Welcome to Growthpoint Kings Park, where Super Rugby is finally back!
Gary Gold is large and in charge in the hot seat this season and fans are eager to see how the team in black are going to progress under his tutelage in 2015.
Naka Drotske’s Cheetahs have been written off in many sections of the media already, but thrive on the underdog status and like nothing better than knocking over the more fancied side from Durban.
Kick-off is at 5:05pm and Aussie Andrew Lees is the man with the whistle.
Sharks: 15 SP Marais, 14 Sibusiso Sithole, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Heimar Williams, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Lubabalo Mtembu, 7 Renaldo Bothma, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Mouritz Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis (captain), 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Dale Chadwick, 18 Matt Stevens, 19 Marco Wentzel, 20 Jean Deysel, 21 Conrad Hoffmann, 22 Fred Zeilinga, 23 Odwa Ndungane.
Cheetahs: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Clayton Blommetjies, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Michael van der Spuy, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Joe Pietersen, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Teboho Mohoje, 6 Jean Cook, 5 Francois Uys (captain), 4 Lodewyk de Jager, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Danie Minnie.
Replacements: 16 Stephan Coetzee, 17 BG Uys, 18 Nicolaas van Dyk, 19 Carl Wegner, 20 Johannes Prinsloo, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Willie du Plessis, 23 Cornal Hendricks.
Tweet
I am excited to see the Sharks. They showed some good things against Toulon.
What is the weather like Durban peeps?
Good luck boys. Let’s up the intensity, focus on protecting our ball at every ruck and being unpredictable. Have fun boys, we are 100% behind you.
Butterflies, that’s I’ve got. Wearing the shirt, got the chips and beer, an hour till kick-off…lots and lots of butterflies
Fantastic … Load shedding…
No Bismarck. Kyle to start. Pat to skipper.
Go sharks! Rugby is a go. Wish I had some biltong… 🙁
In a cab on the way back from the airport. Can’t believe I’m missing this 🙁
Sharks 3
Cheetahs 7
Sharks 3-7 Cheetahs
15 min
Sharks error rate is too high.
Wait … Cheetahs 7 ?! How What er Who?
Thus far still stuck in 2014 mode.
Sry for all the questions.
I seemed to have moved to an Amish Community…
” Where they Shun Fancy things like … ELECTRICITY!”
Sharks 6
Cgeetahs 7
20mins
Jean Cook try earlier.
Sharks 6
Cheetahs 10
Reinach Try!!!!
lovely try Pat
Beautiful 8-9-10 set move! 😎
Break by Tera and class by Lambie 😀
Beast injured off
Cheetahs try again
WTF?? Moronic 22 exit strategy!
13-17
Why cant I edit. When I save It goes back to what it was before
scrum gets hammered. Same sh*t different day.
Over-rated Jannie gives away another scrum penalty.
16-20 half time
Same old crap at crucial times. Why do the Sharks not go wide near the line? Inevitably one of the forwards bashes it up and loses the ball. Dumbass rugby and why tries are so scarce.
At least that last scrum was much better.
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 29) : So frustrating!
SP looks a little sharper today. Sbu needs to be moved back to 13. He’s wasted on the wing.
Two totally idiotic decisions in the Sharks 22 have cost 10 points.
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 33) : Our focus has not been great.
@vanmartin (Comment 34) : That’s worrying!
Awful rugby sharks.
stuffing around in the 22 again
Deysel on!!
And some more arsing around in the 22 almost resulted in some more points against the Sharks! How difficult is it to just kick the ball out?
Dodgy penalty against Oupa there?
@vanmartin (Comment 40) : One of those eye of the beholder ones…
when does Michael Claasens arrive?
Now that Mtembu’s off the Sharks has lost 100% of its ball passing forwards. 🙄
Score please,Eishkom intervened
SP under the high ball……
22-23
@BarendL (Comment 44) : Cheetahs 23 – Sharks 22
@Stu (Comment 42) : When the French season is over
Cheetahs going for the bonus point try.
make that 22-30
And they get it without too much effort.
Useless.
C’mon Sharks!!
Holy shit. Can’t believe the Sharks are this kak.
Willie du Plessis on for Joe. Good first game for Pieterson in Cheetah colours.
Hoffman on for Reinach
Losing at home to the “worse” team in the S15 is a bit embarrassing.
Cheetahs playing very well
😆
@Stu (Comment 57) : well aren’t you just a little ray of sunshine!!
@Stu (Comment 57) : Guess that means we’re the worst. 🙄
Sharks 22 – 35 Cheetahs
Absolutely woeful. And people reckon this lot are SA’s best hope for a S15 title? What a laugh.
Sharks are just as kak as last year. You cant win if you cant score tries. You cant score tries of you cant catch the fucking ball.
Nice Fatso Stevens!
Fucking pathetic! !!!!! It’s going to be a long season!!!!!!!
Much better play
Now we wake up.
Someone please teach the Sharks forwards to pass.Please!!!!
Any ideas I had of going to Bloem next month is totally gone!!!! No way I’m wasting time and monrto watch this kak!!!! Congrats @Kingcheetah!!!
Try
Sharks are seriously undercooked, when will we learn to have enough warm up matches before tournaments???
@JD (Comment 70) : It hasn’t been the greatest start but it is just that, the start of the season. Don’t write the Sharks off just yet.
If the Cheetahs lose this they’ll kick themselves.
Sharks waking up now
Looks like a kock from Marcel on the line
knock
@Bokhoring (Comment 77) : 😀
No one but ourselves to blame!
SP is kak
Sharks did not deserve to win so well done Cheetahs, written off by most,,,, Sharks?????? seriously?????
Sharks handling cost them this game!
I thought they’d been practising in these conditions all pre season?
Well done Cheetahs. Very well played!
I hate to say I told you so but…..
I wonder what kind of crap excuses we”ll hear. Humidity, blah, blah, blah…
The last 15 minutes were encouraging. The Sharks need to play the full 80 instead of waiting until the last quarter to try to win the game.
Should rather have watched England vs Italy.
I hope everyone is still happy with the selections and game plan.It will all be uphill from here!
@lostfish (Comment 86) : Same old, same old. The Sharks only start playing when no other choice remains.
and I have tickets for the Newlands game
Cheetahs, you biscuits. Well done.
Sharkies wake up, may that be the last weekend of mine that you stuff up.
Kings Park used to be our fortress. I know it’s the first game of the season but this is shameful.
Here is the problem, very simple, Coaching staff not there for the whole pre season training, players only just joining, some have still not joined, no cohesion at all, players mentally not prepared, etc etc etc, only ourselves to blame.
@vanmartin (Comment 78) : In the end the Freudian slip proved to be correct.
Cheetahs played really well – Pietersen was actually very good at 10. Cheetahs forwards bossed us at the collisions and the set pieces. Cheetahs showed us that the excuse of difficult handling in the humidity is nonsense. Sharks have plenty of work to do on skills, but that I expected.
What I would give to have Louis Ludik back in the team…
CHEETAHS!!!
@Morné (Comment 96) : Good call Morné.
@Bokhoring (Comment 94) : Yes, that’s what one expects from a pro outfit like the Sharks. All we heard in the run up to this game was how well they were training and what a happy squad they are. Didn’t see many smiles on the field.
how I saw the players today.
15 SP 4
14 Sithole 3
13 murray 5
12 Heimer 4
11 Mvovo 6
10 Lambie 8
09 Reinach 5
08 Mtembu 7
07 Bothma 4
06 Coetzee 6
05 PSDT 6
04 Botha 6
03 Jannie 2
02 Cooper 5
01 Beast 6
16 Monde did not play
17 Matt 1
18 Chadwick 5
19 Wentzel did not play
20 Deysel 6
21 Hoffman 2 just for the chargedown
22 fred did not play
23 Odwa did not play
Sithole is wasted on the wing… Waylon Murray should never be picked ahead of Sithole and Fischer.
@Morné (Comment 96) : Good call Morne,
I expect a big fat “I told you so” from my old , mate Saffex.
John Smith is making stupid decisions at the helm.He’s like a kid playing with big men’s toys!
@sharks_lover (Comment 99) : Cooper minus 1 for that stupid kick that lead to the one Cheetah try.
Well played Cheetahs!
Early days just yet – sure nobody is writing the Crusaders off based on their match?
That said – piss poor game. Very little shape from the inside backs and atrocious handling skills in general. Sharks been whining about Durban humidity for years – one would think that they would have learnt to adapt by now. But you won’t if you always make excuses like that.
Time to talk less and walk tall instead.
So what has changed at the Sharks? Well played Tjietas you showed us humidity is just an excuse and how to play calculated attacking rugby no more helter skelter.
@Bokhoring (Comment 104) : lol true, but he should never have gotten the pass, the FB should have been there as Lambie was on the ground in a ruck.
@tigershark (Comment 103) : Should never have fallen for that Indian girl.
By the way tonight was not that humid here at the Rinky Dink in fact it was great weather for good rugby this time of the year
@robdylan (Comment 108) : HUH? lol
@Stu (Comment 102) : Yup Saffex is gonna uncontrollable this week lol
@Big Fish (Comment 105) : Always look out for your post-match comments. Once again one of the more objective posts after that result.
@sharks_lover (Comment 110) : Pocahontas
@sharks_lover John Smith is from Pocahontas…
@vanmartin (Comment 113) : So nice to have at least one educated person here 🙂
@andredewaal (Comment 114) : Make that 2
Game management and game managers lads. Sharks has one – Lambie. He needs help. Until then, it will be just another season of ‘what if’
@andredewaal (Comment 114) : @robdylan (Comment 116) : 😀 😀 I never watched Pocahontas… 😯
@sharks_lover (Comment 118) : Snap 😀
Apparently, if one has watched Avatar, then one has seen Pocahontas, because the plot is identical.
@Morné (Comment 117) : I agree he needs help but have to ask what exactly was he managing tonight?
Whoever said the Stormers don’t have the tight forwards to get anywhere this season, should ask the Bulls what they think. 😀
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 122) : Yup, the Bulls look a little confused at the moment
@benji (Comment 121) :
A mess.
@vanmartin (Comment 123) : I’d be lying if I said that it isn’t enjoyable.
@robdylan (Comment 108) : You really still feel like jokes after that?I personally feel the warmup game a week before we start was stupid. Players could be tired and not focussed the week before going into the first game. Choosing sp, heinar and murray is asking to loose. Headcoach checking in a week before super 15 starts is stupid. But right! Keep the jokes up!
@tigershark (Comment 126) : You sound upset.
@tigershark (Comment 126) : Save some frustration for when it really starts mattering. We still have a way to go this season. 😉
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 127) : Im actually feeling better whatching how bad the bulls are playing!
@tigershark (Comment 129) : 😆
Schadenfreude is a great leveller.
@tigershark (Comment 126) : Relax boet, Rob is upset as much as anyone else in here, he just handles it more maturely 😉
I am surprised Saffex is not here yet?? 😯
@tigershark (Comment 126) : they just seem not to take this whole SR thing serious
@Morné (Comment 124) :
That’s the issue. You have to have a 9 or 12 (preferably both) to take some of that on. There was no direction from either, and Reinach especially was poor. I feel that though Esterhuizen is raw and makes errors, he at least offers a gain line advantage at 12 and should start.
Problem is, Williams happens to be our only back running decent lines. Sithole looks confused at wing when he should instead be learning the finer points of 13 – as opposed to just looking for contact. Selection errors in the backs.
@sharks_lover (Comment 131) : acting more maturely isn’t going to win us the cup. We all know that one game could be the diffs between home or away finals. What makes me angry is i new they were making some stupid decisions.
@sharks_lover (Comment 131) : acting more maturely isnt going to bring home the cup. We all know one game could make the diffs for playoffs. What makes me angry is I knew they were taking stupid decisions.
@benji (Comment 133) : Exactly. Im getting a Graham smith kinda feeling here. You know ” theres’s always next time”.
I left Kings Park tonight with such a crap disapointed feeling,unfortunately I allowed myself to buy into all the Brendan Venter,Gary Gold hype,new expansive game plan,running rugby hype.
Bullshit,there was absolutely no new game plan,just a lot of really inadequate players.
We dropped 4 match winnng passes the Cheetahs didn ‘t drop one.Don’t blame the humidity,blame the playing skills.
I will not watch another game that S.P starts in,he cannot take a high ball and his defence is non existent,Heimar is such a light weight,what are we doing starting this non entity ahead of Esterhuizen.
Deysel made a massive impact when he came on.
On the brighter side we have Bismark Thomas du Toit,Frans and JPP to come back
ether Venter and Gold have a way to utilise this talent remains to be seen.
The Cheetahs actually played very well they took every chance that came their way.
@tigershark (Comment 137) : I reckon we should just all accept that the Sharks is a very good Currie Cup franchise, competent Super Rugby franchise and nothing more.
@JD (Comment 70) : Thanks Bud, must say I was pleasantly surprised by the Cheetahs pack. Even without Lood (who looked good) we stood strong in the scrums.
Hard luck with the loss, sure the Sharks will bounce back.
@The hound (Comment 138) : I actually thought that SP was one of the better Sharks backs. H at least had some creative spark!
John probaly said:” hey im just the ceo”.gary said”hey iv’e just arrived and brendon said”hey im just the assistant”.
@KingCheetah (Comment 141) : I too thought there was some improvement in this game. More concerned with Murray right now. Sbu needs to be backed at 13. Congrats to your boys, gutsy defense at the death!
@vanmartin (Comment 143) : Thanks bud…. I have some hope for the season at least.
On another note at one stage we had an all Natal schools front rStevens ,Kearsney,Cooper Glenwood and Chadwick Wesyville,I can’t remember the last we had that.Now if thats not trying hard to find some thing positive in that pile of shite dished up tonite
Stormers just beat the Bulls at home. Number of upsets this round.
@The hound (Comment 138) : One game ffs. Get a grip
@robdylan (Comment 108) : The PC term is native american 😉
@robdylan (Comment 147) : yeah one game costs us home playoffs every year!
Ye Gods! Someone break out the sackcloth and ashes…
@robdylan (Comment 147) : One game that the Sharks were overwhelmingly tipped to win? This could prove costly!
Your optimism is admirable though.
Nothing in the Sharks play indicates, that they will be title contenders.
Scrum was in reverse against a cheetahs pack sans Strauss, Nyakane, Lood, Lappies, and vd Walt.
We still have Brussow, and Sadie to make an appearance.
@KingCheetah (Comment 151) : Sorry, but we don’t really care what you think either, since your entire reason for being here is to annoy.
@robdylan (Comment 152) : Really, sounds like sour grapes to me… Well for the record, I don’t particularly care what you think either!
Yes I do stir the pot often, but I also have some good banter with those with a bit of a sense of humour. You wouldn’t know what that is, even if it ran over you! Pfffttt what a sore loser!
@robdylan (Comment 152) :
Don’t you miss the efforts of stirrers like Vinnie and wpw? At least there was style and panache to their master-baiting.
@Big Fish (Comment 154) : Probably the reason why they left, is that you have to be a Sharks groupie to be welcome here. I have some good buddies in this site, who have realised that my stirring is all in good fun. A wet rag will however always dampen!
Well, that was terrible! Well done Cheetahs. Buck up Sharks…
@KingCheetah (Comment 155) : Well done, KC…
@tigershark (Comment 103) : Huh?
@Bokhoring (Comment 104) : What was that?! Hookers should never kick…ever!!! 😆
I missed most of the game because of load shedding, so I can only really comment once I’ve watched the game.
I missed most of the game because of load shedding, so I can only really comment once I’ve watched the game. I had to turn to RSG!!
@Morné (Comment 117) : Lambie was good…at least in the part of the game I saw…
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 130) : So ist es…
Is there a case to be made for ” the biggest problem is in the head?!” It is a very regular theme that the Sharks regularly win games that they are expected to lose and lose games that they are expected to win. Though tonight that would probably be unfair on the Cheetahs. They deserved to win…
@The hound (Comment 145) : That Kearsney front row was shite, though…
Here’s a grasped straw of my own. The last few years we’ve started with a series of wins and then collapsed in a heap of mediocrity. Maybe we’re due for a season where it’s the other way around? After all, the other time Brendan Venter was involved we lost the first game to Griquas and won the cup!! 🙂
For the 15 minutes we played as a team and passed the ball around and playing for one another we looked good. Then the old ego came back and everyone started kicking possession away…even Cooper!!!
On the bright side the Sharks is on par with some very accomplished teams. Seven time champion Crusaders and trice champion Blues and Bulls.
Talking about the Bulls, they were absolutely dominant for a while there…,……If the manne can play like that for a bit longer than 3 minutes then woe to their opponents.
@fyndraai (Comment 168) : The Bulls have a good team this year, except for Matfield of course. 🙄 Really expected them to win this one.
Made me feel better about the Sharks loss at least.
On a different topic. South Africa imploding against Zimbabwe in the cricket. No surprise there either I suppose. 🙄
Early days. At least the Sharks starting to show more attacking intent plus a lot more offloading.
Main issues for me:
– still unable to finish off due to mistakes
– scrum
– unable to exit our 22 after kickoffs
– all the missed tackles in broken play
I just hope the Cheetahs can show the same level of commitment when playing the Australasian teams.
@Ben (Comment 170) : Looks like Miller and Duminy saved our bacon today 339 for 4 looks so much better than 83 for 4.
@pastorshark (Comment 157) : Cheers bud. Hope your boys bounce back pronto…Sharks have an awesome team, they will click soon.
@Bokhoring (Comment 171) : Yes lets hope! To be fair though, the Cheetahs have fared better against overseas opponents in the past two years, and have been piss poor against SA opposition.
@robdylan (Comment 147) : No t one game but the first game,Jeez buddy you have a short memory,for many years the Sharks have had the longest run of undefeated games in the conference and often the competition.We don’t lose the first game at home.against the previous years wooden spoon.
Maybe you had to be at the game to feel the disapointment,sitting where I do amongst the same people who have sat in the same seats for 25 years.
Worst start in History.
The Sharks were chasing the game all the time, trying to catch up with the Cheetahs score, that’s one big problem. That happens when you concede 4 tries. The butterflies were right. What is sad is the Cheetahs were up for the contest and Sharks not really switched on and motivated until 65 minutes in. Highly disappointed
I’m not too disappointed about this. I’m more happy that we tried to throw the ball around a bit atleast. You could see that there was an intention to try run the ball more, the sharks are looking at being a lot more balanced than last year. If Marcel had not dropped that ball over the line and lambie converted we would have won. I bet you the crusaders fans aren’t freaking about losing 1 game.
My thoughts on the game …
(1) we were undercooked
(2) bismarks late withdrawl followed by beasts early exit was a disaster
(3)hookers shouldnt make clearance kicks
(4) our scrum needs work but it was harshly penalised … a game turner
(5) we were unlucky
(6) the referees still dont know what a scrum is
(7) our lock combo has potential
(8) we didnt use the driving maul … why?
(10) we tried to run the ball … in the wrong parts on the field
(11) our kick and CHASE needs work
Good news is we can only really improve from here
Thought that without bismark on the field our loose trio were very unbalanced
@Bokhoring (Comment 172) : Yup. Our bowling imploding a bit now though. Haha
With regards to the Sharks, Same shit different year.
This is the kakest opening round of my Superbru History. 2 from 7 games.
Tahs going down to the Force.
Brumbies the Only Home team to win this weekend 😯
@RuckingFun (Comment 177) : That is true. The Sharks did play a better brand of rugby. Don’t want to dampen your enthusiasm, but the Sharks would still probably have lost. The first try was very fortuitous, as the ref clearly obstructed Cook and Britz, and prevented a possible tackle on Mthembu. So I give you Deysel’s try, and take Lambie’s away? 🙂
Cheetahs just wanted this one more, and were more measured in their game management than last year. Didn’t just run shelter skelter, and with better defence.
WARATAHS 15-25 FORCE
@pastorshark (Comment 158) : Well what I was trying to say in my frustration is that after a year and a half the sharks in general still seems to be very unsettled in all aspects and that it may take john smith much longer than we thought to get the hang of this job.Its not just about making cool moves but getting things to tick in the long run.I wont be surprised if we loose a few more games and find ourselves in the middle of the log, midway trough the comp.The only ray of light atm is the other big teams loosing as well!!!
@JarsonX (Comment 182) : Yeah just saw the Force beat the Tahs.
“And there was a great cry on Superbru, for there was not a pool where someone got it right” 🙂
@vanmartin (Comment 186) :
Classic! 😆
Can’t read much into the first game of the season in terms of form and performance. But the skill level in terms of basics was quite poor across the park. Some players have highlighted why they should not be anywhere near the field. Matt Stevens has offered the Sharks nothing. Sbura is wasted out wide, Deysel is too good to be on the bench, Waylon is not the answer in the midfield. Need Frans, JPP, Alberts and Bismarck. Hoping Beast is not seriously injured.
With the handling errors, we cost ourselves this game. The Cheetahs handled the ball better than us, and that is not right, we coughed up the pill far too often. I’ll write this off and expect better. Criminal to lose home games, as you start on the back foot immeditely. Come on now Boys!
@Richard (Comment 189) : @Richard (Comment 188) : Agree Richard, I feel they should return to the most tried and tested for now, again not sure this will happen.
Also not sure about injuries?
@Richard (Comment 188) : And Esterhuizen to the centres!
Team I would like to see and again this depends on Injuries and players returning from overseas.
15 Steyn
14 JjP
13 Sbura
12 Esterhuizen
11 Mvovo
10 Lambie
09 Reinach
08 Tera
07 Deysel
06 Marcell
05 PSDT
04 Botha
03 Jannie
02 Bismark/Cooper
01 Beast/Du Toit
16 Cooper/Monde
17 Du Toit/Chadwick
18 Adriaanse
19 Alberts
20 Kanko
21 Ungerer
22 Fred
23 Odwa
Yes I know Saffex will be shouting Fisher from the hilltops, but right now the Sharks need stabillity
@sharks_lover (Comment 192) : That backline looks much much better and we could have selected something very similar yesterday!
@sharks_lover (Comment 190) : Gold has confirmed that Beast has a serious injury, so Thomas will need to step up again. The big names will need to make a big difference upon their return. I don’t like the look of our midfield – Steyn and Sithole with JPP out wide. @tigershark (Comment 191) : Esterhuizen could make a difference in the midfield until Steyn returns, but unfortunately his versatility (or lack thereof) might see him lose his place on the bench.
@Richard (Comment 194) : I hear what your saying about his versatility, but each time he’s on the field he makes a difference.Beast out of action is a huge setback.Chadwick looks more like a lean hooker.
@Richard (Comment 194) : Thanks Richard, and yes Steyn,Sbura midfield is great, I just don’t like SP right now as he is lacking big time, Maybe Odwa at 15 would work with Steyn at 12
Maybe it is time Fisher gets a chance as he is a genuine 13? and can help out at 15
Also if Esterhuizen does start he does offer a huge Left Boot, Steyn at 15 Would also bring his big boot into play
SP was good yesterday. Stevens looks like an Epi Taione signing.
And truth be told the backline will probably still be the same next week as yesterday.
Oh my word…just came back from church…and saw that the Waratahs lost to the Force. A weekend full of surprises and a shocker for SuperBru!
Its just sad that we have to loose games before the right guys are selected!Im beginning to associate Matts face with frustration and incompetence!!!
@Big Fish (Comment 199) : Fishman mate, normally I would agree with you but SP did not take 1 up and under,
@byron (Comment 178) : I agree especially vociferously with 3)!!!
Anyone thought the Stormers played superbly.Almost felt a bit jealous.Dwayne was a monster and their two locks are huge.
@JarsonX (Comment 182) : If it’s any consolation, I also had a shocker…although I did manage to call 3 correctly…Brumbies, Canes, Chiefs…
@KingCheetah (Comment 183) : I agree that game management was the key. The Cheetahs were great at, Lambie was good, but the rest of the Sharks’ key players were not great at all…
@tigershark (Comment 185) : Fair enough…though putting to much blame and John Smit’s door for yesterday may be a bit unfair…
@vanmartin (Comment 186) : The comments are more entertaining than reading my Superbru scorecard!!
@Richard (Comment 188) : It doesn’t sound too good for beast. Serious calf injury…let’s see how long he’s out. Will Thomas be back? We need him now! Chadwick hasn’t been great…
@Richard (Comment 189) : Handling has cost my head a lot of hair!!
@tigershark (Comment 195) : I can’t argue there, he does make a difference, but he is not the same league as Steyn and I would not put Steyn at the back, I would possibly look at JPP there, meaning Sbura and Esterhuizen could swap between 13/14 – I believe that you could interchange 12/13/14 depending on set play and running lines etc, but that is pointless if you don’t get quick ball, or dominance up front. There was no momentum to speak of yesterday – without momentum The Sharks don’t feature on game day. Going to be an interesting season.
@pastorshark (Comment 210) : Thomas is a few weeks away, going to miss our big forwards – worried, very worried about Tighthead. Matt Stevens and Lourens Adriaanse have been absolutely disappointing signings. All the Young Sharks who have left us have done well, Julian, Danie, Wiehan have been fantastic for their new Unions at prop.
@Richard (Comment 212) : That’s exactly what I’ve been saying.Steyn at 12 and Esterhuizen at 13.Jp or Lwazi at 15.But Sbura has done well at 13 and its a long season so Esterhuizen will get his shot.Just cant stomach Murray at 13 and Andre not even in the match day squad.
@Richard (Comment 213) : Oh dear! What now! So Chadwick is our only loosehead? Who will back him up?! And you’re right about the troubles at tighthead! Now we have trouble at loosehead too!!!
And we play the Lions this weekend!! They are going to CRUNCH our front row!! TROUBLE…
@KingCheetah (Comment 183) :
That try was no more (or no less) fortuitous than any other.
Using the referee as a blocker is a perfectly legitimate tactic in rugby.
@Ben (Comment 169) :
Matfield looked his age…………..
..correction…….
……..Matfield looked my age.
@fyndraai (Comment 217) : Cool then, that be the case then I guess knocking a ball with the line beckoning also means no try, so we are back to square 1, which means the Sharks would still lose right?
@KingCheetah (Comment 219) : boet congrats on your team winning! !!! They deserved to beat the Sharks (that was totally useless)!!!!
@JD (Comment 220) : Thanks JD, think it was more a case of the Sharks adapting to a new style…they certainly attempted to play it wider a lot more. Cheetahs were more solid in the scrums than I expected, and maybe caught the Sharks pack unguarded.
The Sharks will bounce back, and be in the mix at the end, we will hopefully not fade!
@pastorshark (Comment 215) : Matt will have to cover 1.
@Big Fish (Comment 199) : I also thought this was one of SP’s better games.
Likewise very underwhelmed by Stevens – hard to believe he was part of a very strong England scrum.
@robdylan (Comment 222) : Hmmm…I am nervous about the Lions game!
@KingCheetah (Comment 219) :
Given how close the Sharks came to scoring a try in the dying minutes, I’d say the Cheetahs were very lucky to have won, but if the Sharks did win, I’d be saying that they were lucky.
Either way, luck plays a part in every rugby match. We must live with it.
@pastorshark (Comment 211) : I’m still in the dog box with my wife… Foul language and temper tantrums are unbecoming of an adult she said. The way my dog (dressed in full regalia) behaved, I’m devastated that he is still allowed on the bed. Oh well, that’s why I’ve got season tickets, off to the stadium I go. If you happen to see a dude with a one man braai talking to himself after the game, pull in, that’s me… 😉
@pastorshark (Comment 215) : good news about Beast being out for a lot less time, and Tank is up for contention this week, expect to see him on the bench.
@Richard (Comment 227) : Absolutely…glad to hear about T too!
@Morné (Comment 117) : was thinking that, game management and game managers. There needs to be leadership in the pack, as well as the backs, Lambie responsible for backline play, Bismarck responsible for forward play along with Deysel. Together responsible for nett result. The forwards are responsible for the quality of the possession and backs are responsible for execution of the possession. Operations + Execution = Gross Result (final whistle) = Nett Result.