The Sharks took on the Western Force in a warm-up match at Newlands, Cape Town tonight. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. See match summary below.

Check these stunning Photo’s of the game:

 

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Match Summary:

So the Sharks lost the game. But, like warm-up games are supposed to be, it really taught us nothing. At some stage I would prefer to have watched paint dry, than watching the game.

The two John’s, Mitchell and Plumtree, obviously had two different approaches to the game. The local John as expected said that he was happy with his preparation and that the score really meant nothing, where the Ausie John said that his first 15 combinations were tried and tested.

Plumtree admit that the areas of concern were the scrum and line-outs as well as the number of turn arounds. Both coaches admit that the penalty count of 31 was too much, but was expected.

Mitchell said that they will leave South African shores happy and content with the fact that they achieved what they set out to do.

The Sharks at some stages looked as if they were suffering from typical first game syndrome, but it would be a stupid man not to have seen the class in the second half team of the Sharks. The Stormers should expect a different team to the one that was on the pitch tonight come Friday.

It is difficult to single out any players in the Sharks team as the team changed way too much during the 80 minutes. Kankowski caught my eye and I think he had a “if you want my place, beat my performance” mind set which he obviously wanted to send out to Alberts. Plumtree obviously avoided questions around legal battles around Alberts, but did go as far as to say that he has already accepted Alberts as a Shark. Tank Lanning, a well known journalist, sat next to me and we agreed that Alberts looked overweight. Louis de Villiers from Rapport rates Alberts highly and thought he had a good game, a sentiment I don’t share. It is my opinion that Alberts will be competing with Deysel in the Sharks team this year.

Players that would want to forget this game is Dumond, Kockott and Ndungane. I had no idea what Plumtree was doing when he had a backline of Kockott, Lambie, Andries Strauss and Vulindlu next to each other. From what was exhibited tonight in the backline, Plumtree has no idea who he will be playing where.

To bet against the Sharks would be foolish. There is simply too much quality players. I expect Plumtree to start with his strongest team on Friday, and like all local derbies, this one would also be played with all guns blazing.

Like a mate of mine commented: No South African team likes to lose against another, warm up game or not. I, for one, am looking forward to great game on Friday night.

 

Scores:

Sharks: No score

Western Force: 2 Conversions Andre Pretorius, 1 Try Sam Wykes, 1 Try Ryan Cross, 1 Try Cameron Shepard, 1 Try & 1 Conversion James O’Conner

 

Teams:

The Sharks:

15 Stefan Terblanche, 14 Luzuko Vulindlu, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Riaan Swanepoel, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Monty Dumond, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Steven Sykes, 4 Alistair Hargreaves, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements – from: Bismarck du Plessis, John Smit, Johann Muller, Jacques Botes, Charl McLeod, Andries Strauss, Odwa Ndungane, Patric Cilliers, Willem Alberts, Gerhard Mostert, Patrick Lambie, Adrian Jacobs, JP Pietersen.

 

Western Force squad:

15 James O’Conner 14 Dane Haylett-Petty 13 Ryan Cross 12  Sam Harris 11 Cameron Shepherd 10 Andre Pretorius 9 Brett Sheehan 8 Richard Brown 7 David Pocock 6 Matt Hodgson 5 Nathan Sharpe (C) 4 Sam Wykes 3 Matt Dunning 2 Ryan Tyrell 1 Kieran Longbottom 16 Ben Whittaker 17 Nic Henderson 18 Tom Hockings 19 Ben McCalman 20 Chris O”Young 21 Mitch Inman 22 Mark Bartholomeusz 23 Mark Swanepoel 24 Josh Tatupu 25 Joelin Rapana 26 Tim Fairbrother 27 TBA 28 Richard Stanford

Date: Tuesday, January 26
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT; 01.00, January 27 WAST)
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Matt Kemp (South Africa), Quinton Immelman (South Africa)

330 Responses to Sharks 0 vs Western Force (19) 26 – Game Thread (Full time)

  • 241

    I’m outta here mates. My girlfriend has been so patient and understanding. A good one all and remember it was only a pre match warmer. Be good, careful and good at it…:lol:

  • 242

    Puma yes, I’m confused too. i’ll go to the press conference now, but i’ll give you my match summary later.
    I do have a serious problem with the way the Sharks pitched up for the game, but hten the Force did same against the Stormers.
    This is a good build up to friday’s game though where the stormer would like to think they’r flying high, and the Sharks wanting to proof a point, like the force did tonight.
    i’m giving away my match summary!!!!!

  • 243

    237 – BdB, Ja boet, I agree, a SA side should never be losing to a really not good side even in a warm up game 26 to NOTHING. Damn what is Plum doing? Or will we show our best against the Stormers? Not so sure about that really. From what I read here we are lost there mentally.

  • 244

    bdb, ek hoop hulle trek hulle sokkies op. Dit is nie vir my aanvaarbaar nie.

  • 245

    Hahahahah Snoek! Ek wil nie uitgegooi word nie! Ek sal egter my bes probeer!

  • 246

    Cheers Irish, be good.

  • 247

    Ai ja jai ja jai…

  • 248

    242 – Thanks Isi. Not really looking forward to your match summary mate. But you have to be true to your word not matter what. Just do it.

    Hope we learned from this and find the right combinations for Friday, but mostly important when we start the S14. That is the real deal.

  • 249

    245 – Isi

    Gaan groot mater.

  • 250

    OK, Tjarkies, do not cry too much… this is only a warm-up game!

  • 251

    NUL vir die Haaie?!?!
    Maak nie saak of dit net ‘n opwarmings game is nie, jy moet darem seker ‘n paar punte aanteken!

  • 252

    241 – Thanks Irish, Hope we will. Shark supporters expect a whole lot more even in a warm-up. Then I have no worries as long as we deliver in the S14.

    Sorry I missed the whole game with everyone been our the whole evening. Catch up again another time Irish. Your lady is very special, enjoy her. Putting up with rugby with her man from another country you have a wonderful lady mate.

    Catch up soon Irish. Go Munster. Hope we do better there.

  • 253

    How was dinner Puma? Did you had some good wine?

  • 254

    251 – Jan, I feel the same, warm up or not, Sharks should have put a point on the board. Very, very disappointed. Rubbish really. Wish I could have seen this game live. Hope Plum makes amends for this game in the next. We need to deliver a bit even if it is a warm up game.

  • 255

    Aai kerels, die sooibrand pla seker nou as ‘n ou ‘n Tjarks supporter is…

  • 256

    253 – Snoek, Yes…… LOL. At least that WAS good boet. Jeeper these nights out are gettting to me. Not as young as I used to be. WHY do people always think that when you live at the coast it is just a HOLIDAY every day. TOO many visitors here. Never get them up in Joburg. Ag, should just enjoy it I suppose. Only a week then I will head back up to Joburg. Enjoy it here far, far more though.

  • 257

    #254
    En die Haaie het ook nie juis hulle slegste spelers op die veld gehad het nie.
    Ek wonder wat gaan hulle verskoning wees more.

  • 258

    Ons is okay dankie Blouste, waardeer jou belangstelling.

  • 259

    Jan, geen verskoning sal aanvaar word nie. Net ‘n moerse verbetering in die volgende game sal aanvaar word.

  • 260

    253 – Snoek, What are your thoughts about our S14 this year? I know Bulls never won against the Lions last year and won the cup, but really we have a good side. Should we have lost by NOTHING tonight? Very disappointed. Just as well it was a warm up game. Not sure if we are ready yet but who know we just might be come the S14. We start with a tough side with the Chiefs then our bogey team Cheetahs. We need to head off on tour with two wins under the belt. We have a monster tour. Play all the best S14 sides on their home turf this year. Tough boet. For now don’t have much hope for our team. NOT good to feel like that really.

  • 261

    258 Snoek

    Plesier man, enige iets vir my gewonde vriende…

  • 262

    256 – Puma

    Good luck with joburg, city life is not for me mate. I enjoy the quiet life more.

  • 263

    Jeez…just popped in to check the score…hell boys what went wrong?

    Was the Sharks really up for this?

  • 264

    Hoekom gebeur dit dat as en sodra ek ontspan om bietjie hier te kuier en met julle klomp fokkers te gesels dat die mense in strepe hier by my opdaag??

    Flok, ek moes nou met 2 lotte besoekers werk, kuier en die score op hierdie thread aan die gang hou gelyktydig!

    Eishhhhhhhhh

  • 265

    Puma, it is difficult to know excactly whats going on if you don’t see the game. This was not a good score tonight. Regarding the S14, not sure what to expect. We have good players, so should be competitive, but with the Sharks anything is possible.

    Can’t wait to see the Sharks play the stormers, should know more then.

  • 266

    BDB – MBT laasjaar se spel teen die leeus. Ons het 2 wedstryde gespeel, A teen a en b teen b en ons het albei verloor. Dit was ons sterkste span teen die leeus sin.

  • 267

    262 – Snoek, I do too boet, Love the quiete life really. City life is not for me much anymore. Love the outdoors and wildlife. We have that here where I live in Umhlanga. Love it here. Not going to go back and forward for much longer. Hope to be here for good in June 😀 REALLY hope to sell my home in Joburg by then.

  • 268

    Snoek
    gaat jou ‘n brief gee die Stormers gaan nie hul beste span in die veld stoot nie. Verwag om ouens soos Cronje, JJ Engelbrect, JC Kritzinger, Deon Fourie en dalk Jacques Potgieter in die beginspan tye sien.

  • 269

    These warm-up games are no measure to guage your team by…. they purposely run practised moves to see if it might work, they never choose the combinations which will all eventually run out and play together as one solid unit…. it is just glorified practice… and the winners get a very false sense of security and false belief in their systems….

  • 270

    Ek gaan nou maar groet, dit reen al van 3 uur vanmiddag af heeltyd by ons. Dit is papsop nat, en die klank van reen op die dak roep my bed toe.

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