The Sharks took on the Western Force in a warm-up match at Newlands, Cape Town tonight. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. See match summary below.
Check these stunning Photo’s of the game:
[cincopa 10545820]
Match Summary:
So the Sharks lost the game. But, like warm-up games are supposed to be, it really taught us nothing. At some stage I would prefer to have watched paint dry, than watching the game.
The two John’s, Mitchell and Plumtree, obviously had two different approaches to the game. The local John as expected said that he was happy with his preparation and that the score really meant nothing, where the Ausie John said that his first 15 combinations were tried and tested.
Plumtree admit that the areas of concern were the scrum and line-outs as well as the number of turn arounds. Both coaches admit that the penalty count of 31 was too much, but was expected.
Mitchell said that they will leave South African shores happy and content with the fact that they achieved what they set out to do.
The Sharks at some stages looked as if they were suffering from typical first game syndrome, but it would be a stupid man not to have seen the class in the second half team of the Sharks. The Stormers should expect a different team to the one that was on the pitch tonight come Friday.
It is difficult to single out any players in the Sharks team as the team changed way too much during the 80 minutes. Kankowski caught my eye and I think he had a “if you want my place, beat my performance” mind set which he obviously wanted to send out to Alberts. Plumtree obviously avoided questions around legal battles around Alberts, but did go as far as to say that he has already accepted Alberts as a Shark. Tank Lanning, a well known journalist, sat next to me and we agreed that Alberts looked overweight. Louis de Villiers from Rapport rates Alberts highly and thought he had a good game, a sentiment I don’t share. It is my opinion that Alberts will be competing with Deysel in the Sharks team this year.
Players that would want to forget this game is Dumond, Kockott and Ndungane. I had no idea what Plumtree was doing when he had a backline of Kockott, Lambie, Andries Strauss and Vulindlu next to each other. From what was exhibited tonight in the backline, Plumtree has no idea who he will be playing where.
To bet against the Sharks would be foolish. There is simply too much quality players. I expect Plumtree to start with his strongest team on Friday, and like all local derbies, this one would also be played with all guns blazing.
Like a mate of mine commented: No South African team likes to lose against another, warm up game or not. I, for one, am looking forward to great game on Friday night.
Scores:
Sharks: No score
Western Force: 2 Conversions Andre Pretorius, 1 Try Sam Wykes, 1 Try Ryan Cross, 1 Try Cameron Shepard, 1 Try & 1 Conversion James O’Conner
Teams:
The Sharks:
15 Stefan Terblanche, 14 Luzuko Vulindlu, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Riaan Swanepoel, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Monty Dumond, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Steven Sykes, 4 Alistair Hargreaves, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements – from: Bismarck du Plessis, John Smit, Johann Muller, Jacques Botes, Charl McLeod, Andries Strauss, Odwa Ndungane, Patric Cilliers, Willem Alberts, Gerhard Mostert, Patrick Lambie, Adrian Jacobs, JP Pietersen.
Western Force squad:
15 James O’Conner 14 Dane Haylett-Petty 13 Ryan Cross 12 Sam Harris 11 Cameron Shepherd 10 Andre Pretorius 9 Brett Sheehan 8 Richard Brown 7 David Pocock 6 Matt Hodgson 5 Nathan Sharpe (C) 4 Sam Wykes 3 Matt Dunning 2 Ryan Tyrell 1 Kieran Longbottom 16 Ben Whittaker 17 Nic Henderson 18 Tom Hockings 19 Ben McCalman 20 Chris O”Young 21 Mitch Inman 22 Mark Bartholomeusz 23 Mark Swanepoel 24 Josh Tatupu 25 Joelin Rapana 26 Tim Fairbrother 27 TBA 28 Richard Stanford
Date: Tuesday, January 26
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT; 01.00, January 27 WAST)
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Matt Kemp (South Africa), Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
Great job Isi
172: dit is nou Mostert na die maal.
Sharks has 18 minutes to produce a score.
Alberts looks out of sorts at the moment.
Konko is really showing him he will not take his place easily. Botes and Alberts not working well. Clearly Alberts not enjoying flank.
smallies72 – Shit happens mate! 😆
bdb, so het iemand ingebel en gekla op RSG?
179 @snoek but on de adder hend derren he did de seme wif de cheetahs de adder dey
Isi
Gaan jy dit maak vir Vrydag, of dink jy nog?
182@ID 🙂
As Alberts swak speel kan die leeus hom maar terug vat. 😆
185: Ja, ek dink Ed en Ashley het gekla.
Ed, Edd and Eddy
die leeue kan ou jp ok ma hou het die cheetahs die cc gekos laasjaar
Just back from dinner, probably worse than I thought. Is Force full strength side SO much better than their 2nd string side or what? Is Sharks just playing combinations to test out for S14? Have not idea have not tuned into there to see what is happening.
Forgot Good Evening everyone.
Isi – Is there a big improvement on the Sharks control and handling?
Sharkies moenie worry nie, die Bulle het laas jaar sleg verloor teen die Leeus in hulle opwarm wedstryd.
As ek julle is worry ek meer oor die prokureer koste noudat alberts op is.
What is left to say? Sharks need to up their game. I presume that if the Stormers don’t win against the Sharks by 20 at least, they would see it as a failure
dont think the sharks are going to make it
Puma – how you buddy? Are your guests enjoying your hospitality. Our team not doing to good mate.
Snoek – derby’s are a different kettle of sharks oops fish.
195 – Money is not a problem in Sharkland.
Isi
Voor ek gaan, en ek weet dis moeilik. Hoe vergelyk vanaand se game teen laas Saterdag s’n? Speel die Force beter, of maak daai 7spelers so ‘n moerse verskil?
199 – True 😆
@200 – Snoek – huge problem in Corkland! Hehehe
Beast back on. Sharks getting scrummed!!!!!!!
gtg chaps see you all soos in later
Hiert, ek sien ons het ‘n foto!!
Mooi man!!
Cheers Smallies
195 – Thanks Onerb. Gives me some hope 😆
How much time left?
Paulus die Force se benadering is selfde as wat stormers s’n was. Speel wen rugby. Onthou ook dat daar nog geen ounte aangeteken is in tweede helfte met sharks se eerste keuse spelers. Ek dink die Sharks sou hulle gerol het met hul eerste span.
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