Bismarck injection for Sharks
26 Feb 2009
Bismarck du Plessis and Jacques Botes return to the Sharks team to take on the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday.
The pair have both been on the bench for the opening couple of encounters but replace John Smit and Keegan Daniel this week. Du Plessis and Botes were battling pre-season injuries but have recovered fully.
These are the only changes to the team that dealt with the Lions 25-10, with Beast Mtawarira remaining on the bench after Deon Carstens scored in last week’s victory.
Sharks coach John Plumtree is not under-estimating the Chiefs, who have lost their opening encounters against last year’s finalists the Crusaders and Waratahs.
“They will be really desperate,” said Plumtree. “They won’t want to go three down. In fairness, they have probably had the hardest draw of any New Zealand side, playing last year’s finalists in the opening two weeks away from home.
“There won’t be panic stations just yet, and with us out of the way and having played the Waratahs and Crusaders, they know they will have got possibly three of the better teams out the way, but certainly, you don’t want to drop any home games.”
Sharks – 15 Stefan Terblanche, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Francois Steyn, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Johann Muller (c), 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Deon Carstens.
Subs – 16 John Smit, 17 Beast Mtawarira, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 Ross Cronje, 21 Riaan Swanepoel, 22, Luzuko Vulindlu.
154 Comments
26 Feb 2009, 08:25 am
steroid dragons
26 Feb 2009, 08:36 am
Well.. lets see what they can do… Chiefs at home not easy….
26 Feb 2009, 08:43 am
Bismarck injection? Sharing his roids with the team?
26 Feb 2009, 08:46 am
A bit of a risk this.
26 Feb 2009, 08:46 am
Win this, and it will be 4 out of 4, really excellent draw the Sharks have, they go to a place with better weather, play the Blues after their trip back from a crushing SA tour, play palooka’s like the Reds and Force.
Sharks 31 Chiefs 15
26 Feb 2009, 08:49 am
I reckon bringing Smitty on in the second half can help the Sharks pull this game through…..
26 Feb 2009, 08:55 am
Great line-up, cant go wrong with that one. I believe the Sharks can pull this one through.
26 Feb 2009, 09:00 am
#4 PissAnt:
Morning PA.
A risk in what sense?
26 Feb 2009, 09:02 am
The Sharks tend to lose a game or two every season against teams that they should beat. Don’t be surprised if it either the Chiefs or the Reds.
26 Feb 2009, 09:02 am
#8 tight head: Pissant believes that the Sharks should play Jon at Hooker and bring in Bissie off the bench, him and I have had the same argument before. Although he did make sense. But I still prefer Bissie he steals more ball then most and we need John in the end to keep calm heads etc.
26 Feb 2009, 09:07 am
#9 Loosehead: Just you keep on worrying that the Reds don’t beat your team this weekend! I support them as my second team (For obvious reasons) so would like to see them winning some of the games!
26 Feb 2009, 09:07 am
#8 tight head:
Morning,
IN the sense of the fact that the Chiefs still has dangerous runners in that team and will obviously be desperate.
IN 9 and 10 they have more experience than their Sharks counters.
They are superior in basically all facets of forward play though, but will have to be technically proficient, and for that, as one of my sharks buddies Rob pointed out, select the best technically adapt tight 5, and that includes Smit at hooker for me.
If the Chiefs get on a bit of a roll that might mean trouble for the Sharks as they never found it easy in Hamilton to start off with.
The Sharks need to snub any sense of attack in the butt as quickly as possible – and that should be done in the forwards.
26 Feb 2009, 09:10 am
#10 Sharksgirl:
Bismarck plays too loose, and if you play loose against teams like the Chiefs you open the game up, and you do not want to play that type of game against a team that is;
a) Desperate as hell for a win
b) Has dangerous runners
26 Feb 2009, 09:10 am
I would have liked to have seen Beast start as he does not seem to make a big impact off the bench. Deon however when coming off the bench seems to bring an injection of energy to the team.
26 Feb 2009, 09:16 am
#13 PissAnt: I can tell you right now that the reason that Bismark was picked for this game is that Plumtree is targeting the breakdown. Win the breakdown and starve the chiefs of ball and things will go our way in this game.
A dangerous chiefs team is when they have ball.
26 Feb 2009, 09:19 am
#12 PissAnt:
PA I hear you.
My belief is that this is the best team that Plum can start with.
Firstly Carstens is a much better scrummager than the Beast.
To me that means you soften them up in the scrums with Carstens and then unleash the Beast in the last 20 minutes to damage them with his driving play.
About Barney, he needs a rest as he has played all the pre season games as well as 2 hard S14 games in which he gave 100%.
I am told he had to drink 5 litres of fluid directly after the Lions game in that humidity.
That kind of highly charged game in that humidity takes a lot out of a tight forward.
It makes sense to unleash him along with the Beast to drive at their forwards in the last 20 minutes, and he has been the best tight forward in SA in driving the ball up in the last 2 games.
To start with Botes on the flank is your best option, as we all know how he grafts on the ball.
To then unleash the quick fresh legs of Keegan in the last 20 minutes, and pick up the pace when hopefully the Chiefs are slowing down is the way to go.
I am not concerned about the Sharks half backs.
Rory is playing the best rugby we have ever seen him play and Ruan will get better and better.
26 Feb 2009, 09:22 am
so the whole shark team will be all juiced up this tomorrow! It’s good for bissie to be sharing his goon but he must not give it to frans, it might accelerate his brain implosion…and rory on steroids is a red card waiting to happen…so bissie share your injections sparingly please…
26 Feb 2009, 09:22 am
#15 Banana Shark:
The Chiefs does not have the quality forwards of the teams the Sharks came up against already in weeks 1 and 2, and in those games they gave nothing away at the breakdown with Smit starting.
Bismarck isolates himself too often, he plays too loose (all in comparison with Smit) and therefore the risk is greater.
Turn-over ball against the Chiefs is not a good idea, and I think you overestimate the importance of Bismarck in the loose especially compared to effectiveness of Smit in a tighter role.
26 Feb 2009, 09:23 am
#16 tight head:
If it is done on a rotation basis then there is a good argument for it.
If Smit is not 100% then obviously play the guy that is.
So let’s hope that is the case.
26 Feb 2009, 09:24 am
Sharks biggest weakness is Lock, they have no quality locks, also have an issue with timing it seems. They seem rusty still. Will need to lift 5-10% to win this week.
26 Feb 2009, 09:29 am
#19 PissAnt:
Exactly PA.
We are in agreement that Smit is the first choice hooker for reasons that we have discussed.
However this is a case of managing him correctly.
I have no doubt that if he did not need the break then he would start.
26 Feb 2009, 09:31 am
Hmmm. This is a difficult one for superbru.
26 Feb 2009, 09:32 am
THE chiefs first two games of the seosen were against the saders and tahs(both possible semi contenders)and both games the chiefs pushed them all the way.key areas will be the breakdown as well as the 9,10 combo
leanord(best 9 in NZ)and donnell have been playing together for a couple of seosens now whereas kocky and pienaar basicelly just started their relantionship.
from what i’ve been reading through the posts is that some of you (not all) believe the sharks will take this one easily
26 Feb 2009, 09:33 am
Head says Chiefs at home by 6.
Heart says Sharks by 2.
But imagine what a plonker I’d feel like if I went against my team and they actually won (which they very easily might do).
Hmmm. Toughie.
26 Feb 2009, 09:35 am
#23 st.a.t.w:
I got the Chiefs down to upset the Sharks personally.
I pick one every week and this is my upset for the week…
26 Feb 2009, 09:37 am
#23 st.a.t.w:
It would be foolish to think that the Sharks will win this game easily.
If they win, it will only be by about 2 or 3 points.
However they have a good chance.
Your team, the Stormers are at a crossroads, and this game will be one that defines what they do for the rest of the competition.
If they lose they can no longer justify this crazy game plan that they have been using.
They simply cannot lose, and the fans should hold them to it.
26 Feb 2009, 09:38 am
#18 PissAnt: you underestimating Bismarks tight play. I am not saying that he is better then John in this area but he is definitely no Schalk Brits. He gets stuck in plus he gives you an extra pair of hands in the ruck.
26 Feb 2009, 09:40 am
#13 PissAnt: You see that is why I said you made sense.
26 Feb 2009, 09:42 am
#26 tight head:
yes the stormers haven’t lived up to expectation yet.
what makes rassie one of he best coaches around is the fact that he admitted that mistakes were made(early substitutions,wrong gameplan,etc.)however i’m hoping that they have learned their lesson and can improve from here on.
26 Feb 2009, 09:48 am
The Chiefs tight 5 looks weak. I reckon Plumb has got it 100% right with Bizzie and Carstens softening it up, and then having Smittie and The Beast coming on to break them in the second half.
I would bring Smittie and Beast on with 50 to play to make sure their impact is felt.
GO THE SHARKS
26 Feb 2009, 09:53 am
#25 PissAnt: The bookies are saying that the Chiefs are actually slight favourites, so it certainly won’t be an upset if the Sharks win.
And since when was an SA S14 side favourites to win in NZ?
Closest to an upset will come in the Reds v Cheetahs game…
26 Feb 2009, 09:57 am
#27 Banana Shark:
Bismarck is not a bad hooker. Deserves his #2 status.
John is simply better.
26 Feb 2009, 09:59 am
#29 st.a.t.w:
If I were CEO of the Stormers I would not be asking questions about the players.
I would be asking questions about the coaching.
However it seems that there is a feeling in Cape Town that Rassie and Gary are the very best.
26 Feb 2009, 10:01 am
#33 tight head: Every Stormers fan seems to be saying that Rassie is the best coach on the block.
26 Feb 2009, 10:01 am
Chiefs will take this one, I’m afraid.
26 Feb 2009, 10:01 am
With the possible exception of the Bulls, I reckon all the home sides will win this weekend.
26 Feb 2009, 10:04 am
#35 Panthera leo krugeri: Yeah, but you also said the Lions would take the game last weekend.
26 Feb 2009, 10:05 am
SHARKS EXPECTING DESPERATE CHIEFS
IOL
For the slow-starting Chiefs, losing the first two games in Super rugby competitions is something of a tradition – they have done it four times in the past five years, only to end up in the top half of the draw on each of those occasions.
And it is for the Chiefs – a side that can devastate the best in the Super 14, usually when they have built up a head of steam later in the competition – that the Sharks are preparing this week.
“Coming over on the plane, the overriding impression the guys had of the Chiefs was when they blew us off the park over two years ago,” coach John Plumtree told reporters in Auckland after his team’s training session on Wednesday.
“We had had a good win against the Blues the week before, and had possibly been a bit complacent and found ourselves 25-0 down in no time at all. We rallied in the second half to eventually lose 37-25, but the guys are talking about that opening half an hour where we did not front up and got blown away, and I am happy that that is the part they best recall.”
In other words, the Sharks will not be underestimating the Chiefs simply because they lost their first two games.
“On the contrary, we are expecting a very desperate Chiefs side. They don’t want to go 0-3 down, do they? Especially with this being their first home game,” Plumtree said.
“Also, why would they be panicking? Their first game was away to the Crusaders, last year’s champions, and last week they lost narrowly in Sydney to the beaten finalists (the Waratahs), and this week they play us, the team that finished third on the table. So it really is early days for the Chiefs.”
Speaking of being blown away, there is a Chiefs player that the Sharks fear more than any other New Zealander (which is saying something) and that is the man mountain Sione Lauaki.
Over the years, he has made a nasty habit of choosing the Sharks to have his best games, and the Sharks are making no attempt to hide their interest in his recovery progress from injury.
“The boys talk about him,” said Plumtree.
“We always come up with strategies to look after him, but we don’t seem to manage it. Hit him high, hit him low, it doesn’t matter, he’s got a bit of a thing with the Sharks, and he realises that too and it gives him confidence.”
Fortunately for the Sharks, the word from Hamilton is that Lauaki is unlikely to make the party.
If he does play, it would set up a fascinating contest with an equally effective but very different No 8.
“There’s no one with Ryan Kankowski’s speed in the competition. You get him into space and it’s goodnight. He’s amazing – a great athlete,” said Plumtree.
The weather in the North Island is perfect for rugby at this time of year. It is dry and warm during the day, something like Durban in winter.
“We’re expecting a perfect evening for rugby on a fast and dry pitch,” Plumtree said.
“And that excites the guys because in the Super 14 in recent years we have seldom hit ideal conditions – it has been either too hot in Durban, or rainy when we have travelled.”
26 Feb 2009, 10:06 am
#34 spooner:
It does not matter who you are, in the real world you are only as good as your last game.
Lose 3 or 4 in a row and then see what those same fans who love you have to say!!
26 Feb 2009, 10:10 am
I see leoki is down to play. Should be interest battle in the tight areas with Deysel charging around like a pinball
26 Feb 2009, 10:11 am
#32 PissAnt: PissAnt I believe John is the better hooker aswell. I would have started with John. His throw ins are better too.
Actually thought we would see John playing more at TH in the S14. Needs more time there than he is getting to be ready for the Lions tour.
Maybe Plum feels John needs a rest not sure.
Still think Sharks have the players to win this one. Will be tough. Wont be much if they win maybe by 5. NZ sides are always difficult to beat on their home soil.
26 Feb 2009, 10:13 am
Sharks expect Chiefs to be mad, not bad
By MARC HINTON – RugbyHeaven
MAD, NOT BAD: Sharks coach John Plumtree expects a tough response from the Chiefs after the NZ side lost their opening two games and he has picked Brendon Leonard as a major threat.
If last weekend’s bumbling display by the Chiefs pack in Sydney was some sort of a ruse to lull the Sharks into a false sense of security, then sorry guys, it didn’t work.
The South Africans have arrived in New Zealand to begin their buildup for Saturday night’s third-round Super 14 match in Hamilton, and they’re steeling themselves for an emphatic sort of response from a Chiefs side they figure will be as mad as they were bad last weekend.
“They can hurt you from anywhere on the field,” said the Sharks’ Kiwi coach John Plumtree yesterday during their first full day of preparations in Auckland. “If their forward pack fronts up and gains parity, or gets on top of us, then obviously it’s going to be a really big night defensively for us.
“We’ve got to get excited about our defence, you have to when you come to Hamilton. The pitch is going to be beautiful, it’s probably going to be a nice evening, and they’ll be really desperate, won’t they. They won’t want to go three down.”
Besides, adds the former Wellington coach, there’s no reason to panic yet in Chiefs country. He liked the look of the Waratahs scrum and says away defeats against last year’s finalists is hardly the end of the word, even if it is the fourth time in five years they’ve started 0-2.
“They’ve had probably the hardest draw of any New Zealand side,” added Plumtree. “It won’t be panic stations yet, and I know with us this weekend and Crusaders and Waratahs already played, they’ll know they’ve got possibly three of the better teams out of the way.
“But you don’t want to drop home games…”
Plumtree is smart to be on his guard. Surely the Chiefs forwards can’t repeat their Keystone Kops routine from the SFS when they played their part in a match that resembled a rugby version of Dumb and Dumber.
On that occasion the set piece was a joke, the ruck and maul work uninspiring and as a result the Chiefs barely fired a shot in a game of pretty low quality won 11-7 by the ‘Tahs.
But, according to Plumtree, it’s another Chiefs’ performance that was to the forefront of the Sharks players’ minds as they made the long trip to Aotearoa.
“The boys on the plane were talking about how crappy we were last time there actually (in 2006). We’d done really well against the Blues at Albany, but let ourselves down big time, lost 35-27 and were down 25 points at halftime. That’s all they can remember, and that’s good.”
The Sharks have actually won three times away to the Chiefs (’97, 99 and ’03), and walloped Ian Foster’s side last year in Durban 47-23 in a result crucial to their eventual semifinal qualification.
Plumtree was keen to hear the latest on the Chiefs’ injury-list which includes No 8 Sione Lauaki, a player the Sharks have the utmost respect for. He wanted to know if the massive loose forward was likely to play this week, and looked happy to learn he was a doubtful starter.
“The boys talk about him,” said Plumtree. “We always come up with strategies to look after him, but we don’t seem to manage it. Hit him high, hit him low, it doesn’t matter, he’s got a bit of a thing with the Sharks, and he realises that too and it gives him confidence.”
But the Chiefs would be wise to keep an eye out for the Sharks’ own No 8, Ryan Kankowski whom Plumtree confirmed was in outstanding form.
“There’s no one with his speed in the competition. You get him into space and it’s goodnight. He’s amazing – a great athlete.”
Plumtree, who nominated halfback Brendon Leonard as the Chiefs player he had been most impressed with through the opening two rounds, also offered another message the Chiefs would be wise to heed.
With just four games on this tour, and having come off a gruelling contest in intense heat and humidity against the Lions in Durban last weekend, he said his players were rapt to get away from the oppressive conditions at home.
“The last two or three weeks in Durban have been unbelievably hot, so the guys have been really looking forward to getting away.”
Whether the Chiefs forwards can apply any heat of their own come Saturday night remains to be seen.
26 Feb 2009, 10:15 am
the chiefs were pillaged and plundered by the tahs tight five and i expect them to have another very very long day against the sharks.
once again it comes down to depth. no matter how good your starters are, when a team can introduce players like keegan, john smit and beast in the last 20 min, you are in trouble.
imo, the saders are a shadow of the team they have been in the past few years and should not make the semis. big statement i know, but having watched them last weekend i was unconvinced and even taking the lack of mccaw into account, they played poor rugby against a brumbies side which also seems starved of genuine talent (barring mortlock and george obviously).
tahs look good and so far are with the bulls as the most challenging prospect for the sharks.
i say sharks by 10+.
26 Feb 2009, 10:17 am
Sorry guys to change the subject for a minute. The 1st test is about to start against OZ at the Wanderes and there is 97 000 ticktes sold for this 5 day test. Just magnificent by the supporters as tests have never been supported well in the cricket here.
Only problem clouds building up fast so that could spoil the cricket if it rains.
Okay back to the rugby.
Sharks should win this one. Hoping. Sharks by 5.
26 Feb 2009, 10:19 am
One more – Lauaki back, Muliaina still out…
Lauaki back as Foster remodels Chiefs pack
By MARC HINTON – RugbyHeaven | Thursday, 26 February 2009
PETER DRURY/Waikato Times
WELCOME RETURN: Sione Lauaki will return to bolster a struggling Chiefs pack this weekend.
It’s hard to say whether the Sharks will be nervous or excited, but the return of Sione Lauaki from his hamstring problems definitely boosts the chances of the Chiefs putting an end to their customary slow start to the Super 14 season on Saturday night in Hamilton.
Lauaki is back at No 8 as one of four changes to the Chiefs pack for their first home game of the season, a situation coach Ian Foster was probably shamed into addressing after the woeful set-piece performance in Sydney last weekend.
With the Chiefs forwards played off the paddock at scrum and lineout time and dropping a pretty dire game 7-11 to the Waratahs, Foster’s team completed a two-loss start to their campaign for the fourth time in the last five years.
As they say, familiarity breeds contempt, and there’s been a fair bit of that floating round this week for a Chiefs pack that basically failed to front at the SFS.
Lauaki’s selection was an automatic one once he had proven his fitness, with even the macho Sharks admitting after their arrival in New Zealand this week that the human wrecking ball is the one Chiefs forward they genuinely fear.
The other changes, predictably, are all in the tight five, with Craig Clarke replacing Toby Lynn in the second row and hooker Aled de Malmanche and tighthead prop James McGougan supplanting, respectively, Hika Elliot and Ben May.
“The changes are about injecting fresh energy and enthusiasm into the starting pack following on from two tough away games,” said Foster. “We now also have a reserve bench this week with something to prove.”
In the backs, Sosene Anesi gets the nod at fullback this week, with Mike Delany dropping back to the bench. All Blacks Richard Kahuui (hip) and Mils Muliaina (back) are still unavailable.
The match will also be special for first five-eighths Stephen Donald who will play his 50th game for the franchise.
The 25-year-old All Black will become the 16th Chiefs player to have reached the milestone.
Foster was pledging a “stay positive” attitude, regardless of the pressure his side will be under to get things on track after yet another slow start out of the blocks
“We must keep building on the positive aspects of our first two games of the season where our work ethic and defensive attitude was excellent,” said Foster. “Our focus this week is to improve the quality of ball, so that we can get our attacking game going.
“With the continued absence of injured players Muliaina and Kahui it gives another opportunity for this backline to play together and build on its great defensive effort from last week.”
Liam Messam will continue to captain the Chiefs in the absence of regular skipper Muliaina.
The Sharks come to Hamilton riding high after two straight wins to open the new season and are confident they can begin their four-match tour of Australasia on a positive note. The match kicks off at 7.35pm on Saturday night at Waikato Stadium.
CHIEFS: 15 Sosene Anesi, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Dwayne Sweeney, 12 Callum Bruce, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Brendon Leonard; 8 Sione Lauaki, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam (c), 5 Kevin O’Neill, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 James McGougan, 2 Aled de Malmanche, 1 Sona Taumalolo. Reserves: 16 Hika Elliot, 17 Ben May, 18 Toby Lynn, 19 Serge Lilo, 20 Toby Morland, 21 Mike Delany, 22 Jackson Willison.
26 Feb 2009, 10:21 am
The Chiefs inexperienced tight five were shown up badly in their last game, they’ve recognised this and brought in experts to help them out . . . it remains doubtful they will be able to deal adequatly with this Sharks pack . . . their outstanding back, Muliaina, who so often pulls their game together when it’s needed, is injured, as is AB centre Richard Kahui . . . the odds are definitely stacked against them, but the Sharks will still need to lift their game to win this one.
26 Feb 2009, 10:24 am
#45 spooner: interesting reading all, thanks spooner.
it sounds as if luaki is being rushed back. kneejerk selection?
sheesh, i cant wait to see deysel front up to guys like luaki and palu. imo palu did the most damage to the sharks of any player in 2008.
but ja, luaki has had many a stormer against us. lets see if he can hold ontot he ball or if we will hear a repeat of the commentators screaming “LUAKI!!!!” as he fumbles another ball like he did against the wallabies.
getting worked up again, calm down man!
26 Feb 2009, 10:24 am
#43 rangerman: Agree ranger, To have Smit, Beast and Keegan coming off the bench is awesome. I would bring them in long before the last 20min. Maybe the last 35min.
Okay the test has just started. Proteas to field first. Oz will bat. Hope this damn rain stays away.
26 Feb 2009, 10:26 am
#45 spooner:
That is still a very dangerous backline… Full of speed!!
If the Sharks can win by 1 I will be happy!
26 Feb 2009, 10:26 am
#48 Puma: ja, plum is a canny operator. lets see how he operates this weekend.
first ever away tour for him as a s14 head coach, cmon plummers we know you can do it!!!!!
26 Feb 2009, 10:27 am
WICKET!!!!!
26 Feb 2009, 10:28 am
aussies 0 for 1 in the first over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yeeeeeeeeha!!!
26 Feb 2009, 10:28 am
DALE STEYN TAKES THE FIRST WICKET WITH THE FIRST BALL!!!!!!!!!!! AWESOME start to this test.
26 Feb 2009, 10:29 am
I wonder why we keep hearing how the Sharks dont have any locks??? Muller is a bok!! And a very good player!! Sykes is playing well and Hargreaves was a u21 WC winning captain…. He can only get better….
26 Feb 2009, 10:30 am
#51 spooner: #52 rangerman: snap….LOL. Damn awesome that. Also 97 000 tickets sold for this 5 day test so far. Think I may see if I can go up to the wanderers tomorrow if there are any tickets. Have to support the boys.
Hope the rain stays away.
26 Feb 2009, 10:31 am
#55 Puma: eish, thought we had another aussie there…………
26 Feb 2009, 10:32 am
Everyone claiming that the Sharks should beat the Chiefs??? They weren’t great last week, but i reckon the way they played in the first week they would have put most sides away.
It will be a great away win for the sharks, but no disgrace to lose to them.
26 Feb 2009, 10:32 am
#53 Puma:
Awesome!!!!
26 Feb 2009, 10:33 am
#57 kevin w:
As long as they dont get a hiding… Losing by a few knowing you could have won….
26 Feb 2009, 10:34 am
Come on Proteas……. bowl the Ozzmob shitless !
26 Feb 2009, 10:34 am
#57 kevin w: Not everyone.
26 Feb 2009, 10:34 am
#50 rangerman: Think Plum is a great coach. Knows what he is doing.
Hope we win this one on Sat that will put us in a good start for the other games over there. Just pleased we are away from the humidity for now. Cant play good rugga in that humidity they had to play in last Sat. Just hope no rain in for the game on Sat. Still think it will be tough no NZ sides are easy to beat on home soil. Just think Sharks have a far better team than Chiefs.
26 Feb 2009, 10:36 am
#60 grootblousmile: hahaha. Steyn took that first wicket with his first ball….lol. Only the clouds are building up. Hope the rain stays away.
26 Feb 2009, 10:37 am
#63 Puma: Second ball, was’nt it ?
Weather does’nt look too bad at the moment…
26 Feb 2009, 10:38 am
#58 THE MAULER: Yes it was and quiet a big crowd will be there today. Can you believe 97 000 tickets sold for this 5 day test? Damn thats awesome by the supporters to come out and support the test cricket. Tests here have hardly ever been supported.
26 Feb 2009, 10:39 am
Looks there is a lot of movement in the pitch…
26 Feb 2009, 10:39 am
This is one of the tightest games in the round. Think its 50/50 on the sharks winning. The Sharks tight five and subs bench should be able to wear these guys down and if Ruan can get a technical kicking game going they can pound the Chiefs forwards and make them turn around the whole time. About 50 mins of that will ensure they are ready to go home by then. The Chiefs runners are the wild card though.
26 Feb 2009, 10:40 am
#65 Puma: quiet = quite
26 Feb 2009, 10:43 am
#64 grootblousmile: Could have been was walking from the study to the tv at the time just saw the Aussie walk.
I am in fourways at the moment and clouds are building up. Just hope they stay away.
26 Feb 2009, 10:47 am
#43 rangerman: Agreed, the Crusaders defense was good, but lacked imagination on attack, if it wasn’t for Smith’s brainfart pass to let Laulala in for an easy try, they would have been out of it at half time already.
That said, there is nothing about the Brumbies that excites be either!! But they will probably make the top four.
either the Blues or canes will be NZ’s top team.
26 Feb 2009, 10:47 am
#69 Puma: Soutie, give me a run-down of your picks for this week’s Super 14….
I’m having a bit of doubt in the mind about the Bulls / Lions, the Stormers / Blues and the Chiefs / Sharks….
26 Feb 2009, 10:48 am
#71 grootblousmile: Are you guys referring to the Keo’s night owls group?
26 Feb 2009, 10:52 am
#72 Corndog: Mieliehond, just the Super 14 picks in general…. but of course it’ll impact on the Keo,s S14 Night Owls group !
26 Feb 2009, 10:56 am
#73 grootblousmile: Die beste is om klein bietjie geld op die tight games te bet. Kies die een span om te wen op Superbru en die ander een op Sportsbet dan kan jy net op een plek verloor.
26 Feb 2009, 10:56 am
#64 grootblousmile: 4th ball…
26 Feb 2009, 10:56 am
#71 grootblousmile: Okay will do give me 5min gbs.
26 Feb 2009, 11:00 am
#74 Corndog: My dad used to say… “Gambling is a game for Kings and Cnuts, and I’m neither of the 2 !”….
So, in following his great style, I’m not a money betting man !
26 Feb 2009, 11:03 am
#71 grootblousmile: Bulls/Lions – Bulls by 15
Stormers/Blues Mmmm after they let the Reds back in last week. Still think Stormers but only just by 5.
Reds’Cheetahs going with Cheetahas they played well last weeek. Cheetahs by 6
Sharsk/Chiefs going to be tougher than we think. Home turf for Chiefs but still think Sharks to win this one by 5 or 7.
Sader/Canes think Saders with McCaw back Saders by 7
Have to think about the othersides.
26 Feb 2009, 11:04 am
#78 Puma: Sorry for typos
26 Feb 2009, 11:05 am
Another wicket gone. Steyn you beauty.
26 Feb 2009, 11:08 am
What a MAGNIFICENT catch there by NM.
26 Feb 2009, 11:09 am
#78 Puma:
With Pappegaai back, I say Saders by 3 – 6
Tahs wil demolish the Landers by 9 – 15
Chiefs / Tjarks… mmmm difficult one, but I like the Tjarks chances… Tjarks by 1 – 6
Brumbies / Farce, I say Brumbies by agallop of 7 – 11
Local derby between the Lions / Bulls is always a toughie…. with Heinke out I’d say Bulls by 2 – 7
Stormers / Blues, what the hell, I say Stormers by 2 – 6
Reds / Staat, I say this will be the Staat’s first overseas scalp… Staat by 3 – 7
26 Feb 2009, 11:12 am
#77 grootblousmile: Ek dobbel met R10 n game net om dinge interessant te hou. Ek het Sharks met 2 en Stormers met 5
26 Feb 2009, 11:15 am
#70 coma:
I’m a Hurricane man coma…………..and even I think the Crusaders will be the top NZ Team.
I also think the only other teams with any chance of winning this thing are the Tahs, Brumbies, Sharkes and Bulls.
With my Canes and the Stormers being an outside chances.
The rest will have their moments and disrupt the chances of some favoured teams, but………….lets be blunt …they have no show.
26 Feb 2009, 11:18 am
#82 grootblousmile: Bulls will win by more than that gbs. Think they will get the Bonus point aswell and stay on top of the log.
I thought Cheetahs played well last week and were unlucky to lose that one so have them for a win.
Brumbies/Force Brumbies by 10
Tahs/Landers Tahs by a try they don’t convert and then by a penalty by 8 I say.
Remember I am useless at this well up until last week got a lot right but that Bulls game was so out. I said Bulls to win by 5 and they won by 33.
26 Feb 2009, 11:21 am
#84 cane: Thats my top 5 aswell cane. Not in any order, Bulls, Sharks, Saders, Tahs, Brumbies. All those have a chance for a semi. Canes may be there but cant see Stormers making it. Their away draw is just so tough.
26 Feb 2009, 11:23 am
#85 Puma: Mmmmm, you like the Bulls…. you are a bit of an undercover Bulls supporter, I see !
Frankly, the Tjarks could only put 15 past the Lions, so I think it’ll be more difficult for the Bulls… and they’re playing at Coke-sniffing Park…
26 Feb 2009, 11:24 am
#86 Puma: Bulls have the same “Tour from Hell” as the Stormers…. it worries me….
26 Feb 2009, 11:26 am
See these storms clouds building up just hope they stay away from the cricket until we get a few more wickets. Looks like quite a few more supporters have arrived at the ground now.
26 Feb 2009, 11:26 am
#88 grootblousmile: The Bulls have one easy game left…the Stormers.
26 Feb 2009, 11:28 am
#90 K9 Pavement-special: Mmmmm, kyk wat het die foookin hond hier ingedra !
26 Feb 2009, 11:29 am
#89 Puma: Think I’ll be going tomorrow.
26 Feb 2009, 11:31 am
#88 grootblousmile: If Bulls win this game on Sat with a Bonus point and I think they will beat the Stormers they will leave with huge confidence. Just have a good feeling with the Bulls this year. Have had from the start thats why could not believe no one had said much about the Bulls. It was all Stormers and Sharks. I said weeks back the Bulls have been Sharks biggest rivals for a few years now.
They do have 3 big teams to play over there. Saders, Brumbies and Tahs. Feel that the Bulls have enough talent in their team to win those. Even if they lose one they will win most. Stay positive boet. Bulls will be there for sure. Their biggest game will be playing Sharks at the Tank on the 16th May.
26 Feb 2009, 11:32 am
#90 K9 Pavement-special: Jy is n Leeus man, ook maar lekker groot bek nadat julle in die top 4 van SA rugby ingebreek het die laaste 2 jaar en teen die Sharks span verloor het met n klein margin. As ek n smily kon tik sou ek dit nou gedoen het.
26 Feb 2009, 11:33 am
#86 Puma:
Yes it’s not exactly Rocket Science is it Puma.
The Haves and the Have Nots.
26 Feb 2009, 11:34 am
#92 K9 Pavement-special: Lucky you. I was thinking of going. Just depends how busy I am. Normally Friday is hectic. See the grounds getting fuller as the game goes on. Really great to see supporters coming out for the test cricket.
26 Feb 2009, 11:35 am
#94 Corndog: Jy moet onthou die leeus het ‘n geheime wapen teen die bulle.
26 Feb 2009, 11:35 am
#95 cane: lol. Yeah, it looks like that.
26 Feb 2009, 11:37 am
#90 K9 Pavement-special: lol.
26 Feb 2009, 11:38 am
#90 K9 Pavement-special: Bulls also play Highlanders and Canes away. Should win both those. Maybe those will be easier than Stormers.
26 Feb 2009, 11:39 am
OUT ANOTHER WICKET GONE…………MORKEL TAKES A WICKET.
26 Feb 2009, 11:39 am
Bismark is on Preposterone! Because he has preposterous amounts of testosterone!
26 Feb 2009, 11:40 am
#93 Puma: I am hesitantly optimistic about the Bulls… will be able to give my optimism a voice should we beat both the Lions and the Stormers…
Tjarks are always a tough nut to crack… and this year will be no different.
What impresses me about the Tjarks is that they get better as a game progresses…….. real “Slow Poison”, absorbing everything which is thrown, then puncing, sign of a very good team !
26 Feb 2009, 11:41 am
#97 K9 Pavement-special: Ek ken een van die ouens en ek het hom voor die game gesien waar hulle die Bulle op Loftus gewen het. Ons het hom lekker kuk gegee en gese Bakkies gaan hom breek. Sy reponse was om te se nee wat ons gaan wen, ek like dit om daai pyle op loftus te breek. Hulle lift hulleself vir die game elke keer.
26 Feb 2009, 11:44 am
#103 grootblousmile: Actually looking forward to that game. Bulls and Sharks at the tank is a HUGE, HUGE GAME. Like a test really. Always close between both teams.
26 Feb 2009, 11:47 am
#104 Corndog: Wat ook in die leeus se guns tel is dat die bulle vir Ludeke het hehehehe
26 Feb 2009, 11:49 am
#106 K9 Pavement-special: Hulle het hom al n ruk terug ge-deploy om die Bulls strukture stelsematig te verwoes. The stupid assasin
26 Feb 2009, 11:50 am
#106 K9 Pavement-special: Gepraat van “pyle”….
Flokkkkk, ek mag ookie eers se julle Lions supporters is almal Commin nie… want ek is met een getroud !
So, ek sal maar liewer se, al die Lions supporters behalwe Handbriekie is Commin !
26 Feb 2009, 11:52 am
#107 Corndog: Ja hys geplant. Jaco Petoors, Kircher, Kuun, Habana lyk ook of hulle ‘n geldjie onderdeur die tafel kry van erens.
26 Feb 2009, 11:53 am
#107 Corndog: Spies het ook sy een goeie game vir die seisoen gehad teen die Blues se B-span.
26 Feb 2009, 11:54 am
#108 grootblousmile: Haaaahahahahaha
26 Feb 2009, 11:59 am
#111 K9 Pavement-special: Wie sal stut speel in Heinke se plek, daai useless Gerhard Gietergat javel wat so gesukkel het teen die Tjarks ??
26 Feb 2009, 11:59 am
Baie goeie span van die Sharks. Bismark en Botes is baie beter opsies, veral teen die Chiefs.
As die Sharks hierdie een wen, behoort hul ‘n goeie toer te hê.
26 Feb 2009, 12:01 pm
#111 K9 Pavement-special: Whats you prediction on the Bulls and Lions game on Sat K9? Bulls by how much? lol. I say 15 with a bonus point. Then you never know those Lions could surprise. Playing better rugby than last year.
26 Feb 2009, 12:02 pm
#112 grootblousmile: Seker vir Lorrie loskop laat speel.
26 Feb 2009, 12:03 pm
#114 Puma: havent made up my mind yet. Want to see the Lions’ team first.
26 Feb 2009, 12:03 pm
#113 alf: Yes if Sharks win this one then we only have another 3 to play. Think Blues will have their full strength team back but they have a monster travel back to NZ from Cape Town and Sharks are already there. Then we have Reds and WF. Should pick up some wins fromt hose teams. Have to make the most out of our good draw.
26 Feb 2009, 12:03 pm
#110 K9 Pavement-special: Die probleem met Spies is die hoë standaard wat hy gestel het. Al die ander agstemanne soos Alberts, Kanko, Smurfie, ens. se skitterende wedstryde is Spies se gemiddelde wedstryd.
Sal sien wat Saterdag gebeur. As Spies weer ‘gemiddeld’ speel, dan wil ek nou weer **** watter kritiek daar alles gaan wees …
26 Feb 2009, 12:04 pm
Toby Lynn was an All Black last yr…Sheesh the AB’s were scrapping the barrell a bit in the lock stocks last yr..he is rubbish
Sharks should take this one but wont be easy.Lauaki wont last the whole 80 mins,underdone-have a feeling he is being rushed back.Sharks struggled last yr against the big ball carrier but Deysel has been a revelation in that regard,adds beef and physicality.Handled Alberts easily last week.
Chiefs missing the influencial duo of Mils and Kahui-thats huge for them.But Leonard is looking good,his speed around the fringes is the hallmark of his game.Has to be watched carefully.
Cant wait to see young Luzuko Vulindlu come on for the last 20 min or so.He looked great last,has stupedous feet with a steady frame at 98kg.Great prospect
26 Feb 2009, 12:04 pm
#115 K9 Pavement-special: Ja Lorrie sal seker loskop speel met Gert Gietergat op vasskop… Guthro gaan hom ‘n skrumles of 2 gee….
26 Feb 2009, 12:07 pm
hallooooooooo julle
26 Feb 2009, 12:08 pm
#119 mshiniwami: Yes agree L. Vulindlu looked good when he came on. Really fast too. How old is he?
26 Feb 2009, 12:08 pm
#118 alf: Hahahaha
Cheers manne en bulle supporters….moet gou ry.
26 Feb 2009, 12:09 pm
#121 EEE: Hello EEE. Have you seen how good we have started the test against OZ. Have 3 wickets already.
26 Feb 2009, 12:09 pm
#120 grootblousmile: Guthro speel darrem weer goed hierdie jaar
26 Feb 2009, 12:09 pm
#120 grootblousmile: Die bulle se voorry is sag in die maag.
Ciao
26 Feb 2009, 12:09 pm
#116 K9 Pavement-special: I hear that Loffie is really anxious to give Yo-yo Pretorius the run-on No 10 possie….
Kyk, dan het die Leeuwens kuk van die voorste watertjies !
26 Feb 2009, 12:09 pm
#124 Puma: Yep, need another one (ponting) I feel hehehehehe, Helle sokkol jong
26 Feb 2009, 12:10 pm
#125 EEE: Hello Maiki !
26 Feb 2009, 12:11 pm
#126 K9 Pavement-special: Mmmmm, die Lions is sag innie kop !
26 Feb 2009, 12:11 pm
#119 mshiniwami: that vuli is looking full of running. he will hopefully shape but i hadnt seen him before the weekend and am looking forward to a bit more evidence of his potential everyone is talking about.
26 Feb 2009, 12:13 pm
#130 grootblousmile: sommer oral
26 Feb 2009, 12:17 pm
Come on Proteas… what about another wicket ??
26 Feb 2009, 12:19 pm
Flokkkkkkk Bifffffff, dropped a sitter !!
26 Feb 2009, 12:20 pm
#133 grootblousmile: Yep Ponting!!!!
26 Feb 2009, 12:22 pm
#134 grootblousmile: Yes and it was Ponting would have been a huge wicket that. DAMN.
26 Feb 2009, 12:23 pm
#134 grootblousmile: wie het hy gedrop
26 Feb 2009, 12:23 pm
#128 EEE: Almost had Ponting there. GS dropped a sitter there.
26 Feb 2009, 12:24 pm
Ponting dropped on 45. Hope this does not cost us.
26 Feb 2009, 12:24 pm
#137 EEE: Ricky blerrie Ponting !
26 Feb 2009, 12:26 pm
#122 Puma:
22 yrs old
He is originally a 13,good speed.No habana though but big frame 98kg.Played Natal craven at 13 in 05
26 Feb 2009, 12:26 pm
#140 grootblousmile: hy moenie datons nouweer moerig raak vir hom nie!!!! Nou gaan Ponting 100 kry
26 Feb 2009, 12:35 pm
#141 mshiniwami: Still young. Has a lot of speed. Just never seen him until Sat night. Good to see some new youngsters coming through. Will get better after this S14. Even if he only gets 20 min a game. It will be good for him.
26 Feb 2009, 12:41 pm
#118 alf: Jy praat kak prontuit, doen dit seker al vir jare!!!
26 Feb 2009, 12:52 pm
#144 coma: Ja, ek sien jy is nogsteeds in ‘n ‘coma’. Wanneer was jy laas wakker om te weet wat om jou aangaan, veral in die rugby ?
26 Feb 2009, 12:59 pm
#145 alf: Jou love affair met Pierretjis Masterbeertjie belemmer jou oordeel.
26 Feb 2009, 13:15 pm
#146 coma: Toemaar, jy sal eendag wakker word … slaap maar nog so bietjie.
26 Feb 2009, 13:20 pm
#146 coma: Coma, voor jy verder slaap: as jy deur my boodskappe van laasjaar gaan, sal jy sien dat ek ook vir Kanko bo Spies gekies het vir die Bokspan. Kanko was beter as Spies, maar die red was omdat Spies ‘n afjaar beleef het, soos dit met enige topspeler gebeur. Maar, as altwee speel volgens hul volle potensiaal, dus op hul beste is, dan is Spies die beste. Gaan vra maar enige rugbykenner regoor die wêreld, hy sal vir jou dieselfde sê. Erken dit nou maar, en maak vrede daarmee.
26 Feb 2009, 13:26 pm
#147 alf: Moet jy nie die buurman se kat gaan vang nie, alfie???
26 Feb 2009, 13:28 pm
#148 alf: Ek is seker Richie McCaw sal met jou stry, dink nie hy het al “die bus is vol” treatment van Pierretjie af gekry nie.
26 Feb 2009, 13:29 pm
#149 coma: Klaar almal opge-eet … Burp !
26 Feb 2009, 13:31 pm
#150 coma: Hehehehe. Spies moet homself nog bewys in ‘n tight game. Kan nie tackle nie. Veral rondom die skrums en losskrums. Hy was goed in twee games. Teen Eng B/c en Saterdag. En altwee games was dit touchrugby gewees.
26 Feb 2009, 13:34 pm
#148 alf: Vok, gaan jy binnekort uitbars in “Jam blikke, Vis blikke”?
26 Feb 2009, 13:39 pm
#152 K9 Pavement-special: Ek stem, kyk die ou is nie sleg nie, ek geniet sy rugby van tyd tot tyd, maar die feit bly staan, hy het nie verdien om voor Kanko te speel laas jaar nie. Kanko was loshande doe beste 8 in die S14 en CC.
Spies het een groot voordeel, ‘n getekende springbok kontrak!!!
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