A very important away win for Sharks
Is it the characteristic of Jake White teams, right?
False!
The charcteristic of Jake White's teams are being competitive and winning matches, be it Springboks, Brumbies, Sharks...
A very important away win for Sharks
Is it the characteristic of Jake White teams, right?
False!
The charcteristic of Jake White's teams are being competitive and winning matches, be it Springboks, Brumbies, Sharks...
I love the whole debate. We beat the Crusaders on their turf. That's all that matters. Nobody remembers the flashy passes once the silverware is won. I don't care.
The only reason Australia is so eager to play "entertaining" rugby is because Rugby Union is the 4th sport in the country so they have to attract people instead of playing to win.
What a result! I only caught the last half hour, but from what I saw, the skills from both sides were shocking, and the Sharks certainly gave the Crusaders some good opportunities, as they did for us. Kyle Cooper plays maybe five minutes this season, and when finally given more time, the lad wins us the game! We look a far ways off a championship side, but I hope this is the kickstart we so badly needed. Already going home with a guaranteed two wins, better result than what many gave us.
We played for an hour with 14 men (and ten with 13) in a place where SA teams haven't won in over a decade, against a team we rarely beat. At least we can discard a few of those old 'blocks'.
Agreed I thought the Sharks gave the Saders untold opportunities to win that game thats the crazy thing about it. Facts are facts the Crusaders attack is still terrible... the Brumbies game must of just been a fluke its about the only way you can explain it!
I have no doubt Jake White knew if they D up on this side they'd likely push them pretty hard. This is why imo there's no way the Saders can win this comp every team in the comp should be on notice now that if you D up properly on the Saders they cant do jack.
The only reason Australia is so eager to play "entertaining" rugby is because Rugby Union is the 4th sport in the country so they have to attract people instead of playing to win.
In the last month or so the Crusaders have also put 50 points on both the Cheetahs and Reds, so I don't see how you could call putting 40 on the Brumbies a 'fluke'. They are certainly far from perfect, but when they fire they are capable of scoring a lot of tries. Adding Keiran Read (aka the best player in the world) will no doubt improve there attack, Dagg (though I don't rate him highly) adds a lot more than Taylor at fullback, and that I understand that Dan Carter fella (who they will have back after the mid-year tests) is pretty handy too.....
While agree that the Crusaders attack is too structured at times and can be shut down to a degree by a strong defense, I don't know any team in the competition that can't be shut down by a strong defense. I don't think any of the other teams will have learnt any thing they don't already know - if you play good defense the opposition won't score many tries, especially if that opposition plays very poorly.....
Cheetas and Reds in particular have been very average though so i dont think they are a good example to rate the Saders performances off which is why I said the Brumbies game seemed a bit of a fluke. IMO thats about 4 or so games where they have been diabolically bad and are a bit lucky to have as many wins as they do. Every other NZ side has more BP than they do.
I disagree about not being able to shut them down with a good defence. Its clear to me if you defend well against them they dont have a clue. Honestly the Saders only consistent attacking weapon is when they start pinching down each side of the ruck and seem to blow through at times with their big ball carriers.
That's right - every side puts 50 points on the Reds and Cheetahs... oh wait...
No-one is claiming the Cheetahs or Reds are any good this season (though the Cheetahs did just beat the Brumbies), however if you can put 50 points on any side it shows you have a pretty good attack if you click (it has only happened 3 times this season - twice by the Crusaders)! As I also pointed out the Crusaders do have some serious firepower coming back soon too....
I never said the Crusaders couldn't be shut down (to some degree) by a strong defense. My point was that any side in the competition can be shut down by a strong defense. Can you name a side that can't be? All of the top teams this season have had a number of games where they have struggled to score many (if any) tries.....
Used to it? Mate, I'm well used to it. So used to it in fact, that I'm sick to death of it.
Didnt Austraila win the 1999 WC with a solid league style defense and a good kicking game?
How were the sharks meant to play with 14 men on the pitch?
Didnt Austraila win the 1999 WC with a solid league style defense and a good kicking game?
How were the sharks meant to play with 14 men on the pitch?
I actually wish all teams will show this much guts and balls when they get a card against them. It's too often that teams just give up and just try to not lose by too many points as they expect.