We head to North Harbour for the Sharks’ final tour match.
They netted an impressive return of two wins from three so far – can they go the distance and claim that third tour scalp?
Kick-off is at 09h35 SA time.
Blues : 15. Lolagi Visinia, 14. Frank Halai, 13. Pita Ahki, 12. Ma’a Nonu, 11. Tevita Li, 10. Simon Hickey, 9. Bryn Hall, 8. Jerome Kaino, 7. Luke Braid (Captain), 6. Peter Saili, 5. Tom Donnelly, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu, 3. Charlie Faumuina, 2. Keven Mealamu, 1. Tony Woodcock
Replacements: 16. James Parsons, 17. Sam Prattley, 18. Angus Ta’avao, 19. Hayden Triggs, 20. Steven Luatua, 21. Jamison Gibson-Park, 22. Ihaia West, 23. Albert Nikoro
Cell C Sharks: 15. SP Marais, 14. JP Pietersen, 13. Sibusiso Sithole, 12. Paul Jordaan, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Francois Steyn, 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Willem Alberts, 7. Lubabalo Mtembu, 6. Jacques Botes, 5. Stephan Lewies, 4. Ettienne Oosthuizen, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Bismarck du Plessis (Captain), 1. Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Dale Chadwick, 18. Lourens Adriaanse, 19. Ryan Kankowski, 20. Keegan Daniel, 21. Charl McLeod, 22. Tim Swiel, 23. Heimar Williams
Tweet
Go Sharks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In a fantasy sharks will win with 3 points but in reality blues will win with 5
Man I hate Friday games. It’s hard not to check the scores and somebody is bound to mention it before you can watch the recording.
But I do like the excitement of watching the game later without knowing the score.
Go Sharks!!
But I really hope the sharks wins, but goodluck with ur team everyone on the site that sharks supporters hey.. If sharks plays like last week then the sharks will win with 15 points
Think this game is going to be very tough – the Blues haven’t lost at home this season?
Sooo…I’m in bed – or rather: on the couch – with flu today…no, really! True as Bob genuinely sick!! But on the up side, I get to watch rugby today :). I will keep you updated!!!
Go the SAAAAARRRKKKKSSS
It sucks to sit at work when we play 🙁 Twitter and Supersport will have to suffice for today 🙂
@RedSharkUtd82 (Comment 8) : Im taking off half my lectures today to go home, watch, then go back to college :D.
@pastorshark (Comment 6) : Haha lekker man lekker – I hear shot of whisky in your coffee does wonders for flu
#justsaying #makeaflaskofcoffee
Little nervous, after last week’s win, I’ve kind of forgotten about the shortcomings of the Sharks….lets hope they don’t remind me of them today.
Come on Sharks….bring it home.
I see the Sharks have to be out of their hotel at 03:45 am NZ time tomorrow….let’s hope their minds are on the game, and not the trip home.
@Windgat101 (Comment 4) : Thanx and good luck to your team tommorrow!!!!!
@Seth101 (Comment 9) : how goes the saying: where there’s a will there’s a way 😉 enjoy
@patrick86 (Comment 5) : then it’s about time that they do!!!
@RedSharkUtd82 (Comment 8) : found a link to use on my cell phone. It works on some of the channels hope I can catch the game today as I missed last weeks game.
@pastorshark (Comment 6) : ja ja ja we all believe you. 😕 Get well soon.
while its important to respect the opponents, I really dont think the Blues have the players. To me, it would be a massive upset if we come unstuck here. Here’s hoping for a good all round performance and no injuries. Go boys!
@patrick86 (Comment 5) : They havent beaten us in 8 or something years…
@JD (Comment 15) : Let us know if it works boet – you know they say: sharing is caring lol
That’s what makes me more nervous haha. The Blues fullback is also a very strong runner – hope we can keep him in check.
@RedSharkUtd82 (Comment 19) : live.vodafone.com/dstv just hope Rob don’t mind. Need to register before using it, can pick between per month or per week (cost R20 per week).
@JD (Comment 21) :Thank you sir 😉
@RedSharkUtd82 (Comment 22) : got the download at play.google.com (dstv mobile streaming) hope it works.
@JD (Comment 23) : Shot man will go check it out!!
@pastorshark (Comment 6) : pastors don’t lie right… Lol I definitely envy u though. Flu and all! I’ll refer back to this threat through out the game so u better keep us up to date by the min okay. Enjoy the game
My sister in the Stadium, reporting about 70% of people showing support for Sharks
Ouens…. don’t know if this is a really KAK omen…. I dreamt we loose by 7 last night!!!
That has never happened to me before!!!
Home sweet home,lets do this boys!!!!
Anyone taking the score updating duty on here? Happy to if needed :).
Super sport highlighting the Braid vs Botes match up, lets hope Botes can jump into this game with full force.
Jordaan vs Nonu, Jordaans defence has impressed me so far, but vs Nonu will be tough.
All SS guys picking Sharks for the win.
@R Hayward (Comment 27) : Go back to bed, shit dream 😆
@Gerhardt (Comment 26) : Cool
@R Hayward (Comment 27) : Nee man don’t jinx it lol
@Stiko85 (Comment 25) : Will do…they’re about to cross over to the stadium…after ads! :/
@pastorshark (Comment 6) : CoughBSc ough
😆
Thanks guys, also stuck at work, so will appreciate all the updates!
Almost time. Let’s hope we have a neutral referee and the boys play like last week..
I decided to go into work today at 1 lol so watching in peace 😛
“All Bok, all SuperRugy centurion front row” boy that sounds great :D.
Here they come…go MEN!!!
how many centurions in the this team?
if you outside the country, or supersport does not seem to recognize your smartcard no (as in my case), try this link:
http://www.coolsport.tv/nfl-hd-stream-2.html
Game underway…
Ooh…Steyn’s up and under not claimed…but tidied up by Blues…then ping pong with lots of kicking…
Penalty Blues on halfway…Sharks forwards not retreating…kick for touch…
@Bokhoring (Comment 42) :
http://www.vipboxasia.co/sports/rugby.html
Another link hope Rob does not mind..
Blues on the attack in our 22…5 meters out…Nonu drops it…counterattack…
Something to get you guys in the mood . . .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXCLZEhI8X8
Still on the attack…advantage…and penalty Sharks…some good phase play but one or two passes robbed momentum…
Bit of a messy start, well done to run the ball our of our half, chance at goal now for Steyn.
Steyn nails the first…3-0…
Slots the first one, 3-0.
@Bokhoring (Comment 42) : Thx hy werk mooi 😉
Lineout penalty Blues…taken quickly…and another very kickable penalty to the Blues…
3-3…second penalty was very dicey for not releasing, but he probably would have kicked the first one anyway…
3-3
Not a good start by the ref.
Great turnover Oosthuizen!! But not a great option with the grubber…still attacking lineout.
Oosthuyzen with a good steal
Bismarck!!!
Sharks try after good ball retention
Captains try!
Try time…forwards ground away and then Sbura found the tiniest of holes for the break…Bismarck can’t be stopped!!!
Beautiful try there. Forwards with the hard work Sithole squeezing through a seemingly impossible gap and Bismarck piles over
Steyn converts…10-3…
Great take from the kickoff Oosthuizen…and then penalty to Blues?! What?
Strange decision by ref at that maul
And that call? Wow NZ reffing gas been shocking, even the commentators disagree with it.
Another rookie ref here
Misses the kick, justice 😀
What’s the crowd support for the Sharks like?
And Hickey misses
Come one…I know we want to cut out playing guys off the ball but that’s ridiculous. As the commentator said…it’ll be a long night if they call that!! A bit of justice as the kick is missed…
Fk sakes, now they start penalising for holding the player back!
Better be consistent mr Ref.
@klempie (Comment 71) : Lots of support and loud BEASTS…
HOW WAS THAT A KNOCK ON BY US????
Good pressure by Sharks in the lineout…but knocked by us (?)…
This ref is a joke right?
We crunch them in the scrum…but we are penalised…hmmm. Taken again quickly…not 10m…
Scrum properly Jannie!
Blues scrum demolished but Jannie penalized for going at an angle
10-6…that’s 3 very dicey decisions in 3 minutes…
Kickoff out direct by Steyn…
Skew throw in in scrum free kick for us
Now free kick to us for not feeding straight…wow! A ref looked at that!!
Ooh…I think Mthembu is out cold after a Kaino tackle..m
Passing has been shit from the Sharks all day so far and its resulted in Mtembu getting drilled.
Sharks having to do a lot of defending
Lots of phases for the Blues, bjt good defence. Eventually Blues kick. Mthembu back up after a long time on the ground…
Good signs of running by us, physical game so far.
Ja…Mthembu off for a concussion test…
Sharks need to slow the game down. This pace will only suit the Blues
Great pressure…but Blues get it out just outside the 22…
Jeepers how much did the Blues loosehead scrum in there though?
damn unlucky JPP
JP just could not get that one… But TMO checking for offside and knock
Oooooh…almost scored!!!! Steyn almost through, then great grubber by Daniel…JP loses it…but TMO will check…
JP tackled without the ball there
Oooo so close.
Off JP’s knee…through his hand…ooh…called it a knock…hmmm…
Need a big scrum now
Tera passed concussion test
If it goes through his hands backwards onto his knee and the Sharks then score…is that a knock?
Jannie penalised again for scrumming in…
Hmmm…
@klempie (Comment 71) : 70% sharks as reported from the stadium
Sharks get the lineout ball
Steyn bags a drop goal
Steyn with the drop kick as we steal a lineout…13-6…w
Drop by Steyn 13 -3
Love that banner : WHO LET THE SHARKS OUT
Steyn dropkick beautiful!!
@Gerhardt (Comment 110) :
😎
Jeepers the penalty count is incredible…what’s that now, 8-2?
13-6 sorry
@Bokhoring (Comment 109) : 13-6
Actually 8-1 the commentator just said…now 9-1…
Another NZ ref fighting for his side.
Sharks collapse the Blues maul – another penalty
Blues kick for the corner…
This one was fair though
Oh…not in straight!!! Great defence there on Nonu.
Great defence!!!!
Hahahaha that is rubbish this idiot says…
Brilliant, brilliant defence. Turnover penalty…and now Andrew Mehrtens says it’s a rubbish call. Huge kick by Steyn…
Another steal by Oosthuyzen saves the Sharks bacon
How is that not a perfect steal?
Nonu with a huge hit but good running by the Sharks. Penalty Sharks…Steyn will take a shot…
Jakes boy Oosthuizen really repaying him today!!!
Passing skills need a lot of work
Steyn gets the penalty
Shoulder tackle by Nonu not even mentioned by the ref…Nonu’s shoulder straight into Jordaan. Steyn kicks the penalty (for another infringement) though…16-6…
Sharks are getting pretty good at playing vs 16 men.
Wow…three penalties in a row to the Sharks…
Terrible lineout…but another penalty to us…Steyn to try a 50m kick…great play Reinach…
Sharks stuff up a lineout, somehow gets the ball back and get another penalty
Another penalty for the Sharks. Reinach with a beautiful steal there.
Ref is redeeming himself, he is a bit strict, but seeming a little less biased :P.
Sorry…46m…Steyn tries to hard and hooks it…
22 charged down but Blues grab the ricochet…
Steyn misses. Personally would have kicked for the corner there – put the pressure on the Blues
Nonu being marked brilliantly by Jordaan…
@pastorshark (Comment 141) : Agreed, our defence is solid!
@pastorshark (Comment 141) : Yeah Nonu not getting any good go forward with Jordaan tackling him
The Blues loosehead turns his head in on Jannie every time…so they bkth go on. That’s better Jannie…
Good raking kick from Reinach
Come on…one more crack before half time!!
Sharks with a lineout in blues half. Hopefully a couple more points before half time…
Good kick from SP results in Sharks winning that little kicking dual with Blues 15
Half time 16-6
16-6 HT I will take it.
Jeepers, did that Blues bloke come in on the side of our mall onto our ball carrier or what?!?! Anyway, halftime…16-6…
Sharks loose the ball in the maul. Half time 16-6
I find it weird how so many teams try and beat us at our own kicking game, do they not see how the running game worked for the Landers against us?
Jeeze I’m loving our locks, it’s crazy to think we’re missing pstd and bresler!
lyk goed, of hoe?
@RuckingFun (Comment 154) : Oosthuyzen very prominent all over the field
@robdylan (Comment 155) : Yes, looking good so far. Defence very good…and much more accurate, not as many handling errors. Just good solid rugby…
SS guys point out the ref.
It’s not that we make more tackles…we don’t…in fact, we miss a high percentage…but we just close down the space so quickly!! One turnover there, the Blues had a full backline, but our outside backs closed down their inside backs soooo quickly…keep it up MEN!!
@Seth101 (Comment 158) : Yes, lots of penalties…but the stop start probably suits us more?
These kiwi commentators are tough to listen to
Need to up the anti slightly in the 2nd half and score first etc, a bonus point victory here would be huge
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BoTpuB-CMAA1D8B.jpg
Game stats so far.
Here we go…
Shocking restart for us, but Beast cleans up well. Concentrate men…
Reinach’s kick charged down…
Jordaan nails Nonu again…penalty…that was a poor start after halftime…Jannie yellow…
Blues opt for the scrum 5 out…
Adriaanse on for Botes…
Braid scores…TMO checking for obstruction…
Just what the Sharks did not need.
@pastorshark (Comment 167) : Jannie…..
Why do the TMOs even check, they always going to give it to NZ teams.
Bloody hell come on boys!!!
Try awarded…the decision could have gone either way says Mehrtens…damn right!! But that was poor concentration after halftime!! Chadwick on for Beast…16-13…
Blues turnover…trouble here. Come on MEN!!
Worst possible start to the 2nd half.
TURNOVER…great stuff…almost scored…but good defence Blues…after good Sharks pressure Blues clear…
Sharks still attack until a stupid grubber by Bismarck…
Pass Jordaan!!!!
Poor Lewies knock on there…
Still attacking…Lewies ended up.scoring, but a knock by Adriaanse gives the Blues the scrum…
Nooooo…we need to make the most of opportunities like that!!
@rhineshark (Comment 180) : How long has Jannie been in the bin?
7 man Sharks scrum win a tighthead!!! Attack a bit loose, but we get the penalty…Steyn will take a shot…
@klempie (Comment 184) : 2 minutes left for him
Good scrum with 7 mean wow!
We’re not managing space. Huge overlap turns into nothing with poor passing.
@klempie (Comment 184) : I reckon 6 or 7 minutes…
19-13
Straight through the middle by Steyn…19-13…Beast back on after blood bin…
@klempie (Comment 184) : Sorry, didn’t see your question.
Was the yellow justified?
Is Reinach a liability or an asset??
Blues 13 – 19 Sharks
Oostehuizen has been amazing!
Brilliant steal and penalty there
Twice in that move at the ruck Blues guys took out our guys who weren’t on the ruck…but great defence gets a turnover penalty…
Blues come close but another Sharks turnover penalty save our bacon
Jannie and Botes back on…
3rd try saving turn over.
Is there a lock pairing in world rugby with more breakdown steals than Lewies and Oosthuizen this season?
Jannie is back
Good clearance by Steyn
@Seth101 (Comment 196) : Oosthuizen has been really good at ruck time…bjt now we lose a lineout!!!
Blues now making way too much ground for my liking
Try time to Reinach…awarded!!! But I think Steyn knocked it on at the ruck…
Reinach!!!
Reinach scores another soccer try after a good hack ahead from Lewies
Sharks scores a try!!! Reinach!
Great try! Commentators can cry as much as they want.
Fortunate try!
Try given regardless
Lewies toed Steyn’s knocked ball ahead…and Reinach caught the sauntering Blues player unawares and pounced!! We’ll take it…
@pastorshark (Comment 207) : Steyn was lucky to get away with that. Nz commentators complaining about that now but it’s good to be on the right end of a bad decision for once…
Blues 13 – 26 Sharks
Time remaining?
Mehrtens whinging like crazy!! Steyn wasn’t offsides because he was the tackler…but he did knock it…after all that Steyn converts…26-13.
Watch this ref now !!!
@Son Of Mayhem (Comment 217) : Still 22 minutes…
23 Minutes Remaining.
I thought the scrummy is fair game once he picks up the ball at a ruck
@Son Of Mayhem (Comment 217) : 23 min
Blues penalty and going for the lineout. Come on boys steal it again!
Blues kick for the corner but don’t put it in straight…
Thanks
First proper line break after Sithole missed a tackle…5m lineout to the Blues…
Blues get another crack at it
Good defence of the mall but Sharks ultimately penalised…advantage played…good defence…but penalty again. Frans Steyn yellow…
They join the rucks from the sides
Our discipline has been kak all game.
Oh no… Steyn yellow card…
Yellow to Steyn now
I wonder if Tim will get another crack today?
Steyn yellow card 😐
Here we go again…come on MEN!!
What happened to the holding rule after his first penalty? ?
Maybe we’ve decided that we’re better with 14.
Blues select to scrum
BLUES take the scrum…Sharks.change the prop…and Daniel on…
Jake White rings in the changes.
Just great, great, great, great defence!!!
Defense magnificent!!!
Sharks escape through good defence
Even Mehrtens runs out of superlatives for that defence! But now some other bloke is whinging!!
Sbura!! That defence!! He must be a Bok!
That defence was amazingly well done there… Sithole shutting down the back line move with a very quick rush tackle there
“guess work” by the ref.
Sharks break out but called back for a knock…
@rhineshark (Comment 231) : By the sound of it, so has theirs… 😕
Hehe Piri Weepu doing his Paul Kruger impersonation there
Blues still attack…
Well we`re conceding a lot of penalties which is a huge concern, other than that, it`s been a while since I`ve seen the sharks like this.
Thank You Sir Jake.
I have sweaty palms now!!!
Brilliant defense SP!
Again great defence…this time by SP…our lineout…
SP and Mvovo doing great taking Li out there
And cleared…
How long left?
Blues going to the backs regularly now…try time in the corner. TMO will check for the forward pass…
Try blues 🙁 But going to TMO
Poor tackling there
@klempie (Comment 250) : Jip! But we’re the ones with 2 yellow cards.
Forward pass by Nonu!!!!
That could well be forward
That pass is miles forward
Mile forward!!!
TMO says pass was fine…. 😯
But try awarded
Even New Zealand commentators say so…but TMO says it’s fine!!!!! Noooooooooo!!!!
TMO is pathetic.
WTF????
fuuuuuucjk that fwd by 3 m
Blues 20 – 26 Sharks
His hands definitely moved forward…and the ball even more forward!!!! And the conversion from the corner is good. 26-20…
Penalty Sharks! Taking player out of the ball…
Some Blues idiot gifts us a penalty…but now SP to kick…
Sharks get penalty for Blues taking out player miles from the ball.
@Gerhardt (Comment 273) : @rhineshark (Comment 272) : @Seth101 (Comment 271) : @pastorshark (Comment 270) : @Bokhoring (Comment 269) : @AJShark (Comment 268) : @rhineshark (Comment 267) :
Guess that makes us even.
SP kicking now…
And over…29-20…Steyn back on…
Blues 20 – 29 Sharks
@klempie (Comment 279) : lol you speak truth sir.
HOW LONG LEFT???
10 minutes to go…
That is why NZ rugby looks great. The fck up the rules to suit them
I cant watch the game but was Jannie and Steyn’s Yellows warranted?
@klempie (Comment 279) : True 1 each but that won’t stop the NZ’ers whining about it… Steyn back on.. And now they fight Nonu and Bismarck laughing great stuff 😆
Bissie and Nonu doing the waltz there
@pastorshark (Comment 285) : Lol…thank you!! 😀
Scrum penalty to the Blues…again…! Taking a shot…
Sharks pinged for scrumming around
It’s good…29-23…8mins…
Blues 23 – 29 Sharks
Great tackle Jordaan…
😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯
^^^^^^ That’s as close as I could find to a nervous smiley.
6mins…Steyn almost intercepts but knocks…
@klempie (Comment 296) : whats going on?
Come on boys! Get down into their half again!
The Sharks need to play the game in the Blues half
We need to get some possession. Blues have had the ball for what seems like ages… 64% possession and territory for the Blues 🙄
Injury break…
@Uli Boelie (Comment 298) : Nervous!
It is just defend, defend at the moment
5 mins of danger….concentrate boys…
Well done SP…lineout Sharks…
Jeeeeeez man!!!
WOW… So lucky there. 22 drop out..
Nonu intercept…oh my word!!! Good cleanup…and then McLeod kick charged down…22 kick. Oh my word!!!! Blood pressure time!
Almost trouble there
Kanko on for Tera…3 mins…
Kanko on
Kankowski coming on Mtembu off.
This is killing me….
come now boys!
Great turnover Adriaanse…
Sharks penalty. Okes look out on their feet
They take out another player ahead of the ball. Penalty Sharks after dangerous broken play…
That red card last week has highlighted the cheating and now we get the benefit.
Seconds to go…lineout Sharks…
We need to secure this ball and kick it out when the hooter goes!
Hooter goes…but ref says must scrum….now the whistle blows. Jaaaaaaaaaaa!!!
We win!!!!! Awesome!!!!! 😎 😎 😎
Sharks WINS !!!
Sharks hold on for a valuable close win
Fuckit, my nerves!
YES!!!! 2 out of 2 in NZ! Well done boys a bit scrappy at times but more running going on just need to stick those passes and control the space!
Hooray! Fantasties!!!
Rob picked it…Sharks by 6…29-23. A bit nerve racking in the end…
Bloody well done Sharks! Excellent defense. 😎
Count ’em up….13…yep….13 points out of a possible 20 on tour! 😎
Who woulda thunk after the Landers game… 😕
#Believe
Well done Sharkies!!
Successful tour!!!! Jislaaik I was kaking myself in those last 5min!!!
I would say a home playoff (third place on the log) in the bag. I estimate the Bulls will get about another 17 log points – so another 1-2 losing bonus points will secure that.
Sharks need to push for the top 2 log spots now
@rhineshark (Comment 319) : 200% correct.
13 points on tour…3 out of 4 wins. Another win with us down to 14 for 20 minutes. Just a great result. We said that the tour would show us a lot…it has! Now keep going against Stormers and Cheetahs…
My nerves are totally shot. Well done Sharks.
Great tour by the boys, winning 3 out 4 when no thee SA team won any! Great guts shown, can’t ask for more than that
@pastorshark (Comment 337) : Indeed! I recall some doubters saying the Sharks would fall apart on tour but yet here we are 3 out of 4 wins and a losing bonus point as well.
Looking good we must push for a home semi-final now in the following weeks.
That International break needs to come soon. My nerves are shot!
Now the Rebels, Hurricanes and Bulls can do us huge favours!! Come on…
Well done manne!!!!!! Bloody hell was nerve racking the last 5 mins..
Right, time for some Corenza C…and then the next game…:)
Hold up . . .
Why is nobody else in my street in a party mood?
Oh well, guess it`s up to the Log Leader in the street to entertain all these Wooden Spoon Contenders!
@Bokhoring (Comment 289) : lol- no man he kissed him happy bday
I think Bafana need to look at Reinach – two goals in two weeks