The Sharks play host to the Lions in Durban, in desperate need of their first win of the season, with the Lions themselves coming off an unexpected loss to the Hurricanes at home, requiring a win to stay in touch with the leaders in the South African conference.
The Sharks welcome back both Odwa Ndungane on the wing as well Willem Alberts who will add some much needed weight and go forward to the loose trio. Wiehahn Herbst is again preferred to Jannie du Plessis, with the big doctor still horribly off form.
The Lions were struck with late blows to their starting line up, with both Elton Jantjies and Pat Cilliers ruled out of the game late in the week, with Butch James shifting to take over the flyhalf role, with Alwyn Hollenbach coming into the starting fifteen. Caylib Oosthuizen replaces Pat Cilliers in the front row.
This match will be a good one, a close encounter if the weekend games are anything to go by, but the Lions will be reeling from the late changes after those injuries, and the disruptions playing into the hands of the Sharks.
Sharks: 15. Riaan Viljoen, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. JP Pietersen, 12. Tim Whitehead, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Patrick Lambie, 9. Frederic Michalak, 8. Keegan Daniel (Captain), 7. Willem Alberts, 6. Marcell Coetzee, 5. Ross Skeate, 4. Steven Sykes, 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 1. Dale Chadwick
Replacements: 16. Craig Burden, 17. Jannie du Plessis, 18. Anton Bresler, 19. Jacques Botes, 20. Charl McLeod, 21. Meyer Bosman, 22. Paul Jordaan
Lions: 15. Jaco Taute, 14. Deon van Rensburg, 13. Doppies la Grange, 12. Alwyn Hollenbach, 11. Michael Killian, 10. Butch James, 9. Michael Bondesio, 8. Warren Whiteley, 7. Joshua Strauss (Captain), 6. Derick Minnie, 5. Franco van der Merwe, 4. Marius Coetzer, 3. Jacobie Adriaanse, 2. Callie Visagie, 1. Caylib Oosthuizen
Replacements: 16. Martin Bezuidenhout, 17. Ruan Dreyer, 18. Stephan Greeff, 19. Cobus Grobbelaar, 20. Tian Meyer, 21. Andries Coetzee, 22. James Kamana
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No excuses today Sharks. A win as a minimum to keep me interested but I think a 5 pointer should be the goal.
Looking forward to seeing Timmy play for the 1st time on Tele.
Descent amount of cars and people heading in to the stadium hopefully a good crowed.
Come on Sharks!!!
Go Sharks. Keep the updates coming please, I am going to be stuck in the car for this game.
Come on boys. Big hits,hard drives and running tries. Go SHARKS
@juba_fan (Comment 6) : GO SHAAAAAAAARKS!!!!!
oh my nerves …
Lambi going for posts from halfway
Pushed to the right
Patrick with a good attempt at goal, 51 meters, just to the right miss
Penalty to lions infront the poles
At least Bismarck is consistent. 👿
Butch puts it over
I think those gay dancers the sharks have there are just WRONG at rugby
And the penalty count already against the sharks
Mvovo missed 2 early tackles…maybe his and Whitehead’s channels are the ones the Lions should concentrate on!!
Why is every player trying to steal the ball at the ruck? Send numbers to the ruck and drive over the ball…basics!!!
Game is too slow…need Mcleod.
Piss poor!
Sharks 0 – 3 Lions
Lions handeling shocking once again
Sharks scrum, lions 22, mid field
Nice break by lambie
What a break by Lambi
So why does he tell the lions to support themself but Bismarck was penalized immediatly
Poor game so far…
These Sharks are clueless! Lose this one I will be very upset.
The Sharks are looking the most comical of the 2 comical teams…
Same penalty’s conceded by the sharks as last week, can’t these guys learn anything
Wien Herbst penalised two weeks in a row for diving in over a ruck… Not a
Quick learner is he! Idiot 🙁
Sharks 3 – 3 Lions
22 min
Good kick by Lambie
Lawrence is very inconsistent in his ruck officiating, and also very pedantic.
Alberts looking very rusty so far. As for Fred, he needs to make the mental adjustment from 10 to 9 – he is trying to do too much on his own, rather creating opportunities for those outside him.
Great play by Strauss penalized by a far below par call by a subsdtandard touch judge…when the Lions were in an attacking position!!!
Sharks 3 – 3 Lions
I get the feeling the Sharks haven’t pitched for today’s game?
A diliberate slap down of a Lions pass by JPP unpenalised…
Come on sharkies
Damit, chance goes begging
Oh my goodness! Where was the support for Mvovo?
So van Resnburg steals the ball ahead of Chadwick on the ground… I hate to pick on a youngster whom I’ve already given so much flack last week, but that’s just poor!
Scrappy game…
Hollenbagh off injured
@Hmmm (Comment 37) :
Newsflash – its not a knockdown if it goes backwards…
Viljoen try
A bit of a lucky try but we’ll take it
The Lions new prop is playing better than the Sharks new prop
Lambi with another difficult kick at goal, over
Sharks 10 – 3 Lions
31 min
And the lions kick the ball dead
Supoer sport signal lost
I would love to call this Sharks side limited, but I´m not sure they deserve such an accolade. I wish I hadn´t watched this morning´s other games; where teams actually had a clue.
Our Super Rugby future is a Plum Duff.
Again a team scoring a undeserved try against the Lions…the Lions need to work on that…
@juba_fan (Comment 46) : Why lucky, created the chance but kicking high and then claiming the ball, Viljoen keeping his cool with the pickup, good try
Looking at Bismark’s throw-ins today, would those who protested so much on the Bismark thread the other day care to reconsider their position?
JP is hurting the Lions on defence in a big way, and threatening on attack each time.
Are the Lions going to lose a 4th prop to injury with new Oosthuizen getting attention
@Hmmm (Comment 52) : What is a undeserved try??????
Our lineouts are very poor again
@Die Kriek (Comment 57) : With the one we did not even jump….. Bismarck to take control…
I wonder if John Smits detractors have noticed how crap Bismarks throwing in has been so far this S15?
@Franshark (Comment 56) : against the play with a lucky bounce…
I don’t understand why the lion tacklers are aloud to stay laying on the sharks side at almost every ruck
@Hmmm (Comment 60) : But teams have been scoring many of those against the Lions…their scramble defense is poor…
@Big Fish (Comment 54) : Moving JPP to 13 is the best thing that´s happened to Sharks rugby since making Beast a prop.
Try Mvovo, TMO, try awarded
Mvovo’s foot was in touch Mvovo not showing good pace…but try awarded…
Sharks 15 – 6 Lions…kick to come
Great kick by lambie
Lambi slotd another kick from the side line
Sharks 17 – 6 Lions
HALF TIME
Lambie kicking very well…
Conversion slotted…
Hard to single out players so far, but I’m really chuffed with Pat’s management of the game, JP’s defence and Viljoen’s threat.
we’re winning this game the way the Bulls beat us!
At least we have the luck on our side.
Viljoen the only Shark standing out…
No Lion standing out…
@Big Fish (Comment 69) : I’ve been impressed with all of the backs except Fred… Whitehead and Odders have also been very good
@Hmmm (Comment 65) :
You are an essential part of this web community. Thank you for sharing your views.
Without you, this would not really be a complete blog village.
Jeez I haven’t seen the Sharks looking so directionless for a while.
The score is flattering to us. A better team against us and…
@Hmmm (Comment 72) : maak hom oop, jou anner oog
@Big Fish (Comment 74) : delightfully succinct, my old friend
Two tries, two more for that BP. Happy, but not completely convinced yet
Tim having another great game IMO
We’re not playing well.
Caylib Oosthuizen the best scrummager on the field at the moment…
Who is our backline coach again?
Graeme Backford?
Bryan Grantford?
Some guy very lucky to have been in the job for so long I’d say.
@robdylan (Comment 73) : Odwa with a great touch to get Mvovo in for the try
Caylib impressed me thus far but the Lions not penetrating, Sharks look much more dangerous with ball in hand
@robdylan (Comment 76) :
Choose not to cause then I have to watch the full game!??!
@Hmmm (Comment 65) : @Big Fish (Comment 74) : 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 76) : 😆
Lions need a try early in the 2nd half …
Butch not doing the Lions backline favours on attack…the Coetzee looks lively though…let’s hope he can spark something else it is going to be a long afternoon for me…
@siorc (Comment 75) : I’ve seen worse…..by the sharks
@Mutley (Comment 84) :
The youngster is showing real grit and strength.
Lions defensive work has been excellent as well. Shows their morale and discipline.
@Hmmm (Comment 89) : That last part will suite me 🙂
Lions putting phases together to just give posession away with another unforced error?!!?
Sharks scrum, half line
@Franshark (Comment 92) :
Sadist
Lions not handeling the kicks well…are we a NZ side? LoL
Lions passing not crisp
Serious reen storm in NC, sein weg , wat gebeur…….
Alberts knocked the ball, and the stuffing out of Strauss there!
Lions speeding up the game…trying to tier out the Sharks perhaps?
Sharks have no idea what the rules are…
Picture back, Sharks on attack… no penalty lions 👿
Bosman on for ???
The Sharks finally have a decent 12,I like Whitehead
Good play by the sharks ended in a forward pass
Bismark has really stepped up as the game progressed. Can’t say the same for Keegan yet though.
@juba_fan (Comment 103) : Whitehead, who was having a good game
Now that’s a bad call
@Big Fish (Comment 106) :
Sharks more likely to lose close games than win with Keegan in your side
Whitehead is back on….. goodie
@Franshark (Comment 107) : I see whitehead is back on.
The new lions scruming hero, penalized……
Lambi PK
Sharks 20 – 6 Lions
58 min
Jannie and Anton on
Now let’s see if Doc has woken up
Lions up to Sharks 5 meter, Try awarded, to Taute
At last the Lions don’t knock or pass forward on attack and score a try…
Caylib Oosthuizen plays A LOT like Coonie Ooshuizen…wonder if they family?
Obstruction.mvovo got tackled as he tried to make the takcle
James converts
Sharks 20 – 13 Lions
61 min
I like this young LH from the Lions – good all-rounder.
Sharks got punished for being casual – with a troop of subs arriving a few minutes ago, we should have played safety first.
Butch converts…
Sharks 20 – 13 Lions
Sykes gives a penalty away, through a high tackle
Sharks line out, Lions 22
Lions really not handeling kicks well…no matter how poor the kick by the Sharks
Lions take another Sharks line out
Sharks trying to play like the Lions…same result…handeling error…
Sharks losing the ball forward, Lions scrum, lions 22
Kick out on the full, Sharks line out, lions 22
Could someone please alert Moron Brosnihan that it´s Daniel and Coetzee, not Daniels and Coetzer.
They throw to the front and win their own line out
Yeaaaaaaaa!!!!!!
What a try
JP your BEAUTY!!!
Class will also shine trough.
Excellent work by Whitehead too.
Sharks winning the loose play by scoring through Bosman
Lambi converts
Sharks 27 – 13 Lions
72 min
Another against the run of play score…
Lions really need to look at their ball control…
Sharks did well to score though…
First time we use turnover ball like we should and it´s trytime. Go figure.
What run, dude they where running everyware…..
If Mvovo’s was a score…that was a try by Dreyer from the Lions all day…
TMO, lions try, way against the run off play 🙂 hmmm
We’re not playing well. This is sh!t rugby.
Lions 2nd try against the Sharks…still a full converted try behind…
Sharks 27 – 20 Lions
James converts
Sharks 27 – 20 Lions
75 min
We may be winning, but why are the Sharks so uber shit this year? We’re creating LOADS of opprtunities but can’t finish them off. Our world-renowned defence also seems to be less than resolute.
HOW MUCH DAYLIGHT DOES HE WANT 👿
Bismark penalised for cheating at the breakdown…
He does well there usually…so he is bound to give away one every now and again…
Mvovo smashed by the Lions replacement scrummy…
What a tackle by Marcell
Sheesh!
Coetzee just cut Kamana in half!
not a good option from Mcloed, saved by the penalty, Bismarck gets a blood rush…. almost give it away
Nice drive
Botes and Sharks forwards you beauty……..
Lambi miss
Sharks 32 – 20 Lions
FULL TIME
@Hmmm (Comment 145) :
Nah, that wasn’t a smash.
What happened to Kamana, and the the Lions – now THAT is a smash!!!
Full points!!!
So-so win against a hugely depleted side. Crocodile tears coming up this season. Surely any decently coached Sharks team would have hammered these Lions?
Even watching the 2011 loss against the Saders at Twickenham felt less hollow.
Very scrappy game that delivered 6 tries…
Neither of these 2 teams should feel good about their play or chances in this competition…
Well done Sharks 😎
@Big Fish (Comment 152) :
Both were…
And that was the 2nd one Mvovo suffered by the 2nd Lions scrummy…
Sorry Lions 😀
Bismarck did well this evening, he initiated the Mvovo try and stole the ball well, giving away penalties comes with the territory when you try and steal the ball as often as he does. He still needs to cut down on those and work on his LOs.
@rhineshark (Comment 154) : agreed, we were kak today. We have a LOT of improving to do.
The Lions played better than I expected, the scrums were good Caylib has a bright future, Tian Meyer also better than Bondisio, he must start against the Stormers, but Butch didn’t have the impact I hoped for and Strauss not up to his best. Well done Sharks you played well and took your chances
Poor display but its a start. Penalties being conceded while on attack is still our biggest concern. 5 points. Will take it any way it comes.
The Lions biggest mistake is pushing a free running game of the CC in a much tighter Super rugby competition…
They have conceded 5 tries where they were on the attack…and and the last 2 games that was more than the diff in points…
Their def is good enough…and they let the other teams in with unforced errors from which the other teams score…
I’m very happy. Lions had some injuries – but we are still missing 3 Boks, just got Odwa and Alberts back today, and have a new front row, centre partnership and fullback.
Celebrate your successes lads!
Bismark, Sykes and Coetzee were the picks of the forwards, and I struggle to single out backs, except that JP was world-class, and Pat answered his critics. With Whitehead between them, I see exciting times ahead.
I didn’t see the second half as I had to go read the pink hand grenade her bedtime stories. Four things that stood out in the first half:
1) Tim Whitehead was a REALLY good purchase. He distributes excellently, looks to be a strong and elusive runner, and he has vision. I like him!!
2) When it come to learning to not go off your feet at the breakdown, the Sharks team has a collective IQ of about 7
3) Composed showing by Lambie; managed the hand very well and appears to be heading back to his best
4) JPP is really taking to the outside centre really well. So who was it that said he couldn’t defend!?
@Big Fish (Comment 164) : Is your position that if they play longer together, then we’ll improve?
@Culling Song (Comment 165) : Make her bedtime later
@klempie (Comment 166) : Just another few years 😉
@Culling Song (Comment 165) : agree 100%
@Culling Song (Comment 165) : Agree. Imo Whitehead is our best signing since we signed Willem Alberts. Still early days though. Touch wood. 🙂
@Culling Song (Comment 165) : £@*$# predictive text!! Lambie managed the game, not the hand :blush:
Imo Lambie proved again his best position is flyhalf. Distribution is great and had one nice little dart.
@klempie (Comment 166) :
Definitely. Its not just the players adpating to new faces, its the whole team adapting to a new game-plan.
Didn’t it warm your heart to NOT see Alberts or Bismark stand at flyhalf for 50% of the game? Wasn’t it nice to see tries that weren’t just from broken play?
The only real problem I saw was ruck tecnique. In every other way, we stepped up.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 159) : agree, but he was much better today.
@Culling Song (Comment 165) :
Well said!
@robdylan (Comment 174) : He was.
I guess Wian Herbst didn’t learn a thing after being pinged for diving off his feet last week then.
Jeez boys, think and learn.
@Ben (Comment 170) : Tim Whitehead is the business.
We need beast our front row is not up to par, I think the Front row age must be 26 year to debut…we need some real beef upfront…
@BoerSeun (Comment 179) : thanks rocket science man… what’s your plan, to play Beast despite the broken ankle? 🙂
I’m worried about the Sharks.. we played better in our first two games than we did today. Hope they fix whatever is wrong.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 178) : He has got a rugby brain. That’s what impresses me most.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 181) : I agree that we weren’t as good as we were the week before. Think we were better tonight than we were against the Bulls though.
I think tonight’s performance was good enough for the opposition we faced. Far happier if we bring our A game against tougher opponents.
The match up I looked forward to was Lambie vs Jantjies but maybe in the return match