The Sharks came horribly unstuck against the Brumbies last week.
They should face easier opponents this week, but John Plumtree has changed his side drastically, in a desperate search for their first compelling performance of the campaign.
Kick-off at Kings Park is at 17h05
Sharks: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Keegan Daniel (captain), 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Jandre Marais, 19 Ryan Kankowski, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Francois Steyn, 22 Riaan Viljoen.
Melbourne Rebels: 15 Angus Roberts, 14 Jason Woodward, 13 Mitchell Inman, 12 Lachlan Mitchell, 11 Cooper Vuna, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Gareth Delve (captain), 7 Scott Fuglistaller, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Luke Jones, 4 Hugh Pyle, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 Nic Henderson.
Replacements: 16 Shota Horie, 17 Paul Aloe-Emile, 18 Cadeyrn Neville, 19 Jordy Reid, 20 Nic Stirzaker, 21 Rory Sidey, 22 Richard Kingi.

What was the vodacom cup result?
I predict the final score will look like this Sharks 32 – 19 Rebels
Go Sharks. please give me something to smile about.
@SteelShark (Comment 1) : WP smashed the Kings 43-18.
@SteelShark (Comment 1) : Sharks also won 34-33. 🙂
hope we dont have another nail biter in Durban.
I like the look of the team. Really strong bench also. Hope Kegan will be back to his best today.
Saders looking dangerous albeit against the Kings.
Really looking forward to some good rugby
Rebels have no chance. 😈
Sharks have another shot at topping the SA conference, 2nd week in a row won’t get another chance like this
@McLovin (Comment 4) : Close again. Last week was Sharks 24 – 23 Wp 😎
Just saw those bastard Cheetahs are above us on the log 👿
Go SHARKS!!!!!!!!!!
20 more minutes
@SteelShark (Comment 9) : Sharks will be top in about 2 hours time. 😉
@McLovin (Comment 12) : Hope so. After last week’s performance, I’m quite sceptic.
8mins to kick off.
Feels like the time is crawling by.
@McLovin (Comment 3) :
That’s not a smashing. 75-14; now THAT is a smashing. 😈
@Big Fish (Comment 16) : Whos scores was that?
Griquas beat Limpopo Blue Bulls 124-5 hahaha.
20 tries!
Boys running out!
@Big Fish (Comment 16) : Looks like the thin Gauteng air is getting to you. It’s 2013. 😉
@TRF_Ezequiel (Comment 18) : Limpopo trying to break records 😈
Early chance for 3 points! Lambie misses. Looked like an easy penalty kick right in front but the wind is very strong today.
@TRF_Ezequiel (Comment 22) : Not forgetting the humidity. 😉 😈
lambie misses an easy pen. kick
lmao @ Mclovin
Sharks looking dangerous
TRY LUDIK!!! Amazing attacking break by the loosies, Herbst recycling, passing wide and Ludik finishes in the corner.
Ludik!!!
Daniels playing well so far. 😈
Over!!!!
Lambie with a tricky but perfect conversion. Difficult when a player has to hold the ball. As a kicker, you just don’t want to go all out with the kick, but the 2 extra points are in! 7-0!
@McLovin (Comment 29) : Who is this Daniels guy?
7 – 0
Daniels must be new
Penalty Rebels
PSDT fired up today. Started superbly!
I see O’ Connor got rid of his Bieber hairstyle
@TRF_Ezequiel (Comment 32) : 😉
12min
7 – 0
Sharks looking good in the scrums
Mvovo down
Perfect timing from that Rebel.
Wow… How is that a scrum? It was not a penalty, but the ball went backwards from both Mvovo and Ludik. No knock-on there.
Lambie bad kick
Scintilating stuff by JP and Cobus… Sharks earn a penalty because of a good chase. Look much better than last week.
How are we playing? Can’t bear to watch this week.
Okay, can we please go for tries now since the wind is stealing points from the tee
@klempie (Comment 46) : Best ever. 😉
TRY! Marcell with a rolling maul-try…
Easy bonus point today.
@McLovin (Comment 48) : Shhhhhhhhhhh! 😛
Sharks pack mauling over. Coetzee scores the try. 14 – 0
two tries to go
@McLovin (Comment 50) : Really? Don’t jynx it.
I hope Veldsman says: No spear tackle but white did pass the ball forward.
Surely nothing wrong with that tackle?
Lourens van der Merwe comes from the Freestate doesnt he? Asshole!!! I dispise him.
Wow… Calling on the TMO to take a decision and then take the decision yourself based on what you see on the big screen replay. Is that even allowed?
What a load of steaming horse manure Mr Ref. 🙄
So how did they miss the swinging arm into the maul? 😈
Good that the Sharks are going for tries!
TRY! Jacques Botes with yet another maul try. And with a man down (Reinach in the bin), really impressive.
19 – 0
try scored by Botes 1st try of the match
3rd try for Sharks
Rebels without a score.
Awesome show there- scoring while one man down.
Rain coming down. Lambie miss yet another kick
Well, this is really something else. Daniel keeps deciding to go for touch, in stead of 3 points. Imagine having him in that match against the Kings…
Daniel!!! Bonus point!!!!! Looks like double movement, but it’s given!
Daniels try.
Daniel!!!!! Bonus point!!
Bonus point achieved. Now show NO MERCY and destroy them!!!
Who is this Daniels oke?
See, easy bonus point.
Lambie left his kicking boots at home
Who said we cant score tries hehe
Reinach looking sharp
Sharks pen. 7m out
Going for line out
Rebels penalty
OK I guess I can come out of hiding now. Time to turn the telly on.
24-0 half-time score. I hope we get to 50 today. Rebels will be exhausted in the second half.
Half Time
24 – 0
Daniel, Coetzee, Botes try scorers
PSTD having an absolute blinder!
But everybody else is bringing their bit so far – playing as a team.
I’m glad Lambie was missing kicks. It kinda forced us to go for tries. I do hope he kicks beter in the 2nd half though.
OK, I assume from the scoreline that we’ve woken up earlier than usual this season and are KEEPING the ball???? 😯 😯
nice performance so far… all the new guys making their presence felt.
Most improved player is Franco though
@DBOY (Comment 82) : And Ludik 😉
@klempie (Comment 85) : I hope so too.
Sharks found 2012 form, albeit against the Rebels, but we needed this. The attack is much better structured and I think Meyer Bosman is to thank for that. With Steyn, the ball never got to our wingers or Jordaan.
Hmmmm….just watching replay of the first try. The Rebels look like they’re defending a rugby league game! 😕
Tell Campese to come back to the Sharks
Big improvement in attitude, commitment and urgency. Kyle Cooper, PSDT and Herbst…thank you.
Thank you Mallet
the crowd still not looking convienced hey time for a boari roll and ice cream
Mallett absolutely destroying ref van der Merwe during the half-time show.
“He seems to think the game is about him. He does everything to draw the camera’s to him. Asking touch judges and TMO for advice. He is the 31st player on the field, not the 1st.”
Wow!!! Exactly my thoughts. With the TMO decision (which he made without the TMO recommendation) says it all.
We’ve been waiting for the performance from Herbst that announces his Bok credentials… could this be the start of that?
COOPER!!! Try!!! This guy brings so much more than Burden. Unbelievable!!!
COOPER!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA`
Cooper!!!!!
@robdylan (Comment 96) : Yes, makie Sharks almal bokke. 😉
That was seriously pathetic defence from the Rebels.
Sky showing us pics of Newlands. 😆
From sarugby.co.za’s live scoring:
“Almost another maul try for the Sharks, but this time they are blown up for obstruction. The referee saw a truck-and-trailer, which is impressive, because he didn’t see much else in this match. Soon after the halftime whistle goes.”
Made me laugh 😉
@klempie (Comment 101) : They must be struggling with the altitude. Or the humidity. Or the wind… 😈
Reinach!!!
@McLovin (Comment 104) : Must be altitude 😉
I think I may just put some cash on the Sharks for the title now. 😎 They’ve woken up 5 weeks earlier than usual.
Do the Kings play the Rebels? They might win two games.
@klempie (Comment 107) : Might as well put their name on the trophy now. Scrap the rest of the comp. 😉 😈
What happened to the Rebels side? Didn’t they have like Beale and Cipriani last year? All they seem to have now is O’Connor…
Beast is over…these Rebels are really bad.
@McLovin (Comment 109) : Dude, for the last 3 years when they’ve finally woken up they’ve been the most feared side at the backend of the comp. Problem is, they’ve always woken up too late. 😕
Try time!!! Beast!!!
Beast’s first try in Super Rugby! 😯
@klempie (Comment 112) : The most feared side in the comp? 😆 😆 Thanks for the laugh. 😆
klempie, we have not woken up, we play the Rebels.
@McLovin (Comment 115) : OK the last two years.
@TRF_Ezequiel (Comment 116) : We’re not kicking the ball away = we’ve woken up.
@klempie (Comment 117) : 😆 Absolutely. 😆
Kankowski!!!!!!!!!!!
Kanko through!! Holy shit this is awesome!

Clap the 50…
Probably the best Sharks scoreline I’ve ever seen in Super Rugby 😎
Still 30 mins to go!
Might actually see a ton today. 😯
53-11 is the Sharks best ever score in Super Rugby against the Force.
Rebels have never beaten a SA side. Not even the Lions. 🙄
Is Frans playing outside centre?
Ludik!!!
Ludik practically under the posts.
Ludik!!!!!
Lovely offload from Daniels.
Guys, the biggest win in our history is coming up!!!
They’ve equaled their most number of tries in a match….9….which apparently was against the Saders! 😯
We’ve scored 9 tries against the Crusaders? 😯 😯
When?
@McLovin (Comment 132) : Daniel! 🙄
Rebels defence….swiss cheese.
@klempie (Comment 136) : Exactly what I said. 😉 😈
Why does every attack die with Steyn? This is not funny anymore. The guy never offloads.
SHARKS!!!!!!!!! WHOOOOO!!!!
SuperPat is off. Viljoen on.
Ok,is this play redeemable,from last week?
@klempie (Comment 136) : Daniels, Ludick, Deyzel, McLoed… I’ve seen it all.
@SteelShark (Comment 135) : Never?
OMG this ref is a tool!
SHARKS 59 – 0 REBELS
56MINS
@SteelShark (Comment 135) : Nine tries happened against the Reds.
Yellow card here I think… Has to be. If not, this ref is a joke.
Oh come on. That tackle wasn’t that bad. 🙄
@Mclovin according to commentators it was against the Saders
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! He’s overruling the TMO again! 😆 😆
Veldsman must be thinking:”What a moron, keeps asking me for advice and then making the decision himself. My wife does that at home, I don’t need this shit at work”.
Well….the Sharks get to run riot against the Rebels sans O’Connor for ten mins.
Van der Merwe is worse than a tool, he’s a toolbox.
VILJOEN!!! 10th Try!!!
Bosman breaks our record.
10 fucking tries!!!!!
@SteelShark (Comment 154) : a tooldoos!
@SteelShark (Comment 150) : They’re confused.
All time record is 14 tries.
Crusaders against the Waratahs. 2002
Opposition aside, how do you go from what happened last week to this in the space of a week? Really annoying.
It’s going to be a LOOOOOOOOOONG highlights package on Blitz. 😆
@klempie (Comment 161) : Brace yourself, you’ve got the Crusaders next up in 2 weeks’ time.
Cant wait to watch the match over and over again on Youtube!!
@McLovin (Comment 163) : And they’ll be smarting after their loss to the Stormers. 😈
Rebels over. looked to be held up. Tmo
Fransie you biscuit!
McLeod fucks it up again. Quick tap and passes into no-mans land.
Veldsman with another decision. Watch Lourens making the decision himself again
Hope the Brumbies can knock the Streamers over
Excellent work from fat Fransie. 😎
5m sccrum Rebels
Maybe the Ref thinks he gets extra pay for doing tv ref duties himself.
Our Fat Fransie
Why is Burden taking the line-outs?!
Sharks falling behind the clock. 😐
We haven’t scored for like 5 minutes now. 🙁
The loss against the Brumbies did more good then bad. We finally got a wake up call.
15mins remaining
Maybe its the humidity
VIER EN SESTIG teenoor NUL
@DBOY (Comment 179) : Wind must’ve picked up again.
O’Connor’s back.
This score line will do our points diffrence good
Rebels held up again. They’re shit on attack too!
Rebels still 5m out.
Higginbotham is over.
Rebels try time at last 68min
64 – 5
This all started with McLeod’s brainfart. I don’t care how big the lead is. This is unnecessary.
64 – 7
Did O’Connor just pocket his gum guard next to his gentleman’s sausage? 😐
Mcleod doing everything he can not to start in 2weeks time
Come on guys. Let’s put 80 on these clowns.
Salty flavoured gums….
Yep, there’s 2 guys who settled the scrum-half battle in Reinach’s advantage. Reinach and McLeod
Penalty Rebels.
Sharks getting sloppy at the end.
Ummmm…who the hell were off their feet there??
Give that ref man a pk!
@DBOY (Comment 193) : So you know? 😈
Botes having a good game
Referee: “Came off a black hand”. How racist 😉
last 10min the Rebels getting more into the game
Rebels looking for their 2nd try
Last quarter belongs to the Rebels
One more try Sharks please
Sharks u made my weekend
That steal was fine!! WHAT dangerous tackle??
Rebels keeping ball in hand. Daniel down
Daniels injured. 😐
Daniel injured
Thank you Sharks!
How far is Deysel and Alberts?
Daniels injured? Ah man. Deyzel is already out
Daniels back on his feet. 😎
So we haven’t scored in the last 30 mins?
@DBOY (Comment 212) : I think they are in the stands, about 15 to 20 metres from the side-line
@McLovin (Comment 214) : 🙄
We outclassed them in 60min and that was enough for a convincing victory
thought it was more like 16m lol
Well done to the ref! Capastagno has just said that there was at least 10 minutes of extra time. That’s good value for money.
And now for the main event. 😎
64 – 7
Fulltime
Sharks bag a fullhouse
Congratz Sharks now I have 5 from 5 on SB
Makes one wonder what exactly was the Sharks problem in previous games…….well, this is certainly much more palatable for our supporters! Great guys!
@Silver Fox (Comment 224) : the last few games they faced decent opposition 🙂
Just left the Stadium, who was MOTM??
@robdylan (Comment 225) : The last few games steyn was on the field.
@robdylan (Comment 225) : there is that minor fact yes 😆
Well done, we expect an even better performance against the Crusaders in 2 weeks time. Enjoy the break…
@robdylan (Comment 225) : geez tonight was way better the guys played with some fire. Hope that losing to brumbies woke up the beast in the Sharks. Forwards was mighty tonight!