The Sharks Thread

[Seaton]

Lambie... Argh!!!

I think a Bulls spy has infiltrated the Sharks set-up, and is feeding something to our kickers, it's the only logical explanation for this dire kicking!

 

[Draggs]

I hope Ezequiel is right, Lambie saving his genius for next week!

McLeod, WTF?
Dare I say Sarel?

 

[Seaton]

A good win, but so fustrating to watch, was really disappointed with a lot of the players inability to

THINK

Is it so hard? At times I thought an Amoeba XV could out smart us today, after the first kick-off worked, we became predictable, McLeod didn't have a bad game, but silly things like not making sure the kick was charged down, and looking at both sides of the ruck before passing the ball (the one time he passed the ball to Lambie with two backs, who were tasked with maintaining the ball against the entire Hurricanes pack.

The line-out is still a bit of a mess, however I felt at times that there wasn't enough of a gap between the teams and given this was Skeate's first start in SupeRugby this season, it could probably be excused if it wasn't world class

The scrums.... Were brilliant!!! Correct me if I am wrong but there wasn't a single reset scrum all night? Not a lot of handling errors that lead to scrums either, as Dickinson let play continue. Must say apart from being a little harsh to the Canes on a few occasions he handled the game pretty well

15. Ludik ran well when given the oppurtunity, but seemed nervous under the high ball and knocked on once or twice
14/11. Both JP and Mvovo were hobbling around at stages, JP holding his hamstring and I think Mvovo his groin, so will be waiting on the medical report to look for injuries. Otherwise both were class
13/12. Stefan- Apart from collecting the inside pass on a few occasions, did little. Bosman distributed well, ran well and showed good strength for his try
10/9. Lambie looked rusty, didn't kick particularly well and threw a couple of boot lace passes. McLeod, I can't say
6/7/8. Well imo Alberts was a little anynomous in the opening minutes, but after he went down with a knock, he was a lot more pro-active, Kanko- solid game if anything else, didn't make too many yards but got around the park, Botes- attended a few rucks but didn't do much in terms of turnovers or ball carriers, which I imagine was why he was started, Daniel was more effective when he came on
4/5. Line-out didn't function too well, but possible reasons have already been stated. Otherwise the locks did what was required of them.
1/2/3. Happy with the scrums, Beast and Smit in particular were prominent, Staden had one or two carriers and was solid

Stormers up next, based on this performance and the Stormers last two, I am feeling more confident than after the Lions win/ Reds win

 

[JJR]

Hoffman did not have much time on field; but happy with his performance, hoping he gets more gametime in the coming weeks. Stef...was useless, Jacobs needs to start. Glad Deysel is back to assist Alberts next week. Can't wait to get Joubert from france and put him in the 13 jersey.

 

[Draggs]

Hoffman did not have much time on field; but happy with his performance, hoping he gets more gametime in the coming weeks. Stef...was useless, Jacobs needs to start. Glad Deysel is back to assist Alberts next week. Can't wait to get Joubert from france and put him in the 13 jersey.

Yeah, Stef has to stop the grubber kicks.
Any decent fullback can collect them and run them straight back.

 

[JJR]

Yeah, Stef has to stop the grubber kicks.
Any decent fullback can collect them and run them straight back.

He does the grubber when he does not know what to do...he should just carry it up like you say. He is really not he;ping our wings getting some space to run....he does not make a fast shift and straighten to give wings some space...Jacobs is great and drawing players to him and giving wings space.

 

[nickdnz]

I'll make one point about the game, as I've been thinking about it since Sunday Morning. Stuart Dickenson is a useless prat. It sounds like sour grapes, but in honesty he killed the game for the Canes. Not saying the Sharks didn't deserve the win, they made fewer errors and capitilized on the mistakes, but Dickenson was shocking. Two of the lightest yellow cards I've ever seen, and while the rucking one was hardly stomping, I can concede it wasn't totally unfustified, Nonu's card was utter BS. Just such rubbish. No warning, just yellow. It was just so inconsistant, he just refs to what ever he feels like.

I'm not trying to sound like a twit, as I openly will admit it was a close game that could have gone either way, but the scoreline at the end, was all Mr Dickensons doing. He's such a useless referee, I genuinely cringe when ever I hear he is reffing. I have to agree with LordHope, Dickenson was shocking.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

I agree with Nick. The match could really have gone either way and the Canes deserved the win even. After an hour, the Sharks got back into the game but still I didn't have a good feeling about it. Both yellow cards were harsh but I cannot say I was sad about it. The win for the Sharks was well-deserved but 30-24 would have been more reasonable than 40-24. Those last points we scored were given to us.

I was happy to see Lambie back despite his poor kicking and Mvovo stepped up and showed some of the brilliance from last years Currie Cup. All in all a good win but we got a lot of help from Stu.

 

[JJR]

I'll make one point about the game, as I've been thinking about it since Sunday Morning. Stuart Dickenson is a useless prat. It sounds like sour grapes, but in honesty he killed the game for the Canes. Not saying the Sharks didn't deserve the win, they made fewer errors and capitilized on the mistakes, but Dickenson was shocking. Two of the lightest yellow cards I've ever seen, and while the rucking one was hardly stomping, I can concede it wasn't totally unfustified, Nonu's card was utter BS. Just such rubbish. No warning, just yellow. It was just so inconsistant, he just refs to what ever he feels like.

I'm not trying to sound like a twit, as I openly will admit it was a close game that could have gone either way, but the scoreline at the end, was all Mr Dickensons doing. He's such a useless referee, I genuinely cringe when ever I hear he is reffing. I have to agree with LordHope, Dickenson was shocking.

Agree...it could have gone either way; but even without the yellow cards i feel The Sharks were building a lot of pressure in the second half and deserved the win, as you said. Sharks played individually and once again only in patches. Sharks did butcher at least 2 try scoring opportunities. Main Culprit, Stef terblanche. In my opinion Nonu deserved the yellow, cause Sharks had all the momentum and he clearly used his hands on the ground and he did not release Beast and stopped what would have been great go forward ball in Canes 22. First one...it is beyond me how that can be given as a yellow...not even worth a penalty in my opinion. You guys desperately need more grunt in the second row and Levave should start...will give the loose trio more balance. You guys did miss Conrad Smith.

 

[Draggs]

It seemed like a match of who can score more points when not being crap.
Very light cards; I know Nonu likes to pick them up, but this one was hardly deserved.

I would be tempted to give Jacobs and Hoffman a shot next week.
Charl is just in poor form now.

 

[User1245]

I felt both yellow cards were justified. Both were cynical play, Nonu's more so.
I do agree that Dickenson was up to **** though. Let go skew lineouts, forward passes and players were coming straight off their feet at the ruck, especially the Sharks, whose rucking technique was pathetic once again. Honestly, when is SA rugby gonna stop focusing on smashing the man instead of playing to the ball?

Also agree on Mcleod, his form is off. I've never rated his passing ability very highly but it was particularly bad in his game. He needs to pass in front of players a bit more. One example is our ball carriers continually have to change their body position to grab his balls lol because he's passing into the side of their rib cage. I see it everytime and it ****** me off! He's almost as bad as Ellis of the Saders!
That said he is still a very decent scrummie but I'd like to see Hoffman get a go.

 

[Seaton]

Also agree on Mcleod, his form is off. I've never rated his passing ability very highly but it was particularly bad in his game. He needs to pass in front of players a bit more. One example is our ball carriers continually have to change their body position to grab his balls lol because he's passing into the side of their rib cage. I see it everytime and it ****** me off! He's almost as bad as Ellis of the Saders!
That said he is still a very decent scrummie but I'd like to see Hoffman get a go.

This irritates me to no end, all moment is lost

Another thing (all though not in particular McLeod's fault) is that when we recieve an up-and-under, and there are no/ few chasers, we rarely seem to give the ball to a forward.
In fact we often see Alberts catching, him running up and passing to somone 3/4 of his size, whom is promptly tackled, momentum lost and in the worst case a turn-over occurs

 

[JJR]

This irritates me to no end, all moment is lost

Another thing (all though not in particular McLeod's fault) is that when we recieve an up-and-under, and there are no/ few chasers, we rarely seem to give the ball to a forward.
In fact we often see Alberts catching, him running up and passing to somone 3/4 of his size, whom is promptly tackled, momentum lost and in the worst case a turn-over occurs

With Deysel back it will help a lot...Alberts can take it to the line and give a long pass to Kanko or Deysel....we should be opening wholes all over the show. Can also happen other way round...probably better to use Deysel/Alberts close in and and Kanko/Alberts in the centre channels cause of their better pace. Will give us lots of space on 3rd/4th phase; unfortunately if Stef gets the ball he will take away all the space that has been created out wide. We need Jacobs!! M.Joubert will also be a lot better than Stef...in my opinion he should have retired when we won CC. He is not adding any value anymore.

 

[JJR]

Hargreaves seems to be fit and ready for this weekend...that means we have a full fit squad to choose from...Plum has some difficult choices to make this week; he will have to leave out a few quality top class players.

What i would like to see-

1.Beast
2.Smit (C)
3.Jannie
4.Sykes
5.Hargreaves
6.Daniel
7.Alberts
8.Kankow
9.Mcloed
10.Lambie
11.JPP
12.Bosman
13.Jacobs
14.Ndungane
15.Ludik
16.Bissie
17.Van Staden
18.Mostert
19.Deysel
20.Botes
21.Hoffman
22.Terblanche.

Leaving out some great players; hard to be Plum right now or nice, whatever way you look at it.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

What I would like to see is this:

1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. Jannie du Plessis
4. Steven Sykes
5. Alistair Hargreaves
6. Jacques Botes
7. Jean Deysel
8. Ryan Kankowski
9. Conrad Hoffmann
10.Patrick Lambie
11.Lwazi Mvovo
12.Meyer Bosman
13.Adi Jacobs
14.JP Pietersen
15.Odwa Ndungane


I would give Alberts, Terblanche and Ludik some rest. All 3 can use it. Hoffmann deserves a chance to start, especially since he is not impressed by Newlands having played there himself. Alberts can come on as a cracker after about 60 minutes.

 

[JJR]

Unfortunately Deysel will only be used as an impact sub, if he is selected this week. Alberts does need some rest; but we only have this game and Brumbies game and then we have our 2nd Bye; after that i expect Deysel and Alberts to start together.

 

[JJR]

Sharks XV play warm up game to Sharks v Stromers in the quarter final of Vodacom Cup. We should win as Wp are struggling to get a 10 for this game and we will most likely have JLP at 10 for Sharks XV. My predicted Sharks XV side.

1.Chadwick
2.Burden
3.Herbst
4.Bresler
5.Skeate/Mostert...Depends who plays for Sharks.
6.Kleinhans
7.Groenewald
8.Coetzee
9.Cronje if fit...if not then Reinach
10.JLP
11.Sithole
12.Swanepoel
13.Pretorius
14.Richards
15.De Kock
16.Cooper
17.Nhlapo
18.Marais
19.Adongo
20.G.Cronje?
21.Zeilinga
22.Piet Lindeque

 

[Seaton]

Poo poo to Riaan Swanepoel

And poo poo to the notion of the Vodacom Cup game being a 'warm up' game to the Superugby game.
It is a game in it's own right, and fantastic that the rugby authorities try their best to organise these games on a Superugby matchday, so that more spectators have the opportunity to watch these teams

Don't take it as though it is directed at you, I just hate how a lot of people seem to disregard the Vodacom Cup, ignorant of the fact that a lot of the players will probably play in the Currie Cup teams when the Boks are gone, especially in a world cup year.
Mini Rant over

Now, given his inclusion for your Sharks XV team, I presume that you know why JLP was left out of the Hurricanes fixture

 

[JJR]

Poo poo to Riaan Swanepoel

And poo poo to the notion of the Vodacom Cup game being a 'warm up' game to the Superugby game.
It is a game in it's own right, and fantastic that the rugby authorities try their best to organise these games on a Superugby matchday, so that more spectators have the opportunity to watch these teams

Don't take it as though it is directed at you, I just hate how a lot of people seem to disregard the Vodacom Cup, ignorant of the fact that a lot of the players will probably play in the Currie Cup teams when the Boks are gone, especially in a world cup year.
Mini Rant over

Now, given his inclusion for your Sharks XV team, I presume that you know why JLP was left out of the Hurricanes fixture

I knew i should have edited the "warm up"...i just meant for it to be the game before Sharks v Stormers. It is a very important game for the Union...i love The Sharks XV, that is why i keep writing articles about the youngsters on Sharksworld.co.za.
JLP needs to gain confidence and i feel the management want him to do that in the Vodacom Cup competition; and it is also a knockout game which JLP will bring lots of experience to a fairly inexperienced/young backline.

 

[JJR]

Botes is out for this weekend. Not a bad thing...Deysel has to now be selected and we can have a 4-3 split on the bench. It sounds like Mostert will play Sharks XV and Skeate will be on The Sharks Bench. Not chuffed that The Capetonian, Skeate is selected over a lock that is a lot better coming off the wood and a much better rounded lock in terms of all the main attributes he has. Seems smit will move to 1...not a fan of smit at prop and Beast is our best loosehead...will trust that these dicisions are best for the team and not only for individuals.

Revised Team for this weekend.

1.Smit (C)
2.Bissie
3.Jannie
4.Sykes
5.Hargreaves
6.Daniel
7.Alberts
8.Kanko
9.Mcloed
10.Lambie
11.JPP
12.Bosman
13.Stef
14.Ndungane
15.Ludik

16.Beast
17.Van Staden
18.Skeate
19.Deysel
20.Hoffman
21.Jacobs
22.Mvovo