Sharks shut out Province

21 Aug 2010

GRANT BALL reports on the Sharks’ 27-16 victory over Western Province in Durban.

This top of the table clash was billed as a contest featuring two contrasting styles with Province’s more pragmatic game against the ball-in-hand approach of the hosts. However, both sides preferred to retain the ball and while the Sharks had most of the possession in the opening quarter, the visitors’ famed defence was solid as the Sharks’ attack proved too lateral early on.

While Province led 9-8 at the break, their problems at the set-pieces ensured the Sharks successfully shut them out the game to win the second half 19-7.

It was an arm wrestle in the opening half hour, with kickers Willem de Waal and Pat Lambie missing relatively easy chances, but the pair succeeded with later attempts to keep the scores tied at 3-3.

As Province came more and more into the game near half-time, De Waal claimed the lead with his second penalty. But it was short-lived, as Keegan Daniel benefitted from an unseen forward pass to beat the tackle of Pieter Louw and put Odwa Ndungane away in the corner.

While Lambie had missed two kicks, De Waal only missed the solitary effort and added his third to claim a one-point lead at the break.

Province were hampered by injuries to their two flanks, Louw and Rynhardt Elstadt, and as a result their defence waned. Bismarck du Plessis was instrumental with ball in hand, as was Willem Alberts, and with that forward momentum they found holes in the usually stern Province defence. The hosts came out strongly in the second half, and Kankowski broke the line to canter over.

When Lambie added another penalty to make it 18-9 and with the visitors uncharacteristically falling off many tackles, the Sharks looked clear favourites to break Province’s unbeaten run in the competition.

Province had their moments in opposition territory, but they were hampered by receiving slow ball from the rucks, with Du Plessis omnipresent in stealing or disrupting the ruck recycle. Conversely the Sharks repeatedly bossed the collisions, with only Duane Vermeulen knocking back runners (his massive driving tackle on Du Plessis was a classic).

The hosts grew in confidence as the match progressed, and were happy to inflict more pain via two penalties from Lambie and Stefan Terblanche’s drop to end the first round of the Currie Cup on top of the log.

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87 Comments

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  • 1.Suidkapenaar: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 21:13 pm

    Wp’s soft under belly (poor tight 5) was exposed last week against a very weak Bulls team. Sharks looking good, and WP can kiss the Currie Cup good bye with Willem de Waal at 10.

  • 2.Dusky: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 21:16 pm

    Dominant WP ? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ! Nice Sharks !

  • 3.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 21:25 pm

    @Suidkapenaar(Suidkapenaar)-1: great stuff sharks , well tried wp , they showed huge heart in defence , as did the sharks

  • 4.justrugby: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 21:28 pm

    Well done Sharks !!!!

    A couple of moments of brilliance from Kanko !!

    I expected you to win your home game !!

    See you at Newlans !!

  • 5.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 21:31 pm

    thanks JR was hard game

    wp gave back what they got

    and as for kanko sorry but i reckon he is way better then spies right now and even hit rucks

    something spies avoids like the plague

    vermeulen also tried hard

    bismark was back to being the best

  • 6.Dusky: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 21:39 pm

    Sharks will take WP at Newlands as well. Big question is how will the Bulls perform will their Boks back ?

  • 7.justrugby: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 21:44 pm

    @Dusky(Dusky)-6:

    And remember Province get Jaque fourie, Habana , Jedev, Schalk, JuaN de Jong, Francois Louw back……….should make a differnce ……not ????

  • 8.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 21:47 pm

    @justrugby(justrugby)-7: nope JR the top 20 boks are to be rested and reconditioned as agreed with all the provincial coaches

    there is one or 2 they will get back , as will the sharks

  • 9.justrugby: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 21:49 pm

    @sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-8:

    Lucky Sharks !!!

    Still think we will take you at Newlands !!

    As I expected you to beat us at the Tank !!

  • 10.SimiJan: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 21:56 pm

    Grant, you make a big deal about the two injuries to the WP flanks, yet make no mention of the fact that Ludik left the field concussed and Strauss’s injury…

    Secondly, that pass from Kankowski (leading to the Ndungane try) was not forward. Stop being so biased. If Province had won it would have been the leading story on this Blue & White blinkered site, as it stand it’s the 6th story down!

    @justrugby(justrugby)-9: Lucky? Hahaha.

  • 11.justrugby: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 21:59 pm

    @SimiJan(MerckZ)-10:

    Read what I am saying in context !!!…………..my reply to SL …….FFS !!!

  • 12.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 21:59 pm

    Well done to the sharks – they were better today – no complaints.
    The final will probablty also be between this 2 teams – whoever gets the home final will have the advantage.

    Bismarc and Duanne should start for the Boks against the Aussies

    Sadly there is not much chance that it will happen.

  • 13.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 21:59 pm

    @justrugby(justrugby)-9: lucky??yeah right :shock:

  • 14.SimiJan: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:00 pm

    @SimiJan(MerckZ)-10: Correction, 8th story down. Sigh…

  • 15.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:00 pm

    @Robzim(Robzim)-12: thanks rob

    atlast some gentlemanly recognition :wink:

  • 16.SimiJan: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:01 pm

    @justrugby(justrugby)-11: I did… No need to swear :)

  • 17.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:02 pm

    kanko and vermeulen both played well today

    alberts was huge as usual , what a strong bugger

    daniel , well does he wiegh 98 or 130??? he punches well above his weight

    bismark showed again he is beilliant when concentrating on the game and forgetting the stupid stuff

  • 18.justrugby: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:03 pm

    @sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-15:

    Hey ……I said well done !!!

  • 19.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:03 pm

    now now boys play nice no fighting

  • 20.grant10: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:03 pm

    @Robzim(Robzim)-12: ja

    true words

    should but wont

    and these wamkers will still convince themselves that smit will lead us to wc glory in kiwiland.

    farjen morims

  • 21.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:04 pm

    @justrugby(justrugby)-18: lol ok boet you also said lucky

    i took ur last word :lol:

    cool beans boet , both teams showed big heart

  • 22.grant10: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:04 pm

    bissy best 2 in the world

    olease sharks play smit….please!

  • 23.justrugby: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:05 pm

    @sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-13:

    Well I think you are lucky that we won’t have all our boks back….!!!

  • 24.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:05 pm

    @grant10(grant10)-20: calm down boet the tighter that speedo the higher the pitch in ur voice?

    :lol: relax deep breaths in out in out in out :lol:

  • 25.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:05 pm

    @justrugby(justrugby)-23: ahhhhhhhhhhhhh ok say so then ffs :lol:

  • 26.justrugby: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:06 pm

    @sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-21:

    Yip….Kanko wa special tonight , as was Bissy…..hopefully Pdev pulls them from the rest of the CC :)

  • 27.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:07 pm

    @sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-17:

    If Bismarc can manage to let go of the silly stuff he is the best hooker in the world imo.

  • 28.justrugby: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:07 pm

    @sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-25:

    :)

  • 29.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:07 pm

    @justrugby(justrugby)-23: i remember the same words were not utteret last year when the boks had a huge amount of boks out and the stormers didnt

    just remember at present the sharks are also without 7 players through boks or injuries

    but no matter mate , we take it as it comes

  • 30.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:08 pm

    @Robzim(Robzim)-27: agreed

  • 31.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:08 pm

    @justrugby(justrugby)-26: :lol:

  • 32.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:08 pm

    Watched the last 30 minutes of the game, and the Sharks totally dominated.

    Province’s consoliation try at the end was like the Ricky January/Pieter Louw try in the S14 final – after the contest was over and making the game look closer than it actually was.

    Province weren’t in the game.

    That said, I’m not sure how many Boks the Sharks will get back, while Province have about 8 players out.

    When both teams are at full strength, I think the contest will be pretty tight. Until then, Province aren’t in the same league.

  • 33.justrugby: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:10 pm

    Early tee off time at Langebaan tomorrow ………cheers all !!! well done Sharks !!!!!

  • 34.grant10: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:11 pm

    just hope j smit puts a spoke in the sharks wheels…..

  • 35.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:12 pm

    @grant10(grant10)-20:

    Hi Grant,

    I felt sorry for John today – he was totally gutted after the match , also admitted he let the team down by slipping the vital tackle during the moveement that led to the winning try for the AB’s

    He should just retire now before he does his reputation even more harm.

    Lets hope sanity prevails.

  • 36.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:12 pm

    @justrugby(justrugby)-33: enjoy boet have a good one

  • 37.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:13 pm

    @grant10(grant10)-34: grant very mature of you mate , you need help

  • 38.grant10: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:13 pm

    smits now costing boks…..

    always coming down the track

    told you okes he is a liability…..if we cant beat these okes in front of 90000 at altitude we deep in the kak.

    Can we afford the mythical candy floss any longer?

  • 39.willievz: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:14 pm

    @Tacitus(Tacitus)-32: I agree. One can expand this analysis beyond the WP/Sharks space and make two general conclusions from your statement:

    (i) what a difference Springboks make to a CC team.
    (ii) why one should be careful about crying out for provincial players outside the Bok squad to wear Bok jerseys.

    There are not many international players out there. And rightly so.

  • 40.grant10: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:14 pm

    @sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-37: no mate….play him anywhere in your sharks front row….please !!

  • 41.crowbar: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:14 pm

    WP all backline but no engine, their tight 5 just not good enough to win the CC

  • 42.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:16 pm

    I thought Morne’s two missed touch finders and Jean De Villiers’ stupid turnover that lead to the All Blacks getting possession for the final try were just as crucial in our loss.

    As well as whoever missed the tackle that caused the linebreak about 3 phases before Mccaw’s try.

    But yes, Smit’s missed tackle – and his skew line out throwing – was pretty bad.

  • 43.grant10: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 22:17 pm

    SA only place in the world that will rather have a smit than a bissy…..amazes me.

    How good was beast?

    No man….i am seriously pis sed off ….we must mature as a nation now….stop the rubbish and lets play the real okes….not thses fat boys….

    Next week….Smit again???

    Why??????

  • 44.Doomsayer: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 23:03 pm

    The boks need more SHARKS! SHARKS! SHARKS!

    The boks need more SHARKS! SHARKS! SHARKS!

    Kick the province players out of the team, we need more SHARKS! SHARKS! SHARKS!

  • 45.Doomsayer: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 23:05 pm

    Oop! Now that the Sharks have COMPREHENSIVELY beaten the Provice girls we’ll see some wet pantie drama on Keo this week.

    Cue the anti Smit brigage stage left…

  • 46.Doomsayer: Reply to this comment
    21 Aug 2010, 23:06 pm

    Loved how Daniels made Vermeulen his prison b!tch in a couple of hard man tackles!

  • 47.Rhys7: Reply to this comment
    22 Aug 2010, 01:55 am

    ok ok sharks fans

    your missing

    Jp Pietersen
    Jannie Du Plessis
    John Smit

    Wp missing

    JDV
    Juan De Jongh
    Jaque Fourie
    Byran Habana
    Ricky Januarie
    Francois Louw
    Schalk Burger
    Andries Bekker
    Gio Aplon

    hehehehehehehhe

  • 48.optiplay: Reply to this comment
    22 Aug 2010, 02:26 am

    @Rhys7(Rhys7)-47: Bonehead

  • 49.optiplay: Reply to this comment
    22 Aug 2010, 02:43 am

    @Rhys7(Rhys7)-47: What you are saying is all the WP people in the national side is the reason we are so weak?

  • 50.Geldjie: Reply to this comment
    22 Aug 2010, 03:20 am

    No matter what the excuses,Sharks are on top of the log,for good reason!haha,go SHARKS!

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Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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