Jouba: Sharks have learnt
21 Oct 2008
Former Bok fullback Andre Joubert believes the experience of last year’s Super 14 defeat will benefit the Sharks in Saturday’s final at Kings Park.
The climax of the 2007 southern hemisphere showpiece will be remembered for Bryan Habana’s injury-time try and a remarkable Bulls comeback. However, the Durban faithful will look back at it as a case of the Sharks not killing off the match and losing it, rather than the Bulls orchestrating a victory.
Frans Steyn failed to convert Albert van den Berg’s try to hand them an eight-point lead, while Steyn also failed to put the ball out when the hooter had sounded. A penalisable offence from the Bulls at ruck-time went unnoticed by referee Steve Walsh, and the Sharks were left to rue what could have been.
Joubert, the World Cup-winning No 15 in 1995 as well as the rock at the back in the Sharks’ last Absa Currie Cup title a year later, believes the Super 14 final will be a painful reminder of why they won’t want to lose again.
“The Sharks have lost a few finals since ’96, but the one that will upset them the most would be last year’s,” Joubert told keo.co.za. “They will realise how one or two mistakes cost you, and how after all your hard work you can be left with nothing.
“The loss would have left a bad taste in the mouth, while the experience of knowing what that felt like won’t be great. They would’ve learnt from that, and won’t want to let it happen again,” said Joubert.
The presence of World Cup-winners from Paris last year will aid both teams, and Joubert feels these players and their leadership will be key. The Sharks can claim eight World Champions in their 22, while the Bulls are just edged as they hold seven players from that Bok squad.
“They may be different matches at different grounds with different crowds, but a final is a final. It is the same thing with the same atmosphere and the same tensions, so having those players will benefit both squads as the World Cup-winners give them balance. It just shows how much the Boks improve the standard,” said Joubert.
The Rolls Royce of fullbacks scored two tries in the Sharks’ 33-15 victory over Transvaal in ’96, and he believes the role of the respective 15s on Saturday will be even more important under the ELVs.
“In finals, the first thing I wanted to do was always to get my forwards onto the front foot. The packs are the most important aspects in finals, and you’ve got to tire the opposition by turning them around with clever kicks. You obviously have to score when the opportunity comes and try and make the defence guess by varying your play,” he said.
In the battle of the fullbacks Joubert believes the experience of Stefan Terblanche could give the Sharks an advantage in the quest for territorial ascendancy. “I think Stefan has been the best fullback in the country this year because he’s a great decision-maker. He is always positive and varies his kicking and running games. Zane Kirchner is a young, talented guy but he hasn’t been in an event like this before.”
By Grant Ball

137 Comments
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21 Oct 2008, 14:47 pm
#47 Puma: He’s not really into any sport….. he’s an artist, also a musician and a graphic designer by vocation….
But he rolls a nice Vitamin Green spliffy !!
21 Oct 2008, 14:48 pm
#48 Loosehead: Great minds think alike. Yours just types a lot faster
21 Oct 2008, 14:49 pm
Finals are won up front.
It will start in the front row.
Posession is king, but getting across the advantage line with your forwards is everything.
The way John Smit drove the ball up across the advantage line in the last 2 games, was very good for a player coming off an injury break, and carrying a little bit of pudding.
That is what you want a test hooker to do in a final.
The Sharks forwards will be too good collectively as an old fashioned, disciplined, driving pack that take the ball up first.
All thanks to an old fashioned Kiwi coach who understands that you have to win the battle up front and get across the advantage line as your first order of business.
21 Oct 2008, 14:49 pm
#3 PissAnt: PA, I’m with you, so that makes 2 of us then.
21 Oct 2008, 14:51 pm
#52 Boelie:
21 Oct 2008, 14:54 pm
#48 Loosehead: Neeeeeeeee, dan was hy nie meer my boetie nie !
21 Oct 2008, 14:58 pm
#50 Boelie: Dink jy MY FAMILIE sou dit vir 1 minuut geduld het ??
21 Oct 2008, 15:00 pm
#38 lion4ever: Jammer om van jou kakkas te **** !!
21 Oct 2008, 15:00 pm
#57 grootblousmile: Ekskuus.
21 Oct 2008, 15:01 pm
#51 grootblousmile: lol. Well that explains why he is not worried about getting married on the cc final day. Wear the Bulls jersey like I said that will teach him to get married on the cc final. hehehe.
21 Oct 2008, 15:05 pm
#59 Sniper: Jong, ek is die verligte ene in die familie…… my pa was woes en rof en het altyd gesê…. jy trou nie met ‘n hippy of ‘n Joodjie of ‘n uitlander of ‘n WP ondersteuner nie… want dan is jy outomaties onterf !!
Hehehe
21 Oct 2008, 15:06 pm
#61 grootblousmile: Some of your best friends have WP friends.
21 Oct 2008, 15:07 pm
#3 PissAnt: i’d start john smit in a heart beat. no doubt.
21 Oct 2008, 15:07 pm
#62 Sniper: Are you sure ??
21 Oct 2008, 15:09 pm
#64 grootblousmile: No!!! Guessing
21 Oct 2008, 15:12 pm
#64 grootblousmile: #65 Sniper: My brothers mate’s, sister has a friend who goes out with a guy who once dated a WP supporter. But we don’t like to talk about that too much.
21 Oct 2008, 15:13 pm
#64 grootblousmile: Both my daughters are staunch Bulls. The youngest wears a bulls jersey every now and then. Told them never to hang anything from their mirror or towbar. hehehe
21 Oct 2008, 15:14 pm
#66 Boelie: You should. It is part of the healing process.
21 Oct 2008, 15:15 pm
#66 Boelie:
#67 Sniper: howdy meit…….probably your wifes good influence on the girls?
21 Oct 2008, 15:15 pm
#67 Sniper: You’ve got GREAT kids…. if you don’t want them anymore I’ll adopt them !
21 Oct 2008, 15:17 pm
#69 EEE: Hello meitjie. Yep she too supports the bulls. She has this thing that you support the team where you live. Can you imagine if we moved to Joburg. Lord forbid.
21 Oct 2008, 15:19 pm
#70 grootblousmile: I have too! The youngest is going to work for you one day. First year law.
21 Oct 2008, 15:20 pm
#67 Sniper: Gaan die kindersorg op jou sit!!!!!
21 Oct 2008, 15:21 pm
#73 K9_BaasPatrolliehond: hehehe
21 Oct 2008, 15:22 pm
#67 Sniper:
Both your daughters staunch bulls hey……must be quite a sight mind you
21 Oct 2008, 15:23 pm
#71 Sniper:
or cape town
21 Oct 2008, 15:23 pm
#71 Sniper: Your wife is indeed a clever lady… you yourself mentioned a while ago that you are considering becomming a Bulls supporter because you love Pretoorsdorp so much….
21 Oct 2008, 15:24 pm
#75 Zulushark: It is too – they don’t know better though. Get the sarcasm as well – but hey that’s also ok.
21 Oct 2008, 15:24 pm
#67 Sniper:
Of course you know whats going to happen to those towbar balls if the bulls lose……a few okes are going to get castrated hehehehehehehe
21 Oct 2008, 15:25 pm
#71 Sniper: Ah supporting my Mighty Lions. Now we are talking. Nothing like going to support a home game. The whiff of smog mixing with the smell of urine and sh*t as you walk towards the stadium. Dodging the drunk hoboes. The echoing of your car alarm in the distance.
That feeling of defeat as you trundle back to where you think your car still is..
Ah…. Bring on the Super 14
21 Oct 2008, 15:25 pm
#71 Sniper: sny sommer dadelik dan my keel af hehehehe
21 Oct 2008, 15:25 pm
#76 Zulushark: That is exactly where I was born and bred mate. Have had therapy though. Times are tough, but every cloud has a silver lining.
21 Oct 2008, 15:26 pm
#78 Sniper:
I always say that chicks are the enemy
21 Oct 2008, 15:26 pm
#81 EEE: Exactly. I would rather support Queensland Reds for that matter.
21 Oct 2008, 15:26 pm
#82 Sniper:
All you need now is tranfer to KZN and you’ll be cured for life.
21 Oct 2008, 15:27 pm
#80 Boelie: The Coketin is not for sissies.
21 Oct 2008, 15:27 pm
#80 Boelie: Hehehe
21 Oct 2008, 15:27 pm
#80 Boelie:
shame man, I actually have a tear in my eye now!!!!
21 Oct 2008, 15:27 pm
#83 Zulushark: They are?
21 Oct 2008, 15:28 pm
#81 EEE: Hallo EEEEEEEEEEEE
Hoe gaan dit daar annerkant die worsgordyn?
21 Oct 2008, 15:28 pm
#82 Sniper:
You know, I was bred in Jhb, but only go back for weddings and funerals these days…but don’t tell anyone, don’t want the whole world to know
21 Oct 2008, 15:28 pm
#80 Boelie: Don’t worry mate – I know what you are feeling – seems like dejavu.
21 Oct 2008, 15:29 pm
#89 Sniper:
Of course…every argument between two blokes is started by some women or other in some or other way.
21 Oct 2008, 15:29 pm
#77 grootblousmile: I do too. Great place indeed.
21 Oct 2008, 15:30 pm
#91 Zulushark: At least u had a good start in life.
21 Oct 2008, 15:30 pm
#88 EEE: Maiki, K9 PlaasPoedel het my noudiedag gevra of jy geregistreer is op Facebook……. hy wil sien hoe jy lyk !
21 Oct 2008, 15:31 pm
#85 Zulushark: They haven’t won since the 90′s. What cure.
21 Oct 2008, 15:33 pm
#96 grootblousmile: Haai issie!!!!!
21 Oct 2008, 15:33 pm
#93 Zulushark: Hmmm ok
21 Oct 2008, 15:33 pm
#95 K9_BaasPatrolliehond:
Yeah sure….Yippee for Yeoville and Hillbrow….and you’ve read those comments by Boelie about how pleasant it is to go Ellis Park, sorry Coke Park
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