Gary Gold’s Sharks lost their fifth Currie Cup game in eight starts when they went down 13-17 to the Blue Bulls at Kings Park on Friday night. With just two games of the regular season left to play, the fifth-placed Durbanites are now in real danger of missing the play-offs for the first time in ten years.
The game itself was a forgettable affair, with individual errors and strange refereeing decisions pretty much the order of the day on both sides. Low on confidence after losing their two previous games, the Bulls struggled to get ahead in the first half, with numerous handling errors preventing them from scoring. Joe Pietersen edged the Sharks ahead 6-3, before Bulls winger Jamba Ulengo struck from a lineout move late in the half to score the first try.
The set piece worked well for the visitors 20 minutes later, with Deon Stegmann scoring their second off the back of a rolling maul to set up a handy 17-6 lead. A late try to Sharks replacement Garth April – with his first touch of the ball – added a measure of respectability to the scoreline but as has been the case every other time the Sharks have faced top opposition in this campaign, the end result was another loss.
With the Free State Cheetahs still four points ahead, the Sharks now need a massive favour from the Pumas next week (who could themselves leapfrog them should a big win in Kimberley not eventuate). Should The Cheetahs win in Nelspruit this weekend, there will be little chance of the Sharks catching them even with a win in Bloemfontein the following week.
Sharks (13) – Try: Garth April; Conversion: Joe Pietersen; Penalties: Pietersen (2).
Blue Bulls (17) – Tries: Jamba Ulengo, Deon Stegmann; Conversions: Tian Schoeman (2); Penalty Schoeman.
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In the first half I had such high hope that we would win this match. The players took the ball at speed, climbed into the rucks, defended like crazy, well most did anyway. Just a shame they faded so bad, they seemed totally without a plan of attack, and don’t get me started on Deysel’s stupidity in not passing the ball with a massive overlap 😈
Sad 😥
Oh and the ref was atrocious, like you say, both ways. We found ourselves scratching our heads at most of his decisions … both ways.
Sharks can still make the play-offs but it will all depend on next game in KMB as the Sharks must take 5 points from that game!!!!!!!!!!!! but then we know the Sharks has a tendency to lose games against the bottom teams11111111 🙁
@JD (Comment 4) : What are you talking about? These days we are a bottom team
😈 😡
@KingRiaan (Comment 1) : There was a real urgency in the Sharks’ general play, especially in our defense in the first half which was nice to see. There was the typical fade in the start of the second half as you mention. Is that conditioning?
Our decision making is what really let us down (like Deysel’s brainfart) and points to a side that still has some way to go in terms of maturity. Gold’s biggest failure to date may be his inability to instill confidence in his side.
@vanmartin (Comment 6) : Look I think you are right there. We have a team full of good players, yes they all have their shortcomings and problems, but most of them has been great players, and most of the youngsters has the potential to be great. But they all seem to lack confidence. Another thing I think our forwards especially are missing, is a mongrel player, someone that sweeps up the rest of the forwards with his play. In teams past we always had a Johan Ackerman, or a Bismarck that provided that mongrel in the pack. We need someone like that again.
@KingRiaan (Comment 5) : nope still 3 teams below us on the log with Griquas being the bottom side!!!!
@KingRiaan (Comment 7) : must say think you got it spot on!!! Sharks needs a “Mongrel” to get the pack fired up!!!! Wonder how long Eben has left on his WP contract?!?!?!
@JD (Comment 8) : Haha ja ja, guess we will look at the glass as half full.
@KingRiaan (Comment 10) : Always and even if it’s empty we will be happy that we at least still have a glass!!!!!!! 😈
SHARKS 4 EVER!!!!!!!!!!
@JD (Comment 9) : At the moment if you want mongrel buy Lood! Both our teams are in a serious rebuild. The Sharks can possibly at least buy their way out of trouble. Cheetahs will have to develop from within. 8 players have started from Varsity Cup level in this tournament, likely to go to 10.
Only positive is that the Cheetahs u/21’s are performing well. 2nd on the log, and have a very good try scoring ratio. They have scored a massive 56 tries, and conceded only 31. They need one point to secure 2nd place on the log. Only the Sharks can catch them.
I counted zero backline moves, despite the runners we have. That says it all really.
@KingCheetah (Comment 12) :
That guy is unbelievable! Especially since he looks so innocuous. Really enjoyed his performance on Saturday.
@JD (Comment 9) : I asked him once if he would ever consider moving to the Sharks,his reply was quite short and to the point..”is jy [email protected]?” So I guess that wont ever happen!
@BarendL (Comment 15) : ja but money talks harder than words!!!!!!!!! talking of him Stormers are going to have a serious pack next year with both Eben and PSDT!!!!!!!!!
@KingCheetah (Comment 12) : I really did not want to mention a possible raid on the Cheetahs but now that you mentioned it, ja Lood will do nicely with maybe a tight head prop and hooker from the Cheetahs to help him feel at home in Durbs!!!!!!
@JD (Comment 17) : The current Cheetahs tightheads are struggling, don’t know about hookers…so I reckon we need to look elsewhere!
@pastorshark (Comment 18) : How about Namibia?
@pastorshark (Comment 18) : In fairness we are down to less than reserve props. Both starting props were Varsity Cup players last year. I think Luan de Bruin has serious potential.
When normal order returns we will have some ex Sharks players potentially bolstering our front row.
LH: BG Uys, Mienie, Oosthuizen
Hooker: Torsten, du Toit, Huggett, Rautenbach
TH: Maks van Dyk, Luan de Bruin, Botha
That said the bulk of those guys are 23/24, The Cheetahs u/21 team is doing well. The Cheetahs will do well to secure the likes of Nche and Dweba for the future.
@pastorshark (Comment 18) : @KingCheetah (Comment 20) : just teasing KingCheetah a bit to get reaction. 😈
@JD (Comment 21) : Lol, no worries at all. Quite willing to tease and stir on the “odd” occassion ????