There was no drama at Kings Park tonight as the Sharks went about their business, dismantling an outclassed Griquas side 41-3 in their round 3 Currie Cup clash.
These sharks are starting to put together something of a signature way of playing, with an imperious scrum laying the foundation for a game based on plenty of possession and attacking whenever possible. With Thomas du Toit again in the vanguard, the Sharks had the Griquas forwards cowed early on and with Jeremy Ward scoring the opening try in under two minutes, there was only going to be one winner.
There was again not much to write home about in the first half from a points-scoring perspective, with that early try and a penalty to Curwin Bosch keeping the Sharks ahead until Sbu Nkosi scored his first of two tries just before the break. Going into the shed 17-3 up, the Sharks were comfortable and while the execution and handling were far from flawless, they were certainly significantly better than in the first half last week.
The game was put to bed in the third quarter, with Jacques Vermeuelen capping off a very good outing with his first Currie Cup try just three minutes after the break. Juan Schoeman corkscrewed over for the bonus point try seven minutes later and with five points in the bag, the team opted to rather show off their defensive acumen, repelling waves of spirited Griquas attack before finishing off with two more scores, one to Nkosi and another to Cameron Wright on the stroke of full time.
Mission accomplished for now, but the immediate focus will be on the midweek game against the Bulls at Loftus.
Sharks (41): Tries Ward, Nkosi (2), Vermeulen, Schoeman, Wright. Conversions Bosch (3), Radebe. Penalty Bosch.
Griquas (3): Penalty Whitehead.
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Many positives tonight
My most improved player is Ward.
@sharks_lover (Comment 2) : Agreed I also thought to myself what a game from him!
I must say a very proud moment and new respect for Cam Wright after he scored and that celebration…that’s what we need to see more off! That’s playing with passion for our Sharks! I loved it!!!
@DuToit04 (Comment 4) : really or is he not just shit hot
Was promising to see our attack intent without throwing defense out the window. We should also take into mind that we would have taken it easy as we have the bulls in loftus on wednesday and the lions at ellis park next say
Glad to see handling errors coming down. It’s so frustrating when they sink their own chances with basics. Well done boys!
I like what I saw last night. Intensity and pace coupled with good handling made me smile. CC is unfortunately the only classroom we can create a base and build for SR.
Last night the Afrikaans commentator spoke as if it’s a done deal that the third Du Preez brother is heading back from WP. Maybe Rob can enlightening us
@KingRiaan (Comment 9) : That is probably still the best kept secret in durbs. Unless you can hack Robs mail box. You wil only know when they want you to.
Good performance. What one would expect from a top pro side versus the minnows.
@McLovin (Comment 11) : So “according to the paper” Rupert has withdrawn support from WP. Money problems on the cards?
@coolfusion (Comment 12) : If indeed he has withdrawn, then yes.
@McLovin (Comment 13) : Hence quotes. Can’t trust the media.
@coolfusion (Comment 14) : Haven’t heard anything myself yet, but he sometimes does things without checking with me first.
@McLovin (Comment 15) : Better you let him go then. Can’t have that kind of insubordination. It’s why sent Jake packing.
@coolfusion (Comment 16) : Perhaps it’s better they close the whole thing down and start from scratch. Maybe the best way to get rid of the parasites is to let the host die.
@McLovin (Comment 17) : Didn’t work for kings or sharks. The rats in rugby are usually last to leave sinking ship.
@coolfusion (Comment 18) : Oh well. Will wait and see I suppose.
C’mon Lions!!
First blood to the Crusaders from turnover ball close to their own 22
And Jantjies kicks straight into touch from the kickoff 🙄
Tip tackle with shoulder drive. Peyper missed that?
Crusaders running amok.
Try no 2 to the Crusaders
@coolfusion (Comment 23) : Looks like they making as much hay as possible before the last 20 minutes catch up with them
That steal looked very suspect – first player stealing the ball lying on his back
Not looking good for the Lions. 😐
Lions playing containment and safer throwing caution to the wind. So far that has worked better.
@coolfusion (Comment 28) : For saders at least
Lions struggling with the rush defense from the Crusaders
Lions not reading the pace. Saders commit little and speed up the release.
12-3 Saders lead
@coolfusion (Comment 31) : As Marshall said, Saders not committing numbers to the rucks – so the Lions should attack more close to the rucks
How is that Lion’s ball – surely the attacking team gets the ball when the ball is held up?
@Bokhoring (Comment 33) : Yup. Peyper also not pulling his weight. Ackermann should have a talk with him 😉
@coolfusion (Comment 35) : Seems he just did
Should have taken the 3 points on offer there
Bit of brainless play from Kwagga. 👿 🙄
Kwagga does a Habana on Havili. Question is Red or Yellow?
Deserved red. Can’t be that reckless.
Oh well lions gonna lose now
Red for Kwagga – that is it for the Lions
@Bokhoring (Comment 42) : Yup if safety keep this pace. It’s over
@coolfusion (Comment 43) : Saders
I guess the Lions’ luck had to run out eventually
Kwagga just ruined it for everyone.
@Bokhoring (Comment 45) : Red in the final for the circumstances was maybe too harsh?
@Bokhoring (Comment 45) : Or kwagga luck had to run out eventually?
@coolfusion (Comment 47) : Nee swaer. Could see it coming a mile off.
@coolfusion (Comment 47) : I do feel sorry for them, but they had more of their fair share of close decisions going their way.
Must say I agree with Mallett – time they sanction the player and then allow the team to bring on another player after 10 or 15 minutes
@McLovin (Comment 49) : Ja I’m not defending them but what chance did kwagga have to step back and control the man to bring it down to a yellow. But yes strictly speaking it is the call.
@Bokhoring (Comment 51) : Yes with these stakes. But then you have to ask yourself if tables were turned.
@coolfusion (Comment 53) : As a supporter I don’t want my team to win playing against 14 men for 40-50 minutes. There is no fun in that
@coolfusion (Comment 52) : Should have backed off way before he got there. But easy to say from the side lines.
If Ackers can pull another half-time talk that inspires the team to win the match eventually, he will win the title of coach of the century
@McLovin (Comment 55) : Yes the initial. But his chance to correct was gone. But I agree there shouldn’t have been an initial. Roll of the dice on his part. He took that risk.
@Bokhoring (Comment 56) : Then they will deserve it even from the most begrudging person in the world.
Schummi officially dead. Passing of a legend. Go in peace.
The kwagga giveth and the kwagga taketh away.
@coolfusion (Comment 59) : RIP
Elton’s decision making not so hot in this game
@Bokhoring (Comment 62) : Been that way for past 2-3 games.
Crusaders demolishing the Lions maul
25-10 with 15 minutes to play
Over
Like losing the lotto jackpot with one number. That first half sank them. Did not match the pace.
Congrats to the Crusaders.
Tough luck Lions. 14 men just not enough.
@McLovin (Comment 68) : Yep they need 16
Kwaga must feel like shit right now ???? feel bad for the oak.
Its called Karma,
Is jy Mos kwagga rook jy dan net dagga?
Scott Robinson got some killer moves 😆
Crusaders make history – first team to win the Super final on another continent
Can you imagine being kwagga when all these guys walk past you?
Twins and Bosch made it the Boks squad. Well done.
Congrats to the Dups and Curwin. CC without them is gonna be tough
This is what you get when you put kwagga amongst the lions?
@GreatSharksays (Comment 76) : No Am? That would be a travesty
@GreatSharksays (Comment 76) : Vermeulen can slot in for JLDP, Tera not as physical as Dan but decent 8 at this level, Inny does not have the monster boot of Bosch but should also do OK.
Are they not available from this week on?
@Bokhoring (Comment 80) : yeah
@Bokhoring (Comment 80) : Depth in those positions becomes a bit of an issue, but otherwise we’ll be fine…
@coolfusion (Comment 59) : I’m not finding this news anywhere?
@pastorshark (Comment 83) : that’s because its fake news.
@pastorshark (Comment 83) : Found it in Beeld. But here’s a link. https://www.google.co.za/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/beeld/20170805/282664687475837&ved=0ahUKEwijv5ezhsLVAhULDMAKHWJtC8YQFggrMAM&usg=AFQjCNHCWDr-thDKA0zjNIR5xm4ZKZ0qpg
@coolfusion (Comment 85) : Sorry about that. Cut out the Google part.
@Poisy (Comment 84) : And what reason would I have for making up fake news?
@pastorshark (Comment 83) : http://www.metrotell.co.za/news/sport24coza-remgro-pullout-wps-wakefield-speaks
With all due respect Johan Ackerman, I hope the articles going around stating how you apparently complaint about the red card is not true. I might just lose some respect for you and also call you a hypocrite if it is true.
You didn’t complaint when your team benefited from the yellow cards in at least three (3) matches.
Surely “common sense” should have also prevailed over the “the letter of the law” when those yellow cards were issued and also surely a “… more suitable punishment could have been worked out after …” those matches instead of sending players off. What comes around, goes around and as a fellow blogger has stated it was karma.
Aswin Willmse said after the game: “The impact of the red card is evident in this game, but then again if you have to go back to the Sharks vs. Lions game in the quarter final they scored 10 points when the Sharks had the yellow card.” I don’t say the opposing teams (Sharks x2 and Hurricanes) would have won those matches, but the impact of those cards is definitely evident.
I don’t think the Crusaders beat the lions due to the red card, or because they defended or attacked better. I think they won, because they succeeded to minimize the possible impact the match officials on the match. One of the commentators stated that the facial expression of Jaco clearly indicated that he didn’t want to issue the red card, but he had little choice in the matter.
Now we can those on the CC.
@BluffShark (Comment 89) : Fully agree.
@BluffShark (Comment 89) : The call was technically correct. Which is enough justification. I agree you can’t want to change twchnicality just cause the most recent interpretation didn’t suit you in this particular game but it did or may have worked for you previously. I revert to my previous statement what if the tables were turned would every lion have such an issue with the flaw in the system?
@BluffShark (Comment 89) : Agree with you 100%,Big mouth Mallett as well,with his crap that we need to find a solution for red carding a player, that doesn’t penalize the team.Is he smoking his socks who should you penalize then, never heard him complain when Stander did the same thing to Lambie.
Kwagga is not a dirty player but a reckless one Havili came very close to breaking his neck
Crusaders are the first team to come across this way and win at altitude, anyone who still thinks the Lions should have one needs to watch Reids try and Combrink’s pathetic one one one defense of that try.