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)
Isigidi, is daar hoop vir die Sharks?
So die die Tjarks is in auto-reverse, speel JS vaskop ?
6 minutes Snoek. Kanko off. Alberts, Botes, Deysel
209 – Snoek, Is Sharks still on a big fat 0 boet? Have not kept up with this game.
Yep Puma
Alberts nou op agsteman?
Jip JS op vasskop.
Snoek Sharks gaan nie wen, maar ek weet nie wat de flok plumtree vanaand probeer het nie.
Puma, jy moes eerder by jou ete gebly het… 😆
Puma, not looking good mate. I understand they did not take kicks for poles. Practicing moves i presume.
215 – Irish, Flip that is not good then of course this is only a warm up game. Who is playing have any from the bench come on?
yes Alberts op 8steman
217 – Baie disapointing.
Yes the big guns came on second half Puma
219 – Snoek, Probably should not take too much from this game. Remember Bulls / Lions last year? Well it meant a big fat zero. Lions won that and Bulls wont he S14. Well hope it means no worry so far for us Sharkies 😉
John Smit is not a tighthead prop. Fact. I’m a stupid wing and can see it.
223 – Irish, Has the 2nd half not started yet? Been out to dinner with mates so have not kept up with this game.
Shit! James O’Connor onder die pale. Convert himself and score Force 26-zip.
224 – Puma, Agree, but this is not what we want to see.
The game is almost over mate. Probably about 2 mins left
is die gesegde waar: “jy speel soos jy oefen” of nie ?
Dink nie ons moet teveel in opwarmingswedstryde lees nie, vra maar vir Bulls se kind.
26-0 – Wow that is not good.
Ouch.
217 – Isi, Have not kept up with the game but what I read here not sure what Plum is thinking really.
That’s it boys and girls.
Final score Force 26-0.
Will go to press conference now where i’m sure we’ll here from the sharks that there preparation is going just fine, and the score don’t matter!
I don’t believe you can take much out of games like this. Nothing really to loose and a good time to get your combinations going.
Isi jy moet ongenadelik wees in die press conference. Vra vir John of hy tevrede is met die kak wat hulle vanaand opgedis het.
226: dit is ‘n moeilike een Puma, onthou die Bulls het teen die Leeus laasjaar nie eers hul 2de span nie, maar hul vodacom span laat speel. Ek lees ook nie te veel in opwarmingswedstryde nie, maar ‘n mens verloor nie 26-0 teen ‘n oorsese span in SA nie.
231 – Irish, Not good for the Sharks moral at all really. It sort of puts on the blinkers for now. Not sure what is going on there. No tv so have no clue. Plum has such a HUGE bench, not sure if that was needed.
Puma, what now? Where to go from here?
236: Snoek, dink julle sal na vrydag se wedstryd weet of hierdie net ‘n blaps was of nie. Dink die Stormers moet nou nie oorgerus raak nie, Sharks gaan vir hulle kom.
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