Sharks vs Hurricanes

[Steve-o]

Game of the round on the cards here.
The Canes looked very dangerous when they got their hands on the ball against the Lions last week. Supreme off-loading in the tight eventually broke the Lions back. They're playing more direct these days with Donald kicking a bit more.
The Sharks are a well balanced unit this year and should cope with the tight game but their scrabble defense will be in over drive today. Every player from 1-15 in the Canes can offload fast and accurate. The one place where the Sharks will target the Canes is the lineouts, just like with most NZ teams. Steyn needs to pull his finger out and give us a good tactical game at 10.
One dent in the tank that is the Sharks is the possible loss of Pietersen. Him and Vulindlu are named at 11, pending on if he is fit from his leg injury. Pietersen has been in lethal form recently, tied with Sivi on the try scorers list.

Team line ups:
The Sharks 15. Stefan Terblanche 14. Odwa Ndungane 13. Adrian Jacobs 12. Riaan Swanepoel 11. JP Pietersen / Luzuko Vulindlu 10. Francois Steyn 9. Rory Kockott 8. Ryan Kankowski 7. Keegan Daniel 6. Jacques Botes 5. Johann Muller (Captain) 4. Steven Sykes 3. John Smit 2. Bismarck du Plessis 1. Tendai Mtawarira Replacements: 16. Jannie du Plessis 17. Deon Carstens 18. Albert van den Berg 19. Skholiwe Ndlovu 20. Charl McLeod 21. Monty Dumond 22. Luzuko Vulindlu / Chris Jordaan.

Hurricanes 1. John Schwalger,2. Andrew Hore,3. Neemia Tialata,4. Bryn Evans,5. Jason Eaton,6. Faifili Levave,7. Karl Lowe,8. Rodney So'oialo ©,9. Alby Mathewson,10. Piri Weepu,11. David Smith,12. Ma'a Nonu,13. Conrad Smith,14. Zac Guildford,15. Cory Jane

Reserves,16. Dane Coles,17. Jacob Ellison,18. Tim Fairbrother,19. Api Naikatini,20. Victor Vito,21. Willie Ripia,22. Tamati Ellison

 

[Steve-o]

Final score: Sharks 33 - 17 Hurricanes

Like I predicted the Canes played a high pace game right in the beginning and actually dictated it play for atleast 30 mins with quick off loads and wide backline movement. Steyn and Kockott both played into the hands of the Canes by taking quick taps and running from our own half.
Once we came out from half time (and Steyn got his weekly smack around the ear) we played tactical, and got rewarded. We started playing lineouts more and stole a lot of ball off their lineout. Once Carstens and Du Plessis came on we started dominating in the scrums and in the tight. Aggressive rucking was our saving grace though, everybody was competing well. Really happy with the boys tonight.

 

[munross]

Well done to your boys Steve-o, finally a win for a SA side this weekend.

The Cheetahs and Lions put up a bit of a show but the Stormers and Bulls just really sucked this weekend!

Sharks should now make the semi's and final easily

 

[Steve-o]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Intercept King JdV @ Apr 4 2009, 08:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Well done to your boys Steve-o, finally a win for a SA side this weekend.

The Cheetahs and Lions put up a bit of a show but the Stormers and Bulls just really sucked this weekend!

Sharks should now make the semi's and final easily[/b]

Yeah not a good weekend for SA teams, the Cheetahs and Lions games were the most frustrating. They had a chance to win and let it slip. As for the other 2... They were going nowhere slowly in both games.

We got a good chance of making the semi's now that we're finished with our Australasian leg. Just games in SA left. Ruan Pienaar should be back shortly and Pietersen should be back next weekend. Looking forward to it