The Sharks surely had their chances but a lack of intensity on attack and defence saw them slump to a humiliating defeat.
I would venture that the travel factor -after weeks on the road- played a significant role in this lacklustre performance. They started off well in terms of holding onto the ball but there was never intensity as they took the ball up. They looked flat; no speed onto the ball; sort of just going through the steps right from the start and got even flatter as the match evolved. None of that never say die attitude that the Cheetahs enthralled us with last week against the same opposition.
During the early part of the first half (and second half as a matter of fact) the Sharks dominated the possession stats with the Hurricanes having to make almost twice the amount of tackles. However, there was a certain lack of concentration, intensity and team work as evidenced by the constant spilling of the ball, poor decision making on attack and lack of quick support at the tackle ball. They kept losing the ball in the tackle; they were slow in support at the collisions culminating in crucial turnovers; and they opted for taking the ball into contact on numerous occasions when there was actually space outside.
All the above as well as the constant flare-up of tempers indicates physical and mental tiredness. I believe the approach of most teams is to try and win at least one match on tour and secure bonus points in the remaining matches. The Sharks having won their previous match against the Brumbies rested some of their big guns in this match, indicating that they either underestimated the Hurricanes or didn’t mind losing the match.
It was a disappointing performance by the Sharks altogether specially because they looked to be the better coached side. The Hurricanes –as was the case last week against the Cheetahs- scored mostly individualistic tries and has not convinced me that they can actually build constructive tries. The Sharks on the other hand clearly has the ability (to construct tries) but a lack of intensity and concentration saw them bumble numerous opportunities.
One of the Sharks biggest problems in this match was the defence in channel 1. As the match progressed the Hurricanes exploiteded that weakness (poor or slow defence in channel 1) and in so doing were able to break through the Sharks defensive line on a number of occasions with ease, scoring as a consequence some flashing tries without really constructing it through a process of builiding phases and pressure. Lucky packet -almost undeserved- tries made worse by a dubious TMO decision with Conrad Smith’s try. Charl McLeod and Frederic Michalak and the openside flanker were late and as a result mostly ineffective on defence in channel 1.
Another problem the Sharks seem to have is that they run too laterally with the ball in the backline and lack real pace in the back three. Mvovo is the only one in the back three that belongs in this team, in my opinion, the other two not having shown anything to me that suggests that they have the flair and /or ability to create tries or opportunities for team mates. Tim Whitehead (the No12) was the only one who ran straight and showed some nice acceleration and directness, but he was mostly skipped because of Frederic Michalak’s tendency to throw long passes to the outside.
The problem is that Frederic Michalak habitually drifts sideways after receiving the ball from Charl McLeod who also always seems to be running at least 5 steps laterally towards his flyhalf before he passes the ball. JP Pietersen on the outside also seems to favour the outside break, which mostly doesn’t work because the defence has already been pulled laterally by the drifting McLeod and Michalak.
A disheartening week for the Sharks but the result of the travel factor and management (resting) of some key players (I hope).
Mclook. I made the comment yesterday that I think that all the teams aren’t valuing possession enough. Too many knock ons, too many spills, and too many poor passes. As you say, this was one of the problems yesterday. For all the possession and ball the Sharks had, they let it go too easily. In the first half today, the Stormers did the same, and they certainly didn’t value possession at breakdown, thats for sure!. I also felt before ethe match that the Sharks would miss Lambie, and they did. Michalek, for all his precocious talent (and there were hints of that yesterday), doesn’t really fit in to the Sharks style. Lambie is a much straighter runner, and more often than not will break the advantage line with his forward momentum. Michalek, running sideways is never going to do that.
I always find it strange how teams sometimes, unknowingly, become far too reliant on certain players. Sharks need Lambie and Bissy, thats for sure. Hopefully they will both be 100% fit for the next one, if they are required to play.
McLook,
Very good article.
We never rested players mate, Bissie picked up a small niggle the week before so was on the bench as caustion. Lambie still has the jaw injury and hoping he can start next week. It is clear we need our star fh back. Freddie just is not cutting it at all.
McLook,
Would it be possible for you to ask Rob on Sharksworld if you can put this article up there? Mostly Sharks Supporters blogging there and think this would be a really good debate there.
Here I am the only Sharks supporter really blogging on this site. If you can’t put this article up on Sharksworld do you mind if I copy and paste it over there? Would rather you put it up as a thread on that sit though. Don’t think it would be a problem at all. Just ask Roy the Webmaster on Sharksworld or Richard.
Thanks.
2@ Puma:
meant = caution
3@ Puma:
Sorry mistake there again. Not Roy it is Rob on Sharksworld as the Webmaster.
@ Puma:
Puma. I’ve never been on Sharksworld. You are welcome to copy and paste it on Sharksworld.
6@ McLook:
Rob won’t have a problem if you have never blogged on Sharksworld McLook. This is a good article, well all of your articles are top class really.
Rob is the Webmaster there, but think he is away for this weekend. Then Richard is the guy to talk to there. Will see if any are online there and speak to them. Otherwise will just copy and paste it, only thing then it goes missing into another thread. Would like it to be a Thread on its own.
Good article for Sharks Supporters to get into and debate.
Just For Kicks wrote:
I tend to agree. The Sharks are at their best if they run straight with the ball and when they use decoy runners when they take it wide. I think JP can be a real factor on 13 but at the moment they neutralize him with the lateral drifting. Bismark’s aggression and workrate at the tackle ball was surely missed and I agree that Lambie with his ability to atack the advantage line keeps the defenders quessing. They have to watch him all the time and that creates space out wide when do decide to swing it.
3 @ Puma:
Hey, now ways are you the only Shark here…
There’s you, 4man, Snoek, Sharky_for_Never, just to name a few… plus a lot of inactive ones
8@ McLook:
Agree with Lambie’s ability to attack the advantage line he does keep the defenders guessing. He was missed last week and again this week.
I too like JPP at outside centre, but feel for the rest of this tourney if Odwa can’t play then we may have to shift him back to 14 and bring in Whitehead to 13 and Bosman to 12. JPP did have a good game yesterday, one of the Sharks players that did. Really don’t like shifting players about but we missed Odwa even if he is slow he is solid as a rock on the wing.
Like you still not sure about Viljoen at fb yet.
9@ grootblousmile:
So where are everyone? I never see any boeta. Well if they do come online they might post one post and off again. I really want this thread on Sharksworld so all of us Sharkies can discuss it together there.
11 @ Puma:
Copy and Paste it… then ask someone there with Author rights to put it up as an Article.
Just make it clear it is McLook’s work and that he is credited…. because that Rob Dylan chap had the audacity to moan once here because we dared put something up here which was from Sharksworld.
@ Puma:You need to get those Sharkie supporters not to be so one-eyed, and come spend some time on this site!!!!!
12@ grootblousmile:Rob Dylan got his come uppence a couple of weeks ago from Brendan Nel, for doing exactly the same!!!!!
14 @ Just For Kicks:
Classic!
To me it’s strange to blog on a site where ALL support the same side, I like the diversity and supporters supporting different sides.
Because of that I don’t blog on the Bulls site either.
But hey, every one to their own fancy, I suppose.
12@ grootblousmile:
Thaks gbs,
Was just a bit busy right now.
Was going over to have a look there who has Author rights. For now don’t see any that normally do articles there.
@ Just For Kicks:
13
Would like too, but most only ever blog there.
15@ grootblousmile:
The reason I mostly blog here and still sometime on keo, but hardly do blog on keo these days.
For discussing only Sharks games it is actually great there. I do enjoy it.
17 @ Puma:
By the way, Oubaas Rickety Knees… you still having problems with speed here and loggin in and off?
15@ grootblousmile:I’d hate it if everybody agreed with me, or vice versa, hehehe!
……and I would never have come across Loosehead if I was on a Stormers only sight – and life without coming across Loosehead would be a life unfulfilled!!!!!
19 @ Just For Kicks:
Yeahhh… I like it just the way it is here on R-T.
Balanced community, good fun, great rugby chatter… good friends
20 @ Just For Kicks:
O flok…. yeah, and finding an English Cheetahs supporter is rather rare…
Hehehehe
15@ grootblousmile:????????????/ With all the bloggers telling each other just how wonderfull Spies is, you would be in your element!
20@ Just For Kicks:A Stormers only website? Just go to the Bronx!
22@ grootblousmile:Ek is mos ‘n Blikoor!
18@ grootblousmile:
NO this site is fast as light now… hehehehe.
Also just left a message on sw about McLooks article to see if someone can put it up there. So will see if a Author is available this weekend. Most are away. Don’t want to really copy and paste it as it will get lost into another thread and not many will see it. So will see what happens if someone has the Author rights there to put it up.
24 @ Puma:
Good to hear!
Look, I’m not particular about what is copied from here… we’re all part of a rugby community.
Just mentioned about Dylan because he was so full of kak about it…
Suppose that’s why I like Morné Pissmier’s Ruggaworld as well… no smallminded arseholes there either
25@ grootblousmile:
I read Morne’s Ruggaworld from time to time. Always tempted to log in there, but there are not that many online at one time. So just read there for now. A good rugby site too.
Make no mistake Sharksworld is a good rugby site. Plenty good bloggers over there.
26 @ Puma:
Not running Sharksworld down, not at all… personally don’t read there… but I have no right to run them down and won’t do it.
Like Kickers said, would be nice to have a few more Sharkies on here… hell actually want a good Sharks Author on here because I have to do all the Sharks stuff here too.
Offered you the position to be our Sharks man, but for some reason you are not willing to do it… suppose it revolves around your determination to stay mostly private and keep your privacy in tact… and I respect that.
Not that anything would have changed if you were an Author here…
So, bottom line… get more Sharky buddies on here for us.. spread the word a bit!
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