Super 15: Stormers - Sharks in Cape Town (30-04-2011)

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Saturday in Cape Town the 2 best South African teams face each other to determine who will top the Conference at the end of this round. The Sharks from Durban travel to the Westcoast to play the Stormers at Newlands. Earlier this season both played in DUrban and the Stormers managed to win 6-16 with a try from the captain, Schalk Burger. It was the first match back home for the Sharks after a trip across the globe when they played the Crusaders in London at the end of their Tasman Tour.

The Sharks have beaten the Lions and the Hurricanes since their 3 losses in a row, both clinching it with a bonus point. Last weekend they scored 5 tries and conceded 2 but this was also thanks to referee Stuart Dickinson. Patrick Lambie has returned from injury but the Durban faithful are hoping to see Bismarck at hooker again and like to see the long awaited return of Jean Deysel. The flanker has been out of action for almost a year. In the backline there are hopes of tries coming from Lwazi Mvovo and JP Pietersen. Mvovo showed he can still do it after 2 tries last saturday and JP Pietersen has been stronger ever since his return from injury.

In Cape Town, things look different. Sure, the Stormers have only lost once (against the Reds in week 8) but their lack of scoring tries might work against them eventually. They have only scored 12 so far. Their defense however has been rock solid with only 6 conceded tries. In the last couple of weeks they have suffered injuries which had them going for the win without Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Peter Grant and Tiaan Liebenberg. With the injury to Gary van Aswegen, it means Lionel Cronjé will probably be the starting fly-half when they take on the Sharks on Saturday. The Stormers had a bye in round 10 and they should be well-rested. The question is not whether we will see a lot of tries, but the question is if we will see tight defense. With the Sharks and Stormers we see the 2 teams with the best defense. The Sharks have only conceded 12 tries and managed to keep the Force, Chiefs, Lions, Blues and Cheetahs from scoring any try against the Banana Boys in the season. Together with the tight defense comes a strong attack from the Sharks with a total of 26 tries so far (Against the Cheetahs (2), Blues (2), Force (5), Rebels (4), Crusaders (4), Lions (4) and Hurricanes (5) respectively). As mentioned earlier, the Stormers have conceded only 6 and they scored 12 so far (Lions (1), Bulls (1), Force (6), Sharks (1) and Lions (3) respectively). As you can see, only the Lions and the Force conceded more than 1 try in a match.

It will be a cracker and when we look at the history, we see that since the turn of the century, the Sharks have only won twice in Cape Town. This were the 2 most recent times as well (2007 and 2009). Can the Sharks keep this flow going or will the Stormers beat the Sharks twice in a season after their 6-16 win in 4 weeks ago?




2011 Sharks 6 - 16 Stormers
2010 Sharks 20 - 14 Stormers
2009 Stormers 14 - 20 Sharks
2008 Sharks 12 - 10 Stormers
2007 Stormers 10 - 36 Sharks
2006 Sharks 24 - 17 Stormers
2005 Stormers 26 - 12 Sharks
2004 Sharks 24 - 31 Stormers
2003 Stormers 40 - 18 Sharks
2002 Sharks 18 - 25 Stormers
2001 Stormers 39 - 23 Sharks
2000 Sharks 28 - 32 Stormers

 

[Seaton]

'Tsk tsk tsk

In the second paragraph, it says the Sharks scored 4 tries, whilst the article later states 5

As former Aberdeen manager would say: schloppy, ver' schloppy



On the game... I think it hinges on Peter Grants fitness. If he starts I will be faithless, if he is on the bench I will be nervous, if he doesn't play at all, there are no words to express my joy!
Our line-out is getting close to shambles now, hopefully in their two weekends off Hargreaves and Bismarck have had time to restore some parity.
What oh what will our front-row look like? Bismarck is a must, Beast was man-of-the-match vs. the Hurricanes and (whilst I realize it is not a popular opinion) Smit played well, but then again Jannie did well when he came on, and you can't fault the efforts of van Staden. Plumtree is going to be earning his dosh this week

Those attending the game are in for a pre-match treat, with both regions Vodacom Cup sides facing each other in a Vodacom Cup quaterfinal

Another question that I seem to have forgotten every time I have posted for the last week, what is the status on Potgeiter? Was he injured for the last match, or given time to 'recover' from his kicking ordeals?

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Changed it. It was late you know

I am trying my best and hope people will like the previews.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Coetzee has named his starting 15 for saturday:

Conrad Jantjes, Gio Aplon, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Byran Habana, Peter Grant (Lionel Cronje), Dewaldt Duvenage, Duane Vermeulen, Francois Louw, Schalk Burger (c), Andries Bekker, Rynhardt Elstadt, CJ van der Linde, Deon Fourie, Wicus Blaauw

Replacements: Ethienne Reynecke, Brok Harris, De Kock Steenkamp, Nick Koster, Ricky Januarie, Lionel Cronje (Kurt Coleman) , Juan de Jongh

It's still unsure if Peter Grant is fit. He will decide on that this friday. If not, Lionel Cronje plays flyhalf and Kurt Coleman is on the bench wearing nr. 21.

Bryan Habana, Jean de Villiers and Rynhardt Elstadt are all back in the starting line up

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Sharks name Smit at Hooker against Stormers

Sharks name Smit at Hooker against Stormers

Article Published: Thursday 28 April 2011


The Sharks have named John Smit at hooker for their clash with the Stormers at Newlands this weekend with Bismarck du Plessis on the bench.

Flank Jean Deysel also makes his team list for the year and will come on off the bench.

In changes from last week's side, Keegan Daniel starts for Jacques Botes who went over on his ankle against the Hurricanes last week.

Botes will be rested and this opens the door for Deysel who has been returning to match fitness after a lengthy spell on the side lines.

Jannie du Plessis and Eugene van Staden swap positions while brother Bismarck returns to the side and will play off the bench following the shoulder injury that kept him out of last Saturday's game with Captain John Smit playing at hooker.

In the final change, Odwa Ndungane returns after playing off the bench, with Lwazi Mvovo named amongst the replacements, joined by lock Alistair Hargreaves who is over the injury that kept him out of action for two matches.

"We're looking forward to this game and I'm sure they're looking forward to having us," said coach John Plumtree on the Sharks site.

"I'm sure everyone is looking forward to watching it. It's one of those contests between two sides who are both going well right now."

Sharks

1. Tendai Mtawarira , 2. John Smit (Captain) , 3. Jannie du Plessis , 4. Steven Sykes , 5. Ross Skeate , 6. Keegan Daniel , 7. Willem Alberts , 8. Ryan Kankowski , 9. Charl McLeod , 10. Patrick Lambie , 11. JP Pietersen , 12. Meyer Bosman , 13. Stefan Terblanche , 14. Odwa Ndungane , 15. Louis Ludik

Replacements , 16. Bismarck du Plessis , 17. Eugene van Staden , 18. Alistair Hargreaves , 19. Jean Deysel , 20. Conrad Hoffmann , 21. Adrian Jacobs , 22. Lwazi Mvovo

Smit still in the starting 15. Will this be a good thing though? Smit, Skeate, McLeod (again!!!)...

 

[Seaton]

Smit still in the starting 15. Will this be a good thing though? Smit, Skeate, McLeod (again!!!)...

Smit played well against the Hurricanes, at least give him that.

Would have preferred Hargreaves to start, but Plumtree obviously feels that he is not up to it yet

Peter Grant has been declared unfit to play...

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

No Peter Grant is positive for us but still Habana, Aplon, Jantjes, de Villiers and Fourie is very dangerous. Smit did play well against the Hurricanes but Bismarck is simply better

 

[Seaton]

No Peter Grant is positive for us but still Habana, Aplon, Jantjes, de Villiers and Fourie is very dangerous. Smit did play well against the Hurricanes but Bismarck is simply better

Aye, but they're really only dangerous with ball in hand, and imo Lionel Cronje is a bit of a ball hog, so all we need to do is rush up, put him under pressure with the likes of Alberts and Beast breathing down his neck, and he will brick it

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

I hope we win, but my money is on the Stormers (although this hurts to say)

 

[Amobokoboko]

It's a tactic you use quiet often, die hard gambling is the phrase. Hope you guys win, have watched nearly every game so high expectations.

 

[Draggs]

No Peter Grant is positive for us but still Habana, Aplon, Jantjes, de Villiers and Fourie is very dangerous. Smit did play well against the Hurricanes but Bismarck is simply better

JdV and Habana are just back from injuries, which is a further positive for us.
I hope Stef doesn't try to chip kick, Janjtes will just run it right back through our line.
For me, this would be McLeod's last shot, but I am not Plumtree. Same with Skeate, still not sure about this lad.

 

[User1245]

Die Stormers gaan môre 'n lekker pakslae kry :lol:

 

[Amobokoboko]

It's an away game, so always difficult.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Sharks not up for it. A lot of mistakes and already 17-6 after 26 minutes. Scrummaging is not the problem but Charl McLeod especially is causing the most heart attacks in Durban at the moment with his poor decision-making. Stefan Terblanche also has a awful day

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

A bunch of mistakes of Jaco Peyper so far, both ways. Elstadt should have been sent off for 10 minutes after high spear tackle after the whistle on Terblanche but Habana had a point when after the mark, Ndungane tackled him without going back 10 metres.

Sharks are nowhere at the moment. Stormers have the upper hand and at this stage McLeod, Terblanche, Smit and Alberts (sorry JJR).

Something that really bugs me is McLeod's and Alberts' horrible offloads which are going to cost us today

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Halftime and we are losing it at the rucks. Unbelievable how you can provide such easy turn-overs time and time again. I had a feeling the Stormers would win this, I did not expect it to come so easy to them

 

[Draggs]

McLeod, Bosman, Terblanche can all **** off.
Stefan and Charl AGAIN kicking, and Bosman gifting two tries.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Please bring on Hoffmann, Deysel, Bismarck and Jacobs at half time... PLEASE PLUM!!!!

 

[Seaton]

How the **** are the Stormers ripping those balls from us so easily?

Hopefully we will see some early changes, I can see Deysel especially up for this. McLeod can **** off
And there is no way in the frozen depths of hell that the Stormers backline was 5 meters back from the line-out for the second try... At first I was delighted that Steve Walsh was unfit, but cringed when I heard he was replaced by Jaco Peyper, all those off the ball cheap shots are going to get our players injured

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Again Alberts. What is his f*king problem? He has been poor this whole season (not his 2010 form) but today he is dreadful. Please bring on Deysel and give Alberts some rest