The Sharks will feel they gave their all but apart from guts, determination and effort, lacked the back line fire power to pull this one through as had been the case for much of the season.
John Plumtree afterwards admitted as much, as he spoke of the Bulls slowly squeezing the breath out of the Sharks and his pride of a Sharks team that showed so much spirit and guts.
Plumtree said the Shark’s need for back line depth, due to various reasons, is of much concern and that a lot of effort was expended behind the scenes to resolve this matter.
The Sharks fought gallantly for most of the match, but it was the Bulls that came out on top and sealed a 27-19 victory, deservedly so.
Sharks and Bulls matches are not for the faint hearted and had the 50 000 crowd moaning in disbelief as players tore into each other, as the teams threw all they had at each other, in conditions better suited for water sports. It was however very much a match of 2 halves, as the first 40 minutes belonged to a spirited Sharks team, and the 2nd period going to a Bulls team that grew in stature as they slowly squeezed the life out of the Sharks.
Scoring opportunities however with ball in hand was hard to come by under these conditions and the fist half was decided by penalties, it was the Sharks who took an early lead but by half time the Bulls had shrunk the lead to 12-9, with 4 penalties converted by Andy Goode (two of which were 50 meters out) while Morné Steyn slotted 3 penalties.
Young Patick Lambie was singled out for special attention as the Bombs came his way, as Fourie Du Preez and Morné Steyn launched up-and-under after up-and-under. The Sharks, including young Lambie, were up to the task however and conscious of the kind of effort that was required to keep a rampant Bulls team at bay, who were intent on increasing their lead on top of the Super 14 table.
The first half half however arguably belongs to Jean Deysel who was in sublime form and who threw everything at the Bulls.
The 2nd half went much the same way and although neither side could make any significant penetrations leading to points, it was the lions share of possession and territory which to the Bulls. It was only a matter of time before the Bulls made it count.
It was around the 64th minute that Morné Steyn leveled matters at 12-12 and I feel that this is where things changed, with Jacques-Louis Potgieter then dotting down shortly thereafter under the poles after a beautiful move with the Sharks defence having been broken for the first time, taking the now rampant Bulls into a 19-12 lead.
The slow poison had set in and The Sharks, on the back foot for the entire half, could not stop the home side’s attack. The Sharks felt the pressure as the Bulls, who now had a sniff of victory, continued their unrelenting pressure. Soon after saw young Gerhard van den Heever score in the right hand corner, after a well judged cross kick by Fourie Du Preez, with Morné Steyn missing the Conversion on this occasion. He did however slot another penalty a few minutes later to give the Bulls a 15 point lead.
With the Sharks clearly missing the strong ball carrying and fetching skills of Bismark DuPlessis (replaced in the week due to injury and operation), John Plumtree now threw on all his substitutes on to inject more energy into the Sharks.
It proved to work as Rory Kockott soon broke the line to sprint and score the Sharks only try next to the uprights to reduce the Bulls to an 8 point lead. Time was not in favour of the visitors but the Kockott’s try did lift his team, who kept coming at the home side but in the end it was not enough.
In the end the Bulls’ pressure assured them victory as they increased their lead on the Log, with a Sharks team battered and bruised, returning to Absa Stadium for their clash with the high riding Stormers this coming weekend.
No complaints about the match officials can be made, well done in difficult weather conditions.
Man of the Match: This time a hooker, Gary Botha of the Bulls, a sturdy hard-working hooker, an impeccable line-out man and an extra loose forward with quick reflexes.
Scorers:
For the Bulls: Tries by Jacques-Louis Potgieter & Gerhard van den Heever, 1 Conversion by Morné Steyn, 5 Penalties by Morné Steyn
For the Sharks: Try by Rory Kockott, 1 Conversion by Ruan Pienaar, 4 Penalties by Andy Goode
27 – Super, So far it is looking like it will be. I hope so for SA rugby, it will be very good.
Though don’t count the Saders out. They have not played well for two weeks. Then against the Stormers, Stormers were just far too classy for the Saders and outplayed them in the 2nd half with brilliant rugby.
Sader play Brumbies last at home. Think Saders will pick up 4 points there.
Would be nice to see our boys get a home semi finals at Loftus and Newlands and no need to travel. That would be good for the rest they will need after the final. If any team has to travel to Oz or NZ for the semi going to put even more strain on the players that are starting to pick up injuries and getting tired now. This is a very long tourney.
Stormers/Bulls game gaan HUGE wees !!!
Maar vuurpoepertjie ek deel nie noodwendig jou sentiment dat die Stormers ‘n beter span is nie.
Hi superBul, all ok today?
30 BB, It was close till about 60min. Always is up at altitude the coastal teams run out of gas. Though Bulls were just playing better than us by then.
We played well to think we really don’t have quality centres or FH. Though Goode kicked very well at posts.
Our time will come again. Need to get out there and buy some good centres. To think the Sharks turned down J. Fourie when he approached them last year to join Sharks. We must have been just daft to do that.
Pienkste,
Na volgende naweek sal ons behoorlik kan spekuleer – Nulle/Saders en SHARKS/Streamers.
28 – Fires, I feel the same, think Stormers will beat us by more next week. Our centres are just not up to it and Goode doing okay but not up to this level. Also Odwa not that great.
Everywhere else we are okay. Mvovo played well and probably should have been starting this whole season.
We may even have injuries. Alberts and Deysel looked sore coming off. We missed Bissy in the loose too.
Hi Puma
I was just reading the game thread. Bless her Treehugger said she had never said anything negative about Andy Goode….this is a miracle considering the fact not only is he a dreaded English man he is also terribly ugly!! He managed to redeem himself yesterday though!
All this kicking at altitude baloney!! 🙂 Has Morne been coaching him!! 😆
Anyway, that match will have had you sharkies on the edge of your seats!!
Puma I have not looked are the Sharks playing the Stormers at The Tank?
If yes….You just have to get tickets to that!!
32 – Blouste, Morne needs to find his kicking boots again. Will need it especially against the Stormers in Newlands.
Puma,
Is it our 10, 12 and 13 channel that’s weak, or is it a lack of quality backline coaching?
I can’t remember when last our backline looked this flat, without flair and devoid of any imagination.
BB
Not being arrogant i really did not worry too much yesterday.
Two reasons
1 I had enough soothing antidote in my body to cover any mishap
2 The Sharks could not put up a scary score, really had they scored 2 tries early on , that would make me worry.
38 – Blue Bird, Yes they are. It is sold out already. Sharks/Bulls/Stormers playing each other those games are always sold out.
Not getting over this damn tonsillitis either. Take my last antibiotic tomorrow. It does not feel any better. Was hoping as I am going on holiday in 3 weeks time. If I get them out now, have to cancel my holiday which I don’t want to do. So flying down to Durbs is out of the question for now. Maybe I have to get the ice-cream like you said…..hahahahaha.
41 – Super, Ja but it was very close in the first half. If someone could have kept up with Mvovo that could have been a try. Could have turned it around there. Support was just toooooooooooooo slow once Mvovo made that break.
40 – Fires, Think all the Sharks supporters have been saying it is our 10, 12 and 13 where we have a problem. We get top players there we are sorted.
How different it would have been to still have had Frans at 12 J. Fourie at 13 (he approched the Sharks before WP) we turned him down. Also if Hernandez dit not get injured. We would have been playing far better. Also Mvovo for Odwa.
44 – dit = did
37 – Blue Bird, Goode was very, very good at kicking at posts. Especially that there was plenty rain. He done superb. Some very long range kicks too that went over.
Treehugger is our sharkygal She has a good sense of humour too.
Okay back later, Everyone must have gone for lunch.
41 – superBul – I was quietly confident about yesterday…but when the message came through that they were down at half time I did wonder what was going on, but The Bulls do have this second half, second wind thing that powers them on!
My bru however has suffered this weekend, I have fallen 6 places!! For a while yesterday I was ahead of GBS!!
Puma – Enjoy lunch..remember let the ice cream run S L O W L Y….over your inflamed tonsils!!
Treehugger is an asset to RT. Wish she had started blogging earlier and not been so shy!! 😆
Right I need some fresh air….
Till later and have a great day….
43
When i saw that breakout by Mvovo i thought to myself. Now you are going to hear all the talk of speed, speed and more speed.
It always intrigued me how fast a player can run with one hand holding the ball, so many times you see him run away and so many times you see them so easily caught.
Old Griquas was a real speedster and i would love to hear his opinion. I think most of the time that race is won in the first 3 meters or lost. If you slip or is caught on the wrong angle and your foot is not firmly planted in that start it is over and out.
Pierre Spies, Gerrie Germishuys and late Jaco Reinach was the speed merchants in my playing days,and there was a constant squabble who is the fastest.
You people must also remember that it was raining the whole time and that did’nt help either team in terms of running the ball with the backline a lot.
I reckon this favoured the Sharks more as you guys don’t have a backline to speak of.
It cancelled it out a bit imo.
Come back during the cricket
Van den Heever was the fastest player on the field.
Cheers Blue Bird
Have a good one 😉
Hello, to me the game broke down like this:
First 20 minutes The Sharks ad the better of the game
Second 20 minutes was almost equal, with the Bulls having a slight edge
Third 20 minutes it was the Bulls with territory AND most of the possession
Last 20 minutes it was almost all Bulls with all the territory and most of the possession
In reality the Bulls just grew stronger and stronger as the match progressed, in difficult weather conditions.
I asked Tjarkie to do the Match Report for this game because he was sitting doing nothing in the Press Box, exept to try and “piellevleg” with the other journo’s and the 2 very nice Vodacom girls.
Once again the after match Press Conference was open and frank by both the Sharks and the Bulls.
I was impressed with John Plumtree’s honesty and friendlyness, pity he came to the Presser alone… no John Smit by his side.
The Bulls were represented by coach Frans Ludeke and Victor Matfield and as we have become accostomed to, they were humble but grateful.
I asked John Plumtree what the reason was, considering they needed a bonus point for tries, why they chose to kick all penalties to posts. His answer was clear… the weather would not have allowed against a strong Bulls side for the 4 tries anyway and for them and their fans the win was of paramount importance. He was full of praise for the Bulls in suffocating the Sharks into defeat and admitted tat they neither had the possession or teritorial figures to do better.
I also asked Frans Ludeke, after the fact, why they chose to play Jacques-Louis Potgieter at OUTSIDE Centre, whereas the week before he ran at INSIDE centre. The answer was uncomplicated… they ran J-L P on outside centre for certain moves and at inside centre for others, both positions being very interchangeable in terms of the Bulls game plan. The experience of Wynand at inside centre was cardinal in choosing the jersey numbers.
The injury situation at the Bulls is not a concern, with only Akona (broken leg) and the 2 Jaco’s (Jaco Pretorius and Jaco van der Westhuizen) out of contention for selection, for now.
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