Let’s have a look at the match in Durban…
Sharks v Western Force (Saturday 17h05)
After a petulant and rather disruptive outing last weeks, the Sharks have been forced into rather sweeping changes for this game. As always, the introduction of some fresh personnel is likely to present some cohesion challenges, particularly early on. How well the home side does here is likely to depend on how quickly they can overcome those.
The Force haven’t had a good season to date, winning only once in their six starts. They pushed a decidedly off-colour Bulls team all the way last week, but thanks in no small part to their own ill discipline, allowed the Pretorians to escape with an undeserved victory. The question from their side is whether that close defeat will motivate them to do better in Durban, or will have the opposite effect. They haven’t beaten the Sharks since that bizarre ambush victory in Perth 2007 and conceded a bonus point the last time they were in Durban in 2012.
The Sharks will need to really come up to the cliche of “earning the right to go wide” in this game. There can be little doubt that their pack, on paper at least, looks ferocious enough to overwhelm their opponents; the loss of tight five talismans Bismarck du Plessis and Pieter-Steph du Toit, though, has definitely had an impact on their set piece dominance and new hooker Kyle Cooper, in particular, will need to be properly on top of the basics of his position in order for the forwards to establish the anticipated dominance. The lack of a recognised fetcher flank in the Sharks side is also an area the Force may look to exploit, if they can.
More likely, though, is that the Sharks will look to strangle any signs of life out of these opponents in the first half, with Frans Steyn and Andre Esterhuizen working in tandem to keep the ball close to the big men. Steyn will need to work on his radar a little, since that big boot will come into play seeking the corners from where the lineout drive is likely to be a good source of points. Expect Renaldo Bothma’s name to feature on the scoresheet more regularly than those of wingers Odwa Ndungane and Lwazi Mvovo as the Sharks claim victory by around 12 points.
Sharks: 15 SP Marais, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Frans Steyn, 9 Conrad Hoffmann, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jean Deysel (captain), 6 Renaldo Bothma, 5 Marco Wentzel, 4 Mouritz Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Lubabalo Mtyanda, 20 Daniel du Preez, 21 Stefan Ungerer, 22 Fred Zeilinga, 23 Waylon Murray.
Western Force: 15 Luke Morahan, 14 Marcel Brache, 13 Kyle Godwin, 12 Luke Burton, 11 Nick Cummins, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Kane Koteka, 6 Steve Mafi, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Sam Wykes (captain), 3 Tetera Faulkner, 2 Nathan Charles, 1 Pekahou Cowan.
Replacements: 16 Heath Tessmann, 17 Chris Heiberg, 18 Oliver Hoskins, 19 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 20 Angus Cottrell, 21 Ian Prior, 22 Zack Holmes, 23 Dane Haylett-Petty.
I’m expecting wins for the Hurricanes, Reds, Chiefs, Highlanders, Waratahs and Crusaders in other matches played this weekend.
Tweet
“They pushed a decidedly off-colour Bulls team all the way last week, but thanks in no small part to their own ill discipline, allowed the Pretorians to escape with an undeserved victory.”
Couldn’t agree more Rob.
Crap but the Canes are running away with it so far this year
@robdylan (Comment 2) : Yeah they are playing quite well and still unbeaten 😉
@robdylan (Comment 2) : If one had to highlight one difference between them and the rest it’s the world’s best scrumhalf behind their pack.
FULL TIME
HURRICANES 36 – 12 REBELS
@Ben (Comment 5) : Nice, always good to have a W for the 1st game of Superbru weekend lol
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 4) : Nope they had that same scrumhalf last year,
Did Plumtree not join them this year only?? 😉
@sharks_lover (Comment 7) : Hahaha that must be it 😀
Last year Aaron Smith was probably a shade ahead of Perenara. This year he’s stepped up big time.
@sharks_lover (Comment 7) : Plum is doing what he does best – coach the forwards. Their back line has always been top drawer – now Plum has shaped their forwards into a very useful pack.
@Bokhoring (Comment 9) : The proof is in the pudding.
Reds 3 – 8 Lions
2nd half just starting.
Ozzie commentary more interested in Quade’s ability to do circus tricks with his passing than they care about the Reds’ ability to play rugby.
Go Lions, hope you knock the Reds back a few more pegs.
@Ben (Comment 10) : Don’t let Rob catch you typing that Ben!
See 4th paragraph for reference: http://www.sharksworld.co.za/2015/02/19/super-rugby-2015-round-2/comment-page-1/
Geez but the Reds are [email protected] this year.
Come on Lions! Don’t give it away now!
Reds 10 – 15 Lions
Around 70mins
17 – 15 Reds
17 – 18 Lions
@vanmartin (Comment 12) : Oops 😆
Well done Lions!!! 😎
Fulltime
Reds 17 – 18 Lions
What a game…with an exciting finish – good job Lions, waltzing Quade Cooper had all the tricks, but none of it matters when you can’t buy a win.
3 abroad wins for the Lions. Well done
Well done Lions!! Superbru looking good 2/2
1 and a half out of 2 for me 😛
Same picks as you, Rob. Oh why did I show such little faith in the Lions…
Sooo… The Lions have won 3 on tour. Well done chaps. If they’d won that game they chucked at the end against the Stormers, they’d have been right up there on the conference table with their tour behind them…
Well done Lions. Is this the first time the Lions have managed to win 3 games overseas?
@Bokhoring (Comment 27) : No its not they did it in 2001 and 2011, its the first time the won three in a row.
It must be said that the Lions didnt exactly have the toughest opponents on tour. Still very good from them and best of luck going forward.
@The hound (Comment 28) : In 2011 they won away against the Brumbies and Highlanders, and lost to the Waratahs and Hurricanes. Strictly speaking in 2001 they were part of the Cats.
@Bokhoring (Comment 30) :
Cats stats do not count towards the Lions franchise
@Zibbie (Comment 31) : So in effect this is a first for the Lions
@The hound (Comment 28) :
was not 3 in a row . blues(w) Saders(L) , rebels(w) , reds(w)
@Bokhoring (Comment 32) :
It is indeed yes
Awesome result.
Well played Lions. Tough and BMT.
Truly chuffed for the Lions and Ackers. I said it last year, Ackers is fast becoming one of the very best coaches in SA. Loved him as a player toward the end of his career, so really happy to see him and the Lions achieve this success. Also don’t forget the first match against the Hurricanes, the Lions dominated play, unfortunately not the scoreboard.
Chiefs 7 – 6 Cheetahs
15 minutes.
Chiefs 14 – 6 Cheetahs
20 minutes.
Chiefs 14 – 13 Cheetahs
30 minutes.
Chiefs have 2 players yellow carded now. Both for collapsing mauls.
@Ben (Comment 40) : One player back on. Chiefs with 14 men now.
Half Time
Chiefs 14 – 13 Cheetahs
Chiefs 20 – 13 Cheetahs
53 minutes.
Chiefs 20 – 20 Cheetahs
55 minutes.
Chiefs 23 – 20 Cheetahs
62 minutes.
Chiefs 30 – 20 Cheetahs
70 minutes.
Chiefs 37 – 20 Cheetahs
77 minutes.
Chiefs scoring 2 tries with Heinrich in the bin.
FULL TIME
CHIEFS 37 – 27 CHEETAHS
@Ben (Comment 49) : Weel simply outgunned in the scrums with Coenie and Lood missing, but they hung in there and fought to the end. I can understand why all the penalties went the Chiefs way. Craig Joubert is colour blind. No Green? Could have sworn the Cheetahs wore blue!
@KingCheetah (Comment 50) : Nothing to be ashamed of today mate.
@Ben (Comment 51) : Not happy with the tackling yet, but given the creaky scrum, th guys scrambled well.
Highlanders 0 – 0 Stormers
10 minutes.
Go Highlanders! 😈
Juan de Jongh try.
TMO will check first.
Try stands.
Highlanders 0 – 7 Stormers
20 minutes.
Highlanders 7 – 7 Stormers
24 minutes.
Highlanders 10 – 7 Stormers
33 minutes.
Intercept try to the Highlanders.
Highlanders 17 – 7 Stormers
35 minutes.
Kolbe gets run over for another Highlanders try. 😆
Half Time
Highlanders 24 – 7 Stormers
Hahahahahahaha 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 as Kolby goes flying, and that without a RedBull
No wait he is the Stormers HERO 😆 😆 :lol:, the one that SCREAMS BLUE MURDER EVERY TIME HE GETS TAKLED 😆
Stormers getting klapped, surely that was not in the script as some of their supporters feel they will and have won the cup???? 🙄
@Ben (Comment 63) : I think tomorrow he will know a 10 tonner hit him lol
Highlanders 31 – 14 Stormers
62 minutes.
Highlanders 36 – 14 Stormers
73 minutes.
Great break from Kolbe and Juan de Jongh scores his second.
Highlanders 36 – 21 Stormers
76 minutes.
FULL TIME
HIGHLANDERS 39 – 21 STORMERS
Well done Landers! 😎
Sharks can go top of the conference, right?
@The Great Couch Shark (Comment 75) : Correct – we currently trail the Stormers by 1 point and we have played the same number of games now.
Even the kiwi’s enjoy putting the hurt on Kolbe…hows about that highlights reel of theirs. 😆
Ever since that Steyn freight train went through Kolbe, there’s been a hive of activity from similar styled trains passing through 😈
Waratahs 7 – 3 Blues
20 minutes.
Waratahs 7 – 6 Blues
24 minutes.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 77) : lol boet, now they all know to run straight over him.
Half Time
Waratahs 7 – 6 Blues
Filthy day here in Durban expecting rain for the game.
Fulltime
Waratahs win by 12
23 – 11
FULL TIME
WARATAHS 23 – 11 BLUES
I kind of feel sorry for the Blues and Reds…they can’t seem to buy a win. Apropos of the Blues/Tahs game: when Jaco Peyper officiates I get officially nervous. Glen Jackson is another one. Anyway I suppose one plays with what one has. Sharks need this and the next one to constitute 4 in a row and rising confidence but without the overconfidence of the stormers.
I heard the Aussie commentators say after the Waratahs vs Blues game, the Sharks are disrespectful for resting so many players for the Force game.
Don’t those idiots read the news? We are resting them for a reason.
@Ben (Comment 86) : Kind of damned if you do, damned if you don’t when it comes to resting players. Glad the Sharks are doing though.
Bulls 12 – 3 Crusaders
15 minutes.
Bulls 12 – 6 Crusaders
19 minutes.
Bulls 12 – 13 Crusaders
24 minutes.
Ndolu ran over Kriel on his way to the try line. 😆
Bulls 15 – 13 Crusaders
27 minutes.
Bulls 15 – 16 Crusaders
33 minutes.
Back and forth we go.
Bulls 18 – 16 Crusaders
38 minutes.
Half Time
Bulls 18 – 16 Crusaders
Bulls 21 – 16 Crusaders
52 minutes.
Bulls 24 – 16 Crusaders
56 minutes.
Bloody hell! That baby chocolates song is so annoying! So typical Bulls. 🙄
Bulls 24 – 19 Crusaders
64 minutes.
Intercept try to the Bulls – Grant Hattingh.
Bulls 31 – 19 Crusaders
67 minutes.
FULL TIME
BULLS 31 – 19 CRUSADERS
Good win by the bulls…stopped the kiwis from a total cross-discipline white wash.
Let’s hope the Force will have had the same effect on the Sharks as they had on the bulls.
Today’s results.
CHIEFS 37 – 27 CHEETAHS
HIGHLANDERS 39 – 21 STORMERS
WARATAHS 23 – 11 BLUES
SHARKS 15 – 9 WESTERN FORCE
BULLS 31 – 19 CRUSADERS