WP shut out champs
11 Jul 2009
WP kept the Sharks tryless in a 29-15 upset at Newlands on Saturday.
The driving rain and slippery under-foot conditions prescribed a more conservative approach, an approach best suited to WP flyhalf Willem de Waal. WP got off to a dream start when All Blacks lock Chris Jack charged a Rory Kockott-clearance in the opening minute, but this match was primarily a battle of the boot.
De Waal goaled Jack’s try from the touchline and went on to kick three more penalties in the first half. It was only through Kockott’s equally accurate efforts that the Sharks were able to go to the shed trailing 16-12.
When presented with possession in midfield, the hosts sought to give the ball plenty of air, either probing for territory or launching the high-bomb. These tactics appeared successful as the Sharks spent the majority of the first period in their own half, but on occasion, WP failed to acknowledge their options outside. Wingers Sireli Naqelevuki and Frikkie Welsh could have been replaced by cardboard cut-outs and it hardly would have changed a thing.
The WP lineout pinched a few off the Sharks’ throw with Jack and fellow new recruit Anton Van Zyl making a big impact. The Sharks’ scrum won a few penalties, but they definitely didn’t have it all their own way with the WP eight applying plenty of pressure.
Kockott kept the visitors in touch with four penalties, but missed his fifth attempt right on the stroke of half-time. After the break, the Sharks’ scrummie saw his sixth shot also fall short as the visitors battled to gain any ascendancy.
No 8 Keegan Daniel was then sin-binned for an infringement at the maul and WP proceeded to score 10 points in his absence. Van Zyl made an incisive break and drew two defenders before freeing up Morgan Newman. Newman acted as a link to Naqelevuki, who hauled in a stray pass to power through the last Sharks’ tackle attempt and score.
De Waal was in unstoppable form with the boot, goaling another touchline conversion. He added a further penalty moments later to take WP to a comfortable 26-12 lead.
Kockott managed to find his radar when Van Zyl transgressed at the breakdown, but WP continued to lead the fight in both the territorial and possessional stakes. When Sharks pivot Guy Cronje did get the ball, it was all he could do to hack it upfield. The Sharks’ midfield hardly featured from an attacking perspective.
The significant period on defence began to tell as the game entered the final quarter. The WP backs grew more adventurous and exploited some tired tackling, speedsters like Juan de Jongh coming into their own.
Johann Muller’s men refused to give in, but their desperation became more patent as the clock wound down. Muller opted to kick for touch with 17 minutes remaining. It was a decision that backfired as the WP forwards managed to affect the turnover while De Waal obliged with the clearance.
The Sharks sustained another debilitating blow when Muller left the field with an arm injury. Just as Jean de Villiers’s injury in the Stormers vs Sharks Super 14 match cost the hosts on that occasion, so did Muller’s departure on this occasion. They battled for composure, and even though WP made a number of errors, the Sharks failed to capitalise.
The defending champions will have plenty to ponder following this performance. They were outdone by an underrated WP tight-five and obliterated by the WP loose trio at the breakdown. Ultimately, this allowed men like De Waal to do the rest.
It seemed fitting that De Waal kicked a massive 50m penalty in the 75th minute to put the result beyond doubt. The ball bounced off the crossbar and looped over. WP had all the luck in this fixture, but they were also good enough to make most of their opportunities tell.
By Jon Cardinelli
218 Comments
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11 Jul 2009, 19:41 pm
#195 carol: For tonight I wont Carol..lol.
Enjoy your evening. Its sounds like its going to be a lot of fun.
11 Jul 2009, 19:41 pm
#200 Langenhoven: deal. good night all.
11 Jul 2009, 19:42 pm
#199 wp_boytjie: Bulls
11 Jul 2009, 19:44 pm
#197 Puma: Forgot Bissie too. Probably we miss too many of our Boks in the Sharks.
11 Jul 2009, 19:46 pm
#203 Puma: hectic!At Roftus ?
11 Jul 2009, 19:46 pm
#185 carol: Good on you Carol. I saw it looked terrible the weather there.
11 Jul 2009, 19:47 pm
#205 wp_boytjie: It will be. I know they play Bulls not sure if its at Loftus or Newlands.
Remember Bulls are too without their Boks. Still if its at Loftus their Boks or no Boks its damn hard to beat Bulls there.
11 Jul 2009, 19:48 pm
Cheers all out of here now. Back to the visitors.
Once again WELL DONE WP.
11 Jul 2009, 19:52 pm
#207 Puma: Ya , it will be tough no doubt Bulls have the best depth in the country currently. Happy my underrated pack came through again today , especially in the scrums against Jannie and Carstens & co.
We need Des Fountain & Vermeulen back in the mix. And where the f*ck has Flo gone ??
Who do you shout for Puma
11 Jul 2009, 19:53 pm
Rassie has spoke about the importance of a successful Currie Cup as prep for the S14.
So you need to do 2 things:
a. Remove liabilities (Brits, AJ Venter etc)
b. Add assets (Jack, Van Zyl, Welsh)
Establish a culture of hard work, but with smart play.
I am glad because I see there is a plan.
11 Jul 2009, 19:59 pm
#210 Sheriff: Welsch wasnt great today, what did you think of his game?
11 Jul 2009, 20:00 pm
Also chuffed to see AJ and Brits gone. Always been a Tiaan Liebenberg fan , he scrums well and does the hard work.
11 Jul 2009, 22:33 pm
#209 wp_boytjie: No so great against Jannie and Deon, they are really average
We still need a proper front row, Van Zyl is looking good at lock so is Jack
Ricky is serioulsy undercooked at 9
11 Jul 2009, 22:58 pm
Proooooooooooooooooovince…great to seem them back on track.
One thing that needs to be learnt though – when the penalty is your way, don’t get involved in fights…too much risk of it getting turned around.
12 Jul 2009, 00:25 am
I was recovering from the flu, it was pouring with rain, there was not a dry spot on my jeans, my boots had water swishing around in them, my voice is gone but for them, I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
WP JOU LEKKER DING!
12 Jul 2009, 00:30 am
#215 SpringbokSarah: Changed sides again so soon? A couple of days ago you admitted to being a Bull supporter in disguise. Blue face paint….
12 Jul 2009, 11:16 am
If I have to watch Jackie Paper ref this whole season I am going to buy a blanket and pillow. The man could turn an acid trip into a boring 10 hours of watching paint dry.
12 Jul 2009, 12:47 pm
#216 Senga: sis man
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