Tune in for today’s match at Allianz Park in north London, when local side Saracens take on the touring Sharks.
Kick off is at 14h30 UK time, which is 16h30 if you’re watching from SA. The match will be shown live in HD on SuperSport 1 and BT Sports 1.
Saracens:15. Chris Wyles 14. James Short 13. Michael Tagicakibau 12. Marcelo Bosch 11. David Strettle 10. Charlie Hodgson 9. Neil de Kock 8. Ernst Joubert 7. Jacques Burger 6. Justin Melck 5. Mouritz Botha 4. Steve Borthwick 3. Matt Stevens 2. Schalk Brits 1. Richard Barrington
Replacements:
16. Scott Spurling 17. Nick Auterac 18. Petrus Du Plessis 19. Tom Jubb 20. Takashi Kikutani 21. Richard Wigglesworth 22. Duncan Taylor 23. Sam Stanley
Cell C Sharks : 15 Tyler Fisher, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Lubabalo Mtembu, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Dale Chadwick, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Stephan Lewies, 20 Jacques Botes, 21 Charl McLeod, 22 Heimar Williams, 23 Jaco van Tonder
Tweet
Go Sharks!
seems I screwed up a bit with scheduling this post. Oh well 🙂
Better leave that kiddies party a tad bit early this afternoon!! 😀
Finally! Game day! Go Sharks!
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 4) : Ima looking forward to this!!!
C’mon Sharks
Enjoy the match all you devoted UK-based Sharks fans 🙂 Here’s hoping for some encouraging displays, good teamwork & NO INJURIES!
Can someone please keep me updated
These youngsters have an opportunity for a dream debut playing behind this pack!
Updates please
3-0 sharks. burger not rolling away.
Cobus continues to be slow when it comes to clearing the ball. Old habits die hard.
3 – 3
I expected the Sharks to be rustier and more disjointed. They’re struggling in the scrums but holding their own so far.
6 – 3 to Sarries
To many handling errors in backline
Esterhuizen and Fisher looking pretty good with ball in hand. Tera doing pretty well as ball carrier.
Fisher good under the high ball! Playing with a lot of confidence at the back.
Fast asleep
What was the yello for ??
Ooshuizen yellow for collapsing maul. Sarries take it quickly and score.
13 – 3
omg schoolboy error.
@CrazySharkFan (Comment 19) :
collapsing the maul.
this is falling apart.
get a grip sharks.
omg psdt also getsa yellow. taking a guy out in the air.
PSdT yellowed for taking out supporting player at line-out. Sharks without both their locks!
Fast asleep for the try and discipline is nowhere…
Just calm down boys, it’s a warm up game with lots of new combinations.
du Plessis pilfers ball while Sarries are on the attack.
We looking good with the ball in hand, we need to play like this more…
We’re missing our cleaners in the rucks
Calm down? Its pro rugby, errors been sorted out weeks ago
Wow Deysel is a beast today!!!!!!
@vanmartin (Comment 27) :
lol. true that. sarries are a well-drilled side in the middle of their season.
@Gerhardt (Comment 30) : Yes, calm down
Oosthuizen back on
Our discipline has been poor – but the 3 penalties for “taking the player out in the air” didn’t warrant PSdT’s yellow. Considering all the medical staff on the field, the try was a little sneaky. Paul Honiss stuff.
The ref needs to remember that this is a pre-season warm-up match for us, and not his chance for IRB Elite Panel audition.
PSdT back on
Intercept try from Hodgson!
Saracens killing us game by 20 at least
Its a first hit out, a fewnew combos, I think we have to expect errors and inconsistencies, nothing like game timeto iron them out…that said the give away try really was a schoolboy error…
En need McLoed to help Swiel
@MerckZ (Comment 35) : True
sheesh, hodgson is having a screamer today.
Boys and girls, we have a problem.
20 – 3
So our traditional pre-season form continues… 🙄
I really hope they don’t have to play Reinach too often this Super rugby series… Those nedball passes are putting the rest of team under so much pressure.
So let me get this straight. Apart from the quick-tap points they scored as a result of the second yellow, we manage to keep them out with 13…and as soon as we are back to 15 it’s an intercept? 😕
Geez… 8 minutes with two players short, not a point conceded. Back to 15, soft stupid try.
Just keep in mind we play warm up games to sort out kinks and get the team match fit and this is our first warm up against a team that have half a season behind them. Adjust your expectations accordingly
Well, playing into the wind in the second half and 17 points down, its unlikely to be a sharks victory today. They need to tighten up in the second half, eliminate the penalties and keep the backline involved and it may still be a fun game to watch.
this has been annoying to watch wow
Must say our loose trio looks good with ball in hand. Worried about ours scrums.
The positive is that we have a serious fellow at 12 as Steyn’s back up.
A few of those Sarries saffas are taking this game very seriously.
Bismarck needs to pull the pack together and start exerting themselves on the game. Hasnt been easy playing with only 6 in the pack. Getting shunted around in the scrums like they have; you gotta wonder if the legs are gonna be there in the last 20.
@vanmartin (Comment 49) : agreed, rather have this happen now than against the bulls in a few weeks time…
@CrazySharkFan (Comment 52) : I wouldn’t read too much into it. SH teams always struggle with their scrums up north on their first hit out.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 53) : Actually, ironically, our tight five has been a weakness, and thats our first choice. Backline has looked good with ball in hand. Loosies have been good too.
@SharkED (Comment 55) : Amen brother.
I’m expecting at least 2 tries in second half, hoping for 4 🙂
Good point… the clock was actually stopped when Sarries took the quick tap and scored the first try.
Anyone catch the Sarries vs Conacht highlights during halftime. We’re playing a classy team
Did the ref even blow his whistle to indicate that had resumed after issuing the yellow?
@vanmartin (Comment 61) : Agreed, but would the Chiefs be down 3 – 20?
Lol,is that Venter in the Saracens changeroom?
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 63) : I honestly have no idea how the Chiefs would do against Sarries playing in a different hemisphere, after a change of coaching with brand new combos in the team and a bunch of unblooded youngsters
@vanmartin (Comment 65) : The point Im trying to make is that if we are aspiring to be as good as Conacht we had might as well fast forward to the Currie Cup now. We want the super 15 title this year. We need to compare ourselves to the best. Fortunately this is a warm up, so kinks are no worries. Dont mind a loss, just a bit more discipline in the 2nd
@Seaton (Comment 62) : Even the BT Sport commentators reckon that the clock was stopped and the try should never have been awarded.
van Tonder on for Fisher
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 66) : I doubt we aspiring to be as good as Conacht.
go for the corner
Hopefully we can click somehow and score a try to start things rolling.
Handling pretty poor, but I guess to be expected.
Get Reinach off the field and things should improve. His kak kicking has screwed up any momentum we might have had.
Reinach also needs to come off now. He isnt helping much
I recon Steyn has competition for that 12 jersey…
McLeod please.
@rhineshark (Comment 67) : I thought the whole “That’s muscular play” was restricted to Barnes 🙁
Heimar going to come on for Lwazi? I guess Jordaan to wing?
Sharks have some good individual moments but struggling to play as a cohesive unit. Reinach trying to take too much pressure off Swiel anf putting pressure on his own game.
Mvovo has taken a knock. Heimar on for him
Perhaps an intial warm up match prior to this one could have helped?
Botes on for Alberts. Commentators are so dull
Now Lwazi Mvovo with a serious injury. This match sounded like a fantastic idea when it was announced, but could it have gone any worse? I’m not worried about the result at all; just the players and the fact that the costs seem to have outweighed the benefits.
Hindsight, eh?
@Gerhardt (Comment 80) : Haha brilliant. Warm ups for your warm ups. Anyway, we will learn more from losing to Saracens than smashing the Leopards or Falcons.
Is Mvovo wearing rubber studs?
@MerckZ (Comment 82) :
Think longer term.
@MerckZ (Comment 82) : Nah, injuries can happen anytime. Would it have been better getting injured against a B section team?
Anyone spot Rob in the crowd yet?
Mvovo will be fine.
Esterhuizen has a massive left boot on him.
Wonder if Esterhuizen can play 13?
Awesome hospital pass from Reinach to Deysel
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 91) : Yip
@VinChainSaw (Comment 85) : Don’t get me wrong, it’s a wonderful idea to create a relationship between the two unions and it’s terrific for our fans in the UK.
Stevens yellowed. Slowing down the ball in red zone.
Game turning again perhaps?
Sharks bench cleared by the looks of it
Deysel can thank Cobus for that. I know it’s a warm up game but my criticism of Cobus has been consistent. His passing is pathetic. We need to look for another 9 to back up McLeod.
@vanmartin (Comment 90) : He’s been impressive.
This referee really does love his cards, doesn’t he?
Good attacking play from Sharks.
@MerckZ (Comment 98) : It’s a NH thing 🙂
Even the commentators are saying what I say about CR,he needs to go bye bye for good
Pity. Still better play in the second half so far
Sharks need to groom some finishers this season. We should have scored by now.
Saracens pushed us back with a man short in the scrums
Shocking
@CrazySharkFan (Comment 75) : I agree 12 is firing nicely
Finally. Much better
Esterhuizen deserved that try. Well done!
I like this Andre…..
Try Esterhuizen. Should be 20 – 10
Esterhuizen scores! Tera creating the play!
and is… Now, another and its game on
20 – 10
Macloed making a big difference too
Question is, would we have scored with Cobus at 9? Sad to say, I doubt it.
Come on boys!! Get another one. At least show some character!
Much better scrum. Penalty sharks on the half way
I think all the youngsters have acquitted themselves exceptionally well. Just hope Mvovo is ok.
Try Williams!!
Williams scores!!!
@rhineshark (Comment 116) : I think they’ve done that!
Say what you like Williams has the knack for finishing
Heimar scores from a good lineout and beautiful rolling maul!
20 – 15
Game on.
Gonna be a good last 15 min
Gentleman, looks like we may have 3 great 12’s this season. We need at least two starting for us in my opinion.
@MerckZ (Comment 121) : Yip!
Damn. Saracens penalty on 10 m
This could push it to an 8 point lead…
excellent kick. Sneaked it over and 8 points makes it difficult to catch
Wow, amazing kick from Hodgson.
23 – 15
Great kick from Swiel for territory!
Can Heimar play 13…??
@CrazySharkFan (Comment 133) : I dearly hope so!
Can Heimar play 13…?? With Andre and Frans at 12… Heimar and Paul at 13… We have potential
Pity. A few untimely penalties from sharks are hurting here.
These should be our away jerseys.
Ok, I think its safe to say Sharks arent going to win from here, but a good hit out in the second half
Nope, we’re not going to make it. Too many errors in the past 5 minutes.
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 138) : Agreed. I’ll be happy if we can keep them out here.
Macloed should be a bok
2 minutes and change left. Sarries on the attack.
Also happens to be pissing down
Geez…someone’s beaten van Tonder with an ugly stick. 😆
Why kick everything now? 😯
Pouring rain
Conditions are horrible! Holy crap!!
Pity the penalty by hodgson has made these last few minutes futile. Would be more exciting if the game was on the line
Overime, probably last movement of game
Saracens’ tackling ferocious
Would have been nice to win, but a good hit out none the less.
Game over.
23 – 15 Sarries
Saracens have a great squad and are battle-hardened. Theyve been top of the English pile for a good few seasons now.
A few iffy tries and terrible condition.
There’s a lot to take from this.
Andre Esterhuizen very impressive. Frans Steyn in the making. Made some huge clearance kicks. Jean Deysel huge with ball in hand. Cobus Reinach worrying with slow ball. Sharks a bit lazy on defence and didnt play with much vigour.
Well, if we learned something, it’s who our scrummie shouldn’t be, that our scrum needs serious work and that we have a few up and coming gems in the backline.
Not what I was hoping for.. But I saw enought to believe we can take the super title. Venter lost his first match in charge against the kwasse and we won the title so…
Concerns first:
Scrumhalf depth
Scrums
Synergy
Discipline
Positives:
Classy youngsters
Lineouts
Good ball carries
Defense not bad for this point of the season
Composure in the face of pressure
Inside center depth
Tyler Fisher? Barely heard his name….
@vanmartin (Comment 157) : Add Mvovo’s injury to that list of concerns. Synergy and discipline can be rectified before the start of the season. I’m sure the scrums can be too.
Cobus Reinach will also come right. We’ve seen his class before, and everyone was raving about him being a potential Bok in the past 18 months. I wouldn’t say no to a little depth in the 9 jersey though.
Out of the youngsters, Mtembu was terrific, Fisher looked good, Swiel will push Lambie and will set the Currie Cup alight and Esterhuizen was seriously impressive – they all looked at home at this level.
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 141) : Agree. The guy is all about quick ball.
@JustPlainSHARK (Comment 158) : He probably touched the ball 3 times in his 40 minutes, but he looked assured each time and even had a decent run with a good step. JW has clearly seen something in him.
Worried about reserve 9, and 13 is still up for grabs.
@MerckZ (Comment 159) : 100% agreed on all points
It started slow but quite enjoyable despite the rain. Thank you Saracens for hosting this and the sponsorship guys as well.
I like the young talent on display. Wow!
Cobus was not sharp today but he will pick up his game and Jake will couch that step out of him. McLoed is playing top class rugby. So nice to see Sharks rugby again!!!
i am really concerned about jordaan. guess its still early days. lineouts were superb,youngsters stood out. odwa’s pace way under par in SR. Mcloud 4 sure our starter. Swiel got into it as the game progressed. estherhuizen(i think 12 jumper) was really good. will play him qith fransie. wouldve liked a win but its a stride in the right direction
@CrazySharkFan (Comment 156) : amen!!!!
@CrazySharkFan (Comment 156) : 2007 still haunting me!!!! ????
@rhineshark (Comment 155) : mcloud starter for sure. need a decent 9 to back him up
Well our lock pair need to work on their discipline, Tyler Fisher didn t do anything at all and Reinach was a bit suspect …
On the up side Esterhuizen impressed me, Swiel recovered after a shaky start, McLeod looked to be in good shape as did TERROR !
Add Lambie, Botes, Steyn and SP Marais to the mix, charge those Locks a penalty of their entire match fee and we should be good to go!
Nothing game with no time to acclimatise to the conditions, first game of the season and you have to travel to London to play on plastic wet cold field, when you’ve been accustomed to 31+ degrees with +/- 5-7deg humidity.
Coming this close with everything against us is not a bad result at all, I never expected us to win the game.
Personally, I have this nagging feeling that what we’ve been getting from Reinach is as much as there will ever be. He lacks vision, try’s too much by himself. This season should be his last season to prove his potential.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 170) : Reinach could be another Ruan Pienaar, he certainly looks to be his own worst enemy. Having said that, if there’s one coach who could sort him out, it’s Jake White.
Edit: But yeah, this is his make or break season
Jake will have to learn quickly that Keegan and McLeod make the Sharks dangerous. Still stoked about Andre.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 170) : I agree. I really liked Reinach when he came onto the scene, but he has had enough time to prove himself, and so far it’s not happening. We looked just so much better when McLeod came on, and what about our line-outs? All in all, this was a good night and we can really be hopeful for the season!
i personally did not look at this game as a win or lose. To me it was to experimental. And I think we got a great insight. I have to say, I am dissapointed at Bis’s discipline. Reinach has turned into an early version of Mcleod and the latter has stepped up. Scrums were worrysome. (Seeing that it was regular seniors).. First Time to see Swiel and Esterhuyse (?) – likes both!
What’s worrying about our scrummies is that they never seem to be in form at the same time. Exactly what happened today, with us wishing Jake would take Reinach off, has repeated itself zigzag between him and McLeod for a while now.
@vanmartin (Comment 171) : @HeinF (Comment 173) : I always viewed McLeod as a temporary solution until someone better finally unseated him.
I really thought Reinach would be that guy, but the inclusion of Reinach has thus far merely served as proof that McLeod is actually tons better than any of us ever realised.
McLeod does however thrive under pressure and when he has stiff competition for his spot. The harder he’s being pushed, the better he plays.
I liked the Sharks jerseys
I think its pretty pretty obvious, this should be the last game that half back cost us the game.
On a different note how cold was that rain
@durbsguy (Comment 179) : Freaking cold! Was stuck out in it for 2 hours trying to get home. It was the sideways stuff.
Anyway was great to see the sharks playing live again despite the score and the rust. Must say that there were quite a few positives. We things clicked we put the sarries under enormous pressure. They have an very well drilled defense. I also wonder about that artificial pitch and how much that contributed to some of our mistakes.
Oh and geez… Tera is looking Damme strong.
Fortunately, this was a preseason match and we still have 3 weeks to sort stuff out. The weather and traveling are no excuses as history indicates that both would be factors in the SR series.
My opinion of the match:
A few questions could be asked about the tactics used in this match for example, this being a preseason friendly match, why wait until 60 min to bring up the reserves?
Bismarck as Captain, let’s be honest, he doesn’t have a clean disciplinary record. However he had a few good turnovers and was again very aggressive. Line-out throws were solid.
Our scums struggled, which might raise a question or 2 about our props, but they stood their man when we were 2 men down and that needs to be praised.
Both locks done well in the line-outs. Bad luck for their yellow cards.
Didn’t see much of Alberts. Mtembu was only visible in the 2nd half. His break was excellent after Botes win the turn over. Deysel was again powerful and maybe the best forward of the day. I think we need Keegan – a speedster and not just a crash-ball runner. Seriously, do we need Luke Watson with all the talent that we have available as loose forwards?
Well nearly everybody mentioned Reinach’s play already. McLeod, you beauty.
Swiel, in my opinion, was another disaster like Reinach, irrespective of the 1 or 2 good things he did in the 2nd half. His decision making was not on par. With 10 minutes left and 8 points behind, why kick the ball away. In my opinion, Fred should have been given a chance, especially after how he played last year.
Jordaan was not yet up to his standards. If it was not for McLeod, Esterhuizen would have been the best of the back line.
The back 3 done what they should have done, but nothing great. Hope Mvovo is not too serious.
I stand to be corrected, but our next game is on 7 February against the Lions…
Jake White off to a bad start. Replacing Keegan with Bismarck as captain reminded me of the disastrous decision by Hammerkop Mallett to replace The Teich with Bob Skinstadt shortly before the World Cup back in whenever. This is going to cause major long term problems for the Sharks. I cannot see them overcome this and Jake and whoever else is behind this brainwave cannot back down now. No matter what is said above, this was a Sharks pack with SIX Springboks in it, completely overshadowed by Saracens for most of the game. Bearing in mind that none of the Saracens players are considered good enough to play for their respective countries, or long past their prime, this was a dismall display by all accounts. On this showing the Sharks can lamentably forget the Super
Jake White off to a bad start. Replacing Keegan with Bismarck as captain reminded me of the disastrous decision by Hammerkop Mallett to replace The Teich with Bob Skinstadt shortly before the World Cup back in whenever. This is going to cause major long term problems for the Sharks. I cannot see them overcome this and Jake and whoever else is behind this brainwave cannot back down now. No matter what is said above, this was a Sharks pack with SIX Springboks in it, completely overshadowed by Saracens for most of the game. Bearing in mind that none of the Saracens players are considered good enough to play for their respective countries, or long past their prime, this was a dismall display by all accounts. On this showing the Sharks can lamentably forget lifting the Super 15 Trophy this year. As a Sharks supporter of twenty years I can only hope that sanity will prevail and Keegan be brought back as captain to provide the much needed spark and leadership.
To be honest I do think the ref and the 1 assistant were out of there depth here. I realised it when Saracens fullback knocked the ball 3m and they all missed this. Burger was allowed to attack and play both the Du Plessis brothers behind the scrum several times but when he allowed the try after the yellow card I knew we were in for a tough time with a below par guy. It proved to be so in several of the penalties handed out by them too.
Playing on plastic was a major challenge as well. I can only imagine! And then the conditions got worse. A moment’s lapse and Charlie scored a soft try. To make matters worse we lost 2 guys for 12 minutes.
Now to come back from this and score 2 tries and make this a contest has proven that this Shark contingent are going to be a championship side. I am super excited about what I see. This year we have commitment and team spirit! True grit!
Any news on Mvovo? Think the stretcher was only precautionary. Hope it was just concusion and nothing serious.
@PJ (Comment 184) : think THAT is a bit overboard for the first game in 13 weeks. THIS side with bizzy will lift the trophy this year!!!!
Not a bad first hitout … got tested in the scrums… did not give away too much in terms of gameplan … unearthed some talented youngsters … Tested our defensive system and it wasnt bad for this point in the season … only 2 tries one controversial one an intercept. And 12-3 in the second half. More importantly some decent opposition and some a chance to win some new supporters… And some real revenue I would assume from a walm up match.
Boys looked pretty good. Clean the rucks and scrums up and they will do very well.
Sharks are not our best bet for a Super Rugby title, they are our only one.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 186) : sounds like he’s ok
@PJ (Comment 183) : Well, aren’t you a ray of sunshine? Lighten up friend, it’s not even half as dire as you make it out to be.
@PJ (Comment 184) :
Prozac stock-out?
@PJ (Comment 184) : Word of caution there, friend. You’re getting dangerously close to stepping on some toys. F’rinstance, *I’m* the officially designated “posting under the influence of drugs” appointee on Sharksworld
Jeez some of the comments here you would swear we got drilled 50 zip by the blind school’s u/10s. Our only real concern was the scrums and 2 step Reinach. Hopefully both will be getting some serious work in the next few weeks. This is the advantage of playing a top side as a warm up. Would any of these weaknesses been exposed against the lower tier SA teams? I doubt it.
On the plus side we see again what an under rated player Tera is, what a monster Deysel is when he isn’t played into injury, our mid field is well stocked with Esterhuizen and Williams both showing they can push Fransie for his place.
A big thing for me was that yesterday also showed that Sharks management realize that traditional lower team warm ups followed by 6 months or what ever of S15 isn’t going to keep fans glued to their screens. They seem willing to try new things to rekindle that excitement
@Half-Pint (Comment 194) : Well said
Line outs was good, Esterhuizen looks promising AND Mcleod is our starting scrummy.
After this game I would be very tempted to put Esterhuizen in the #13 jersey. He looks too good to leave out and unfortunately Jordaan still seems unable to catch a rugby ball
@woody (Comment 197) : He looked ready for SupeRugby. Here’s hoping he can!
@woody (Comment 197) : Either Esterhuizen or Williams should be given a shot at 13. Both players are too promising to leave on the bench.
Jordaan must sort out his handling and shift to wing and Esterhuizen to take the #13 jersey, with Heimar on the bench
@Original Pierre (Comment 169) : What nonsense…….saying Fisher did nothing…….he took two high balls and beat the first defender on the counter……he also popped a good pass to Williams in contact……and got injured just before half time…….what more should he have done????
Wow Esterhuizen looks the real deal…..this kid has serious power. He is a MUST at 13 ahead of the very average Jordaan…….its chalk and cheese stuff.
Frans at 12 and Esterhuizen at 13 will be a real handful outside Lambie with Swiel off the bench
I sometimes read these comments and wonder if some people have actually watched the game or did they have their comment already in their minds and didnt care what happened on the field. The Sharks lost by 8 points- 7 of those came from a dodgey try that should never have been awarded- there was an injured player being attended to in front of the mark so the ref should not have allowed the quick tap. So taking that out the equation the Sharks did really well against a fired up Saracens side with guys clearly looking to make a name for themselves. Esterhuizen was the best player in Sharks colours with MCcloed also making a massive impact. I was happy with Fisher at 15 but he was a little tentative in the first few min but u can hardly blame him. Jury still out on Swiel at 10- id like to see him at 15. Reinach was very poor- just wonder what our 2 SA u20 scrumhalves need to do to get a run. For me JW’s only concern would be the number of balls lost in contact and at the back of rucks. Other than that i thought the Sharks did extremely well and the 2nd half showed that once they were used to conditions they were the better side- if the game was 10min more i think the result could have been different.
@Saffex (Comment 202) : Swiel of the bench?…..just the other day the sharks supporters was raving about Fred Z…..
Some of u sharks supporters are real doom sayers! Don’t read to much in any warm-up game. Sharks first run of the season, sarries halfway through their season already.
Rather loose a tough warm-up than win a easy one!
@KingsArmy (Comment 206) : My thoughts exactly rather lose beginning of the season that the end like WP did in the CC 😉
How much longer our u21 no9’s have to wait to back up McLeod is just beyond me.
Wow, but a week in a rugby players life can be a long time. Just last week Charl McCleod was being punted as just good enough for CC, this weekend he is once again the bees knees. Kobus Reinach will at least take heart from this.
esterhuizen was awesome on the day. played well and was beaking the line well. Fisher was good under the high ball. considering this was his first game at no15 he was solid. should be given a showing in his prefered position at 13 to be more effective. vodacom cup line last year 12 eaterhuizen 13 fisher… i rest my case…..
slip of the finger. sorry andre.. esterhuizen
Rob, very quiet? are you doing player ratings/
@SheldonK (Comment 203) : Also think people just comment for the sake of commenting. Too inconsistent. I try to be consistent and what I know is that Cobus is a major concerb for me, his passing game is crap. What good is a scrumhalf if he can’t pass quickly?
@GreatSharksays (Comment 213) : Yeh 100%. Reinach is a bit of a concern- i honestly thought he had a better pass than what i saw on Sat. Also the manner in which he operated was a concern, if i was 1 of his forwards id have said something after the game thats for sure. His ruck managent was also not very good. Id love to see Ungerer or Venter given a run…
@Observer (Comment 212) : gimme a chance, I’m two hours behind 🙂
My apologies Sir ❗ Cant wait for your wisdom 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 215) : Just give everyone a 1 Rob so they can improve during the year. haha
@Observer (Comment 216) : match report is up…. will do rating now.
@KingsArmy (Comment 204) : I still rate Fred Z way ahead of both Pat & Swiel just on natural talent alone
@benji (Comment 219) : did you go to Glenwood?
@robdylan (Comment 220) : No I didn’t
@benji (Comment 221) : Are you from Ladysmith?
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 222) : good man, good man 🙂
@benji (Comment 221) : or Dannhauser?
@robdylan (Comment 223) : @Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 222) : @robdylan (Comment 224) : Eish now now girls