The Sharks played their best match by far this season to destroy the high flying Stormers. The Stormers now have a must win situation against the log topping Bulls, with much for Schalk Burger’s men to ponder about.
In all honesty the scoreboard does not tell the true story of this game.
With Compliments from Rugby365
What an enthralling match! What a victory for sheer will and determination! It was a victory for strength of will, mind, heart and sinew. It was the Sharks’ best performance of the year as they beat the high-flying Stormers 20-14 at the Absa Stadium in Durban on a warm Saturday.
The result has a lot to boost Sharks’ pride and plenty to destroy Stormers’ complacency, for they are no longer assured of a home semifinal or even of a semifinal just at a time when a well-oiled gate of gold was opening for them.
The Sharks thoroughly deserved their win, even if one of their tries was as bizarre as any you will ever see.
The Sharks did all their basics with strong efficiency and then they tore into tackles and whatever came after the tackles.
From the first whistle they had the Stormers rattled, and it was their sheer determination that kept the Stormers out when a score seemed inevitable.
There was a tide flowing with the Sharks that simply would not be denied and the Stormers spent much of the match fighting to stay off the rocks.
There was also the matter of Big Match Temperament. Maybe because it did not matter all that much if they lost, the Sharks were the ones playing with confidence, with BMT, even young Patrick Lambie. Whereas the senior Stormers did not make an impression, every single Shark, however ordinary, made a full contribution. The Stormers were the ones that were jittery. It showed from the start.
Dewaldt Duvenage kicked his very first kick out on the full from outside of his 22. And he did it again soon afterwards. Peter Grant, the most reliable of goal-kickers, missed a penalty from in front of the posts with the score 17-7 and a penalty would earn a bonus point. Skilful men like Gio Aplon and Duane Vermeulen had handling lapses, but nothing compared with Sireli Naqelevuki’s hand in the Sharks’ second try.
Ruan Pienaar kicked a ball from close quarters into the Stormers’ in-goal. It looked like a really bad kick. It turned out to be the best bad kick of the season. Naqelevuki ambled back to the ball. He had 10 metres’ start on Pienaar and seemed to think he had all day. As he, standing up, went to ground the ball it did a little leg-break. He still had time to ground the ball but not the energy. He put a hand to the ball but failed to ground it and Pienaar arrived to dive on it for a try which gave the Sharks a 14-0 lead at half-time which happened just a minute later. During the match the Stormers made substitutions and replacements but Naqelevuki was not one of them/.
The other Shark’s try was an excellent one and it was started by a young man with genuine BMT. Rory Kockott started it with a strong, fast break on the left side of the field. The Sharks went right and Patrick Lambie gave to Jean Deysel who gave to Ryan Kankowski as the Stormers tight forwards scurried in defence. Odwa Ndungane was unmarked on the outside and Kankowski gave him the ball for an easy run-in for the try. Pienaar converted from far out.
The Sharks were putting immense pressure on the Stormers who seemed to lack the wit or muscle to shake it off. The Sharks kept it up. A kickable penalty became a line-out. An even more kickable penalty became a scrum as John Smit kept the screws tightly turned.
The nervous Stormers nearly got away when Francois Louw broke strongly and gave to Jaque Fourie who raced down the field, but Ndungane stopped him and Andries Strauss won a turnover. Juan de Jongh broke and then grubbered ahead, as he had done against the Crusaders for a try. This time Ndungane was there and counterattacked.
Kockott had another break, from a scrum this time, and Pienaar kicked a high diagonal for Lwazi Mvovo. The speedy wing won the air contest against Aplon but knocked on in in-goal. They were close again when they went through phases and Ndungane knocked on when a try seemed certain.
The Stormers started the second half with great promise. Jaque Fourie intercepted and raced downfield towards the Sharks’ line but Pienaar got him from behind. Fourie got the ball to Schalk Burger who was some five metres from the line when teenaged Lambie cut him down from the side and the Sharks won a turnover.
The Stormers mauled an attacking line-out and then freed up the ball going right. Tim Whitehead came off his wing as a decoy and Grant stepped inside Kankowski and Ndungane to score near the posts. 14-7 after 45 minutes. But it did not herald a Stormer revival as the resolute Sharks kept running into them.
In this half the Sharks kicked for goal. They decided that they were going to win. When Naqelevuki lost the ball forward before he was tackled and then held onto the ball, Pienaar kicked at goal but missed. But when Tiaan Liebenberg was offside, Pienaar goaled to take the score out of bonus-point range for the Stormers at 17-7 with 14 minutes to play.
Kockott then had a long break downfield and only a back tackle by Joe Pietersen prevented the try but Andries Bekker was penalised at the tackle and Pienaar made it 20-7 with 5 minutes to play.
Three penalties had the Sharks defending with might and main and then the try, when it came, was so simple. The Sharks were penalised five metres from their line and near their posts. Ricky Januarie tapped and gave to Francois Louw who charged straight ahead with Anton van Zyl riding behind him and, despite Deysel and Mtawarira, managed to ground the ball over the line. Grant converted and the Stormers had a point, just enough to keep them in second place, not enough to challenge the Bulls for first place.
Man of the match: There were lots of Sharks, including Jean Deysel Stefan Terblanche and Patrick Lambie. There was the next tier of Ruan Pienaar and the 15 points he scored and thy way he set his men running; and there was Rory Kockott with those telling breaks and his harassing of Duvenage. But our Man of the Match is John Smit – for the strength with which he played and for his calm, focused leadership. It is no surprise that he is the leading national captain in the history of the game.
Scorers:
For Sharks:
Tries: Ndungane, Pienaar
Cons: Pienaar 2
Pens: Pienaar 2
For Stormers:
Tries: Grant, François Louw
Cons: Grant 2
Teams:
The Sharks: 15 Patrick Lambie, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Stefan Terblanche, 12 Riaan Swanepoel, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Jean Deysel, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Patric Cilliers, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 Jacques Botes, 21 Andy Goode, 22 Andries Strauss.
Stormers: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Sireli Naqelevuki, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Tim Whitehead , 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 François Louw, 6 Schalk Burger (captain), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 JD Moller.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Eusebio Guiñazu, 18 Anton van Zyl, 19 Pieter Louw, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Willem de Waal, 22 Joe Pietersen.
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Assistant referees: Pro Legoete (South Africa), Andrew Lees (Australia)
TMO: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)
I’m adding a Video Highlites clip here. If you have a slow Internet connection I suggest you let the clip buffer right through… then watch the video again, for the 2nd time, uninterrupted.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMr1ZLC-zBo[/youtube]
Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
snoek i also got 7 from 7 and i had the sharks exactly 6
i moved 13 places this week , also wonder why i did not get to keep the yellow cap???
19 – Treehugs, You making us evnvious now….hahaha. Wish I was there. Tank looked almost full too. Great game and the vibe there must have been awesome.
Wondered where you were last night. Lucky you. 😀
32 – Sharky, Mine was rubbish this week like it normally is. Only for the 2nd time did I go against Sharks. Feel like a traitor now 🙁 Put my picks in early on Monday. Thought Deysel, John and Alberts were going to be out injured. Should have waited. Once I saw they were in thought we were in with a chance. Never ever did I think we would play that well. The whole team did.
Snoek is right we once again left tries out there. At least 3 and one absolute sitter if Stefan passed. Also if we kicked our penalties we would have had the extra 9 points. Though going for corners we did put plenty pressure on Stormers. Then if we got those kicks over would have had a bigger lead and the pressure would still have been put on them.
Anyhow that was a great game to watch. Now hoping for next year.
How we should have started with Ruan at FH – Kockott SH -Movo at wing and Lambie at FB. From the very first game against the Chiefs. It may have been a bit different now. Also if we never got those bad calls in quite a few games which I think cost us.
Still have a good feeling. So wont complain.
Okay that is me out for a bit. Going out for a late lunch dinner.
Cheers catch up later.
Puma,
Hows about that Mvovo?!
You must be psyched that he’s lived up to your hype all season long, JP and Odwa will have to fight each other for a starting position ’cause Mvovo is here to stay.
We now just need a young fh of Lambie and Mvovo’s calibre to come through and we’ll be set for the next 5 – 10 yrs.
33 – typo. Envious 😯 all these typos 😀
35 – Fires, just a quick one here. Going out now.
Very pleased about Mvovo, he should have started from the first game. He played very well last week and this one. Think he has got to start from now.
Okay out of here now back later.
wow what a weekend
Sharky, Grant and Rangerman are enjoying a running battle….makes us onlookers nervous…they are both great guys!!
They both take it and deal out it quite well though!! 😆
looks like its the end of the road for the Stormers.
Sireli has cost the Stormers about R20million in lost home knockout games?
goooooooooooooooooooooodmorning everyone!!
and
well done to the sharkies!!
you’ve given us one of the best displays of holding unto the ball!!
amazing stuff
and
well done!!
now back to my poor poor stormers
… what IS it with rassie and naqelavuki? jeez, even after having a shocker, they pull whitehead off? jeez!!
wezwp @ 40
no way bru
we can still make the play-offs even if we lose against the bulls
only way we can lose out on a semi is
1. if the waratahs lose against the hurricanes but still pick up 2 bonus points and we dont get any from our clash against the bulls
2. and/or the reds demolish the highlanders and the bulls do the same against us. that will bring points difference into play. this one is quite a long shot so the odds is stacked against it!! (the points difference between the reds and stormers is about 110 points)
sharky @ 8
wrong!! i’m here, bru!! 😀
o, en waa de fok issi bulletjies? eks lus vi baklei!! 😉
treehugger @ 19
“Bullies we have tenderised them, now you just have to rip them apart”
…
😯 you are NOT my favourate blogger anymore!!
Morning folks and congrats again to all the Sharks supporters.
I knew it was going to be tuff to beat the Sharks at home and it proved so. I actualy had the Sharks down for a win in our frienship circle S14 skin competition and the Sharks win clinched the skin for me!Talk about bittersweet? And I wasn’t too popular with one or two of my friends I can assure you…
With this new rule interpretation possession is everything and the Sharks gave the Stormers a lesson in ball possession and security. Well done, to them!
I’m looking forward to Saturday, Ash.
fender @ 45
cant wait, bru, i cant wait!!
Ja julle W-eer P-robeer manne.
Hoe geniet julle julle BLOU maandag sover ? 😆
Kyk Blouste, jy’s mosse slim ou – loer gou na ek en Ash se posts en dan se jy vi my…
Dit lyk vir my as ek so na julle posts kyk of julle grootbekgeit van laas week so bietjie plek gemaak het vir ‘n meer nederige “approach”
Julle het die naweek seker so baie “humble pie” geeet soos Ricky Januarie 😯
😆
Aai, maar dis lekker om ‘n BUL te wees !!!
Watter grootbekgeit is dit nou, Blouste?
blouste @ 49
grootbek? ek? nooit bru
behalwe natuurlik
die week voor ons teen die bulle speel!!
yeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaa!!
Aag kom nou fender.
Hou op om so diplomaties te wees.
Jy is die een wat verlede week vertel het en aangegaan het oor die sagmaak proses ens.
Jou mond vol gehad oor die Crusaders /Bulls game en vergeet om genoeg te worry oor jou spannetjie teen die Sharks…
Gaan jy nou vir my vertel hoe bekommerd was jy en hoe jy heel week voorspel het die Haaie kan ‘n opskudding veroorsaak.
Julle span was swak man en sal hul sokkies moet optrek en nie teen ons B span gaan staan en verloor nie, anders mis julle die semi’s dalk heeltemal !!!
Ashley…
Wat ek van jou geniet is jou “consistency”…
Al is dit dat jy konstant k@k praat 😉
O jy verwys na daai sagmaakprosesteorie….
Ma se gou vi my hoe werk dit: as julle Bulle praat vannie sagmaakproses dan issitie grootbekgeit nie, ma as ek julle herinner an daai teorie dan is ek grootbek? BTW en soos Treehugger iewers hie bo opgemerk het, die Sharks hettie Stormers ge-“tenderise” (saggemaak) virrie Bulle vi Saterdag, so julle beter hie op Nuweland kom wen, my broer.
Julle kannie nou staan en verlorie, so stuur ma daai eeste span, ne?
Nee wat boeta, die Bulle gaan ‘n B-outfit stuur. Kyk maar…
Kan jy nou dink as hulle dit reg kry om die Stormpies op Nuweland te knak 😯
blouste @ 55
stuur wie en wat julle wil
maar
kak
gaan
julle
kak
dié
week!!
so daars dit!!
EKS GROOTBEK!!
so what? 😀
@ 56
So, niks…
Jy is maar net weer jou konsekwente self.. 😆
43: bulle baklei net as daar waardige kompetisie is. 😉
1. Baie geluk aan die Bulle met hul goeie wen Vrydagaand. Vir die duisendste keer die karaktertoets geslaag deur te speel tot die 81ste minuut.
2. Geluk aan die Bulle wat eerste op die log ge-eindig het, tuissemi het, en dalk ‘n moontlike finaal semi.
3. Geluk aan die Sharks wat hul beste wedstryd van die jaar gespeel het. Soos die Sharks saterdag gespeel het, sou daar net een span gewees het wat hul kon geklop het.
4. Aan die Stormers: wen eers weer ‘n beker en begin dan eers wintie raak. Maar ek het ‘n vermoede julle gaan nie die les leer nie.
5. Sterkte aan die Bulle se B-span, goeie voorbereiding solank vir die CB.
Ai, dis lekker om ‘n Bul te wees.
😀
Blouste, vi jou part hoop ek jy’s verkeerd, want sosie Bulle Vrydagaand weer bewys het, ‘n wen isse wen, makie saak hoe vorentoe daai pass wassie.
Ek het die volgende e-mail gekry, ek deel dit graag met RT:
“Geagte eerwaardige Vic, die Bulle span, afrigters, bestuur en veral die Bulle ondersteuners (spesiale vermelding: Blouste en bdb),
Baie baie dankie vir julle goeie sportmangees, deur die speelveld so gelyk as moontlik te maak vir die semi en finaal wedstryde, deur dit nie op Loftus aan te bied nie.
Ons, veral ons Stormers weet verseker, dat ons span dan geen kans het by Fort Loftus nie. Baie dankie dat jul ook ons gaan help om die semi’s te haal, deur jul B span te stuur (Vra hul groot asb om nie te hard te speel nie, groot groot asb ?)
Julle is waardige kampioene, soos jul punte op die S14 log vir ons wys. As dit van ons Stormers afgehang het, het ons reeds die beker vir julle gegee, want julle verdien dit dubbel en dwars.
Nogmaals dankie vir julle goeie voorbeeld. Eendag as ons groot is, wil ons soos julle wees !
Onderteken
Ashley
Fender”
😉
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