Kieran Read on his way to scoring the first of 5 Crusader tries.
No one needs to tell the Crusaders how to prepare for big games. They have been masters at it over the years.
But they of all people will know the brilliant semifinal victory over the Sharks is a false read – the South Africans were an embarrassing mess in Christchurch.
NZ Herald
It should be near impossible for a team as good as the Sharks to play as badly. They were disgracefully disorganised, the skills were awful and their general kicking was abysmal.
Even penalty kicks for touch missed by metres. The Crusaders matched/beat the vaunted Sharks scrum and maul.
Todd Blackadder turned the Crusaders around this season just in time. Bravo Blackadder. Good recruitment – namely power wing Nemani Nadolo – and selection alterations have added vital power.
Here is the question for the Sharks and South African rugby in general.
Is coach Jake White (and those of his ilk) good for their game? Once again, there is the feeling that South Africa falls short of its potential.
Only the Cheetahs – who do not challenge for titles – have ever really broken the mould. Creativity shows its head now and then, before being shoved back in the drawer.
There will be very little sympathy for the Sharks. Even at their best, they would have tried to barge and kick their way to a semifinal victory.
A clash of styles is what all sport is about. But South Africa is still stuck in a rut. Maybe they need more overseas coaches to take a leap forward.
Pietman wrote:
Pietman – remove your avatar immediately… It doesn’t suit you…
grootblousmile wrote:
He ran out of gigs at home…these recently married couples for you… Will organise next week – no problems…
30 @ grootblousmile:
He is a Bull supporter and will probably stuff up his first 3 tries so……give him another chance
Jannie fuming behind the posts after Madolo’s try, but he had good reason to…no defence around the edges, 15 meter gap for Ellis.
31 @ Gumboots:
Is he still on the Sharks voodoo Gravatar?
@ Gumboots:
Good idea, on the phone now….but soonest
32 @ Gumboots:
I do not even see an attempt at registration by him… sent you a Mail… check it out.
32 @ Gumboots:
Is his initials RR?
If so, then he’s registered successfully.
Nee, gaan maar afsit, Sharks maak my NOU eers bekommerd, hulle Bokke was deur die bank swak, HM sal hiedie spul vinnig moet regvat.
grootblousmile wrote:
No SB – will give you his email – they just left. He will check at Tukkies on Monday…
Cheers guys… have people over…
Sad, abysmal display by the boys.
They never looked like they were in the game.
Couldn’t get their hands on the ball, kicked like u13’s and knocked on.
Not the same gees that they had on tour during the league stages.
At least there a few happy saffas today.
42 @ Charo:
Commisserations.
42 @ Charo:
Perfectly summed up their match.
It’s strange that you mention the gees, thought that during the Stormers game they showed great gees, as well as during the Landers match.
What could have changed in one week?
@ Charo:
Toughies Charo!
I am not one of the happy ones…when our top team performs like this against the Kiwis, it is a matter of national concern, really!
But let’s hope HM can revive those Sharks Boks again
@ Charo:
toughies charo. crashing out like this is the worst feeling. Just bit meant to be. I hope for you guys jake sticks around to have another go at it next year.
@ Charo: by that statement Charo, I have to presume that you believe that the rest of us are pleased with the result of today’s outcome. You could never be further from the truth. Most/many of us would be supporting the Sharks today, as we would have any one of the other SA franchises. The fact that the Sharks got nailed is ultra sad, within the context of SA rugby. Personally, I think they let the lot of us down. But that’s just my take. They were, to my mind, pathetic. I was embarrassed as a SA rugby supporter, if you really want to know. But pleased that they lost, I, and most others; definitely not. Emphatically NOT.
@ MacroBull: Personally, I hope Jake doesn’t hang around. I cannot sit here and honestly say that we have better but I can say that Jake, who thinks he’s God’s gift to rugby, is not the answer to everyone’s dreams. Let him go and find an “International” team to coach. He hasn’t made it as a SR coach. That is for sure.
@ Tassies:
No, they let most of us down badly.
But as a capetonian you must know that thousands of capesaders will be passed out by now from their papsaks.
So be it. The boys had a bad day at the office – it happens to all of us all too often.
I still think that JW is a good coach. I don’t particularly like the man but he (normally) gets the most out of the players and the sharks have won games this season from impossible positions. Not many other coaches can boast that.
@ nortierd:
Strond. Next year will be OUR year.
The Sharks’ year only starts on the 1st of January of every year. Their motto is: THIS YEAR is OUR YEAR.
@ Charo: I guess we are all disappointed to the point of being judgemental. We’ll get over it. The Cape Saders are mostly a miserable bunch but there are a few reasonable folk even amongst that lot. They have their issues and when I’m thinking in panaroma-mode I can respect their perspective. Jake is an arrogant bastard(so it would seem to me) and this time he screwed up big. I hope he mans up and takes responsibility. That would gain my respect. Blaming the players wont do it for me. That game plan of his stinks. Plan A fails and Plan B is where……………? Dumb Capie that I am, even I can see the value of having a fallback. Its how life works.
47 @ Tassies:
the way our best team and forwards pack was monstered today was very far from pleasing for any Sa supporter.
Jake only wamts to coach international teams that have players to win a world cup… teams like ireland would he far too much effort.
I wonder if jake will stay another year though.
49 @ Charo:
Which impossible positions in what games? If you are referring to the crusaders game earlier this year, then todays saders team would have put 50 up that day, they couldnt catch a ball that day, then I dont know.
@ nortierd:
44
Differences:
1. Check who were the referees, may have been the difference!
and
2. Check whom did JW take on tour AND whom did he leave behind
and
3. Check who made JW’s match 23! that wasn’t serious, that was a stale joke
The Sharks were still 6:16 behind after 47 minutes, hope you noticed how things fell apart when Dyesel left the field and all subsequent replacements?
@ Hondo:
Notwithstanding the referees in those 2 games, they played as one.
Against the Stormers they stood by each other every time there was an incident or possible flare up.
Against the Highlanders, well, you don’t scrum a team into submission if your forwards aren’t 100% together.
In the semi, even when the score was 16-6 they were never in the game really. You could see they merely played to try and get kickable penalties, never looked like scoring or really attempting to score.
One breakout from their own 22 which was good, and caught the Saders off guard, but passed to soon, and came to nought.
Not just the wrong gameplan, but executing the game plan wrong as well
I feel nothing for the Sharks. Did baas Frans play in the game?
Does not mean that I feel the same way for some of their supporters though. I feel their pain.
@ nortierd: Same procedure as EVERY year James! 😀
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