Super 15: Sharks - Bulls in Durban (21-05-2011)

TRF_Ezequiel · May 17, 2011

Kings Park, Durban (21-05-2011 18:10 GMT)

Sharks-Bulls. This is always a clash that has a certain tension to it. Even more than matches against the Western Province/Stormers. The Sharks are 5th on the overall log and 2nd in the SA conference trailing only by 1 point to the Stormers. The Sharks are without Kankowski (injured) and Daniel (suspended) but have a nearly fit squad to work with. Jean Deysel made his long-awaited return in the starting line-up 2 weeks ago and he is a guy needed to guide the Sharks through the physical play from the Bulls. The Sharks have not beaten the Bulls in Durban since the regular season of 2007. After that they lost the 2007 Super14 final (19-20) and in 2009 they lost 26-27, but despite a late try and a dropgoal conversion there was no time to snatch a win. With the Stormers going overseas last week, the Sharks have entered the stage where they can take charge of the SA conference. Will they do it?

The Bulls are a side that has struggled but they are still in range of the wild-card spots. The Waratahs are in 6th place now, but with them travelling to South Africa still (playing both teams featuring this match on that tour) they are likely to struggle and the Bulls might snatch the 6th spot. For that to happen, Frans Ludeke's side has to win in Durban. Both teams drew twice in their Super Rugby history (2000 was 14-14 and 1997 was 27-27) and a draw won't do it for the Bulls. They need a win, preferably with 4 tries or more. Having scored 7 against the Rebels, they showed they have the quality to do so. But can they breach the Durban wall? With only 17 tries conceded, the Sharks have the 3rd best defense in the competition behind the Stormers (conceded 11) and the Waratahs (conceded 14).

2010 Bulls 27-19 Sharks
2009 Sharks 26-27 Bulls
2008 Bulls 15-29 Sharks
2007 Final Sharks 19-20 Bulls
2007 Sharks 17-3 Bulls
2006 Bulls 34-27 Sharks
2005 Sharks 17-23 Bulls
2004 Bulls 18-23 Sharks
2003 Sharks 16-24 Bulls
2002 Bulls 10-23 Sharks
2001 Sharks 30-17 Bulls
2000 Bulls 14-14 Sharks
1999 Sharks 29-0 Bulls
1998 Bulls 12-8 Sharks
1997 Sharks 27-27 Bulls
1996 Bulls 30-8 Sharks

Draggs · May 17, 2011

Smit and Botes will have fitness tests later this week, hopefully both will be ready.
I'd go with something like this:
01 Mtawarira
02 B. du Plessis
03 J. du Plessis
04 Sykes
05 Hargreaves
06 Deysel
07 Botes
08 Alberts

09 Hoffmann
10 Lambie
11 Pietersen
12 Jacobs
13 Terblanche
14 Mvovo
15 Ludik

16 Smit
17 van Staden
18 Bresler
19 Coetzee
20 McLeod
21 Potgieter
22 Ndungane

Darwin · May 17, 2011

Should be a good game. If the Bulls can win I feel they will put themselves into quite a strong position to push for a playoff spot. It will be a good matchup between Morne Steyn and Pat Lambie, as I feel they are competing with each other for the starting 10 spot for the Boks.

Shaggy · May 17, 2011

darwin_23 said:
Should be a good game. If the Bulls can win I feel they will put themselves into quite a strong position to push for a playoff spot. It will be a good matchup between Morne Steyn and Pat Lambie, as I feel they are competing with each other for the starting 10 spot for the Boks.

I agree - should be a great game ... a resurgent Bulls side up against the Sharks at home at "the Tank" - I think the Sharks will be too strong at home

Bossco · May 18, 2011

This should be a cracker. Sharks really need this one to get back on track and bulls need it to get on the track. Love the crowds and passion the SA games have, something thats been really lacking in some N.Z games.

Amobokoboko · May 18, 2011

Idd a game I'm looking forward to. Could go any direction.

JJR · May 18, 2011

Draggs said:
Smit and Botes will have fitness tests later this week, hopefully both will be ready.
I'd go with something like this:
01 Mtawarira
02 B. du Plessis
03 J. du Plessis
04 Sykes
05 Hargreaves
06 Deysel
07 Botes
08 Alberts

09 Hoffmann
10 Lambie
11 Pietersen
12 Jacobs
13 Terblanche
14 Mvovo
15 Ludik

16 Smit
17 van Staden
18 Bresler
19 Coetzee
20 McLeod
21 Potgieter
22 Ndungane

Good side...when we get Joubert from Clermont i will kick Stef out of 22 and put joubert 12 , jacobs 13. Ndungane v Mvovo...i will always go with Ndungane against teams with tight defence because of his workrate and support play...Mvovo is ideal for very open running games...Eg. Chiefs, canes, lions, cheetahs, highlanders would be teams he will do well against.

Seaton · May 18, 2011

The big one...

If the Bulls win this weekend, and the Stormers lose against the Blues, the Bulls will be just 4 points away from the top spot in the SA conference, and having still to play the Sharks at Loftus, and the Stormers in CT, well I'm sure you get where I am heading.

I said after the Bulls were beaten by the Crusaders, that they would turn it around to beat us, and frankly I still believe that

I dunno, we've got a run-in to the knock-out stages that is looking a lot more formidable than it did last week, Cheetahs, Lions and Bulls away... Its squeaky bum time

JJR · May 18, 2011

Gonna be tough; but we have the squad, just need to limit errors and get the mind geared up on game day, dominating the collision points against The Bulls will be key to victory.

Draggs · May 18, 2011

Agree about Joubert and Jacobs midfield, but I would still start Mvovo.
He has a way to go, but will be a much better player than Ndungane. He is a dangerous runner and great finished.
Ndungane would be useful off the bench, like Alberts.

TRF_stormer2010 · May 19, 2011

LordHope said:
The big one...

If the Bulls win this weekend, and the Stormers lose against the Blues, the Bulls will be just 4 points away from the top spot in the SA conference, and having still to play the Sharks at Loftus, and the Stormers in CT, well I'm sure you get where I am heading.

I said after the Bulls were beaten by the Crusaders, that they would turn it around to beat us, and frankly I still believe that

I dunno, we've got a run-in to the knock-out stages that is looking a lot more formidable than it did last week, Cheetahs, Lions and Bulls away... Its squeaky bum time

Yeah, those derbies are always tighter than they 'should' be. I'll be rooting for the Bulls in this one, if only for the Stormers' sake

The Sharks have the squad to put some serious hurt on the Bulls but between Basson and Fourie du Preez the Bulls have two game breakers (Basson 1 try behind leaders Maitland and Pretorius and FdP is leading the try assist tab). Their opposites at the Sharks need to stay sharp and Lambie needs to be on target kicking at posts because you can expect a few Morne Steyn drop kicks I'll bet.

Cassie · May 19, 2011

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

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ontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> Starting this weekend the Bulls, Sharks, Stormers will be tested in every department of their rugby careers. The obstacles posed by teams to each other and even the Cheetahs in general with their resurrection itself are going to be a tough ask. Its going to be very physical on all the teams, derbies are really hard as we've seen so far.

The Sharks is a great attacking team they come off a by and will be pumped up for this match. The Bulls will be treating this game as it's a final and that is what the Sharks will do to. I am sure the best team on the day will win as it's normally the case. If either team plays to their potential this is going to be one heck of a game, I expect a thriller!

The team is: Zane Kirchner, Bjorn Basson, Jaco Pretorius, Wynand Olivier, Francois Hougaard, MornÃ© Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies, Dewald Potgieter, Deon Stegmann, Victor Matfield (c) , Bakkies Botha, Werner Kruger, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Dean Greyling.
Replacements: Gary Botha, Rossouw de Klerk, Flip van der Merwe, Danie Rossouw, Derick KuÃ¼n, Francois Brummer, Gerhard van den Heever.

Seaton · May 19, 2011

stormer2010 said:
The Sharks have the squad to put some serious hurt on the Bulls but between Basson and Fourie du Preez the Bulls have two game breakers (Basson 1 try behind leaders Maitland and Pretorius and FdP is leading the try assist tab). .

Where (and when) on earth has Basson scored all these tries? Last time I remember he scored against, hmmm, the Reds and the Stormers?

Certainly bodes well for your prediction of top try scorer, but as the Bulls still need to play the Sharks (x2) and the Stormers in CT, well lets just say that most of his oppurtunities should, SHOULD (message to the Sharks), come against the Cheetahs

TRF_stormer2010 · May 19, 2011

LordHope said:
Where (and when) on earth has Basson scored all these tries? Last time I remember he scored against, hmmm, the Reds and the Stormers?

Certainly bodes well for your prediction of top try scorer, but as the Bulls still need to play the Sharks (x2) and the Stormers in CT, well lets just say that most of his oppurtunities should, SHOULD (message to the Sharks), come against the Cheetahs

Yeah, its amazing that with the Bull's bad form, style of play and the greed of Olivier and Kirschner (LOL, against the Rebels last week Kirschner all but ripped the balls from Basson's hands to score), Basson has still managed to score 7 tires. In his favor though are the injuries to some of the other contenders; Maitland, Poki, Dagg, Mitchell etc.

Most of his tries have been VERY opportunistic and I am sure he'll manage to score against our teams just as easily as against the 'lesser' (LOL) teams. Now if the Bulls can just learn to spread the ball wide at pace ala the Griquas I am confident Basson will vindicate my faith in his try scoring abilities.

Surely Basson and JPP for Springbok wings. With Hougaard & Ndungane as utility cover in my fantasy Bok 30 man squad; you've got to rewards the from of these players!

Darwin · May 19, 2011

Sharks :1. Tendai Mtawarira , 2. Bismarck du Plessis , 3. Jannie du Plessis , 4. Steven Sykes , 5. Alistair Hargreaves , 6. Jacques Botes , 7. Jean Deysel , 8. Willem Alberts , 9. Charl McLeod , 10. Patrick Lambie , 11. JP Pietersen , 12. Meyer Bosman , 13. Stefan Terblanche (Captain) , 14. Odwa Ndungane , 15. Louis Ludik
Replacements , 16. Craig Burden , 17. Eugene van Staden , 18. Gerhard Mostert , 19. Marcell Coetzee , 20. Conrad Hoffmann , 21. Adrian Jacobs , 22. Lwazi Mvovo

A very hard game to pick. I'm tempted to pick the Sharks because of their home advantage, but I just have the feeling that the Bulls are starting to click, so I'm picking them to take it by less than 7.

Cassie · May 20, 2011

The win by the Stormers will make the Sharks even tougher to beat in Durban then it's already going to be. I know I was rooting for the Stormers to win against the Blues "just being a proud South African", but it did in fact make it more difficult for my team to win against the Sharks. I knew this as I still believe the Stormers hold the key this year, with that said I know the Bulls played some awful rugby followed by some good performances.

They are looking the part as shown in the last two games but the real test comes tomorrow "away from home".

All of us will just have to wait and see what will be the outcome of this terrific derby cracker. I just hope unlike the one game between the Stormers vs Sharks that this game lives up to expectation. Can't wait!<O

</O

Seaton · May 21, 2011

There has been a late change to the Bulls team, Danie Russouw comes into the starting team, swapping places with Dewald Potgeiter. Zane Kirchner has/had the flu, but the Bulls will wait until before the match to see if he is fit enough to play. If not, Gerhard van de Heever will start at 15, with Stefan Dippenaar coming onto the bench.

I am surprised that they didn't consider Jaco van de Westhuyzen at fullback

There has been a right cock-up with some security guy walking around as though he owns the stadium and the fields... Not letting cars into the surrounding fields when there was a que backed up all the way to the Moses Mabhida stadium, which is really bad considerinG that there is also a Amazulu vs.n Chiefs game on as well.
And now he trying to tell everyone on the fields that charcoal fires/ braais are not permitted, but a horde of Bulls supporters chased him away. Proving themselves useful for once, creating social disorder in the process

The stadium is gonna be full hopefully, still a few hours from kick-off but as indicated earlier, the grounds are fulling up quickly.

Fantastic conditions for the game, blue sky, sun shining, soft cool breeze and only a few whisps of clouds

Draggs · May 21, 2011

Adi Jacobs starting at inside centre over Meyer Bosman.
Rossouw in for Potgieter, van den Heever in for Kirchner.

TRF_Ezequiel · May 21, 2011

Man o man, what a **** pot of Rugby this is. I think stormer2010 is watching the game. Sharks are seriously struggling to even catch the ball, especially Willem Alberts. Sorry JJR, but Alberts is our weak spot and has been over these last few weeks. Alberts needs some rest because this way he is costing us the play offs

Draggs · May 21, 2011

-Alberts knocking on
-Terblanche kicking
-Doing nothing with possession
-Awful lineouts

Typical.

Only highlight was that 57m cannon from Lambie. Amazing.

Super 15: Sharks - Bulls in Durban (21-05-2011)

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