There are two matches taking place in the final weekend of Absa Currie Cup pool stage rugby that will be watched with great interest by a majority of rugby fans as both The Sharks and Western Province seek bonus point wins over Griquas and the Lions.
With compliments from Sharksrugby.co.za
Province currently lead the standings courtesy of a better points’ differential, but equal with The Sharks on 49 log points and face a Lions side determined to end their season on a high, despite the fact that a semifinal place is out of their grasp.
The Sharks meanwhile know that a five-pointer could well stand between them and a home final – should they progress past the semis – and they go into this match full of focus. But Griquas go into this game under massive pressure to end the round still in the top four, a position they have been in since the very first round and losing out now, at this late stage, would be a huge disappointment given their fairytale season which has included victories over three of the top five sides.
At home, Griquas are a formidable foe and will relish the opportunity to add a Sharks scalp to their impressive collection this season. They are a good, committed side who play for each other, but they are going to have their work cut out for them.
While they are feeling the effects of 13 weeks of non-stop rugby action, The Sharks by contrast have been bolstered by the return of injured players as well as a hoard of Springboks, and an International-laden side will run out onto the hard Kimberley field intent on making sure of a good, solid victory on Saturday.
Griquas have made two changes to the starting line-up from the first round match at The Absa Stadium Durban which The Sharks won 41-6. The Sharks by contrast, with a whole host of players available, have a vastly different side, the backline boasting six changes and Stefan Terblanche (pictured) the only familiar face. Where there was one International amongst the backs in that match, there are now six. In the forwards, six changes have been made, and two Springboks in that match have been increased to four.
While statistics are hardly a guarantee of victory, certainly history confirms that The Sharks have seldom come unstuck against Griquas, although in the last 10 years, there have been two losses in Kimberley, the last in 2006 when Griquas won 23-22 and before that, a 33-24 loss in 2004. The last six matches have all been fairly comprehensive defeats for Griquas, including a 44-15 loss in Kimberley last year.
Sharks assistant coach Grant Bashford admits that despite the necessity to win, win well and hopefully come out with the bonus point, first priority is to come out with a victory. “For us, it’s all about us, we’ll be trying to get the bonus point but not at the expense of losing, so we must win the game and worry about the bonus point later.”
He adds that despite The Sharks having a better record than Griquas when the two teams have met before, this year they’ve been a lot more competitive. “They’ve changed since previous years, this season they’ve been a side who counter-attack a lot but have the ability to also play a conservative style. They have leaked over 100 points in the last two weeks but have good attacking side.
“They need two points to make the semis, but will be desperate and hoping to win. They’ve done really well this season and will be pumped up for the game.”
For coach John Plumtree, it’s simple: “I haven’t lost to them since I’ve been in charge of The Sharks and I don’t plan on starting now.”
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Mark Lawrence
Television: MNet / SS1
Teams
The Sharks Griquas
Stefan Terblanche (C) 15 – Riaan Viljoen
Odwa Ndungane 14 – Bjorn Basson
Adrian Jacobs 13 – Jaco Bekker
Riaan Swanepoel 12 – Barry Geel
JP Pietersen 11 – Trompie Nontshinga
Juan Hernandez 10 – Naas Olivier
Ruan Pienaar 9 – Sarel Pretorius
Ryan Kankowski 8 – Jonathan Mokuena (C)
Michael Rhodes 7 – Davon Raubenheimer
Keegan Daniel 6 – Wesley Wilkins
Alistair Hargreaves 5 – Jacques Lombaard
Steven Sykes 4 – Cecil Kemp
John Smit 3 – Ruaan du Preez
Bismarck du Plessis 2 – Ryno Barnes
Tendai Mtawarira 1 – Albertus Buckle
Reserves
Craig Burden 16 – Andries Kruger
Jannie du Plessis 17 – Steph Roberts
Albert van den Berg 18 – Eric Coetzee
Jean Deysel 19 – Heinrich Stride
Rory Kockott 20 – Donald Stevens
Andries Strauss 21 – Wilmaure Louw
Waylon Murray 22 – Gavin Passens
@4man – 😆 😆 😆
@4man – he might sit at rugga head quarters , but his home heart and soul is in durbs 😉
Ok I’m out.
Places to go….things to do!!
a bien tot
Die Bulle wil so graag die Cheethas op Loftus speel in die final omdat hulle weet dis hul enigste kans om DALK die beker te wen. EK se nie ons gaan n bonuspunt kry nie, ek hoop so (ek weet ons kan), maar die wp en die bulle het 4 driee teen die kwasse op Kimberley gedruk, so ek glo die sharks behoor dit te doen.
Thanks for fixing this article!
Sharky-Forever,
Thanks for the Article… it was a bit wonky on the Home Page, because you never inserted the INSERT MORE TAG, to split the Article so that only a Sentence or so is displayed on the Home page. Under the Author’s page, at the bottom you will find my Cell Number…. use it when in doubt brother….
@AB – IT FIXED ITSELF 😆
but smileys still gone awol
@grootblousmile – uhm thats why you will see i was asking supa early on in here that i knew summin was wrong 😆
and good moring old chap
37@sharky_forever – Only the pictures of the SMILEYS have gone AWOL…. I implememnted an updated version of the Plug-In and bang…….. all gone… Fark !!
I will try and fix the little farkers….
man ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh man today the rugby be gods must be with the sharks :P: and the lions better do their part
@grootblousmile – You are getting quite smart with this stuff, must say I am impressed!
@grootblousmile – 😆
i know some guys think the smileys are stupid , i dont think so
i think it makes for light hearted chat , and people can also see when someone is joking, which avoids some getting angry as text along shows no emotions
so it has my thumbs up
@grootblousmile – Morning GBS, I’m off racing today (Horses)…..last minute decision sun shining beautiful Autumn day shame to waste it!!
You have a good one, catch you later! 😉
@sharky_forever – I like the smileys too 😆
@sharky_forever – Oh yes, well done ‘Journo Shark’ – congrats on your first submission!!
Rats, I am missing Mark Lawrence too…….
:announce: Farking SMILEYS fixed !!
Time for a :cigarette:
@sharky_forever – ek het gehoor die cup het half opgeroes die laaste paar maande en dat hy BAIE gelukkiger is in bloem tussen al daai grey seuns wat hom liefderyk pollish elke dag 😀
@grootblousmile – hey boet , as you can see i have posted a sharks match thread for comments and will add the summary after the match when i return home , which will be right after the wp game ??? :yes: ??
:rotfl: :rotfl: @smallies72 –
@carol – thank you dearest appreciated 😉
😀
Aangesien die hele vrystaat hul b-span ondersteun vandag, sal ek maar die Kwasse ondersteun vandag. Dit is mos net regverdig, of hoe ?
@bdb – :rotfl: , HULLE SE SO
dag bdb :yes:
@bdb – dis vir my moeilik want kwas is my 2e span so as hulle kan deurgaan sal ek hulle met hart siel en pi@l ondersteun ma nvandag moet ek ma hoop die guppies kou hulle. :pissedoff:
ok im off catch you all laters :bye:
@sharky_forever – hoekom wil almal he die cheetahs moet uitval?dit lyk my mense is half bang vir hulle :-))
@sharky_forever – cheers haai lover 😀
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