Super 15: Bulls - Sharks @ Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria (18-06-2011, 16:05 GMT)

TRF_Ezequiel · Jun 16, 2011

Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria (18-06-2011, 16:05 GMT)

When the Bulls and Sharks last met it was in Durban just over a month ago and the Bulls won 23-32 and the Bulls have still not dropped a match since then.

This match in Pretoria where the Bulls have won their last five matches. Home and away the Bulls have won their last six matches but beating the Bulls has always been a tougher task than away.

The stats between the two teams suggest that the Sharks will win by a tight margin.

The Bulls and the Sharks have played each other 15 times and the Bulls have won 8 of those matches and they have drawn once.

On average the Bulls score 18 points against the Sharks who score 21 points against the Bulls.

When the two teams play at Loftus the Bulls score 19 points on average and the Sharks score 20 points against the Bulls.

The Bulls have played the Sharks 7 times at Loftus and both teams have won 3 matches each and there was a draw in 2000.

At three wins each and the Sharks having the higher points average on paper the Sharks edge ahead of the Bulls.

The Bulls and the Sharks will know exactly what they have to achieve in this match when it kicks off. Their targets will be set by the Waratahs who play in the match preceding this one.

If the Waratahs lose to the Brumbies then the result between the Bulls and Sharks will only decide who they play next week as they will both have qualified.

The Sharks have taken a big gamble in naming Frederic Michalak at 10 and moving Patrick Lambie to fullback and Stefan Terblanche to centre.

Michalak has only been with the Sharks for a couple of weeks but their entire season now rests on his being familiar with his new team mates but also on him having a good game in a stadium he has not played in for three years.

The home side will take a lot of confidence into the game. They beat the South African Conference leaders, the Stormers, at Newlands last week (19-16), which was their sixth consecutive victory after an ordinary start to the season.

The Bulls will have the added momentum of having beaten the Sharks in their last encounter, on 21 May in Durban, by 32-23.

Even though both teams scored two tries on that occasion and the team from Pretoria's discipline wasn't good enough, the defending champions were strong in the set piece and accurate when they had the opportunity to kick at goal.

The Sharks have always been one of Super Rugby's better team's but this year they have struggled to stand up to the bigger names. They have blow away the minnows but when it comes to the big occasions they have not performed. The worry for Sharks fans is that doesn't get much bigger than this.

source: superxv.com

Last five results:
21 May 2011 Bulls v Sharks 32-23 Durban
01 May 2010 Bulls v Sharks 27-19 Pretoria
16 May 2009 Bulls v Sharks 27-26 Durban
01 Mar 2008 Bulls v Sharks 15-29 Pretoria
19 May 2007 (Final) Bulls v Sharks 20-19 Durban

Bulls overall rcord against the Sharks
Played 15, Wins 8 , Losses 6, Draws 1

Match Officials:
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Assistant referees: Mark Lawrence, Christie Du Preez
Television match official: Gerrie Coetzee

Teams

Bulls: 1. Dean Greyling, 2. Chilibory Ralepelle, 3. Werner Kruger, 4. Bakkies Botha, 5. Victor Matfiel (Captain), 6. Deon Stegmann, 7. Dewald Potgieter, 8. Pierre Spies, 9. Francois Hougaard, 10. Morne Steyn, 11. Bjorn Basson, 12. Wynand Olivier, 13. Jaco Pretorius, 14. Gerhard van den Heever, 15. Zane Kirchner

Replacements: 16. Gary Botha, 17. Rossouw de Klerk, 18. Flip van der Merwe, 19. Danie Rossouw, 20. Fourie du Preez, 21. Francois Brummer, 22. Akona Ndungane.

Sharks : 1. Tendai Mtawarira, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 4. Gerhard Mostert, 5. Alistair Hargreaves, 6. Keegan Daniel, 7. Jean Deysel, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 9. Charl McLeod, 10. Frederic Michalak, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 12. Meyer Bosman, 13. Stefan Terblanche (Captain), 14. JP Pietersen, 15. Patrick Lambie

Replacements: 16. John Smit, 17. Wiehahn Herbst, 18. Ross Skeate, 19. Willem Alberts, 20. Marcell Coetzee, 21. Adrian Jacobs, 22. Louis Ludik

<a href="http://winbetting.at/therugbyforum?CTY=1&CID=15908"><img src="http://b1.perfb.com/b1.php?ID=15908&PURL=winbetting.at/therugbyforum" border="0" /></a>

*Vbookie odds supplied by BWIN*

Darwin · Jun 16, 2011

I'm picking the Bulls to continue their late season form and win again, though I'm expecting it will be a close match.

Looking forward to watching the matchup at hooker between Ralepelle and du Plessis; apparently de Villiers believes Ralepelle has shown more form this season than du Plessis, though I suspect he is the only person on the planet that believes that! There are some good matchups in the loose forwards as well, particularly between Stegmann and Daniel and Spies and Kankowski. I'm slightly surprised the Bulls didn't start Rossouw again at 7 as he's looked good over recent weeks.

Really interesting to see the Sharks have rearranged their backline; I was looking forward to the matchup between Steyn and Lambie. Starting Michalek at 10 perhaps points to a more attacking game plan for the Sharks, though I wonder whether they may have been better playing Lambie at 12 outside Michalek, to keep him close to the action. A couple of great matchups on the wing, with Basson v Pieterson and van den Heever v Mvovo. Basson and Pieterson are in my opinion the best two wings in South Africa, and Basson certainly has something to prove after being excluded from the latest Boks training squad.

Seaton · Jun 17, 2011

I'm backing t'he Bulls to win this one, even betting a fairly dismayed at my stance Sharks supporter R50 over this one

If t'he Sharks win I'm happy, they lose I'm not quite has happy, but happy none t'he less.

T'he changes look exciting for t'he Sharks, lots of attacking threat, will certainly be less predictable than t'he last few weeks, hopefully we can snatch this one, with a BP and Blues loss to give us one final home game.

Cassie · Jun 17, 2011

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w

unctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w

ontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> Big game for both teams what much can a rugby lover ask for. The Bulls might feel more familiar in the must win to stay in contention scenario. They had to do it week in and week out right from when they finished touring. The feeling some might get is whether they can keep that momentum going into the Sharks match.

The Sharks fighting spirit and their resistance at Loftus will be a key factor in the game and the Bulls should be aware of this. This will be a close game and giving the results of earlier games the same day this will be an encounter not to be missed.

The team playing the better rugby making fewer mistakes and getting their game plan to work will be the victor on the day.

Good luck to both teams!

Amobokoboko · Jun 17, 2011

I hope Michalak can cope the pressure. He did help the sharks win the currie cup three years ago, but now having to satrt his first game in an everything or nothing game isn't that comfortable.

dangandan · Jun 18, 2011

This match is being played at frantic pace. Very entertaining!

TNT88 · Jun 18, 2011

Game has been awesome so far. Its being played at a huge intensity.

TNT88 · Jun 18, 2011

I have a feeling Justice4Bakkies is going to struggle to last the full 80 without getting sin binned.

dangandan · Jun 18, 2011

Yeah it's definitely going to be difficult to hold discipline at this pace. Aren't these guys tired yet?

Amobokoboko · Jun 18, 2011

Good come back by the Bulls

Seaton · Jun 18, 2011

Oh my word, McLeod and Terblanche are not just no longer being a liability, but are proving to be, um, useful

We're all DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great game it must be said, Chilliboy nd Jannie at this stage are looking a class apart in the front rows

TRF_Olyy · Jun 18, 2011

What's the score?

Nielsch · Jun 18, 2011

great game so far, especially the 5 minutes before half time!

TNT88 · Jun 18, 2011

Sharks lead 16-13 at the 45min mark.

Nielsch · Jun 18, 2011

TRF_Olyy said:
What's the score?

Bulls 13 - Sharks 16

ZeFrenchy · Jun 18, 2011

Either Michalak or Terblanche should grow some hair and stop confusing people.

Amobokoboko · Jun 18, 2011

The Bulls are putting massive pressure on the sharks, I do expect a Bulls try any moment.

Nielsch · Jun 18, 2011

Hope the Sharks will win this! A draw will do for the Bulls.

Amobokoboko · Jun 18, 2011

Still have ten minutes, can go both sides.

dangandan · Jun 18, 2011

Nice try after Lambie lays off a sweet offload. I s'pose the Sharks are going to win now.

Super 15: Bulls - Sharks @ Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria (18-06-2011, 16:05 GMT)

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