Apologies in being a day late (but hopefully not a dollar short) with this post. In my defence, the Chiefs team was only announced very late yesterday!
Sharks v Chiefs (Saturday 19h10)
The Sharks face their toughest assignment of the season to date and with only a smattering of form to their names (courtesy of last week’s win against the Cheetahs) there is very little doubt that a super human effort is going to be required if they are to beat the former champions on Saturday.
Looking back over the season to date is not something we really want to do, as fans, since the humiliation of Newlands is still pretty firmly in our memory. It would be unwise, perhaps, to read too much into the overwhelming up-front dominance the Sharks achieved over a frankly disinterested Cheetahs team a weak later; Newlands was where the soft underbelly of the Sharks’ pack was exposed and it’s that game that the Chiefs coaches will have studied in order to come up with their master plan.
Any hope that the Chiefs themselves would suffer a similar fate against the Stormers were dispelled in rather short order as Dave Rennie’s team absorbed their set piece “lesson” and went on to show that there is more than one way to win a rugby game. The lesson for the Sharks is clear; don’t assume that winning the up front battle means you have the Chiefs beaten, because they are more skillful, fitter and mentally stronger than most other teams in the competition and based on last week’s evidence have developed a strategy that allows them to win games despite losing the forward contest.
It’s easy to look at this match-up on paper and declare that the Sharks have no hope, but to do so would be rather narrow-minded, I feel and also not give much credit to the amazing amount of potential and talent within the Sharks’ ranks, not to mention their own brand of “don’t-write-us-off” bloody-mindedness, which tends to come strongly to the fore in underdog situations. Then again, playing a hand containing 12 Springboks, an Englishman, a Namibian and SP Marais, it’s hard to really justify that underdog tag this week and on a pound-for-pound basis, there is little doubt that the Sharks’ pack, in particular, is stronger.
The Chiefs will claim that they have enough quality depth in their squad to offset the loss of Sonny-Bill Williams and his cousin Tim Nanai and while that’s probably true to an extent, the withdrawal of the former (their talisman) is perhaps just as devastating a blow to the way they play as the loss of Pieter-Steph du Toit is to the hosts. Williams’ offloading game is the real threat, since it gives him different strategies to use against both higher and lower tackles; I’d back the Sharks midfield to do a far better containing job without him in the picture.
Conditions will play a role and the Sharks will hope that it’s sticky – if not downright pouring – since anything that slows the game down and reduces the Chiefs’ handling effectiveness has got to work in their favour. Don’t expect too many fireworks from the Durban side, since the key to victory here lies in suffocation of the foe. The Sharks have the pack to do that and will need to show that their set piece can quickly regain cohesion following du Toit’s withdrawal. A massive effort at home will be enough to propel the Sharks to a 3-point victory, but don’t go to the bookies on that one!
Sharks: 15 SP Marais, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Francois Steyn, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Renaldo Bothma, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Marco Wentzel, 4 Mouritz Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis (captain), 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Dale Chadwick, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Lubabalo Mtyanda, 20 Daniel du Preez, 21 Conrad Hoffmann, 22 Andre Esterhuizen, 23 Waylon Murray.
Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Bryce Heem, 13 Seta Tamanivalu, 12 Andrew Horrell, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Michael Leitch, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Messam (captain), 5 Michael Fitzgerald, 4 Matt Symons, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Marshall, 17 Ben Tameifuna, 18 Mitchell Graham, 19 Michael Allardice, 20 Johan Bardoul, 21 Augustine Pulu, 22 Tom Marshall, 23 Hosea Gear.
In the other matches, I’ll back the Highlanders, Rebels, Crusaders, Bulls and Brumbies to win, the latter breaking a pattern of home wins in round 6.
Tweet
This morning was the kind of morning when you realise why you live here in God’s country.
No humidity ,beautiful clean swell,no wind no clouds,and if there was a better sun rise on the planet good luck to them.In other words autumn is here.
Conditions tomorrow evening should just about be perfect,unless it rains of course .
Days like this make me so happy that I came back home.
@The hound (Comment 1) : came back from where?
I’m off to a bad start…. Canes win again.
Shit, but that team is doing well this season
Aussie commentator: “Despite this being their third week on tour together it looks like the Lions just met each other in the car park before the game” 😆
@The hound (Comment 1) : Thanx for making us all jealous
@robdylan (Comment 3) : Luckily I backed the Canes on that one 😉 They really are doing well!!
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 4) : LOL
Yes, going to take a super human effort tomorrow evening for sure, and really hope the boys up for it. Will definitely be there to cheer them on.
Like @The hound (Comment 1) : said: it really is a stunning day in Durban today. Mine started on a mates balcony overlooking the ocean with our prayer group treated to a glorious sunrise. Good way to see in the week-end! 😎
Durban has the best winters in the world, alround best weather ever
Question to fellow SW bloggers – Do you think there will be fireworks in the Messam,Cane & Leitch vs.Marcel,Renaldo & Kanko matchup? 👿 I think that is where most of the game will be played.Our backs should have the upper hand with Lambie/Steyn controlling the game. 😀
@markm (Comment 9) : Agreed loosies battle, amongst others, will be key – and I certainly think we can match them.
I’m not so sure about our backs having the upper hand, 9,10,12 axis perhaps. But if it gets too loose they can really punish us.
Rob, I agree that SBW is a key man in their backline but the ball handling in that whole team is frightening. SBW may create the opportunities out of nothing but the Chiefs will happily punish us if we offer them space. We’ll have to keep it very tight and probably revert to our less than popular tactical game plan. All kicking should be the responsibility of Lambie and Steyn. Cobus and SP’s focus should be on getting the ball to those two.
I’m still hoping for wet conditions as I think we could play the conditions better if the Lions game is anything to go by.
@robdylan (Comment 2) : Westeros,via Bravos and the Wall
A few big tackles from Steyn on Cruden and we will be well on our way, I think.
Go Lions! Great come from behind win!
Ross Cronje,wish you wereplaying for us tomorrow
Lions just scored a try to take the lead. 2 minutes left.
Rebels 16 – 20 Lions
79 minutes.
FULL TIME
REBELS 16 – 20 LIONS
Seems like they didn’t meet each other in the car park before the game after all.
Well done Lions
The other result today.
HIGHLANDERS 13 – 20 HURRICANES
@The hound (Comment 15) : Is his brother still contracted to the Lions? Haven’t heard him mentioned since last year some time.
what a win for the Lions!
Wow good win for Lions.. Damn and my gut said upset game of weekend that. Pity I didn’t listen to my gut with Superbru lol..
no now I’m on 0/2 with two away wins.
I guess the more away teams that win, the less likely it is that the Sharks will lose (how’s that for backward logic?)
@vanmartin (Comment 22) : I saw a Community Cup teamsheet for College Rovers where he was on the bench.
@StevieS (Comment 26) : yeah, Guy is back in Durbs playing for Rovers
Good day for the Lions. I see they beat the Bulls in the Vodacom Cup as well.
You get some awesome laughs here some days. The other day someone wanted to lure Scott Spedding back. Now its Ross Cronje. Who next – Skipper Badenhorst?
@Big Fish (Comment 29) : BJ Botha?
@Ben (Comment 30) : Not sure I would walk away from Brendon given our recent scrum travails…
@StevieS (Comment 26) : Interesting, thanks!
@Big Fish (Comment 29) : I’d forgotten about old Skip.
@Big Fish (Comment 29) : So go back three years and imagine making a case for Marco Wentzel , to join us in three years time. B.J is not such a bad call.
Crusaders 7 – 0 Cheetahs
20 minutes.
Crusaders 7 – 7 Cheetahs
30 minutes.
Crusaders 7 – 14 Cheetahs
33 minutes.
Half Time
Crusaders 10 – 14 Cheetahs
We need to start a petition for the Sharks to buy Willie le Roux. 😈
@Ben (Comment 39) : No!!
Willie le Roux gets a yellow card.
Penalty try to the Crusaders.
Crusaders 17 – 14 Cheetahs
52 minutes.
What is it with South Africans and their stupid little grubber kicks? Crusaders score another try.
Crusaders 24 – 14 Cheetahs
54 minutes.
And another try to the Crusaders. Cheetahs completely falling apart now.
Just like last week. Crusaders punishing the opposition team for having 14 men.
Crusaders 31 – 14 Cheetahs
56 minutes.
And another! 😯 🙄
Slam Dunk! From nadolo. Game over cheetahs
This is hard to watch…
Great play Willie le Roux…28 points in 7 minutes, for the Saders.
Crusaders 38 – 14 Cheetahs
58 minutes.
Almost another one.
Willie le Roux back on now.
Coenie yellow carded now.
Hate complaining about refs but jeez, refs turn to jelly at times when they realize they’re in NZ
Ref is clueless when it comes to scrum management.
Crusaders try.
Crusaders 43 – 14 Cheetahs
71 minutes.
And another.
Crusaders 50 – 14 Cheetahs
78 minutes.
And another. Why not?
Crusaders 57 – 14 Cheetahs
79 minutes.
Come on Crusaders. Let’s see one more. 😈
Oupa injured now. Stretcher on the field for him.
@Ben (Comment 66) : Hope it’s not too serious
FULL TIME
CRUSADERS 57 – 14 CHEETAHS
Ref is not entirely to blame for this game going south but that being said these inconsistencies in reffing is not advancing the game at all and turns what could be a dignified loss into a spectacle.
That being said, SA sides really need to start refining their mental approach to the game.
Crusaders won the second half 47 points to 0.
@vanmartin (Comment 67) : Hope so too.
What an utter rubbish performance from the tsietas. 😡
That Blommetjies guy loos like he has a nest growing out the back of his head, and that must be the reason why he did some inexplicable things this morning (SA time). In the second half the Cheetahs let it get loose and fell off tackles and executed kicks poorly. Exits from their 22 were also school-boyish. I stopped watching after the crusaders scored their 5th try, while simultaneously wondering why the Sharks don’t have the same type of bloodlust at Kings Park to put the opposition away by like 50 points
I think the last time the Sharks ravaged opponents was when they pulverized the rebels in 2013 (if memory serves)*
*McCoy: “Angels and ministers of grace defend us”
Spock: “Hamlet Act 1 Scene 4”
McCoy: “no doubt about your memory Spock”
@Ben (Comment 58) : Heartily agree, the looks on the faces of Mienie and Coenie said it all…instead of resets the ref went very quickly to full penalties when it was advantageous for the crusaders, and moreover they were not scrumming straight very much at all. I’m surprised the cheetahs didn’t have some dirty tricks of their own…they are as streetwise as any other team, or at least one would think so
@SeanJeff (Comment 73) : I can’t think of a team that has so suddenly self imploded when playing against the Sharks.
40% CHANCE of rain at 6 o’clock.
@Ben (Comment 44) : That pathetically stupid kick by Rhule is what turned the game at a time when the Cheetahs were starting to get the upper hand.
Go Italy!!
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 78) : SP Marais loves those as well.
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 79) : I think I need to support the Chiefs tonight…
I backed the tsietas this morning…got hammered by more than 50.
I’m supporting Italy, currently fighting off a 60 plus score.
Go Chiefs 😈
…oh yeah, and Go Bulls 😈
Bulls 6 – 7 Force
15 minutes.
Go Force!
Bulls 9 – 7 Force
34 minutes.
Half Time
Bulls 9 – 7 Force
Bulls 9 – 14 Force
46 minutes.
Force has a yellow card.
And another. Force has 2 yellow cards now. 🙄
Bulls 16 – 14 Force
51 minutes.
Force back to 15 men now.
Bulls 19 – 14 Force
63 minutes.
Bulls 22 – 14 Force
68 minutes.
Is it raining at Loftus?
Bulls 22 – 21 Force
73 minutes.
Come on Force!
Sias having a shot at goal from 60m out.
Over!
Bulls 22 – 24 Force
78 minutes.
Idiot handing the initiative back to the Bulls with a spear tackle.
Pollard having a shot now. 45m out.
Bulls 25 – 24 Force
79 minutes.
Force no5. Fucking idiot!
FULL TIME
BULLS 25 – 24 WESTERN FORCE
Very lucky Bulls
here i am in little old new zealand waiting for your previews and this weekend no previews 🙁 im going to have to pick the brumbies anyway sorry to say your cricket team will be comming home after tuesday please can we have the previews on time next week please my wallet needs u 😉
@Dave Mills (Comment 105) : What previews? Maybe you should read the article again.
@Dave Mills (Comment 105) : see the earlier and “on time” post titled ‘Super Rugby – Round 6’.
Brumbies were tipped but that looks a bit bollocks seeing how the Waratahs are playing at the moment.
FULL TIME
WARATAHS 28 – 13 BRUMBIES