THE Sharks V Crusaders!!

[JJR]

Sharks v Crusaders will be played 27th March at Twickenham. Will be played 16:00 (Local Time) 18:00 SA Time.

Will The Crusaders continue their recent dominance of their opponents or will The Sharks commitment on Defence, Strong pack and Lambie's boot give The Sharks a win against, in my opinion the team to beat at the moment in Superrugby?

My thoughts from a Sharks perspective-

How to Beat Crusaders?

-Must limit mistakes, get clean ball from lineouts, scrums and rucks
-Disciplined Defence
-Play as much of the rugby in their half as possible
-Must be quick to the breakdown to secure good ball
-Looseforwards must come across fast in defence especially in the centre channels
-Put pressure on Carter...rush on from Charl Mcloed
-Rush defence with wings covering with scrumhalf behind first line of defence
-take all points available...if it is kickable take it
-Commitment will also be key on defence and at getting to the breakdowns on own ball
-Play around the finges and keep it tight and swing it wide when an overlap develops.
-Ball retention in Crusaders half will be key to accumulating scoring opportunities.
-If their is an opportunity to kick the ball out...kick it out and keep it tight.
-Put high ball on Maitland.

Good Luck Sharks i know you guys can win it...will be toughest game we have played in a long time. Stand up to the challenge Sharkies!!

Gonna be a great game...i know it is a long shot, but rain rain please stay away. Great sport weekend awaits Hong Kong Sevens, Bafana Bafana against Egypt, Flo Simba heavyweight ***le fight and Obviously Sharks v Crusaders. Woo Hoo!!!!

 

[Seaton]

Looking foward to this game, however me of little faith is just hoping that it is not a thrashing (from the Crusaders of course)

Hopefully the jet lag will affect the Crusaders more than us, but I can't see anything past a Crusaders win at this stage

 

[JJR]

Looking foward to this game, however me of little faith is just hoping that it is not a thrashing (from the Crusaders of course)

Hopefully the jet lag will affect the Crusaders more than us, but I can't see anything past a Crusaders win at this stage

I love that you say that, because The Sharks always play their best rugby when they are rated underdogs...eg.Currie Cup semi and final last year...Blues in Auckland in 2008, Cuple of Sharks v Bulls games at Loftus...remember when we won with 14 men against Bulls when Ackies got sent off very early in the game. When Sharks r underdogs they bite you in the A$$ cause you don't expect it. Trust me, The Sharks will front up; enjoy the game, it is gonna be awesome.

 

[Shaggy]

Start peeling the Spuds!!! ... there's Battered Shark on the menu!

... should be a great game

 

[Draggs]

Start peeling the Spuds!!! ... there's Battered Shark on the menu!

... should be a great game

Practice Super Rugby final, IMO.

 

[Seaton]

I love that you say that, because The Sharks always play their best rugby when they are rated underdogs...eg.Currie Cup semi and final last year...Blues in Auckland in 2008, Cuple of Sharks v Bulls games at Loftus...remember when we won with 14 men against Bulls when Ackies got sent off very early in the game. When Sharks r underdogs they bite you in the A$$ cause you don't expect it. Trust me, The Sharks will front up; enjoy the game, it is gonna be awesome.

I understand what you are saying, and like the positivity

However, for every great under-dog win, there has been a fair beating, such as Crusaders last year, the Waratahs (twice) in 2008, and a couple of other bad defeats over seas which thankfully I have more or less blanked from memory

There were also a few people who reckoned the Cheetahs would win the game in 2009, and look how that panned out


For Your Information, if haven't discovered already, I am a pessimistic moaning sod, so take everything I say/post with a pinch of salt

 

[JJR]

I understand what you are saying, and like the positivity

However, for every great under-dog win, there has been a fair beating, such as Crusaders last year, the Waratahs (twice) in 2008, and a couple of other bad defeats over seas which thankfully I have more or less blanked from memory

There were also a few people who reckoned the Cheetahs would win the game in 2009, and look how that panned out


For Your Information, if haven't discovered already, I am a pessimistic moaning sod, so take everything I say/post with a pinch of salt

Will do, good to know; but i have nothing to say other that i have a "feeling" and belief we will perform in London. When it comes to The Sharks it is all mental...if we are mentally geared up i know we will win; but we will see what happens.

 

[Amobokoboko]

I'm going for a Cantab win.

 

[JJR]

Would not expect anything else...

 

[FlukeArtist]

Crusaders will be too strong for the Sharks and have too much firepower across the board.

 

[psychic duck]

need some Super rugby supporters opinions for this post, what is your super rugby team you supports' greatest XV from the professional era

http://www.therugbyforum.com/forum/...from-the-Heineken-Cup-era&p=383655#post383655

 

[Darwin]

Good summation of what the Sharks need to do to beat the Crusaders JJR. One thing I would definitely add is the Sharks need to attack the Crusaders lineout. I actually think the Crusaders lineout is one of their few weakness - not the lineout jumpers as such, but rather Corey Flynn's throwing. Apparently Flynn is leading the competition in 'not straight' lineouts, and by all accounts he was luckily to get away with a number against the Highlanders as well.

Overall I think the Crusaders will be too strong. The scary thing with the Crusaders is that they have only really played well in patches over their last three games, yet have nearly put 50 points on the board each game! I wouldn't expect too many changes in the Crusaders team, though I'd expect Guildford will start on the left wing, which will add another big weapon to the Crusaders already dangerous backline.

 

[Larksea]

Shame for Adam Whitelock though, He's done a very good job for the crucaders. makes good yards and almost never makes a mistake. Guildford did look pretty good though.

maybe give Whitelock a couple weeks off then give him a go on the right wing to Keep Maitland Fresh.

 

[Larksea]

hard to see the crucaders dropping a game in their current form. Also apart from McCaw who they have a great replacement for anyway they are in a very good state as far as injuries go.

I think for any team to beat the crucaders right now they would have to play at their best and also rely on the crucaders having an "off day"

But the time zone advantage is totally with the sharks, I'd be interested to know when the crucaders are flying out? I know the sharks fly to london on Thursday, I would think the caders would fly over earlier because it would be more of an adjustment for them.

 

[Darwin]

Shame for Adam Whitelock though, He's done a very good job for the crucaders. makes good yards and almost never makes a mistake. Guildford did look pretty good though.

maybe give Whitelock a couple weeks off then give him a go on the right wing to Keep Maitland Fresh.

Yeah Adam Whitelock has done well. I'm sure he will get plenty more chances to start for the Crusaders this season when they rest players (or players get injured). When he's not starting he will provide good cover from the bench, where I'd expect he'd get at least 20 mins per game.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

As long as we win, I am happy. It has been 4(!) years since we last beat them you know

 

[Seaton]

As long as we win, I am happy. It has been 4(!) years since we last beat them you know

Yeah, I can't believe we never beat them in 2009, the ref gave us every decision he possibly could and then some, was a truely terrible display that day


if the Sharks are leaving in the afternoon on Thursday, there is a possiblity I may be on the same flight as them

 

[187]

But the time zone advantage is totally with the sharks, I'd be interested to know when the crucaders are flying out? I know the sharks fly to london on Thursday, I would think the caders would fly over earlier because it would be more of an adjustment for them.

Some flew out today. They going over in 3 groups. There's an article on stuff.co.nz

 

[smartcooky]

The Sharks have the advantage of of being in London a day earlier, and playing at a time close to their own time zone.

However, they were unconvincing in their previous two matches; a 39-12 win over the Force, who played more than three-quarters of the match with only 14 players, and a scratchy (and lucky) 34-32 win over the supposed easy beat Rebels to whom they leaked four tries.

This should be and absolute cracker, match of the round. I will be rising an hour earlier than usual on Monday morning to catch it live.

 

[JJR]

Jacques-Louis Potgieter may just be given the opportunity to prove that he's the man for a big occasion against the Crusaders at Twickenham on Sunday afternoon. Regular Sharks flyhalf Pat Lambie injured his finger against the Chiefs and will await the verdict from a specialist in Durban today as to whether he'll be able to make the tour.
While the Sharks will not relish the prospect of playing against the tournament pace-setter minus their key playmaker, with a view to the crucial run of home games to come, it would be foolhardy to risk Lambie in this encounter unless he is 100% fit. In Potgieter, the Sharks have a player who has shown his ability to dominate – and win – encounters wearing the number 10 shirt and while Sunday's game may well be his biggest individual challenge yet, Potgieter strikes me as the sort of man who only plays better under that sort of pressure.
Other injury concerns ahead of the Twickenham clash are fullback Louis Ludik, who was also injured against the Chiefs and loose forward Ryan Kankowski, who is still suffering the after effects of a hard knock to the head sustained against the Blues back in week 2.
The Sharks tour group for the trip to London will be finalised tomorrow, ahead of a Thursday night departure for the British capital.

Source-Sharksworld.co.za