Rassie Erasmus
Sharks flank Jean Deysel has been suspended for two weeks after being found guilty of foul play by a SANZAR Judicial Hearing held in Durban on Tuesday.
Sharks (13) 26 / Waratahs (11) 21 (Final Score)
The Sharks hosted the Waratahs at Mr Price Kings Park, Durban at 17:05 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Sharks left it late but ground out the necessary win, moving them to No 5 on the Combined Log.
The Sharks have named their team to face the Waratahs in what will be their final home game of the Super Rugby pool stages with John Smit as captain.
The Sharks Super Rugby loss to the Bulls in Round 14 came at a cost as at least two players will miss this weekend’s Waratahs clash.
Sharks (6) 23 / Bulls (23) 32 (Final Score)
The Sharks hosted the Vodacom Bulls at Mr Price Kings Park, Durban at 19:10 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Bulls controlled the first half and to a large extent bullied the Sharks, only for the Sharks to show a huge amount of guts in the second half to try and claw the deficit back.
In the end, the Bulls won by 9 points, denying the Sharks any Log points, whilst earning 4 Log points.
Sharks name a strong team as they go into battle with the ever improving Vodacom Bulls in Durban.
With the Superugby season getting into the business end of the season, every weekend you will have major deciding clashes. Everyone might differ which one is the most important and this article is written from a South African perspective.
This weekend’s action starts with one of the biggies, the Blues and the Stormers, on Friday, and ends with the Sharks versus the Bulls in Durban on Saturday evening.
Sharks (6) 34 / Brumbies (16) 16 (Final Score)
The Sharks hosted the Brumbies at Kings Park, Durban at 19:10 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Sharks started shockingly and by Halftime had only scored 2 measly penalties for their 6 points, against 16 by the Brumbies.
In the second half, it was a different Sharks team, one wonders what they ate or drank, they eventually scored 28 points in the second half and kept the Brumbies scoreless at the same time, running in 4 converted tries.
Leadership groups in sport is important, but when does a leadership group turn into a clique? Continue reading
Stormers (22) 32 /Sharks (9) 12 (Final Score)
The DHL Stormers hosted the Sharks at Newlands, Cape Town at 19:10 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Stormers comprehensively outplayed the Sharks, for a full bag of 5 Log points…. the Stormers are on fire!
John Plumtree sprang a few surprises when naming his side for the clash with the DHL Stormers this coming weekend.
Sharks (13) 40 / Hurricanes (13) 24 (Final Score)
The Sharks hosted the Hurricanes at Kings Park, Durban at 17:05 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Sharks fired and misfired at times but managed to win and get their bonus point for tries to boot.
The Sharks have named Partick Lambie in their team to face the Hurricanes this weekend however Bismarck du Plessis will miss the match.
The Sharks have been boosted by the return of flyhalf Patrick Lambie at training ahead of this weekend’s Super Rugby clash against the Hurricanes.
Sharks (17) 27 / Lions (3) 3 (Final Score)
The Sharks hosted the MTN Lions at Kings Park, Durban at 19:10 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Sharks scored their bonus point try after the final hooter via a quick tap by McLeod from a penalty and going over under the sticks, eventually winning by a 24-point margin against a Lions side who seem to be regressing and showing all the traits of last year.
Sharks Stefan Terblanche is set to become the first player in Sharks and Natal rugby history to play 200 games for the Union.
The Sharks have lost lock Alistair Hargreaves for three weeks as a result of the shoulder injury he sustained playing against the Stormers in Durban last weekend.
Sharks (6) 6 / Stormers (13) 16 (Final Score)
The Sharks hosted the DHL Stormers at Kings Park, Durban at 17:05 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
In a hard and brutal battle the Stormers overcame the Sharks on Sharks home turf, resulting in the 3rd successive loss in a row for the Sharks now in the Super Rugby Series of 2011. The Stormers on the other hand stays the only unbeaten side in the Super Rugby Series of 2011.
John Smit is being done a massive disservice at the moment, one that could spell disaster and cost him the Springbok captaincy for the Rugby World Cup later this year. Continue reading
Lock Steven Sykes looks set to become the latest Sharks player to leave the franchise to further his career overseas at the end of the current Super Rugby season.
The Sharks are sweating on an injury to replacement fly half Jacques-Louis Potgieter who has been sent for scan on his calf.
The potential injury will be a big blow for the Sharks as they have already lost Patrick Lambie for about three weeks to a finger injury.
Crusaders (34) 44 / Sharks (18) 28 (Final Score)
The Crusaders and the Sharks did battle in a game “Hosted” by the Crusaders at Twickenham, London, England at 17:00 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
What a game!
Scintilating rugby, game of all time in the History of Super Rugby!
5 Tries by the Crusaders, 4 tries by the Sharks.
With the energy, frequency and sheer number of matches in a competition like the Super 15, you almost never get a moment to sit down and reflect on issues, but I had to make the time to do just that. Continue reading
Jacques-Louis Potgieter has replaced Patrick Lambie in the Sharks team to face the Crusaders at Twickenham on Sunday.
Sharks wunderkind Pat Lambie may play in the historic match against the Crusaders at Twickenham on Sunday with a protective support on his fractured finger.
Chiefs (3) 15 / Sharks (6) 9 (Final Score)
The Chiefs hosted the Sharks at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton at 08:35 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
In wet conditions it was never going to be champagne rugby and the Chiefs toughed out a hard win by 15 / 9.
It has been confirmed by the Sharks and in so doing put an end to it just being a rumour, Yes 31 year old Marius Joubert will be joining the Sharks as soon as his team Clermont Auvergne who are currently leading the standings in the French league complete their season.
The Sharks have named their team to face the Chiefs in Hamilton with Captain John Smith moving to loosehead in place of Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira who drops to the bench.
The Crusaders match against the Sharks match at Twickenham has been confirmed for March 27 at 4pm local time.
England’s Rugby Football Union have agreed to host the match on the Sunday as the previous date clashed with Harlequins playing Gloucester at the Twickenham Stoop in the Aviva Premiership.
The Champion, Blue Bulls suffered their third consecutive defeat of the season. Four teams, The Sharks , Griquas, Pampas XV and EP Kings are still unbeaten. The EP Kings had to forfeit the Log points of their first two games because they used illegitimate players in both matches. Read on for the match reports from Supersport
Rebels (18) 32 / Sharks (13) 34 (Final Score)
The Melbourne Rebels hosted the Sharks at AAMI Park, Melbourne at 10:40 SA Time. This was the game thread for discussion of the match. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD and M-Net on TV in SA.
The Sharks won by the skin of their teeth, 34 / 32, but in the process managed to get their bonus point for tries scored.
The worrying thing for the Sharks will be that they conceded 4 tries in return, after not giving a single try away before this match.
John Smit aka “Barney” will start for the first time in this year’s Super Rugby Tournament as he leads the side out in their second tour match against the Melbourne Rebels on Friday.
The Sharks have been approached by the Crusaders about playing their match on March the 25th at Twickenham in London.
The Crusaders cannot play their scheduled matches at AMI Stadium as it was damaged by the earthquake that hit Christchurch last month.