Generally speaking it was a much improved performance by the Sharks though it against an embattled Blues team. The main difference, this week, being the greater urgency on defence and on attack. The blues are not a happy bunch with coach Pat Lam this week burtsing into tears on national television when questioned about his opinion regarding remarks that the blues problems relate to the high number of Maori and Pacific Islanders in the team. There was also Kevin Muliamu who opinionated his unhappiness with Weepu’s physical condition. So this victory need to be considered against that back drop whether the Sharks like it or not.
It was a close shave to be honest with slightly more positives than negatives hence the victory.
Positives being more urgency all over notably better line speed on defence and on attack. There was a lot less lateral running in the backline mostly due to McLeod cleaning quicker form the base without his habitual lateral drifting towards his flyhalf and secondly due to Lambie straightening the backline up. There was some luck involved with the first two intercept tries but those two tries I though was also due to the greater urgency on defence. The last two tries were two well-constructed tries; no luck there. Better defence in channel 1 was another positive.
Negatives were the tendency of being too upright when driving the ball up especially in the first half as well as the tendency to loose structure in line-outs and scrums in the first half. Not playing a tactical game when leading in the second half; more tactical game management was required by Lambie and/or McLeod in the second half with the sharks clinging to a slender lead. High tackles in the backline especially by Pietersen resulted in some missed tackles out wide. Not playing in the first half but trying to defend a lead being another negative. The inability of the back three to create chances is still a concern. To be brutally straight forward the only two players who created something for team mates (example off-loads and line-breaks) were Keegan Daniels and Craig Burden with Lambie and Tim Whitehead also producing some occasional line-breaks.
In the final analyses I have my doubts whether there is enough cohesiveness at the attacking drives and enough authenticity and speed out wide on attack. I also have my concerns about structure and dominance at the defensive breakdown so I find it hard to be optimistic that this 2012 Sharks team can go all the way.
However, its early days and with the S15 this year going until August Naas Botha’s famous remarks -after a shock Northern Transvaal loss- that the Currie Cup is not won in April might be applicable at this stage.
It is very sad when the game is overtaken by the public slagging and racism that has occurred this week, it certainly puts a slur on the game. I wonder if the wonder (Graham) will be able to turn the team around.
The scrum seems to be a bit of a concern for the Sharks as well, although they did improve in the second half. Jannie is certainly off form a touch, but will find his form a bit, and it is rumoured that the beast will be back in training next week. Hopefully by the time they come back from there w/end off in a couple of weeks, the front row should be back to normal.
1@ Just For Kicks:
Our scrum will improve once we get Beast back. Read in the paper yesterday that Beast will be in training with his Shark team mates on Monday. That is good news.
McLook,
I have been sceptical of Ludik, but really have to give credit where it is due, he had a superb game yesterday. Also if it was not for his try saving tackle almost on our line, the Blues would certainly have got a try there. He came from the mid field all the way to the left side of the field right on our line to make that tackle. He had enough speed there buddy.
One thing that gets to me is we should damn well kick the ball away from our line and into safety,instead of always trying to run it from there. Sure madness that and it almost gives me a heart attack each week………….hahahaha.
Anyhow if we play that bad against the rest of the teams and get a win with 5 points I certainly won’t mind how we played to win.
@ Puma@3:
Agree that tackle by Ludik was outstanding and certainly a try and match saver. My problem with him is on attack. There is just nothing in the Sharks back three that makes me excited when the ball goes to the outside.
Riaan Viljoen had a particularly wobbly game… AGAIN…
Maybe time for Ludik to be used where he belongs, fullback!
4@ McLook:
Yes do agree with you there. We do have young Jordaan and wish he had gotten a chance. We also have Sithole and Mejekevu
that should be tried out on the wing.
I am also not convinced by Viljoen at fb yet either. So agree there too.
5@ grootblousmile:
Yes I have been saying for a few weeks now that I am not convinced by Viljoen at fb yet. We could try out Ludik there again.
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