, might as well bring Mostert on cause we are losing the physical war.
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 66) : 😆 Dude, I wish I could go down there and ask him for you, because I also want to know.
We miss Daniel!!!!!
Knocked on. Best chance so far and knocked on
Bismarck do his best to get cited. 🙄
I cant believe the sharks actually were awarded that scrum
Sharks need points here
Beast is missing a trick here. For a few weeks now actually. He keeps running sideways.
I think the sharks aren’t well coached. Very easy to defend against!!
Our predictability on attack is making it easier for the defence: much like with the Stormers.
Lambie needs to take responsibility to create some variety – and the big runners need to move one out from the rucks and run from deep.
Just about everyone losing the ball in the tackle.
Clueless.
@Ben (Comment 74) :
No, the problem is the poor cleaning.
Oupa is anonymous on attack, and the back 3 get no good ball with him there.
Thats just appalling.
What’s up with alberts?????
The beast never tries to break the tackle… Always going down before hes tackled!
Its a comedy of errors. Theres no clue. WE are hoping they are going to miss tackles. They are being patient on defense waiting for the Sharks to knock it on, which always happens
No surprises in how we´re playing. The guys are under pressure and let´s face it – we have sort of become the chokers of Super rugby.
@Big Fish (Comment 79) : What’s the use of running sideways?
This game is going to take a miracle. 17 point hole playing like they are… Would almost settle for a losing bonus point right now.
Lol…Joel just said the Bulls are reading the SHARKS like an old comic book, they know where they are going to attack, who are the ball carriers, who the ball is going to etc…season is over good people…we haven’t played well all season. We just got fooled by the high scores we gave the players whilst they played crap..players given 7/10 whilst the score should have been 4/10….what a let down of a season…coaching is clearly not right.
Leinster won the Heineken Cup btw. Also a comeback and a half.
Nightmare! Alberts not coping at 8,no decison making in the back, forwards not running good lines, charl takes ages to get the ball away…we ate not handling the pressure well
And thankfully it´s haltime, so at least 10 minutes of non-embarrassment.
Whenever a team as fronted up to the Sharks, they have looked impotent. I wouldnt be shocked if they get held without a try. The more desperate the sharks become, the more mistakes they make, the more predictable they are to defend. This is like watching a reply of the Stormers game
sharks are a second haalf team, come on boys!
jeez, but this is utter shyte so far… hop the boys can come back
@McLovin (Comment 88) : Was a great game of rugby!
If you wanna know why Alberts is looking so poor today, it might just have something with the amount of rugby he has had to play so far.
Plumtree’s poor player management and 1-dimensional strategy may just be catching up with him.
The Bulls are outplaying the Sharks. The Sharks fans on here need to stop whining, please.
Big Fish I agree with you. We show no commitment at the breakdowns and thake ages to get there. What I’m saying is what’s the use of Beast runiing sideways? All he is doing is eating up the space of the backline.
@rhineshark (Comment 94) : I believe so. Only saw a few minutes here and there.
😛
@Big Fish (Comment 95) : jip, actually called it while back. Look what the Stormers youngsters are doing.who do we play at 8 though?
@Big Fish (Comment 95) : That sort of shit is bound to catch up with a coach.
SA just beat Fiji 12 – 7 at the sevens. 😎
go have another Windhoek guys 🙂
@McLovin (Comment 102) : Nice 😎
@catfish (Comment 100) : Marcell Coetzee. Need to get him on to see what he can do
@war1 (Comment 96) : Are we supposed to be happy chappies?
@McLovin (Comment 98) : Watch the replay if you get a chance. Was a good ad for Premiership rugby.
@war1 (Comment 96) :
LOL!
Why? Cos we are being outplayed? I missed the connection there.
I hope they’ve sorted the ref’s mic. Would like to hear the whistle.
Refs must be one of the few professions where ‘whistling while you work’ is compulsory.
@rhineshark (Comment 107) : Will do.
@Ben (Comment 97) : Coaching mate…Plum thought the new rules meant not sending numbers to the breakdown…he only realized that you still need send numbers to the breakdown only 3 weeks ago, by that time it was too late, the other teams where too far ahead in their training..Take the Stormers for example, as soon as a player goes down, 3,4 players are there to clean, they’ve been doing it since last year mate..it’s now second nature. Again, if we are not going to get to the breakdowns quickly then Mcleod needs to get there quickly to clear the ball.
@Big Fish (Comment 79) : kak man! Where is JPP when we need him? His the only one trying! The wings are useless, alberts, well gawd knows – but hell people, we need a bit of positivity here!
Must give Ludik kudos though. Realy having a good one
Different week! Same story! 🙄
@Ice (Comment 112) : meaning terblanche is the only one trying. We are not doing the BASICS!! Lambie needs to straighten perhaps – too many silly errors!
@catfish (Comment 113) : Don’t think so..he offers us nothing. When he gets the ball I know exactly what he is going to do…no X-factor.
This is starting to become one bif fat joke of a season.
@Ben (Comment 114) : Yet we’ve been our guys high scores week in week out. Joke!!!
Chilli off. Botha on.
@Ice (Comment 112) :
Sure. The wings should magically appear in the centres leaving the outside open for attack.
Makes great sense: clearly Oupa is having a superb game. 🙄
@GreatSharksays (Comment 118) : Yip but as Sharks fans we aren’t aloud to whine! 🙄
@GreatSharksays (Comment 116) : he goes over advan line everytime. Very commited. The clean break will come
At last…Try Time !
Bissie!!!
1 down 3 to go…
We need to move Alberts and Deysel further out from the breakdown on attack – run at their secondary defenders.
We also need more structure on attack – bring the back 3 into the game by creating space inside. But we struggle to do that with ourmidfield. Lambie needs to attack Steyn’s channel to make up for that.
Please Sharkies! Make me regret doubting you. PLEAAAAASE!
Unfortunately Adi hasnt exactly grabbed his chances with both hands this game either. Seems to function better as a sub.
Match not really living up to expectations. Too many errors. 😐
Whats that about the 5th or 6th penalty off the rolling maul???
Coetzee fitting in well. Can´t catch either.
Game over…
And thats probably the ballgame
@Big Fish (Comment 120) : No.n but perhaps if Stefan is running and kicking an up and under, JPP should not stand with his hands in his hips watching??
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 128) : Hardly his fault. How Plum expects Adi to suddenly come and sort out the midfield problems when he has played so little all season is beyond me.
Bosman is on. Meisiekind’s chance to shine now. 😈
@ Pablo, agree but how many chances did the other starters before Jacobs had ?
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 128) :
Definitely not Adi’s best game would have liked to see him take his chance with both hands.
I’m seeing a team beaten mentally in-front of me – only bonus is seeing the forwards starting to use attacking pods.
Fuck this. I´m not watching this shit anymore. Cheers.
@rhineshark (Comment 135) : Adi isn’t a 12 anyway. Poor coaching is what this is!
I honestly believe that we need to fast track Adonga…you can’t ignore what he can offer, our players are too 1 dimensial. had he been elsewhere the coaches would have made a plan.
Come Sharks!!!
@Ice (Comment 134) :
And in your counter lies the point: which other 13 at this level do you see kicking up-and-unders.
@rhineshark (Comment 135) :
Fair comment.
@Big Fish (Comment 143) : and Lambie must follow up on his own kick!!?? Come one!
Ah well, at least we fought right until the end.
Well done Bulls.
Plumtree needs to take a hard look at his coaching and game-plan: this is the 3rd team to beat us this way (after the Crusaders and Stormers).
Congrats Bulls.
Did your homework and delivered.
Tough luck Sharks folk. Just one of those days.
toughies sharkies… 😀
Congrats Bulls! Got nothing more to say really about the Sharks. Carrying that chokers tag for at least one more season!
One of the worst ever calls from Mark Lawrence imo. 🙄
shit
Congrats to the Bulls.
@Big Fish (Comment 143) : Does it matter – there is work to be done…don’t stand still…
@Ice (Comment 144) :
If the chasers are in front of him? One would hope so: only way to put the rest of the team on-side.
There is no way anyone can claim that we lost the game at wing: we lost this up-front, and the midfield lack of creativity didn’t help.
Plumtree needs to take this on the chin and go back to the drawing board. He is wasting some serious talent with his game-plan.
Tough luck guys.
Chin up.
Please guys, let’s not all get excited and start sending all sorts of comments. We saw this coming ages ago…we have been useless all season. Almost lost to the Rebels, were lucky against the Force as they had our number before they had a player red carded. Not even a bonus point from this game! Plum, Bash, the other guy and Rudolph are a bad combination. Decision making, strategy is no good.
@Morné (Comment 154) : have another glass 😆 will help
😆 😆 😆 Better luck next year.
we really need to play for 80 instead of 40
@Big Fish (Comment 153) : agree with you 100%.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 155) : i felt that Big Vic was not that good tonight – he actually looked out of sorts since Lions game. I think the amount of physicality that this guy brings he might not have been managed properly. mcleod on the other hand was not too bad. though I would prefer to see the Hoffman kid a bit more.
ps. is this ruan loan still an option
I am only going to say this once…
Stormers (twice) and Bulls tonight beat the Sharks through one thing and one thing only…
They bullied them…
Don’t ask me for any specific analysis, because looking at the Sharks team you would never thing names like Bis, Jannie, Sykes, Deysel, Alberts etc. will get bullied – but they did.
For the Sharks to turn this around, and there is till time – they need to figure out where their physical edge to their game has gone – because they have turned into soft cocks (sorry).
This is not the Sharks team that won the CC 8 months ago.
@Big Fish (Comment 153) : i’m not sure i understand – what’s plumtree’s game plan?
Better performance from Mcleod…and Lambie! Only two that deserve a score above 5.
@Morné (Comment 161) : big vic got tired and jean is still rusty IMO.
@rekinek (Comment 162) :
😆
@Morné (Comment 161) :
Sad but true. Not being helped by predictability either.
our big runners often got the ball too flat and didnt have enough momentum when they collided with the bulls and this meant we didnt get go forward ball
handling was not good
@RuckingFun (Comment 166) : you forgot to say after collided with the bulls then lost the ball forward and we did not get the ball.
in the first half backs were hardly in the game 😐
always gutted if the sharks loose – even more so if at home, but what can you do 🙄
@rekinek (Comment 168) : yup adi’s not a 12 he must start at 13 and mvovo needs to start
Lol…Remember how pissed off we were after the hiding we got from the Stormers.? At least we are calm tonight. Well done Bulls..best of luck. We need at least 2 SA teams in the top 6 and if we can’t do it…well..it’s not your fault. We need to start thinking about the RWC now.
gonna be really tough from here on out
Well done Bulls! Disgraceful showing from the Sharks forwards it must be said. Its not great defence that caused it either, its plain and simply bad execution. Crucial handling errors at key moments that were u13F style, you can’t coach that at this level! We blew at least 4 scoring opportunities. Absolutely gutted…
@Big Fish (Comment 153) :sorry did not see they were infront.Sorry again – way too emotional – but with the ST run, seeing JPP just watching from behind, made me FUME… To me – basics could not even be done and that’s sad really. Like Morne say- complete diff putfit from last year. Utterly dissapointed.
@rekinek (Comment 169) : ya hate it when we lose at home especiallly when theres a good turn out like there was today
@Morné (Comment 161) : Ah, shucks, I’m a Bully
@Big Fish (Comment 165) :
True.
I always had the Sharks down for a loss tonight, but it is all down to how you lose, and this was very un-Sharks like.
I am calling it a night…
Again tough luck guys, I still got money on you but I reckon Vinnie is R100 richer unless the team can find some balls somewhere.
@Morné (Comment 161) :did we change our strategy? I have been waiting for the possesion game from the CC, but no signs that we want to do that. We were supposed to be the leaders and show the way.
@catfish (Comment 178) :
Somewhere, somehow, you just lost your physical edge…
Inexplicable really.
Sharks are just getting bullied all of a sudden.
@diablo (Comment 176) : when was it the last time you looked at your avatar (very bullish)
SSDD
@diablo (Comment 176) :
Well done to you mate! 😆
@Morné (Comment 161) : I agree, but don’t you think the emphasis is on discipline for the ShArks, looking at the stats? Bulls 2nd highest, Sharks 2nd lowest? Perhaps we should go out and lixem?? LOL!
@Morné (Comment 177) : maybe next time we are in pretoria we can snatch these blue ones
@Ice (Comment 183) :
Haven’t looked at the stats babe to be honest.
But withing the first 20 minutes I saw the Sharks being man-handled in ways I have not seen in a while.
Personally, I would bring Smit back pronto if fit enough…
@rekinek (Comment 184) : i guess the good news is that we get a second bite at the cherry, gonna be a lot harder at loftus tho.we need to win all our remaining games now…
@rekinek (Comment 184) :
You’d better, I am losing R100 as it stands now!!!
Okay folks, chat tomorrow…
@Morné (Comment 187) : cheerioo 😛
@Morné (Comment 185) : think your Stormers did the same to us. Boys don’t like to take what they sometime dish out. Also player rotation has not been good. We need to give Mostert and a few others more game time.
@Ice (Comment 183) : stormers are probably on the edge here – it may indeed appear as we are the good boy here – but in all honesty I rather it stays like that. we lost too many due to indiscipline.
@Morné (Comment 179) :
You really think its inexplicable?
I think its mainly due to lack of player rotation and the fact that our play is predictable.
We always use flat passes to the big ball carriers just one off the ruck, and we run singly, instead of small pods. Also, the carriers always go to ground, instead of looking to pass in the tackle.
I reckon the forwards could still be effective if they address the above.
@rekinek (Comment 184) : I’ll be there!
ST
BDP
JDP
CM. FUUU. Pathetic
when we get dominated physically we lose, simple as that
@Morné (Comment 179) : Could it be that we got our pre-season traing wrong? 0ur guys are always massive but this year our guys look like kids. Take a look at kanko, Bissie, Alberts, Jannie and Hargreeves, they are all smaller this year. Could be why we getting Bullied.
alberts seems much better at 7 then 8, lacks a bit of speed
@rekinek (Comment 180) : Will be chaging it soon – time to lose the cudliness and show some “true grit”, no? 😡 😈 😆
@Rahul (Comment 13) : The kick is taken.
PK or FK after the whistle lets the game continue.
Adi certainly showed how valuable he was tonight.
Night All
@juba_fan (Comment 48) : He-he-he
@Morné (Comment 161) : well said morne , exactly what i said on keo
the sharks are still living on the cc glory and have not realised its a new year new comp
@catfish (Comment 192) : me too 😛
@diablo (Comment 197) : but this is how we like it
@KSA Shark © (Comment 199) :
Ja sure, one game is enough to condemn him, but Oupa can fail all season and we must keep on backing him.
Your lack of consistency should astound me, but sadly it doesn’t.
KSA Shark
That’s very cowardly to make such a comment and then to disappear! 😈
@Big Fish (Comment 204) : are you TT’s alter ego ❓ 😆
I think Stef and outside centre not a good idea but then again we won last year CC 🙄
@wpw (Comment 205) : can the board do sth about it 😈 😆
@ KSA, he surely did…sweet dreams 🙂
@rekinek (Comment 206) :
The Bulls won the 2007 S14 with Jaco vd Westhuizen: does that make him a good player?
Everyone says Ricky Januarie is useless, but he was twice in the squad that pulverised us this year.
I believe Stefan can add value at 15, but he is not, and will never be, a 13.
Seems only some Sharks fans can’t see this.
poor sharkies 🙁
come out my Shazzy-poo 🙂 it’s not that bad, the sun will shine tomorrow…
i sure hope we don’t get any articles about being supporters this week 😉 the sharks got man-handled! finish & klaar
do the sharks have a captain that is 1st choice in his preferred position?
@Megatron (Comment 210) : Mmm, maybe she’s still choking on those blue balls. Might have been a bit too much to handle ❓ ❓ 😉 😀
@diablo (Comment 212) : hey, don’t talk like that about shazzy! 😈
@Megatron (Comment 210) : but of course we expect this type of articles – it’s sharksworld dude 🙄 😀 i mean we still need to survive this week.
@Megatron (Comment 213) : shweet – i will mentionn to her – seems you two have some disagreements lately 😈
Lol @ diablo.
Congrats with the win btw. 😉
@Megatron (Comment 213) : Whyever not – one reaps what one sows 😐
@wpw (Comment 215) : Thanks – awsome win for the Stormers – you must be so stoked – well done
@rekinek (Comment 214) : we’re very passionate, that’s all.
Surely if you want to take on people physically you should be well conditioned to do that. Plum thought we would run teams off their feet so worked on our fitness more than strength. Didn’t think that we would have to dominate teams phsically first before getting the ball. It’s not such a train smash in the sense that t can I can be fixed.my only concern is how did we get it wrong… Surely Mark Steale should have known better!!
@GreatSharksays (Comment 218) : i felt big vic was little impact same with jean – i think sharks put too much hope in them and there was no plan B.
Does anyone know who captained the team after Stef went off?
@Big Fish (Comment 204) : Everyone has been telling us how good a player he is and how he will make a difference if only he could start.
Well certainly saw the difference it made when he slipped off the 1st tackle he was required to make in the game.
Adi is (should be) destined to come on when the other players are tired and he looks good. Which is the role he has had at the Sharks for Years.
I have not said Terblanche is not at fault but last night when they both started on fresh legs I know which one looked better to me.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 218) : it’s not such a train smash in the sence that it can be fixed. Commenting using BBM is a mission. Our pre-season training let us down guys, our boys are still good…they just need to get better conditioned for starters.
Hi ll, thanks for the congratulations.
Don’t want to gloat too much, or sound patronising.
But i have to come here and say how proud i am of my team. I didn’t think it was possible for us to dominate alberts, deysel, bismarck and beast, but we did it very well. That first 40 was some of the best defence i have seen from my side in a while.
Now your team must regroup and bounce back to beat the waratahs, for both our team’s play-offs chances!
We played so pathetic,I am embarrassed to be a sharks supporter today.
But the upside is if we could have gotten our own line outs in order that would have been 2 tries less to the bulls.
The bulls will get there reality check soon.
@bloubulblog (Comment 223) : I would love to see an informed “where it all went wrong” article that is truely objective without trying to promote or attack any players.
This is the same team that went 4 from 4 at the start of the season before we stalled AFTER our tour.
@ KSA, agree Jacobs was not good, but the argument is still that Stefan and Bosman haven’t been consistent after many starts, as Big Fish said earlier to condemn Jacobs after one start this season is surely unfair…
@ KSA, maybe a article from someone who have no connection to the Sharks 😉
@Charlie (Comment 226) : It’s not condemnation, I see it as confirmation as what a lot of us have been saying.
@ KSA, the only confirmation are the fact that he started what many ask for, he did not play well, so be it, who really stand out on the night anyway, I still believe that rugby are played by quality ball being set-up by forwards, good line-outs, scrums, rucks, mauls pick-up and drives, and then magic can be created by the backs, it’s actually a simple game being made difficult…I rather leave my opinion on condemnation part out of respect for anyone’s opinion or preference 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 225) : Maybe we were just lucky to face relatively weak opposition early on?
@Charlie (Comment 226) : Not really unfair after he has been touted as the solution to our backline problems and not delivered when given the chance.
@Megatron (Comment 210) : I also hope we don’t get one of those articles again. Bottom line is the Sharks were man handled and they were just plainly piss poor. I’m really pissed off and no stupid little article about being a patient supporter will change that.
@ KSA, solution where ? 12 or 13…
@Ben (Comment 220) : Victor Matfield LOL!!
@ KSA, from a different angle, if Jacobs had a blinder no matter the result, I trust my instinct that you would say that it was only one game and that you would give credit on consistent performances as a starter 😉
Reading through all the posts it is obvious we are all hurting and want to blame someone for playing badly or picking wrong players etc etc etc
So how bad was it We lost by 10 to the side that are the champs We outplayed them in the 2nd half and we slept in the first
Yes a few lineouts went astray some tackles were missed and we should have hit the ground running but we didnt
So is our season over? are we out of the running? This competition changes week to week Next week we beat the Tahs Bulls lose to cheetahs or Stormers lose to Brumbies(If the lions can produce that one performance why cant the Brumbies)and all of a sudden we are favourites again Guys take a Chill Pill it will all work out
Yes we need to fix things Lineouts Defence and the loose trio-Keegan and Hof back this week please- and Smitty needs to return but a train smash No not yet This was the !st game after a break and all the side coming back after a Bye have not looked world beaters
We are not the perfect side that some think we are Well not yet anyway
@Charlie (Comment 235) : Your instinct is wrong. I would probably have admitted that we played much better and those calling for Jacobs could feel vindicated.
I am not blinded by emotion on calling for change.
@ KSA…easy to say now though…emotion not a chance we saw this coming, problem was player management and rotation, and game plan not working, question though, are there a gameplan, I still do see light at the end of the tunnel…I am not the eternal optimist for nothing ! GO SHARKS !!!
The Sharks are only one point out of the play off places and there are still four games left in the season. The question is can they turn it around and finish well? History says not but time will tell.
don’t know what happened but sth has to be done we can’t go on like this we did great to nearlly win the S14 what wrong now we got some young troups playing what do you need team to win
🙁