The Hurricanes have thrashed the Sharks by 42 points to 18 at the Yarrow Stadium, scoring 6 tries to just 2 from the visitors.
Despite having all the early possession, the old demons of terrible indiscipline on attack, coupled with poor decision-making saw the Sharks unable to score any points at all in the first half, save a lone penalty to Fred Michalak. The Canes scored 3 times in that first period, mostly against the run of play, leaving the visitors with it all to do in the second half. Naivety on defence and an inability to protect the pill on attack conspired to provide the hosts with a plentiful supply of turnover possession and they scored virtually every time they got their hands on the ball.
Some strange – if not outright dodgy – decisions from ref Glen Jackson and his assistants saw all the 50-50 calls go the Hurricanes way, with two of their tries awarded despite any clear evidence of grounding. A brief Sharks fightback in the second half, that saw them come back to within 12 points (25-13) was snuffed out by Conrad Smith’s unconvincing-looking bonus-point try. After a good score by JP Pietersen 10 minutes into the half, Craig Burden gave Sharks fans some hope with a try of his own late in the game.
Two late tries by the hosts, though, put paid to any chances of a Sharks revival – or even a losing bonus point.
Hurricanes – Tries: Andre Taylor, Jack Lam, Julian Savea, Conrad Smith, Tim Bateman, Jeremy Thrush. Conversions: Beauden Barrett (3). Penalties: Barrett (2).
Sharks – Tries: JP Pietersen, Craig Burden. Conversion: Frederic Michalak. Penalties: Michalak (2).
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Sharks … 👿
PLUMTREE OUT!
BASHFORD OUT!
STREAULI OUT!
At least I got a couple of FL tries from the game – that is my only good thing to take out of that game
Why the hell are we surprised? We have discussed our BIG PROBLEM in length on this blog, but it seems that normal rugby supporters have far more insight than the team coach. Once again our breakdowns were a shambles. We gave away possession at just about every opportunity we had to score. Where? The breakdowns!
Time for Plumtree to bugger off and take his `team`with him, including Stroolsie.
I´ve had enough of this crap now.
The refereeing from both Jackson and the TMO was shocking. But we cannot use that as an excuse (as much as I’d like to have a good whinge about how poor they were). The fact is though that the Sharks are just plain kak. I cannot see the team finishing higher than 8th place this season and even then that might be too good.
Nope, time for drastic changes as the coaches seem incapable of learning from previous mistakes and moulding this team of talent into winners. Plumtree has delivered nothing but mediocrity in super rugby. Time for him to go, as well as his no-name back room staff.
Quickly, everyone! Have a look at the overall log, before the other sides play and Rob updates it!
@siorc (Comment 5) : agree with every word! We have been commiserating with the Lions with regard to relegation it may very well be the Sharks that will be watching SR from the stands next year 😥
@rhineshark (Comment 6) : right about now, my youngest would say: ” Dissie fannie nie” 😆
The only place the Sharks will win a SR title this year is on my xbox. At least there the players play to their true abilities! 😆
You can not expect a team to pick themselves up when the ref clearly nails them. This was some of the most blatant cheating ever.
There is no mention of our captain? He was absent in the game when it came to talking to the ref. John Smit would have won us this game against the inexperienced ref!
@Ice (Comment 8) : traduction 😉
Ek is absoluut gatvol dat die [email protected] afrigting span van die sharks ons die laughing stock van die kompitisie maak, dit het nou heeltemal te ver gegaan en ek is nou keelvol daarvoor 😕 😕 🙁 🙁 ❗ ❗ , Plumtree must go and the rest of his coaching staff as well they can take strontly along as well, as for michalak he must not even come back to Durban he must take a plane straight back to france, he wanted to make the french team again well good luck with that 👿 👿 👿 👿 👿 👿
The biggest part of any game is the breakdown. And to not contest or at least try and slow down the ball when on defence, just gives the opposing team clear ball.
Similarly, if you are on attack, the second player to arrive at the breakdown is supposed to clear out defenders and protect the ball. Something that was totally absent from this game.
Although Burden had a good game, the difference that Bissie made at the breakdown was evident. Ditto Jean Deysel. We don’t generally lack those type of players, but we lack coaching that aspect of the game.
The Blues are the poorest NZ team…….can the Sharks at least beat them?!?!
Reffing was awful. Defence and ruck technique was non-existent, and we clearly didn’t have a captain on the field today. Very disappointed.
@Big Fish (Comment 15) : Keegan may be a popular guy in the team but he isn’t a leader.
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 7) : Looking at this type of performance I would say they deserve to.
Maybe we DO need a hard arse like Mallet to give these guys some backbone.
I am only friends with one or two players on FB, I will certainly be posting a link to this article so they can read the comments on their FB walls and I encourage you all to do the same.
Let’s use the social media to our advantage and let them know how we feel.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 17) : I would love it if Mallett would come to the Sharks. He doesn’t take any crap and the players are too poep scared to give him any.
Another thing that really cost us today was not having a captain. The ref was useless and with that it got to us and it cost us. We need another captain. Just make Bissie captain for now. He too has a temper but feel if he was the captain he would control it. We needed a captain to regroup the team and calm things down, we never had.
Sure the ref cost us in some good positions to score and yes agree Rob, they got two tries they should never ever have got.
Who for Captain? Come on guys we can’t continue with Keegan as our captain. Plum be brave and select Lambie. I know I would. Like a young John Smit, has leader written all of his young shoulders.
For now he probably won’t be but will be in the future. Plum should just give the captaincy to Bissie, I know he has a temper but if was made the captain thin he will take control of it.
@JustPlainSHARK (Comment 14) : We should try next week a game starting with Deysel and leave Keegan on the bench. Alberts, Deysel and Marcell as our loosies. Would like to see them start. Keegan needs a rest as he has started all our games, and actually played full 80min in each except for today.
@lostfish (Comment 19) : I don`t really know which Coach would be available this time of the year, but we do need someone new that much is obvious.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 18) : @KSA Shark © (Comment 17) : I’m really praying that that particular miracle happens sooner rather than later! Good idea I’ll also be posting it on thoe that I have and e mailing it to Straeuli’s cousin whom I work with
@Ice (Comment 8) : 😆
@Original Pierre (Comment 22) : mallet is available! Bissie or Alberts for captain
Sad thing is we didnt even chase a bonus point ,we gave up. Some players really were poor,the same guys week in and out. Keegan had a decent game along with sykes and bresler (when he came on).
Michalak was woefull on attack and cost us some points. Heartless performance from the guys at the end there.
@lostfish (Comment 12) : “I’ts NOT funny” 😉
Again, I am reminded that the Sharks just don’t have it where it matters most – in the mental department.
The Waratahs were coming off a shock loss to the Force at home the week before they played us. They were stung and they clearly wanted the game more than us.
The Hurricanes were coming off a shock loss to the Cheetahs at home the week before they played us. They too were stung and you could see they wanted it more than us even though they played with far less possession.
Well, the Blues, next weekend’s opponents, have this weekend suffered a shock loss to the Rebels.
Doesn’t bode well, does it?
@siorc (Comment 28) : yeah but the Blues are really Shite this year (like us) and IF we win plum and his stooges will play it to the media that all is well what r we worrying about!
@siorc (Comment 28) : Add to that ” one foot on the Plane Syndrome” . . .
Ok here is my 5c, the Sharks have some of the best players on their books, Beast, Bismark, Coetzee, Lambie, Petersen are all world class but they have the worst coaching staff there is. Plumtree can’t coach point, just look at Dick Muir he coach the Sharks with all their stars and was great but with an average bunch of players at the Lions he had a record 13 losses and Plumtree is even worse. Get Jimmy Stonehouse from the Pumas, most underrated coach imo, he every year takes average players and makes them competitive but just doesn’t have the star power to dominate, with the Sharks he would make them a championship team. Just my opinion
I´m starting to feel the same about the Sharks as I did about the Boks under Snorre. Against every fibre in my body I´m starting to hope that we do badly enough just so that we can get a decent coaching team down in Durban.
Besides the chronic problems (such as the breakdowns, which Plumtree highlights after every game – yawn) remaining, we saw today how much value a guy like Burden can add, but he only got game time as a result of Bismarck carrying a niggle.
But it´s not just coaching. The attitude of senior players, like Jannie, sucks. The error rate in defense of a player like Alberts is shocking. When we break the line there is NEVER a support runner.
I am getting sick and tired of enjoying watching a team like the Chiefs or, even worse, the Stormers play more than my own.
Those in charge need to step up or bugger off. Sooner rather than later.
The more I think about it, the more I think that Sharks ripped to shreds is a more fitting headline
The same problems over and over yet again, this is getting close to insanity(doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results). Our props gave away 6 penalties, each week Dale C does the same ruck infringements over and over, what is going on ???? , and always when we have great momentum!! Jannie dup is a walking time bomb and no leadership qualities anywhere to be seen , but yet again they will tell us next time they will improve ,next time they will not give away so much silly penalties, next time… starting to sound like a song from rihanna and Eminem !!! It was simply painful to watch , but I guess back to the drawing board ,.. and plze , don`t tell me to look at the positives!!!
@siorc (Comment 2) : Glen Jackson & TMO out !
@rekinek (Comment 35) : Come on Reki. 😉 We were our own worst enemies. Not even the most biased SA ref on our side could have made us win that game. We were simply KAK.
@morne1 (Comment 34) : That IS a little harsh. The Penalty count has been coming down steadily every week before going up again this week.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 37) : For the first 4 games we didn´t lose possession easily at the breakdowns, but got hammered for ruck infringements until against the Waratahs. In that game and against the Brubies we saw a drastically improved penalty count, but starting seeing ball retention problems at the breakdowns.
Today we got hammered at the breakdowns in penalty count AND ball lost via turnovers.
That can only mean that our technical deficiencies in this department STILL havn´t been addressed. Time for a change in coaching staff.
@rhineshark (Comment 36) : I know that the refs are not responsible for the missed tackles and this weird game plan that saw the Sharks running from their own 22 (which most of the times ended up in Canes’ scoring) but those penalties when the Sharks were about to score were just too many. and then awarding the try where you can’t even see the ball 😯
@rekinek (Comment 39) : perhaps KSA should express his opinion on the subject, I just feel that the quality of refereeing overall this year is rather poor. Maybe that they have tampered with the laws so much that nobody knows what’s going on .. 🙄
@rekinek (Comment 39) : I know it went against us, but I actually like it when the attacking side gets the benefit of the doubt. If we had been over the line there I would have been highly pissed off if we had not been awarded a try.
I did a fast forward kind of review of the game this afternoon and especially double-checked the penalties we got against us on attack. To be honest I thought we actually got away with a few that were not punished when our ball carriers got isolated.
We are technically way behind the other sides in this department and, unfortunately, not ONLY in this department.
PS: Say howzit to Matt!
Just in case anyone missed this:
PLUMTREE OUT!
BASHFORD OUT!
STREAULI OUT!
😈
@rhineshark (Comment 41) : dankie – will tell him.
Yes, Sharks are not clinical enough – sometimes one gets an impression that it’s guts over reason. I wish I could say I will double check those penalties but really do not think like seeing it again.
I am still to be convienced on these refs though and of course we will see how the white card works.
The sharks aren’t lacking players they lacking coaches..a loss here and there is accepted if the mistakes from the loss are recitfied and worked on..our kickoffs againsÞ us went down badly once or twice but its the players that make those decisions that leave me shocked..u can’t tell me that a bunch of individuals play mindless rugby n still believe that its ok..michalaks passing scares me and he knows he has nothing to prove as he is leaving..burden showed today that his heart is with the sharks all over the park..and we missing lambie and the beast..
ohhh and let’s not forget our resident jinxer and all this talk about 3 week on touir 😉
the sharks played well initially, the problem is in their leadership. a captain has to read the game & the ref. getting pinged 3 times on ur opponent’s 5m line for the same offence means you are either dumb or are not eliminating the problem.
bissy needs to lead in practise to show them the PROPER technique of SUPPORTING ONE’S OWN BODY WEIGHT in the tackle. when cleaning out players can’t bloody FLOP over the tackled player, it’s illegal!
Individualism is costing guys places in the springbok team too..mindless thinking isn’t doing the sharks any favours but a chance to make the bokke too..guys need to realise the bigger picture..
@Megatron (Comment 46) : n running in recklassly..its shocking to see how guys do that thinking its ok..do u not think that’s a coaching issue?
@Megatron (Comment 46) : Haha did you see Sykes’ ruck clean out? Just before Bateman scored the try. He was coming back towards an onside position and decided to clean the ruck out by joining it from the Canes’ sade! 🙂
@Ben (Comment 49) : that was SHOCKING!!! how a professional player can have such a brainfart is beyond me.
what was up with michalak always isolating himself & getting turned over?
who was the player on the ground that nobody joined to form a ruck & the canes just went in to TAKE the ball? bwahahahaha
@Puma (Comment 20) : I thought it was 3 tries that shouldn’t have been. That cleanout on Sykes was disgraceful and right under the linesman’s line of sight, unreal. He pushed from behind by a Canes player into the ruck and then Canes player – think it was no 1 – WWF style dived and landed an elbow in his ribs. Should have been yellow at least IMHO.
@Ben (Comment 49) : He didn’t try and join the ruck from the Canes side, he was running back and pushed into the ruck by a Canes player…watch it again. Totally illegal.
@Megatron (Comment 50) : actually watch it again the player pushes him from behind n he falls into the ruck
@Megatron (Comment 50) : Problem is Michalak is an individual. Not a team player at all. It was Deysel. But I’m sure you knew that. 🙂
@neilster (Comment 52) : Okay sorry. Didn’t see it like that. Will do my homework..
@Ben (Comment 55) : Not at all, in any event we’d have conspired to lose it on the day. Breakdown displine, handling errors and defensive lapes aside, anyone notice how we always seem to break the line through some at times awesome attacking nous. Then , when we are 10yards out with the oppositions defence stretched, we resort to pick and go and bashing it up close. Its the easiest thing in the world to defend against. That ball should go wide every time!
@Ben (Comment 55) : I lost my mind when I watched it live..thought why why why..then the replay shows a canes player nudge him into the ruck..
@neilster (Comment 56) : the problem with sending it wide or break away attempts with the sharks is they don’t commit players to protect the ball..so we will most likely get penalised for holding on or lose posession
@shaniboi (Comment 58) : Take your point when building up the phases but when you have an overlap out wide 10 yards out, the ball has to go. We were getting turned over even more so when crashing it up. Ball pilferers thrive when they know were the ball is going, they clearly targeted our fwd ball carriers.
@shaniboi (Comment 58) : And in closing I just wanted to add as bad as Michalak was Bosman was even worse when he came on. Amongst other numerous errors with his 10mins on the field, how he conspired to fluff Mvovo vs No 5 (Eaton) with 5-10 yards of space on the outside only he knows. Instead, he runs across the field and does an inside switch, what the hell was he thinking man!
The hurricanes were just outstanding when it came to competing for the ball. We won last weeks game that way. This time on the receiving end. We stood no chance against such breakdown skills. Everytime we started to get phases going it resulted in a turnover. We basically have 2 guys who play that way on a REGULAR BASIS and they were both on the bench. I dont blame the guys for this loss, hurricanes where brilliant. We just need a new coach.
Three things cost us this game
1. Complete lack of breakdown skills
2. No leadership from Keegan as captain, or from Fred as pivot
3. The reason Bryce was able to win NZ top ref, he is bad, Jackson was shameful and pathetic
How do we fix it
1. Proper coaches! Not this shambles! A CC trophy two years ago isn’t enough justification anymore, this team can play and beat the All Blacks as is if they played to their potential!
2. Proper coaches! A proper leader isn’t picked, he is groomed! Keegan can be a captain of Barney’s calibre, we have seen those moments from him, but he isn’t being groomed! At the moment I am starting to believe he is John Plumtree’s fall-guy, the one to shoulder the blame when shit meets fan, he doesn’t deserve that!!
3. Proper coaches! A well taught team can read a ref and adapt! The Bulls have done it, hell, even the Sharks have been there years ago! You can play 15vs16 and win, if you know how, if you are coached to know how!
John Plumtree, you are the weakest link!
@Ben (Comment 49) :
He didn’t flop in from the Canes side. A canes player pushed him out of the way with such force that he fell onto the ruck.
Camping in Tieties Bay, so at least I could miss the agony.
@Die Kriek (Comment 62) : Well if the coach want to pretend you don`t need a fetcher for todays` kinda rugby that`s the kind of knocks we`ll take.
I`m thinking Botes in for Keegan next week against the Blues.
Then there`s our Lions tactic of trying to run out of our own 22.
Remember how we used to laugh at Andre Pretorius when the lions came up with those kind of stunts years ago? Now we`re the ones being laughed at . . .
To think, from possible title contenders ( on paper at least ) to relegation candidates in 6 weeks . . . 🙄
@Just a Fan (Comment 64) : I’m at “Piet se dam” and also missed viewing this ……….. 👿
@Just a Fan (Comment 64) : Damnit I am jealous!!!! 😥 😉 One of my alltime favourite SA spots!
Siorc just mentioned this on another thread but I think it is much more pertinent here.
The Stormers’ solid beating of the top NZ team a few hours ago, sort of makes our excuse of travel fatigue look like the pathetic excuse it really is.
Plumtreemust stand down. The Sharks have the talent but lack the innovation to execute on the field.
Leadership went missing on teh day and the youngsters went walkabout. Jannie du Plessis in clueless. The forwards were the achiles heel of The Sharks.
My spelling has gone to crap in my emotional state 😛
@ comment 22, Dick Muir is available!!!!
@dawj (Comment 71) : April Fools was 7 days ago.
@ comment 71, Why do you see Dick’s appointment as a joke? Do you still remember the post Kevin Putt era or were you too young then?
@dawj (Comment 73) : “…or were you too young then?”
Nice barb. The answer is no.
Indeed you may have forgotten what coaching role Dick Muir had for the last 4 years.
Remind yourself how kak the Bok backline looked in that time (completely bereft of any creativity and ideas) and you can figure out the rest from there.
Sorry but anyone who would consider hiring PDV or one his two stooges must have rocks in his head.
@ comment 74, Insofar as the boks are concerned, i don’t think that Dick should be taking the flack for it! It was a very ‘awkward’ setup to put it mildly!
@Ben (Comment 49) : @Megatron (Comment 50) : Nothing of the sort happened. Have a look at the replay if you still have it on PVR. Sykes got shoved into the ruck by a Hurricanes player while he was trying to get back in defence.
@dawj (Comment 71) : 😆 😆 😆
You´re funny!!! 😆 😆 😆
@rhineshark (Comment 76) : Yup after you being the 4th person to tell me that I got the picture by now! 🙂
@Ben (Comment 78) : Sorry! 😀
U have to wonder who really was pienaars downfall? Cause watching him for ulster the boy is kicking 60meter monsters with ease..his pass is crisp n sharp..he breaks lines..???
@cody007 (Comment 61) : Don’t make me mad “We stood no chance against such breakdown skills.”, it’s our own fault ,how often did our players get isolated ,easy pickings if you ask me…
The Stormers have built a winning culture around staunch defensive structures ,competent set piece and sound technique, the sharks have none of those.
Set piece ;Line out ,abysmal. Scrums adequate ,but we sacrifice alot with certain players contributing nothing but a semi sound scrummaging technique.
Breakdown is poor ,players from the wrong side ,off their feet ,sealing instead of bridging. Repetition of the basics and how effectively we execute them on the field needs to improve ,coaches are to blasé for my liking.
I wouldnt point the finger at Plum ,but he deserves to cop some of the blame.
@Talent (Comment 82) : Plumtree’s Super rugby record:
2009 – 6th
2010 – 9th
2011 – 6th
[2012 – currently 9th]
For a team such as the Sharks – not good enough. Time for him to go.
[made all worse when a team like the Stormers – typically mid table in Super rugby – consistently outperformed us in the same period…]
@siorc (Comment 83) : I reckon we need a defensive coach
@Talent (Comment 81) : “Don’t make me mad”
We wouldn’t want that, now would we? 🙄
@Talent (Comment 81) : All of these point to a coaching problem.
There were 2 post match interviews i found interesting. First Keegan bomoaned the slackness of some players, but then inexplicably pointed toward a lack of xfa
ctor?? If the captain can’t see that its the basics that is the issue, then thats a serious issue. The 2nd interview was Kankowski in studio. He seemed to point towards players not knowing what the plan was on the day, but he said like it is an ongoing problem…
Jeez, do I know how to pick teams to support. NOT! Sharks caned 6 of the best. Toulouse and Saracens knocked out of the Heineken Cup. What a crap weekend! 😥 😥 😥