2014 Super Rugby: Blues v Sharks (Round 15)

[Jaguares]

15. Lolagi Visinia
14. Frank Halai
13. Pita Akhi
12. Ma'a Nonu
11. Tevita Li
10. Simon Hickey
9. Bryn Hall
8. Jerome Kaino
7. Luke Braid (c)
6. Peter Saili
5. Tom Donnelly
4. Patrick Tuipulotu
3. Charlie Faumuina
2. Keven Mealamu
1. Tony Woodcock.

15. SP Marais
14. JP Pietersen
13. S'bura Sithole
12. Paul Jordaan
11. Lwazi Mvovo
10. Francois Steyn
9. Cobus Reinach
8. Willem Alberts
7. Tera Mtembu
6. Jacques Botes
5. Stephan Lewies
4. Etienne Oosthuizen
3. Jannie du Plessis
2. Bismarck du Plessis (C)
1. Tendai Mtawarira

 

[FlukeArtist]

Blues are going to need to play out of their skin if last weeks Crusaders v Sharks game is any indication.
Sharks look in ominous form.


Side note: Deysel was ridiculously lucky to only get a 3 week ban for that stomp.
Troy Flavell got a 3 MONTH ban back in '03 for stomping on Greg Smith's head.
This kind of disparity is a black mark on the sport.
Deysel should have been gone for at least 6 weeks. I realise Flavell definitely had a worse rep than Deysel, but there is no excuse for stomping. I say again: No excuse.
Think about it: what does this actually mean to him? he misses 2 games... That's IT... ridiculous slap on the wrist for stomping.
You get worse for a head high.

 

[steblin]

Blues team the Sharks at North Harbour Stadium, kick-off 7.35pm is: Lolagi Visinia, Frank Halai, Pita Akhi, Ma'a Nonu, Tevita Li, Simon Hickey, Bryn Hall, Jerome Kaino, Luke Braid (c), Peter Saili, Tom Donnelly, Patrick Tuipulotu, Charlie Faumuina, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: James Parsons, Sam Prattley, Angus Ta'avoa, Hayden Triggs, Steven Luatua, Jamison Gibson-Park, Ihaia West, Albert Nikoro.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11258853

That's a really rejigged back line ... however excited to see Ahki get a shot at his favorite 13 and Li back on the wing. Be interesting to see how Visinia gets on at 15 after hes been playing so well on the wing. Good to see Braid back, apart from that the ongoing decision to keep Luatua on the bench, also saw this article where it said Hansen basically ripped Luatua for his fitness, saying he goes missing too often:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11259182

 

[nzlizard]

I get the feeling the blues are more suited to beat the Sharks then the Crusaders, more chance of scoring tries. Just need to work on that defense and not give stupid penalties as that will hurt them on the score board.

Interesting article on Luatua, below are the 8 in contention
All Black loose forward hopefuls:
• Richie McCaw
• Kieran Read
• Liam Messam
• Jerome Kaino
• Steven Luatua
• Victor Vito
• Sam Cane
• Luke Whitelock

Based on the comments in that article you expect these 5 to be picked

• Richie McCaw
• Kieran Read
• Liam Messam
• Jerome Kaino
• Sam Cane

and the 6th spot to be Luatua or Vito if they name a 6th for the series.

 

[Darwin]

For some reason I reckon the Blues will win this match. The are certainly in-experienced in the backs, but they have players who will back their instincts, which you need against the Sharks structured style. The Blues have generally been very good at home this year too, and the Sharks will be both physically and emotionally drained from their epic performance last week.

The Sharks will certainly feed off the Blues inevitable mistakes, but the Blues should score some tries, and should really look to attack hard during the 2nd half. I'm picking the Blues by 5....

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Gonna go see this game! Hope it's a ripper!

 

[Gena_ZA]

Enjoy Mr Fish, I envy you
@Darwin - been backing the Blues to much this season and then they just seem lackluster on the field. I say the Sharks on this one (if they can get over the high of last weekend)

 

[Jaguares]

Sharks team named:

15. SP Marais , 14. JP Pietersen , 13. S'bura Sithole , 12. Paul Jordaan , 11. Lwazi Mvovo , 10. Francois Steyn , 9. Cobus Reinach , 8. Willem Alberts , 7. Tera Mtembu , 6. Jacques Botes , 5. Stephan Lewies , 4. Etienne Oosthuizen , 3. Jannie du Plessis , 2. Bismarck du Plessis (C) , 1. Tendai Mtawarira

Replacements : 16. Kyle Cooper , 17. Dale Chadwick , 18. Lourens Adriaanse , 19. Ryan Kankowski , 20. Keegan Daniel , 21. Charl McLeod , 22. Tim Swiel , 23. Heimar Williams

 

[Darwin]

Enjoy Mr Fish, I envy you
@Darwin - been backing the Blues to much this season and then they just seem lackluster on the field. I say the Sharks on this one (if they can get over the high of last weekend)

The Blues have certainly been inconsistent, but that shouldn't be too much of a surprise. Hickey was their 4th choice 10 at the start of the season, and while he has done a good job for a 20-year old rookie in his first season he is nowhere near the complete package (yet). If you look at the current Blues backline 5/7 are in their 1st full season of Super Rugby (Hall and Visinia played a few minutes of the bench last year), with Halai in only his 2nd full season - I think they can be forgiven for some inconsistency

The main thing to note however is that this match is in Auckland. Based on this years results that could be a key factor. Away from home this year the Blues have won 0/6. At home this year they have won 5/5, with wins over the Crusaders, Cheetahs, Highlanders, Waratahs and Reds. This certainly not a guarentee that the Blues will win, but is why I consider them slight favourites (if it was in South Africa I would probably be picking the Sharks by 20+). I reckon this could be a very interesting match....

 

[TRF_heineken]

I think Zeke will be jumping up and down out of joy that Jacques Botes is starting. At least now the Sharks will be more contesting at the breakdowns with another fetcher there.

I'm also backing the Sharks for this one.

I see they are not playing at Eden Park, is there a reason why? They are playing at North Harbour, a place full of South Africans, maybe this will help the Sharks even more.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Sharks by 5. Botes is probably the most underrated loose forward in SA and though he is underused he just never seems rusty coming in.

 

[Darwin]

Kaino may have killed somone.... no it looks like Mtembu survived...

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Kaino may have killed somone.... no it looks like Mtembu survived...

Lol that's what I thought; what a hit by Kaino!!!

 

[steblin]

That Kaino hit was awesome, Nonu getting a nice bump in too.

Shame that's about the only bright point for the Blues. So sloppy, Sharks out working them. Had some good positions but errors of their own making have ended nearly all of them.

 

[Darwin]

Sharks in control at halftime. They haven't really played a lot of rugby, but they have been far more clinical than the Blues.

For some reason the Blues have decided to play a rather conservative structured game plan..... as it worked so well for the Crusaders last week Their only chance to beat the Sharks is to speed the game up. They may need to throw the dice and bring on Ihaia West early in the 2nd half - at least he will look to attack the line....

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Blues aren't playing the game the way I thought they would. Fair enough with the likes of Kaino, Woodcock, Mealamu et al they have the mettle to mix it up with the Sharks up front but I still thought really backing the bakcs would've been the route to take. Long game yet. Fans Steyn is not clinical at 10 but I am liking him there more and more... not sure if I'd want him to play there for the Bokke though.

Will be interesting to see if the Sharks can build on a controlling start or if the Blues can break the game up a tad in the 2nd.

 

[Darwin]

Jannie du Plessis gets a yellow. Blues should probably be worried - they have struggled against 15 Sharks

EDIT: Try Braid - game on!

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Is this game being played at Eden Park?

 

[Darwin]

Is this game being played at Eden Park?

No, it's at North Harbour stadium.

EDIT: Try Sharks. Pathetic by the Blues.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

That try was ridiculous, on Blues part.