Super 15: Stormers vs Sharks. Newlands Stadium (3/3/2012, 17:10 GMT)

[SomeOke]

Habana at wing ARG! I was hoping this "habana at centre" idea was so he could cover both wing and centre from the bench, what a waste of a player that actually has the ability to score tries.

Other than that the side looks fairly decent, my two issue would be:

• Neither of our centres will pass so I'm not sure our outside backs with get utilized as much as they should and Habana is over the hill.
• Without Schalk we have nothing even resembling a fetcher.

But in some ways the sharks have even bigger problems. Really depends on their discipline on the day.

 

[Seaton]

Is that a bad thing?? at least you'll have time to watch the games, uninterrupted!

But this one is the last one of the weekend, innit?

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

My wife and kids are Sharks supporters, going to be a loveless and lonely weekend for me

Well, I have a wife and kid who are Bulls supporters so I know how you feel...

 

[Draggs]

Well, I have a wife and kid who are Bulls supporters so I know how you feel...

Extreme Family Swap, SA Edition?

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

The 22 looks like I assumed it would. Our defense should be pretty solid (apart from the odd run up by Habana leading to a hole) and we should be able to hold our own up front; I expect the Sharks to have a slight edge in the scrum but a slight edge for us in the line-outs. Breakdowns I'm not even going to hazard a guess. I don't expect much tries from us with JdV and JdJ both not looking like they try too hard to create space for the backs and Van Aswegen's slowish desicionmaking not helping them out much in that regard.

.... I still pick us for a win but only because of home advantage it's so close.

 

[Draggs]

What is Catrakilis up to? I thought he was pretty good during the CC, and a better option than van Aswegen.
If JdV keeps his run of poor form, how about sticking Grant at 12? Its has been suggested by a few and could be worth a shot.

 

[SomeOke]

What is Catrakilis up to? I thought he was pretty good during the CC, and a better option than van Aswegen.
If JdV keeps his run of poor form, how about sticking Grant at 12? Its has been suggested by a few and could be worth a shot.

I don't think JdV is playing that poorly, I just think he needs to come to grips with the fact that as an inside, service is more important than crash ball. Also we need Grant at 10, AC is just easing him back but I don't think anyone really thinks Van Aswegen can challenge him for starting spot. He's no Elton Jantjies.

 

[igziabeher]

Think the Sharks will have the edge at scrum-time, the Stormers in lineouts, while the breakdown battle should be even, looking to the missings in this area for both teams. Both midfield combinations have been poor offensively last week, and I can't see that changing for this game. Should be a van Aswegen/Grant versus Lambie battle, and I think the Sharks have the edge here. If Michalak plays to his level, Lambie should have more interesting balls to play compared to last week. Duvenage is an average player in my opinion, does well the basics, but really nothing exciting in his game. I don't expect a try fest in this one, which should be tense, hard-fought, but looks like a 3-pointer should do the difference at the end. Think the Sharks will take it by 3.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

week 1:

Think the Sharks will have the edge at scrum-time, the Bulls in lineouts, while the breakdown battle should be even, looking to the missings in this area for both teams.

week 2:

Think the Sharks will have the edge at scrum-time, the Stormers in lineouts, while the breakdown battle should be even, looking to the missings in this area for both teams.

Stormers will win this one. Sharks have the disadvantage to start the season off with 2 matches on the road against the 2 most difficult teams in the conference. Luckily we end with a couple of home games. Last season it was the other way around.

 

[SomeOke]

Think the Sharks will have the edge at scrum-time, the Stormers in lineouts, while the breakdown battle should be even, looking to the missings in this area for both teams. Both midfield combinations have been poor offensively last week, and I can't see that changing for this game. Should be a van Aswegen/Grant versus Lambie battle, and I think the Sharks have the edge here. If Michalak plays to his level, Lambie should have more interesting balls to play compared to last week. Duvenage is an average player in my opinion, does well the basics, but really nothing exciting in his game. I don't expect a try fest in this one, which should be tense, hard-fought, but looks like a 3-pointer should do the difference at the end. Think the Sharks will take it by 3.

Let's break it down, and I realize this is only theory and things can be very different in practice but I really think the Stormers edge this on paper:

Front Row - Sharks by a bit, would be more if you had beast.
Locks - Stormers by a lot
Loosies - Fairly even
Halfbacks - Sharks by a bit
Centres - Stormers by a bit
Outside Backs - Stormers by a bit


Apart from the front row and the halfback pairing stormers seem marginally better in most categories. If we also take into account form, as well as home advantage Stormers really should take this. I wouldn't be surprised if sharks did win. I mean if the Cheetahs can beat the Crusaders than anything can happen but I wouldn't bet on the Sharks coming out of this with a result.

 

[Sker]

Jean de Villiers and Habana needs to go, just a pity we don't have Sadie anymore. Excited to see Etzebeth (spelled that correct right?) and Kolisi (again sp?) in action again. We just need a working backline, we're like last year's boks.

Let's buy F.Steyn and sell Habana to some French dude.

 

[Seaton]

The loosies an even battle?

With Mr. I can do no f*cking wrong in offences as captain?

And Mr. I R Legal as his deputy?

On form or not, van Aswegan is going to have ample opportunity to put a couple of baker's dozen penalties away.

 

[Darwin]

vBookie: Stormers v Sharks

vBookie added

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Jean de Villiers and Habana needs to go, just a pity we don't have Sadie anymore. Excited to see Etzebeth (spelled that correct right?) and Kolisi (again sp?) in action again. We just need a working backline, we're like last year's boks.

Let's buy F.Steyn and sell Habana to some French dude.

I still have an iota of faith in JdV but he needs to seriously up his game. Playing outside someone other than Van Aswegen who isn't the quickest decision maker at 10 might help us out as well. I'll reserve my judgement until I see De Villiers outside of Bash. If we can get Fransie I hope they put him on a no-pastry diet because he looks fat and slow IMO.

The loosies an even battle?

With Mr. I can do no f*cking wrong in offences as captain?

And Mr. I R Legal as his deputy?

On form or not, van Aswegan is going to have ample opportunity to put a couple of baker's dozen penalties away.

A lot also depends on if Bismarck pitches for this game or not. I hope the Bismarck that turned up for the Bulls game plays on Saturday. That said, the Bull's kicking game effectively took him out of the equation but that won't work for us.

I expect Pietersen will be aiming at posts rather than Van Aswegen as he has the higher success ratio.

I'm sure he is known as Bonga Ntubeni

Siyabonga Ntubeni with Bonga for short or Scarra as nickname (if you can believe what you read in the media). I havn't met the player personally or heard his name from a definately reliable source so it might be anything to be honest as far as I know.

 

[Gena_ZA]

Willem Alberts has failed a late fitness test and won't feature for the Sharks in Saturday's derby against the Stormers.
On Monday, it was reported that Alberts (shoulder injury) had returned to the training field and would in all likelihood play off the bench against the Stormers. On Thursday, however, coach John Plumtree decided that the Springbok loose forward would not be risked.
No 8 Ryan Kankowski has been sidelined for a month due to a thumb injury, forcing Plumtree to make changes in the back row. Jacques Botes comes into the starting side at No 6, while Keegan Daniel shifts to the back of the scrum.
Other changes to the forwards see Ross Skeate included in the second row, which is unsurprising given the Sharks' poor performance at the lineout last week. Wiehahn Herbst has been picked ahead of Bok tighthead Jannie du Plessis in the front row.
Tim Whitehead complained of a hamstring problem at the start of the week and won't feature against his old team. Meyer Bosman has been selected at No 12 with Marius Joubert coming onto the bench.
Sharks – 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Louis Ludik, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Frederic Michalak, 8 Keegan Daniel (c), 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Subs: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Anton Bresler, 19 Lubabalo Mtembu, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Marius Joubert, 22 Paul Jordaan.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

That's a mean looking backline IF Michalak, Bosman and Petersen play to their potential and get some front foot ball. Backrow looks good (with Coetzee and Botes there) but surprisingly light in the tight 5 (in my mind at least) with the exception of Bismarck... will be an interesting game. I still give it to the Stormer (if only because of home advantage.)

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

No Alberts, no Kanko, no Deysel, no Ndungane, no Mtawarira... Despite those players missing, I am still pretty confident. I just wish Hoffmann or Reinach would feature in this match. Michalak is a better fly-half than scrum-half and Knock-on McLeod is no better

 

[TRF_heineken]

As long as the Stormers play Brok Harris they will always be on the back foot at scrum time...

I'll stick to my prediction, the Sharks by 12

 

[Seaton]

Michalak is a better fly-half than scrum-half and Knock-on McLeod is no better

Do tell? I could have swarn he got the vast majority of his international caps for France in the nr. 9 jersey.

Also recall he came down south as he wanted to play fly-half, and since he realized he wasn't going to get his wish and the nod ahead of Lambie, resigned himself to going back to being second fiddle in France.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

And still, he is not suited to be a scrum-half in SH rugby because he is too slow on recycling the ball. He gets tackled way too often. Compare him to Sarel Pretorius, Francois Hougaard and Fourie du Preez when it comes to quick recycling of the ball and you see why we struggle