The Sharks XV’s final Vodacom Cup game of the regular season kicks off at 16h30 in Durban.
Catch the action live on SuperSport 1, if you can’t be at the ground.
Cell C Sharks XV: 15 Sean Robinson, 14 Sizo Maseko, 13 Quentin Crokcer, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Alcino Izaacs, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Shannon Rick, 8 Johan Meyer, 7 Justin Downey, 6 Khaya Majola, 5 Nikolai Blignaut, 4 Edwin Hewitt, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Monde Hadebe (capt), 1 Thomas du Toit
Reserves: 16 Jacques Taylor, 17 Kwhezi Mona, 18 Peet Marais, 19 Francois Kleinhans, 20 Hanco Venter, 21 Sandile Khubeka, 22 Neil Maritz
EP Kings: 15 Malcom Jaer 14 Eben Barnard 13 Michael Bernardt 12 Andile Jho 11 Sergeal Petersen 10 Ntabeni Dukisa 9 Dwyne Kelly 8 Aidon Davis 7 Siphesihle Punguzwa 6 Thembelani Bholi 5 Cameron Lindsay 4 Stefan Willemse 3 Pieter Stemmet 2 Albe de Swardt (c) 1 Lizo Gqoboka
Reserves: 16 Dane van der Westhuyzen 17 Simon Kerrod 18 Tyler Paul 19 Ivan-John du Preez 20 Kayle van Zyl 21 Morne Hugo 22 Brian Skosana
Tweet
Hey Rob, thanks for all the Sharks news. The little I have seen of Thomas du Toit, he looks like a great prospect, with loads of potential. Very explosive for a big man (or boy at 18). What are your thoughts?
Looking forward to seeing some of these guys in action.
Rob do you know if Franco’s injury is long term?
@Richard Marais (Comment 1) : hugely excited about him…. seems to have size, strength, skill and the right attitude
@bobby 26 (Comment 3) : he’s not actually injured
ok thanks,he needs a bit of game time as well.so ja??
@robdylan (Comment 4) : Glad to hear he has a good attitude, can have all the talent, but still need to implement it. Sharks have some good youngsters (PSDT incl.), guess it’s a great environment which helps. I do however think the Bulls will be strong in a year or two, they have lots of good u21 players.
Monde looking good at breakdowns. First kick at goal by Andre is short.
Now for the first scrum after 7min. 0-0.
@JD (Comment 9) : good man, keep it up
EP not standing back they came to play today. First 10min was hard.
Excelent break by du Plessis, Maseko score in the corner.
Imagine if MTN had to sponsor EP Kings : CellC Sharks vs MTN EP Kings in Vodacom Cup competition. Our rugby has gone very mobile!
Sharks attacking again, but turnover in EP 22.
Sharks XV 5 – 0 EP Kings
Try Sizo Maseko
EP building a bit of momentum. Line out on Sharks 22, but now Sharks steal the ball. Petersen score or did he TMO pending?
Sharks XV 5 – 7 EP Kings
Sharks 5-7 EP. After 18min. Try by Petersen converted.
@robdylan (Comment 17) : you found the game?
Does that antenna on the wide shot annoy anyone else or it just me?
@JD (Comment 19) : nope. Following online
Rick replaced by Hanco Venter.
@robdylan (Comment 21) : Surely SS is streaming? And yes there are ways to watch the SS stream in the uk just need a friends log in details and something like hola unblocker.
Penalty to Sharks. Du Plessis going for posts Sharks 8-0.
@JD (Comment 24) : 8-7 you mean 😛
Penalty to EP going for goal. Kick just missed Sharks 8-7 EP after 25min.
Great break by Robinson almost created a try. Penalty to Sharks 5m out and they’ll scrum. With JW watching.
@Seth101 (Comment 25) : ja boet.
@JD (Comment 27) : Go Tommy! Go Wors!
Sharks came close but lose the ball in a maul. Scrum EP 5m out.
EP clearing well up to halfway.
@robdylan (Comment 29) : both are looking good today.
LOL ” Sharks Braintrust” in deep conversation, just shown on tv . . .
Wonder what they`re discussing?
John : Jake I read on sharksworld they feel we should give this Esterhuizen a shot . .
Jake : It`s too soon trust me, what do they know anyway!?
John : Well I always used to read those articles by Original Pierre before we faced the bulls and it certainly worked!
Jake : I better check it out then . . .
@Original Pierre (Comment 33) : I know what they’re discussing and it’s not what you think 🙁
Both teams trying to run but messing up. Scrum to Sharks midfield. 32min gone. Skosana on for EP.
@robdylan (Comment 34) : Damn thought I had them figured out!
Okay maybe John wants to throw money on First Try Scorer and he`s asking Jake who holds the ball at the back of the line out drive close to the line . . .
Hey, while I`m on this topic . . . Who does hold the ball in that situation? Marcel, Deysel, Alberts or K Dog?
@Original Pierre (Comment 33) : @robdylan (Comment 34) : what’s for supper when we go on tour.
EP nailing Sharks in the scrum. Penalty EP kicking for touch.
@Original Pierre (Comment 33) : @robdylan (Comment 34) : Jake “I wish that rob guy would stop rashing me for interviews”
John “Keep then happy, that site is the leader of rugby news in South Africa”
Jake “*sigh* Yes boss!”
@JD (Comment 37) : That`s an easy one . . Kangaroo surprise . . .
Ans another penalty to EP, no6 not releasing.
And so starts Sharks fan fiction 😀
@Original Pierre (Comment 36) : it won’t be Deysel tonight
EP looking good from the line out. Sharks steal the ball and then losing the ball again and Dukisa score in the corner.
My imagination or is that Sean Robinson a bit slow . . . ?
fack. Kings try
EP 14-8 with only seconds remaining.
Half time. EP 14-8.
@Original Pierre (Comment 36) : actually none of the above, it will be captain Bissy. First try Beast.
@JD (Comment 49) : bet you R1000 Bissie won’t score today
@Original Pierre (Comment 45) : did not look to slow on the break he made.
@JD (Comment 51) : Robinson is meant to be very quick, from what I recall
@robdylan (Comment 50) : why you know something I don’t?
@JD (Comment 53) : yes, I think so
Penalty to EP right in front and the kick is missed.
@JD (Comment 55) : really? SA Rugby site has it as a good kick
@robdylan (Comment 54) : do tell, share it!
@JD (Comment 57) : you’ll find out soon enough
EP attacking keeping Sharks pinned in their 22. Another penalty to EP, going for poles again.
EP 17-8 after 46min.
@robdylan (Comment 43) : Doom Profit, I backed, Jordaan, Deysel, Smith and Smith . . .
Here goes nothing!
@Original Pierre (Comment 61) : you’ve lost your money
Great break by Meyer but a bad pass stops the momentum. Sharks turn to attack and they also get a penalty. Going for poles.
Sharks 11-17 with Du Plessis kick. Almost 50 min gone.
@robdylan (Comment 58) : Reading between the lines Kyle might and Franco will score in the last 10 min tonight
Sharks XV 11 – 17 EP Kings. Penalty Jean-Luc du Plessis
@bobby 26 (Comment 65) : you’re a good reader
@robdylan (Comment 56) : missed one and 2 min later he kicked one.
This ref is out of his depth
@robdylan (Comment 67) : ok ok ok.
EP kicking another penalty kick. 20-11 after 53min.
Marais on for Sharks. Great break by Dukisa but Sharks steal it again and clear back into EP half.
Sharks attack again but lose the ball and then the penalty. EP can clear from their 22.
Sharks stealing line out. Mona and Kleinhans on with 20min to go.
We seem to be a sluggish lazy team. I hope for an individual player’s brilliant moment to save us!!
And we almost had a fight. Sharks scrum 5m out.
Bit over the top from Hewitt
Andxthe all is dropped only metres from the line. EP clears and Sharks attack again.
@Seth101 (Comment 77) : yes agree bit unnecessary.
Venter is very slow to clear.
?
Sharks attack and attack without making any ground. Scrum to the Sharks on EP 22m.
Buge scrum by EP. Sharks try to attack but lose the ball again.
To be fair the King’s front row scrum in on the angle every time
Kings try. We’re gone
Sharks look like a second string team. As soon as the kings get the ball they raise the tempo.
Where is Duncan Campbell? He would have made a difference to get this backline moving. He has had a good season also with UKZN. He’s the genuine homegrown flyhalf but always gets overlooked! Catch a wakeup and stop importing players when we have them!
And EP score a great try on the counter attack. Skosana score and va Zyl kicked the conversion. EP 27-11 with only 8min to go.
Cell C Sharks XV 11 – 27 EP Kings
@robdylan (Comment 85) : maybe it will be a nice wakeup call for Sharks XV before the playoffs.
How on earth has this team gone unbeaten until now?!?!
Hell and yet again the Sharks manage to butcher another great opportunity after a good kick and gather.
@woody (Comment 91) : makes me almost glad that it’s the first Vodacom cup game I get to watch.
Gaaawwwd I have seen better skills at school level!!!
Only no 13 in this back line looks like he has to be here
Sorry to say but this will be well deserved win for the EP Kings. Great performance by them. EP 27-11.
How is hadebe captain, let alone in the 22 when he can’t do his basic hooker duties at all well?
@JD (Comment 93) : lol yes I was excited about this game but boy……
@KILLER SHARK (Comment 95) : du Plessis had a good first half but in the second when they started to force the game he seemed a little lost, but he’s still very young .
@woody (Comment 97) : to be fair Hadebe also had a good first half with a couple of good turnovers, but like du Plessis had a not so good second half when the team was under pressure.
Ok now it’s half time for me. Time to get some food and drinks before the second half begins.
@JD (Comment 99) : yip. But the slow service from Venter contributed a lot to this.
I think the idea of being on TV got to them
Oh dear!!
Was really good to see some old Westville boys on the field last night and two of them are former Westville 1st XV captains (Hadebe and Kelly). Kelly seemed the class scrummie of the night….how come is it that the Sharks let him go??
Campbell would have been a better choice at 10… but he played for UKZN against Quins on the night.