Welcome to Durban where the signs are pointing towards a far bigger crowd than Growthpoint Kings Park has seen in some time.
Jake White’s Sharks may have a new coach, sponsor, team name, captain and whatever else, but ultimately their is not too much particularly new about the personnel named to take on the old foe today. The tight five, back row and back three all have a seasoned look, with only the attacking axis from 9 through to 13 inexperienced as a combination, if not individually. The Sharks boast a shade over 950 caps’ worth of Super Rugby experience and should really not be overawed by the challenge they’ll face from the Bulls today; that said, we’ve seen better sharks teams lose to worse opposition in this competition, so fans would be wise to take nothing for granted.
Frans Ludeke is the most experienced coach anywhere in this competition and has two more winners medals than any other South African coach can lay claim to. He may have been forced to select youngsters at 4, 6 and 7, but aside from that has a pretty experienced squad himself, notwithstanding the departure of a slew of household names from Loftus last season. Many feel that the Bulls will miss Morne Steyn’s generalship at number 10 and while understudy Louis Fouche doesn’t carry nearly the same aura as the departing record points scorer, he is no newcomer to this level, having amassed more than 20 caps for the Bulls in Super Rugby over the last two seasons.
One factor that will affect both teams, of course, is the dreaded Durban humidity and it remains to be seen whether the sticky conditions prove as great a leveler as they have in years gone by.
This intriguing contest kicks off at 19h10 SA time. Be sure to tune in.
Cell C Sharks: 15. SP Marais, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. Paul Jordaan, 12. Frans Steyn, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Patrick Lambie, 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Willem Alberts, 6. Marcell Coetzee, 5. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4. Anton Bresler, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Bismarck du Plessis (captain), 1. Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Dale Chadwick, 18. Lourens Adriaanse, 19. Stephan Lewies, 20. Jean Deysel, 21. Charl McLeod, 22. Heimar Williams, 23. S’bura Sithole
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Louis Fouché, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies (capt), 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Jono Ross, 5 Flip van der Merwe, 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Marcel van der Merwe, 19 Victor Matfield, 20 Jacques Engelbrecht, 21 Piet van Zyl, 22 Handré Pollard, 23 Ulrich Beyers.
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Sssssssssshhhhhhaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrkkkkkkksssssssss!!!!!!!!!!
I AM NOT A PATIENT MAN…….Cant wait anymore!!!
So now we got to listen to the nauseating Stransky.
Common sharks
Wow, it’s so empty. Anyway, good luck boys…believe.
So… the Lions are top of the super 15 log. Who whoulda thunk…
my frazzled nerves…. JEEZ, let’s just get on with it
Ok, that was a pic shown earlier….attendance not bad.
I’m going to enjoy this very much indeed.
Gonna be tight. Humidity may stop this being a pretty game.
Flame machines? Come on John. 😕
Looks like a good crowd!
Geez but Kanye looks in fantast condition.
So freakin nervous!!!
Gotta say, the new Sharks jersey looks even better in action. The Camo Koei one not so much
Nice early chance to get a few points. Lets see how Pat is feeling.
Coetzee you beaut, common Pat…… Great start
@vanmartin (Comment 13) : Why? I honestly believe we are going to hammer them.
Reinach okay?
Sharks 3 – 0 Bulls 3 mins
Jordaan loses the ball way too often in the tackle.
3 – 3 drop by Fouche. Pity
Fouche drop goal. 3-all after 9 min
Been awhile since I saw Kings Park so full. Well done Durban.
What a move! 😆
Awesome break Mvovo and Jordaan goes over in the corner. Great try
Oooooo….classic Jake! 😎
try Paul Jordaan
Yes plz!!
Sho!!
8-3 Sharks after 11 min
Lambie misses the touchline conversion
Well done to make use of both our speed merchants Jake
We’re not protecting the ball very well.
Bresler tackling like a machine
Sharks 8 – 6 Bulls after 14 min
Hmmm.. easy 3 points gifted back. Sharks bad loss in the maul
Sharks need more commitment at the breakdown. The Bulls are practically taking the ball at will.
Another ruck penalty. Chance for the Bulls to take a 9 – 8 lead. Long kick but quite possible
Kick short and wide still 8 – 6
Sharks losing the ball a bit too easily.
Coetzee, Jordaan and The Hoff really putting their hands up
Reinach!! 😆
looks like a try to Reinach…. but going to TMO
Damn.
Possible try Reinach…
Not going to be a try
hmmm – doubt we’ll get that one
Agreed
LOL. I think we got lucky there. 😆
Probably penalty Bulls on 22 are at least a scrum. Not going to be a sharks try though
try awarded!
@robdylan (Comment 51) : What??? Sharks very very lucky there
Wow!!
13-6 Sharks
Lucky! TMO decision could easily have gone the other way.
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 52) : Definite rub of the green there
Come on Pat! Need all the points we can get.
C’mon Pat!!
Our discipline is dicey at the moment. Peyper is losing patience with us .
Another penalty shot to the Bulls. Missed kicks could hurt the sharks. Hope Pat finds his radar soon.
Getting hammered in the maul! Come on stop them!
Our structures on defence are all over the show. Quite surprising from Jake.
I see a card coming.
Bulls going for the corner… Sharks better find a way to sack the maul or its going to be a 5 pointer here.
Yet another penalty and close to a card
Great defensive organisation from Mvovo
Phew!
Relief as Bulls knock the ball on
Stupid from the Bulls. Should’ve gone for the scrum.
Sharks defense holding but they need to clear it now.
Nice one Cobus.
Well done Reinach
Excellent clearance Reinach. Finally some relief
Rubbish kick from Hougaard
Penalty shot for Pat. He desperately needs to land this.
Sharks 16 -6 Bulls
Yes Pat!!!
Much better. 16 – 6
Where’s Morne Steyn? Japan?
Unlucky penalty
Sharks back under pressure
@klempie (Comment 79) : Eating escargot.
@klempie (Comment 79) : Now that I think about it…where’s Frans Steyn? Haven’t seen him all game. 😕
Another lucky break for the sharks. Winning the game with very little territory
@klempie (Comment 83) : Hes made some solid tackles. Hasnt had a chance with the ball yet though
@rhineshark (Comment 82) : Thanks.
Geez, another penalty to the Bulls. Come on sharks
Sharks 16 – 9 Bulls after 37 min
This game is running pretty much the same as the Cheetahs/Lions game.
16 – 9. Bulls go for posts and get it.
@rhineshark (Comment 89) : What does that mean for us?
@klempie (Comment 91) : Not good. 😆
Sharks have had less than 40 percent possession. Bit frustrating to watch really
One last chance this half for the sharks. Best attacking position since the last try
That’s a beautiful try.
And Fransie finally made a showing.
I wish we’d stop with the stupid, ineffective one on one pick and drives around the rucks! We just keep getting tackled backwards.
Try on the hooter!!
try ODWA!!!
Ahhhhhhh…..that’s satisfying. 😎
Try Ndungane!!! You were asking abour Frans Steyn… there he was. Sharks scoring off every chance.
Fuckn A!!!
Pat gets the convo. Sharks 23 – 9 Bulls at half time
That was beautiful
Take a bow Reinach. Ripping the ball from Spies 😀
Can any of you remember the last time we scored three tries in a half at this time of the year in Durban? 😎
23 – 9 Sharks almost unbelievably controlling the scoreboard but not the game
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 106) : Just goes to show you don’t need possession in modern rugby to control a game. Sharks making much better use of their chances
wow…. what you guys think? We’re dishing up some kak, but look SO dangerous when we click.
@robdylan (Comment 108) : Pretty much that.
@robdylan (Comment 108) : We all know the old adage. Champion teams win ugly when they’re playing kak…but they STILL win. 😎
Some new Bulls faces….EXACT SAME BORING TEMPLATE. Im sorry, call me a cynic or whatever, but that is not rugby. Look at how shit Hougie looks when trying to be a robot…such a talent he is/was.
Use the drop as part of your arsenal…NOT AS YOUR ONLY WEAPON. Blistering pace out wide for the Bulls, and I haven’t even heard JJ, Basson and co even mentioned.
Who woulda thought Reinach would be so pivotal in this first half after that Sarries game?
@robdylan (Comment 108) : Composure and precision at this stage of the season…are you complaining Rob??? hahah.
We will gain control with time
@pienaar111 (Comment 111) : They’re kicking everything, because we’ve never managed to catch a ball in Durban during February before.
@rhineshark (Comment 114) : 😀
@vanmartin (Comment 107) : In fact in these conditions the reverse is true. Let them make the mistakes, then feed off them.
Jake is speaking my language
Who’s on the menu for next week? Lions?
Alberts not having one of his best games.
Sharks need to watch out or they will be down a man soon
Lucky let off
Give Jordaan some superglue!
OK….they’ve turned to the old age home.
Great break Jordaan, but again loses the ball in contact
Jeepers. Straight as an arrow.
Great scrum pressure from the Sharks!
Come on Pat. Keep the scoreboard ticking and take the game away from them
Lambie slots another penalty. Sharks 26 – 9 Bulls
26-9 Sharks after 47 min
Excellent kick. 26 – 9
Pat’s found his kicking boots
Steyn knocks Serfontein on his ass
Oupa infringement in his first lineout… 😕
And rips his ugly camo off
Bulls beginning to make some mistakes. looking a bit desperate. Fransie coming for a long penalty shot
Bulls will rightly be pissed off that they got penalised for pulling down when Peyper missed us doing it two lineouts in a row and scored from one.
@rhineshark (Comment 136) : True
Missed but sharks still on attack
Right guys…let’s have a lineout.
Another penalty sharks
@vanmartin (Comment 134) : I think we’ll call that a huge design improvement. 😀
Jordaan really impressing in defence in my opinion
@rhineshark (Comment 141) : Well done sir 🙂
Our attack isn’t much more creative than the Bulls’. 😐
There is only ONE Bok 8 playing in this game
Sharks making no headway in the pick and maul
It’s beginning to feel like we’ve broken them.
Jeez boys, had my heart pounding there!
We need to get a bonus point.
Wow, excellent scrambling defense. Sharks mustnt go to sleep here
@rhineshark (Comment 149) : Indeed
Deysel and lewies on, Alberts and Bresler off.
What an amazing crowd.
@klempie (Comment 153) : Yeah, great to hear them cheering!!
Sharks need to get the bonus point. 3 tries in first half cant be wasted away
Coetzee and the Hoff have been superb
Reinach had a good game.
Sharks conditioning starting to pay dividends
Come on sharks. Got them where we want them. Put pressure on the scrum and lets get the fourth try!!
Opportunity lost
Beast!!!!
Come on guys!!! One more try to cap the evening!
Need that bonus point, come on sharks
So Saffex has been wrong about just about everything. Especially centers
It looks like we’re just waiting for something to happen to get the fourth try. Why aren’t we playing field position and going for it constructively?
Well this is going to make the bonus point hunt rather tough! Deysel gets a yellow
Inevitable yellow card finally makes its appearance
Well done Adriaandse, vital steal in our red zone
Adriaanse has been solid on the deck. Two steals now
@vanmartin (Comment 167) : Ours tenders were in early on.
@rhineshark (Comment 170) : 😀
SP Marais, great positional play this evening. Really solid.
Bonus point is beginning to fade lads. Need to make something happen
Fransie to flyhalf. Pat to bloodbin.
Things are looking very rushed and disorganised out there. If we do get the bonus try it will be though a Bulls error or some individual brilliance.
[email protected]vanmartin (Comment 174) : And the try machine
Bulls finally score with their driving maul.
Sharks 26 – 16 Bulls after 73 min
Damn. Try Bulls. Made the advantage in the maul count. At least it gets us back to halfway
Cant let them get a sniff in this game. We need to get back on attack
Well done Marcel!
Coetzee has done the best fetching I’ve ever seen him do.
@rhineshark (Comment 182) : Yeah, he’s been vital in breaking opposition momentum
Ill be the first to say Coetzee has vastly improved his groundwork….lets hope its consistent!!!
It will be vital going forward
So glad I don’t have to tackle Frans Steyn
That might have been our chance lost
COME ON OKES!!
Come on now sharks!!!
Come on come on come on
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOHOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
Thanks Jaco Peyper! 😀
WOOOOHOOOOO!!!!
Lambie!!!!!!
Great patience. The perfect start. Well done boys
Lambie bonus point try! We win 31-16
Congrats Sharks. 2/2 for Superbru for me
Patience…Composure…Precision…
3 Things we have lacked in recent years. NOT TONIGHT BABY!!!
Congrats Sharks! An ugly win I’ll take ANY day when bonus points are involved
Great start to the season but still a lot of room for improvement.
Coetzee motm in my opinion
@Bok-Clyde-Kiwi (Comment 200) : 100% agreed
@vanmartin (Comment 198) : Was it really that ugly?
@MerckZ (Comment 202) : Wasn’t pretty
Gotta love Coetzee accepting the Vodacom MOTM in his Cell C jersey 🙂
Good job boys! Happy days
Insightful comment from Mallet regarding one of the main Bulls problem – unbalanced loose trio. So true.
Must say Paul Jordaan looked good as an attacking weapon
@RuckingFun (Comment 207) : Good on defense too. Sithole breathing down his neck must be doing the trick.
Wow!! Well done Cobus…100% improvement. Good game by Sharks. Really entertained us fans. Everyone played well.
Big up to all the Durban people that attended the game.
Well done SHARKS. Full Points after ugly win. The match never seemed to get off the ground except for a couple of telling darts. It must have been hell playing in that heat and humidity. Lambie’s positional play and out of hand kicks, brilliant – but he must get more kicks over!
@vanmartin (Comment 204) : Awesome! I was about to ask who got MOTM. Agree that he deserved it. Gotta say even as a huge fan of his I wasn’t expecting him to be so good at stealing ball which was not easy with the bulls actually rucking very well and the slippery conditions. Oh and a shout out to Lourens who I thought was brilliant.
Fantastic to see that massive crowd. So much to be happy about this evening. 🙂
@vanmartin (Comment 203) : Thought some of the tries were quite pretty.
There is one thing that worried me though; our mauls aren’t what they used to be. One thing you have to say about Plum, we defended against rolling mauls well, whilst we were always a good bet to score a try from one of our own. Think the Sharks will get a visit from Gert Smal anytime soon?
@MerckZ (Comment 213) : Don’t stress, the ploy was to sack the mauls as soon as the jumper landed. With the high tempo we were going to play the game and the toll the heat would take on the players, maybe the coaching stuff decided to use our energy wisely and not try to counter the rucks that would be employed by a pack that was selected to maul everything.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 214) : I’m sure you’re right – and I’m sure we’ll get better at sacking the maul with a little more practice and as we get better at reading referees. I’m just dreading us contracting the Australian disease of being rubbish at rolling mauls. We saw Plum’s influence on the Irish pack, it was something we did well…
@MerckZ (Comment 215) : I can guarantee you that Jake White will not be happy with his forwards being bullied at the maul. He relies on dominant forwards. Expect it to be remedied soon.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 214) : That and the fact that the Bulls have always been the grand masters at the maul. Even if you know its coming its incredibly difficult to stop when the Bulls do it right. Considering where the bulls are in terms of rebuilding they would have focused much of their preparation in getting their main strengths right. Kicking and mauls. The former not been executed very well with the lack of Steyn.
@gregkaos (Comment 217) : True. Their big loose trio were well suited to mauling everything to death but little else. But this also tired their loosies as they were far less abrasive at the rucks by the end of the first half