Sharks surge into final

12 May 2007

The Sharks overcame a brave fightback by the Blues to claim an emphatic 34-18 victory in Durban.

The hosts may have finished with a flourish, with Butch James and Waylon Murray crossing the tryline, but the scoreline doesn’t reflect just how close the Blues came to scoring an unlikely win. The Sharks produced a performance worthy of Super 14 champions in the first half, but went horribly off the boil thereafter. With a 14-6 lead at the break, they should have finished the Kiwis off.

But you can bet any encounter featuring teams from these two countries is going to have it all; highs and lows of epic proportions and a home crowd fraught with emotion. This playoff delivered everything it promised and more, with the bottom line being a third crack at the title for the East Coasters with the added advantage of playing this game on their own pitch.

The game began in a tentative manner, with both teams reluctant to take any risks. The Blues won their first line-out and mauled 40m towards the Sharks goal line. Isa Nacewa missed the ensuing penalty kick, but the maul was one of the few instances where the Blues had any sort of ascendancy in terms of forward play.

The visitors maintained possession, but the hosts maintained composure. They squandered a few opportunities early on and had to take their awesome defence to new levels of desperation and intensity, but amongst the 50 000-plus Sharks crowd, there was not one supporter who had any doubt. The team fed off the cheers and absorbed the pressure firstly in the second quarter and a few minutes from time to win the game.

Ryan Kankowski was a real standout and rewarded Dick Muir’s faith with another superb performance. He dragged defenders tens of metres from several line-breaks before the sheer weight of numbers brought him to ground. He was the catalyst that reversed the momentum in the first half, as the Sharks began to find parity and send in wave after wave of belligerent attack.

The Blues defended well initially, but as they game wore on, they did their best to spoil and slow the Sharks assault. Be it through a timely hand in front of the pass, or bodies on the ground, the first half was all about survival for them, and Nacewa kicked a vital penalty at the end of the first half to keep them in touch at 14-6.

The threat of the Sharks pack was manifest, and they duly dominated for most of the game. The scrum monstered the visitors, several set-pieces crumbling as the power of Carstens, Smit and Botha pulverised their Blues counterparts.

The line-out was even more secure, with Smit and Johann Muller combining beautifully. Muller was also prominent in the loose and on hand to finish the only try of the first period. A few desperate passes were thrown as the Sharks searched for an unmarked attacker. With the goal line under his nose, the Bok second-rower was never going to miss out.

The Blues did enjoy some success at stages of broken play. George Pisi was full of running and in ominous mood off the step, and Anthony Tuituvake produced a few threatening surges as well. Isaia Toeava was quiet in the first half, but conjured two pieces of rugby magic that allowed the Kiws back in the game. Soon after the break, Toeava rounded the blindside and had both Butch James and Frans Steyn committed to the tackle. A deft pop on the switch allowed Rudi Wulf to finish.

Toeava was again influential in the Blues’ second try where he broke and offloaded to Nacewa. Nacewa did not enjoy the best game with the boot, but kicked the conversion from in front of the posts to extend the visitors’ lead to 18-14.

An excruciatingly tense period followed as the Sharks tried to get into the Blues half and restore the lead. The forwards were again brilliant in mauling the Blues off the line-out, and referee Stuart Dickinson had no option but to award the penalty when the Blues collapsed the maul. Percy Montgomery goaled the penalty which brought the Sharks within one point, and from then on the Sharks played smart rugby and forced the Blues to make all the mistakes.

While Dick Muir will not be happy with the way his side squandered a handy lead, there were some encouraging signs. The Sharks strengths on defence and in the scrum were once again patent, but their sublime display in the line-out is what will give them confidence against the Bulls or Crusaders next week, who are both very clinical in this department.

Sharks – Tries: Johann Muller, Butch James, Waylon Murray. Conversions: Percy Montgomery (2). Penalties: Montgomery (4). Drop goal: Butch James.
Blues – Tries: Rudi Wulf, Isa Nacewa. Conversion: Nacewa. Penalties: Nacewa (2).

By Jon Cardinelli, at Absa Stadium, Durban.


55 Comments

Pages: [1] 2 » Show All

  • 1.Boerboel: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 16:49 pm

    Sharks!!!!

  • 2.Another Kiwi in Oz: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 16:49 pm

    Great game.

  • 3.Koos: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 16:49 pm

    Well done Sharks!

  • 4.Karen: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 16:50 pm

    Congrats SHARKS.

    Hallo Koos.
    Hallo Boerboel

  • 5.Tito: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 16:51 pm

    Difference was the bench Sharks had class. Bismarch, Van Der Berg, Beast, Bobby made a difference

  • 6.Koos: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 16:51 pm

    hey Karen!

  • 7.Karen: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 16:52 pm

    Tito I agree fully with Bismarck, Beast and BObby and VDB making a difference. They looked down but once those guys came on they were rejuvenated.

    Lekker lekker Sharkies

  • 8.Karen: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 16:53 pm

    Koos my vriend hoe gaan dit met jou?

  • 9.Boerboel: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 16:53 pm

    Hi Karen en Koos, het die game op mediazone gekyk. Dit was moers.

  • 10.Karen: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 16:54 pm

    Hallo Boerboel dit was omtrent ‘n game. Jis senuwees was op op een stadium maar jis dit was great. Sal ‘n paar slammers op die span moet drink.

  • 11.superBul: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 16:55 pm

    haai Karen, ek het net betyds terug gekom vir die rugby. Baie goeie wen vir die Sharks, was lekker om te sien hoe die NZlanders bietjie op hul moer kry.

    Waar is ou tackler deesdae , het hy nog gechat die week.

  • 12.Koos: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 16:55 pm

    Howzit Boer.

    Goed dankie Karen en daai kant?

  • 13.Karen: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 16:56 pm

    Hallo SuperBul gaan dit goed.

    Koos baie goed hierdie kant soos altyd. Pietman nogal volpunte gescore met die Sharks game – wonder hoe hy dit reggekry het :lol:

  • 14.Boerboel: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 16:56 pm

    superBul

    Tackler kom so dag voor die game in en maak ‘n kak prediction en dan waai hy. Lafaard.

  • 15.Pirlet BEL: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 16:57 pm

    Sharks bench was superb. Murray had another great game.But JW(the prick) will probably pick Joubert and Bosman ahead of him!!! Monty wasn’t great.

  • 16.Karen: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 16:57 pm

    #14 :lol: goeie een daai. Jis nou is dit vir die ander game. Braai so tussenin.

  • 17.Karen: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 16:58 pm

    JW will stick to what he knows unfortunately.

  • 18.superBul: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 16:59 pm

    Ja die donner het baie gese oor ons wat verniet NZ toe gaan vlieg net om te verloor in semis , die lafaard sal mos nou gerieflikheidshalwe wegbly.

  • 19.Karen: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:00 pm

    SuperBul ek steur my nie aan hom nie – hulle is mors grootbek voor die tyd en dan weer doodstil. Sharks verdien die wen.

  • 20.Boerboel: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:00 pm

    Cheers eers, sien later

  • 21.Karen: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:00 pm

    Cheers Boerboel – lekker kyk. Chat weer later.

  • 22.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:01 pm

    Mooi Sharks!!
    Kom Bulle, roer julle balle.

  • 23.Karen: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:02 pm

    Hallo Pietmannnnnnnnnnnnnn – geluk met jou 3 punte. Jis hoe het jy dit so spot-on gekry???

  • 24.superBul: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:02 pm

    Alhoewel JF , JdV en WO vir seker weer in JW se squad gaan wees, maar JP , Adi en Waylon gaan omtrent soveel reaksie uitlok as wat Ettiene Botha se uitlating uit die squad gehad het 2 jaar terug.

  • 25.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:03 pm

    13# Karen
    Want Pietman is n kenner!
    Maar kom ons hoop hy is verkeerd met die volgende een….!
    Van moerigheid teen die Bulle ge-pick.

  • 26.Karen: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:03 pm

    #22 :lol: Weet jy hoe klink dit.

  • 27.Karen: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:05 pm

    #25 Verskoon my Groot Kenner – ek buig in nederigheid voor u neer :lol:

    Ja ek en Madels het vir die grap dit gedoen – klaar gedoen en kan niks daaromtrent doen nie.

  • 28.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:05 pm

    Well played Sharks, hard to swallow as an Auckland boy but hey you have to share the silverware around occasionally.

  • 29.superBul: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:05 pm

    Ek gaan nou ook rugby kyk sal later praat. Aan al my nuwe Shark maatjies daar in Underberg geluk met julle wen, hou nou saam my duimvas vir die Bulls.

  • 30.Karen: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:07 pm

    Bye SuperBul lekker kyk.

    Gaan nou eers ‘n Slammer sluk.

    Cheers tot later ouens.

  • 31.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:09 pm

    Karen
    Ja, ek weet.
    Ek, jy en Saint het mos Dinsdag so beluit!
    Nou moet ons maar die knock vat.
    Maar, ons was in elk geval uit, maak nie verskil meer nie.

  • 32.Karen: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:10 pm

    Ja en DonnerLeeu het gegaan vir broke en toe sien hy sy gaai nou.

    Wel die tiff is darem nou eers iets vd verlede. Snaaks wat rugby aan ‘n mens kan doen.

  • 33.counterruck: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:11 pm

    did they say something on SA tv about Adie’s face. that looked very damaging. hope he’s okay

  • 34.Karen: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:11 pm

    Hey Pietman is ons darem nou amptelik weer in :lol:

  • 35.Karen: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:12 pm

    #33 was ‘n bad knock – should have some stitches, but I don’t think it was intentional.

  • 36.pompies: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:16 pm

    This is the second time the Sharks have beaten them Blues and I think they can now go all the way, he ha.

  • 37.Zhak: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:22 pm

    35, I think it was very intentional. He should be cited for that. He simply didn’t have to step on Jacobs’ face. Even if it wasn’t intentional, it was unnecessary, and I’m sure it’s foul play.

  • 38.HulkSmash: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:23 pm

    Really tough game. The blues really made a game of it and the Sharks can count themselves a bit lucky. My sympathy goes out to the Blues fans, you can be proud of your team. Well done my Sharks, one more to go

  • 39.Zhak: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:25 pm

    I was surprised because I expected the Blues to dominate possession. But the Sharks did a great job of retaining possession, despite giving away a lot of turnovers.

  • 40.wpforever: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:27 pm

    Well done Sharks and Shark supporters!
    Well deserved to be in the final and a plus for SAfrican rugby.Enjoy !

  • 41.Zhak: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:33 pm

    deja vu. The game starts exactly where it left off in the last Bulls-Crusaders game – with the Crusaders stealing the Bulls’ ball.

  • 42.jockbok184: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:39 pm

    Go Bulls – keep the commentary coming guys.

  • 43.JustAnotherFan: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:41 pm

    You on the wrong thread for commentary

  • 44.jockbok184: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:43 pm

    Which is the right thread ? Comments are switched off on the main story.

  • 45.banana boy: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:43 pm

    Keo is trying to cheat us – not allowed to comment on the game threads…..

  • 46.jockbok184: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:45 pm

    bb – I understand we crashed the site last week – dont need any running commentary – just a clue as to whats happening :-)

  • 47.banana boy: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 17:50 pm

    46. lol – i know, some how it’s taken the edge off the game though…. :D

  • 48.TaiwanSaffiesDotKom: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 18:00 pm

    Are we back on track HERE for the Bulls game, Ouense?

  • 49.nahtino: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 18:30 pm

    the Bulls must come thru this …

    If th Crusaders take it … what does that say bout hteir mental stregnth ?
    BEating the bulls in their kraal, In SA, In a Semi, 6points down in the 1st half …against a side that stuffd the reds by 90+

    so its in our national intrest that Bulls make it thru… the sharks will take care of the rest …

    HOOOOOOOOOORAAAAAAAAHHHH !!!!

  • 50.Skabenga: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2007, 19:21 pm

    Taiwan its game on brah!, yeeeha finally a dream final…Durbz is waiting…

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