Welcome to Bloemfontein, where the Sharks need to win to reclaim second spot on the overall log from the Crusaders.
Late breaking news is that Ryan Kankowski has been ruled out for the visitors, meaning a start at number 8 for Tera Mtembu.
Kick-off is at 19h10.
Toyota Cheetahs: 15. Willie Le Roux, 14. Cornal Hendricks, 13. Johann Sadie, 12. Rayno Benjamin, 11. Raymond Rhule, 10. Johan Goosen, 9. Sarel Pretorius, 8. Philip Van der Walt, 7. Teboho Mohoje, 6. Torsten van Jaarsveld, 5. Francois Jakobus Uys, 4. Lood de Jager, 3. Coenie Oosthuizen, 2. Adriaan Strauss (Captain), 1. Trevor Nyakane
Replacements: 16. Caylib Oosthuizen, 17. Luan De Bruin, 18. Carl Wegner, 19. Jean Cook, 20. Henco Venter, 21. Shaun Venter, 22. Elgar Watts, 23. Hennie Daniller
Cell C Sharks: 15. SP Marais, 14. JP Pietersen, 13. Sibusiso Sithole, 12. Francois Steyn, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Tim Swiel, 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Lubabalo Mtembu, 7. Jean Deysel (Captain), 6. Marcell Coetzee, 5. Anton Bresler, 4. Stephan Lewies, 3. Lourens Adriaanse, 2. Kyle Cooper, 1. Dale Chadwick
Replacements: 16. Thomas du Toit, 17. Bismarck du Plessis, 18. Jannie du Plessis, 19. Etienne Oosthuizen, 20. Willem Alberts, 21. Charl McLeod, 22. Odwa Ndungane, 23. Tonderai Chavhanga

VRYYYYYYYSTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reckon the blikore are going to get klapped today.Six love. New balls please. π
@McLovin (Comment 2) : If you’re Keohane in disguise we’re fucked.
Go Sharks!!
@rhineshark (Comment 3) : Keohane who? :wanker:
@McLovin (Comment 5) : Wanker with the worst prediction record of any rugby βjournalist’. By far.
C’mon Belgium!!!!!!!!!!!!! π
@McLovin (Comment 7) : Why not Argentina? They have far better steaks.
@rhineshark (Comment 8) : And wine!
@McLovin (Comment 7) : @rhineshark (Comment 8) : mmm…chocolate!!
The sadist in me doesn’t want a South American team to win. π
@pastorshark (Comment 10) : Chocolate, mussels, beer…. π
@McLovin (Comment 11) : Not that I care. π
@McLovin (Comment 12) : mmm…beer!
@McLovin (Comment 12) : EU Government. Argentina for the win. π
@rhineshark (Comment 8) : @pastorshark (Comment 10) : @McLovin (Comment 11) : You guys referring to that sport that consistently manages to be more boring than the game we just watched?
Come on men!!
Tera in for Kankowski (late withdrawal)
@rhineshark (Comment 15) : Hup! Hup! Holland!
And Oosthuizen on the bench
@vanmartin (Comment 16) : There was a 10 min gap. Forgive us!
Sbura and JP have swopped jerseys…
@McLovin (Comment 19) : Once agian. I don’t care. π
@pastorshark (Comment 22) : Don’t like that to be honest
@McLovin (Comment 19) : Kaaskoppe bo! π
@vanmartin (Comment 16) : No, just about chocolate and beer…
Is it in Bloem or Durbs? Hard to tell by the amount of empty seats. π
Here we go…
Well done SP…
@rhineshark (Comment 25) : Pervert. π
Chadwick you chop! What was that?!
@McLovin (Comment 30) : π
That was the sort of thing that would lead to Chadwick not playing again the next week if I was the coach!!!
Goosen converts a penalty, Swiel misses one…3-0 Cheetahs…
We better wake up.
Great committed tackle by Sbura…
Good to see Fransie Steyn playing. His cheque must have cleared. π π
Defensive lineout good…and good exit play…
@McLovin (Comment 37) : π
Oh my word!! What was that?
That was very poor from the Sharks
Did Jake only pick backs today? Where the fuck are our forwards?
30 meter maul…Cheetahs try…10-0 after 9 minutes…come on boys!!
Good clearance kick Reinach…
We are kicking ball away
Why has Kanko been ruled out? Injury wasn’t specified.
WooHooo what a driving maul.
Cheetahs will look at doing that from line outs in their 22 if thats the best we can do to counter it
Few phases…knock…*#&%!!!
Reinach your passing is still up to shit!
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 47) : Forwards are going to get a tongue lashing from Jake for that one
That was a dicey sort of free kick against a good Sharks scrum!?!
Great touch finder Frans Steyn!!
JP almost gets away…
Chadwick’s milky calves are blinding
Ooooohhh…so close! Great dummy by SP!!
Still 10-0 after 17 mins…
Cheetahs won’t hold out Sharks for much longer.
Sharks penalty…Swiel will take a second pot…
I really wished that we looked like title contenders. π
Swiel needs a haircut. π
He nails it…10-3 after 18 mins…
Chadwick pulls a Beast at the kickoff!
Chadwick pulling a Beast. π
Noooooo…kick directly into touch…
Brilliant kick from Marais. π
@pastorshark (Comment 62) : Snap!
Sharks steal a Cheetahs lineout…good work!
@pastorshark (Comment 62) : “Anything you can dod I can do better”….well almost. Good strength there Dale.
Jeepers…penalty to touch missed!
@pastorshark (Comment 62) : @rhineshark (Comment 63) : Jinx
Reeeeeeiiiiiiiinaaaaaaach!!! What a try! WHAT A TRY!!
Reinach just has the knack!
Brilliant try. π
Reinach decimates just about the whole of the Cheetahs backline. He must have sensed Uli complaining about his passing again
Swiel nails the conversion…10-10 after 23 mins…
Bloem has been sacked. Good night nurse.
Sharks backs looking good with JJP at 13.
Mich better now…
How’s the back spin on Steyn’s kick?! But not a great drop attempt after…
Why does Steyn always look like he has a pain in his arse?
Cheetahs spoiling at a lot of the breakdowns. Ref needs to start warning soon.
@pastorshark (Comment 79) : That’s pay for play for you… π
Penalty to the Sharks after a collapsed maul…Swiel to take a shot…
@rhineshark (Comment 80) : The knee bone’s connected to the arse bone
And nails it…10-13 Sharks after 26 mins…
And a good,clearance by Swiel…
@rhineshark (Comment 80) : His private life should remain private. π π
Great hands Sharks backs…
Beautiful hands there for a while! π
But the final pass goes to no one…and Deysel gives away a needless penalty!!
And Lewies offloads to the Bloem ghost
Over and out all you beautiful people. Enjoy the win. If you’re a Shark that is.
Great work by the Sharks spoilt again…Argh!!
@vanmartin (Comment 84) : Hahaha genius! π
@McLovin (Comment 92) : Cheers bud, congrats on your team’s win
@McLovin (Comment 92) : Are you trying to jinx this?!?!
@McLovin (Comment 92) : Cheers bud!
Noooooooooo…Cheetahs try…but good pick and go!
That’s just way too easy. No S15 cup this year, I’m afraid.
17-13 after 33 mins…
Cheetahs playing well
@vanmartin (Comment 101) : Something we didn’t expect?
How was that a penalty Rohan Hoffman?!…Cheetahs kick it into the 22…
Sharks have a defensive scrum 5m out…
@rhineshark (Comment 102) : Not unexpected, what is a surprise though is how well they’re playing the tactical battle tonight. They should have incorporated it more during their season.
And they get a free kick…
@vanmartin (Comment 105) : The Cheetahs are always dangerous. We know this better than anyone! π
Ag nee…another breakdown penalty against the Sharks…
Where the hell is Reinach when he needs to be at the rucks?!!!
17-13 halftime…
@Uli Boelie (Comment 109) : Fair question
Take away Reinach’s individual effort and the net fact is that we’ve created fuckall.
Big second half required men!!
The good, mixed with the bad and the ugly in the first half…
@pastorshark (Comment 114) : Whowewhowehoooo nananaaaaa!
@rhineshark (Comment 112) : I don’t know…we have created a few chances and certainly have had some extended phase play…but the season’s story of the final pass going to no one or being spilled is there in buckets again!
And then I have to agree with Mallet ( π― ) re: Swiel’s defense….reminds me of MS π
@pastorshark (Comment 116) : By creating I mean actually getting near the Cheetahs line. I think the closest we’ve been, outside of Reinach’s try, was when SP dummied and made it to their 5m.
Sharks is pathetic and useless!! Cheetahs going to beat them by far, sharks is the most pathetic South african team
@rhineshark (Comment 118) : That dummie had the cameraman flummoxed π
@FireTheLooser (Comment 117) : Swiel needs a big second half.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 120) : Me too! π
@Windgat101 (Comment 119) : Jy kan net ‘n Bulls ondersteuner wees. Gaan kyk eerder sokker. Ten minste het jy dan hierdie jaar ‘n bietjie vreugde.
Surprised Steyn,didn’t take a shot there?
I must say that JPP at 13 is much better.
I don’t understand it. Alberts is much shorter than Lewies, but he’s binding under in the scrums.
A fair bit of rubbish by the Sharks…
Alberts on…
More poor play by the Sharks. Come on man!! Try to the Cheetahs…
Three tries to one. Wonderful.
Oh dear…this is not looking good…
Be honest – who’s surprised at the score?
Bismarck on…
Why kick?!
Joel is the,king of understatement: “The Sharks chance of a home semifinal and a home final ebbing away ever so slightly…”
We just don’t seem to want it bad enough…so I guess we don’t deserve it then…
@pastorshark (Comment 134) : No other ideas?
Whole front row subbed…
Another penalty conceded at the breakdown!!! ARGH!!!!
We’re being outplayed… π₯
Sharkies se gatte word geskop lol, patetiese kak sharks hierdie kani eers die kakste Sa span wen nie, jine sien geen kans dat die sharks die cup ooit gaan wen nie, pateties soos altyd
I’m becoming more of a Lood fan by the minute.
@Windgat101 (Comment 141) : Jou hand seergemaak, so nie ‘n date vir vanaand nie?
Come on now boys…27-13 down…there goes another season…
The final pass stuffed up again!!!!! We don’t deserve any better…
@Windgat101 (Comment 141) : Jeepers bud…is that necessary?
So disappointing…
@pastorshark (Comment 144) :I think ur right, we’ve seen it all before, the more things change…the more they stay the same
Yes it is sharks is the kakste team in SA, always chicken out and soo pathetic
And a lineout steal for the Cheetahs…oh dear!
Ai, I have no words.
As I said a moment ago: so disappointing…
@Windgat101 (Comment 149) : At least make a half-hearted attempt to keep it clean…
Sharks is kak get in your heads people why wanna support a kak SA team
Well, that was crap…
@Windgat101 (Comment 154) : Carry on like that and all you’re doing is convincing people that you’re just not very nice (and I’m putting it in nice words)…
AAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!
Well done Deysel. π
Jean dysel the bonebreaker is the most pathetic player hey, and pastorsshark the sharks is the kakste team in the world
Very little going right for the Sharks in this game. Kudos to the Cheetahs for applying great pressure.
Bloody useless Sharks!!! π
@Windgat101 (Comment 159) : Wow, that is classy… π―
@Windgat101 (Comment 154) :http://www.english-online.org.uk/course.htm
@pastorshark (Comment 162) : Just ignore him. He will get bored eventually and head back to Keo…
@rhineshark (Comment 163) : π
@rhineshark (Comment 163) : @Ben (Comment 164) :
Hahahaha pathetic sharks, hahaha will end on 3rd and then crusaders will beat them
Bismarck has missed 3 of his jumpers since he’s come on.
Come on…bonus point could still be important…
Sharks is pathetic hahahaha, enjoying this play from cheetahs, they deserved it more to be in die top 6 than the sharks
Let’s see whether Bismarck can find a jumper…
There we go…
Phew!
@Windgat101 (Comment 170) :https://m.facebook.com/pages/wankers-anonymous/105633412805767?_rdr
27-20…5 mins to go…
One more chance?
A draw here would be getting out of jail.
Come on now Bismarckm…find,a jumper!!
C’mon Sharks!!
Sharks scrum 5m out…please men…
Stiff up…but another chance…Goosen binned…
Lucky!!!! Thanks ref!!!
How was advantage over?!?!?!
Well done Cheetahs! Well played!
HOW THE FUCK COULD THAT BE ADVANTAGE OVER?!?!?!?!?!?
Well done Cheetahs. Deserved to win it.
WTF??Hasbean players should not be refs!!
Let’s be honest here boys, the Cheetahs won this one without the ref’s help. There defense was superb at vital times.
THAT Sharks team again rears its ugly head to ruin another must win game vs. the bottom of the log team.
Seems not even Smit’s broom was big enough to rid us of THAT Sharks team…..still only ever able to ever perform when the odds are stacked against them. π‘
That was sad…
Oh well 2 loses in a row.sharks doing a great sabotage job. They have nobody to blame but themselves hopefully we play better next week.the way things are going playing at home wouldn’t be an advantage
Stormers and Cheetahs are quality, don’t know what happened this season but these teams have what it takes. SA Rugby not looking too bad.Well played Cheetahs, deserved win.
@pastorshark (Comment 190) : Indeed it was, we’ve made life very hard for ourselves.
Look, we were poor…they were better…but there was no way that that was advantage over…
Another promising season stuffed up by games lost that should have been won…
Just want to say it again SHARKS IS PATHETIC LIKE ALWAYS GO WARATARS
Anyway, I’m out. Cheer up boys, we’re still going to the playoffs which is a boast no other SA team can make.
Frustrated at how the streamers and tsietas only join the SR party when it’s all over and they don’t stand a chance of winning anything.
Why are these teams not able to play with this passion and ability when it matters most? On their showing, we should have 3 teams in the top 6 of the SR log.
Imho, the only way ‘advantage over’ could possibly be called is if the Sharks scored a try or if they were awarded another penalty. π
Bwahaha from log leaders to losing against the kings and cheetahs …
We choked again.
@pastorshark (Comment 194) : I agree.
Even Nick Mallet goes woes about that advantage over call…
@McLovin (Comment 199) : π
@FireTheLooser (Comment 198) : Stormers had about 17 million injuries and a game plan which was outdated during the jurassic era. π
@McLovin (Comment 199) : Hey, that’s what Nick Mallet said…
π― even Mallet agrees that it wasn’t advantage over…that really means it wasn’t over, ’cause Mallet ain’t no Sharks fan.
Anyways, next week turns into a nothing game, should be seen as prep for the qtr. final.
Well done Cheetahs – played well. De Jager is a monster. Goosen kicks killed the Sharks territory game. Mohoje showed why he made Bok.
If you can match the Sharks in the forwards, the team has no answer.
@pastorshark (Comment 205) : I can’t see Mallet. But he must know what he’s talking about.
@Bokhoring (Comment 207) : That’s the SA way, not? π
@McLovin (Comment 204) : Let’s hope your team is able to take their newly found 80’s running rugby, winning rugby form to SR 2015….
@FireTheLooser (Comment 210) : Ag swaer, we can only hope…. But I won’t be holding my breath. When it counts they have been found wanting far too often. π
SA teams show more pride when fighting to not finish last, than they do when they play to finish first. π‘
Well, the good news is, the Sharks are basically written off for next week’s game vs. the streamers
BBB
@rhineshark (Comment 214) : Bring Back Brendon
@FireTheLooser (Comment 213) : If the Waratahs win tomorrow it wont matter what happens at Newlands next week.
@rhineshark (Comment 215) : Sadly, he’s so good, he’s really not interested in being bogged down with one team….he should be employed by SARU as the coach of the coaches.
Let’s hope the post 2016 era will be based on his rotation blueprint.
JW has failed miserably in rotating players, and then elevates Swiel waaaaaaaaaaaaay too early in his short career….should have used Zeilinga or stuck with Steyn.
@McLovin (Comment 216) : Either way, I can’t see it mattering…
…however, I can easily see the Tahs losing tomorrow, just to really rub us SHarks noses in tonight’s loss π
Well done Cheetahs.
Lekker slaap good people of planet earth.
Sun will come up tomorrow.
Life goes on. π
@McLovin (Comment 220) : Oh well. That is a Shark’s supporter’s lot in life – we will try again next year with high hopes.
Unless we see dramatic improvement, I see the Waratahs and Crusaders in the final – with the Tahs taking it.
Have to say the Cheetahs first try was really embarrasing π³
Why why why why choose Sithole on wing and JP on centre….why why why choose Swiel instead of Zeilinga….Why Jake why??!!Such a frustrating match,why do we always stuff it up against bottom of the log dwellers,its getting [email protected]%&$g rediculous!Had alot more joy watching the Streamers play tonite!Deysel huge in first 20min and then just dissapeared…Swiel imho is incapable of getting our backline moving!Sithole was absolutely wasted on wing…why did JW kruip gat with HM by picking JP there?S’bura have been the best outside centre in SA this year,imo!!!aarrrgggghhhh
The Sharks must be one of the most difficult and frustrating teams to support, in any sport, in any country.
So much annual hope and potential.
Yet every year they contrive to bottle it. Always snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
The Sharks were pathetic tonight. As they were against the Stormers.
In the space of two games we have gone from top of the log and tournament favourites to no hopers.
An away semifinal and away final is impossible.
Oh well, there is always next year….
The most difficult thing to swallow is that the Cheetahs clearly wanted to win more. Their attitude was there. And they weren’t even playing for a home semi and extra week’s break.
The wheels have come off again.
Did I hear correctly – this is the Sharks first loss in Bloem in 5 years.
A sad and disappointing end to a Saturday. Plenty to blame in our team, but at same time congratulations to the Cheetahs. You deserve the win and were the better team of the day. Well done to you. Whether advantage was over or not, makes no difference we donβt blame the ref. We accept that we were not the better team on the day.
This unfortunately brings a hesitation in whom to support tomorrowβ¦. With Waratahβs last game against the Reds, they should be sure of the top spot on the log. It might therefore be better for them to win tomorrow, which leaves us and the Saders battling it out for the 2nd spot next week. Best result for us would be if the Saders and Landers draw next weekβ¦
Nr 1 plays 5 (SA log), nr 3 plays 16 (combined log) and you lose?????????
Sorry boys, but then you dont deserve to win the comp… hard luck sharks. At least there are two more games to try and restore the pride.. anything more than 2 games, will be a bonus.
Btw, I noticed Paul Jordaan with the Boks in the box last week in PE, why didnt he play tonight? Is he injured?
@Bokhoring (Comment 207) : AMEN MY FRIEND!
And this is the problem with a Jake White / Heyneke Meyer philosophy (gameplan) – although the latter has actually branched out far more than the former!
Sharks got some nice offloading going at times – although the last offload /pass going nowhere. Also some horrible passing – I recall one movement near Cheetahs line – Reinach to Swiel who has to stop and catch above his head to Steyn who catches above his head to JP who has to reach above his head
Waratahs 44 – 16 Highlanders
We should be happy with our 3rd place finish then π
All the doom and gloom but there are positives to take out of the match moat notibly our scrums in the second half. Whats evident is that thomas dutoit is the real deal. Lets hope he gets lots of gametime in the second half.
Tim swiel needs to work on his defense and realise that rugby is a contact sport.
@byron (Comment 233) : The doom and gloom is fully justified.
Away semi final. Away final.
History tells us it’s game over. Again.
This is compounded when we can’t even beat an under strength Stormers team at home or the basement dwellers away.
The stormers and cheetas are both vastly improved teams and have had the least interruptions. Sharks are good ttavellers and i think that playing a quarter final is more benifical than a bye. Sharks are very poor starters and need to build up a bit of a run
My prediction is that we will end up 2nd on the log at the end of next week.
Crusaders vs. Highlanders β Highlanders maybe has more to play for, not only for the top spot in the NZ conference, but also for survival. Yes, it is an away game for them, but we only need them to prevent Crusaders from scoring 4 tries and to minimise the point difference. A win for the Highlanders would be a bonus for us. As a result our destiny would be in our own hands.
At the time we play the Stormers we will know exactly what is required from us. Yes, we would not be the favourites, but in the games where we were (Highlanders, Stormers, Cheetahs, etc.) we lost. In the games where all odds were stacked against us (Crusaders), we have win.
My prediction
1 Waratahs 57
2 Sharks 50 (Points Difference) β still to come
3 Crusaders 50
4 Brumbies 44 (Games won)
5 Chiefs 44
6 Highlanders 42
Crusaders to beat Highlanders (Quarter Finals) and the to beat Waratahs (Semi Finals)
Chiefs to beat Brumbies (Quarter Finals) and too loose against us (Semi Finals)
Finals at Kings Park β Sharks vs. Crusaders
Jake, please do us a huge favour – LEAVE TIM HOME!!!!
You are BLUFFing yourself π We’ll end 3rd and will travel.
Unfortunately the Sharks shot themselves in the foot by losing to the Cheetahs.
Fortunately for the Sharks they will know exactly what they have to do against the Stormers. If the Crusaders beat the Clan and get 4 points the Sharks must get 5 points or beat the Stormers by 10 points more than the Saders beat the Clan.
Historically:
17/18 times the champion finished in the top 2 on the log
14/18 time the champion was the team in the top 2 that scored the most tries during the regular season
I also used to be very optimistic.
But history has taught me to be a little more measured and realistic.
The Sharks will most likely finish 3rd. I very much doubt that they will beat the Stormers this weekend.
IF they can get up for the play off at home (which is not guaranteed) they will need to travel to Christchurch for a semi and in all likelihood Sydney for a final. Achieving this is about the equivalent of hitting 2 hole-in-ones in the same round of golf. Good luck to them but I very much doubt it will happen.
So it will be back to the drawing board for yet another year and when they look back at where this season went pear shaped it will definitely be losing to the Stormers at home after having put in all the hard yards on tour.
@Feather (Comment 240) : They are guaranteed a home play-off as they at least will finish third irrespective of points.
Their downfall? Their Stormers-like approach to the game for most of teh season
Is it really that necessary to name the team on a Thursday? That really grates my nuts hey, selection will be quite interesting this week. Chavanga looked sharp.
@Baylion (Comment 241) : Ha, you misunderstand me. They are guaranteed a home play-off, yes. But what isnβt guaranteed given recent performances is that the Sharks will have the right βtude and be up to win it.
The only positive from these debacles are that at least the Boks should be well rested come RC time.
And some consolation in witnessing things going tits up for Jake the great trouble stirrer and Frans, Too Big for The Boks.
The positive was that the Sharks tried to play more positive rugby instead of just hoofing every ball down field. The big negative is that the players still struggle to score tries – this against the team that has the worst defensive record in the Super 15. If you take away the now customary brilliant individual try from Reinach, the attack really is toothless.
Obviously also disappointing that we let in three tries – one which was truly embarrassing. You would think with the surplus of forward coaches you see in the box that the team would know not to try and defend a maul with a single player.
All is not lost though, as the team is guaranteed a playoff at home and may still sneak into second. However we do need a massive improvement from now on – the Stormers game will be really tough.
Also Jake needs to give Fred a fair chance should Lambie not be available – Swiel needs much more time at Currie Cup level.
And a call to his mate Eddie would not be out of place too.
@fyndraai (Comment 244) : Arent you a little ray of sunshine.
Did not read through the comments…Just think it was bizarre to rest Bok frontrow…
Why Reinach is still there is just F beyond me.
Just because someone scores a good try does not make the guy good in all of the departments he is failing so badly in.
His passing is terrible, for a scrummy to be passing this way and everyone is mooting him to be a bok. McLeod is way more consistent in that department, the back line also moves so much faster with McLeod there.
He arrives late at rucks.
He sometimes disappears from the rucks, playing flyhalf? or wing? not sure but he is just gone!
He tries to hard to do everything him self. He needs to play SCRUMMY! damit!
@Charlie (Comment 247) : Yes but they need it, they still do.
http://www.sarugbymag.co.za/blog/details/the-sharks-have-peaked
I don’t even think the sharks have a chance winning the Stormers lol, Stormers by 20 points that will be my superbru predictions
@Charlie (Comment 247) : Ideally the front row should have been rotated for the Stormers game in Durban. The rotation had to be done – the Du Plessis brothers have been starting games every weekend for a few months now.
@Charlie (Comment 247) : Hoe gaan dit meneer. Its been a long, long time.
@Uli Boelie (Comment 248) : Seems as if Mallet is in serious disagreement with you on Reinach.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 254) : You are reminding me of the time when he said Skinstad was better than Teichmann π