[2015 Super Rugby] Highlanders vs. Sharks (Round 12) 01/05/2015

[TRF_heineken]

Forsyth Barr, Dunedin

09:35 CAT (SA, GMT+2)​

Teams

Highlanders: TBA

Sharks: 15. Odwa Ndungane, 14. S'bura Sithole, 13. JP Pietersen, 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Fred Zeilinga, 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Willem Alberts, 7. Renaldo Bothma, 6. Marcell Coetzee, 5. Marco Wentzel (captain), 4. Stephan Lewies, 3. Lourens Adriaanse, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 1. Tendai Mtawarira

Substitutes: 16. Franco Marais, 17. Dale Chadwick, 18. Matt Stevens, 19. Mouritz Botha, 20. Etienne Oosthuizen, 21. Conrad Hoffmann, 22. Lionel Cronje, 23. Waylon Murray

Referee: Angus Gardner

AR1: Kane McBride

AR2: Mike Lash

TMO: Vinny Munro​

 

[Shaggy]

Highlanders have their All Blacks back

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16016_46357,00.html

Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Richard Buckman, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Dan Pryor, 6 Gareth Evans, 5 Mark Reddish, 4 Tom Franklin, 3 Josh Hohneck, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Kane Hames.
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Brendon Edmonds, 18 Pingi Tala'apitaga, 19 Joe Latta, 20 Elliot Dixon, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Marty Banks, 23 Jason Emery.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Highanders have the stars in the backs, Sharks in the forwards though injury and form is an issue there and they are missing Lambie and Steyn in the backs as well to give some direction... at home I'll go with the 'Landers. The Sharks have been very disappointing this year on a number of levels.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Nothing the Sharks are doing is coming off - must've smashed a few mirrors and walked under a few ladders on the way to the stadium

 

[austingtir]

Sharks are bloody terrible to put it mildly so far. HL should be way ahead but have missed a couple of opportunities.

Ndungane who iv never thought much of is doing his best to be the most useless sharks player on the field...

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They are having a period with a bit of ball though now.

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Yep they scored thats a lesson to the HL just dont let them anywhere near the 22 and theres no way they will win this match.

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WOW thats a hell of a try by the HL!!!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

That crossfield!

 

[austingtir]

Seriously the AB's need to lock this Naholo character down. He's something special imo.

 

[MotherRucker1]

I notice you haven't said anything about Tanaka should be selected over Smith nonsense this week, Austin never really understood how you thought that.

 

[smartcooky]

Jeez, all this talk about a possible AB call-up for Lima Sopoaga seems to have lit a fire under his arse. He has been outstanding so far tonight

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Seriously the AB's need to lock this Naholo character down. He's something special imo.

And Sopoaga, before Samoa come sniffing!
He's been excellent

 

[austingtir]

I notice you haven't said anything about Tanaka should be selected over Smith nonsense this week, Austin never really understood how you thought that.

The Sharks are terrible. Its the same difference as last week if Smith was on last week he'd of looked just as bad as the rest of the HL team. They were simply totally out played by the Brumbies.

There is nothing wrong with Tanaka.

I suppose you overlooked the box kick that Smith totally screwed up earlier in the game? (and two tries through indecision)....

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Jeez, all this talk about a possible AB call-up for Lima Sopoaga seems to have lit a fire under his arse. He has been outstanding so far tonight

The Sharks are so bloody bad though I think we've got to take it for what its worth.

Lima was shown up pretty badly last week.... He's clearly the best first five in NZ though end of story. I dont see how anybody can argue otherwise.

 

[Muzzy]

Sopoaga the new Carlos Spencer?

 

[chikwa chibwe]

Both smiths have been brilliant for the highlanders. They are amongst the few all blacks in good form.I wonder if all blacks coaches will take note of outstanding performances of non all blacks as being mentioned in above comments.

 

[austingtir]

Sopoaga the new Carlos Spencer?

Its looking that way isnt it some of his chip thoughs and overs the sidesteps... He's certainly channeling his inner Carlos tonight.


HL are showing the same weakness in the forwards from last week though! Sharks are just scoring at will if they pick and drive off a linout within the 22.

I think they've just got to hope like hell someone else knocks the Brumbies out of the comp.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

Its looking that way isnt it some of his chip thoughs and overs the sidesteps... He's certainly channeling his inner Carlos tonight.


HL are showing the same weakness in the forwards from last week though! Sharks are just scoring at will if they pick and drive off a linout within the 22.

I think they've just got to hope like hell someone else knocks the Brumbies out of the comp.

Definitely dominated that rolling mall I'll give you that but we had them at scrum time, I would say the scrum platform played a huge part in the win

 

[Amobokoboko]

Great stuff by the Landers
But what's happening with the Sharkies, defo not their season this year.

 

[chikwa chibwe]

Classis quote" they are going to have to wake up because the Highlanders are'nt going to wait for a commission of enquiry "