Under normal circumstances one would back the Sharks to take this one without hesitation against the wooden spooner Cheetahs, but the Sharks have problems…
The Cheetahs played an exciting, try-scoring brand of rugby against the Bulls in week 1 and are known to pull out all stops against SA opposition. In addition the Cheetahs have been somewhat of a bogey-team for the Sharks.
The Cheetahs have a wonderful front row, hard working locks, excellent loosies, a mediocre half back pairing and centres…. but finally sublime wings and a more than capable fullback.
The Sharks battle with dicipline problems, have a very mediocre tight head prop in Jannie Du Plessis, they have a shortage of quality locks with injuries having decimated their lock ranks. They are unsure which combination of their horde of quality loosies to play, under pressure Kockott’s head goes AWOL, they are terribly short on flyhalves and centres and on the wing they have solid wings without being spectacular. At fullback they have “The Rock”…. Oupa Terblanche.
Now compare these facts from both sides, consider home ground advantage for the Sharks, consider that the Cheetahs know they can beat the Sharks at home…. and you still have a huge conundrum.
Most pundits would go for a Sharks win… but I’m not most pundits…. I predict a narrow Cheetahs win at the Tank!
Previous Super 14 results:
2009: Cheetahs won 31-6 (Bloemfontein)
2008: Sharks won 33-14 (Durban)
2007: Sharks won 30-14 (Bloemfontein)
2006: Cheetahs won 27-26 (Durban)
Teams:
Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Adrian Jacobs, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Deon Carstens, 18 Willem Alberts, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Monty Dumond, 22 Andries Strauss.
Cheetahs: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Danwel Demas, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Frans Viljoen, 7 Juan Smith (captain), 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 David de Villiers, 4 Nico Breedt, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Ashley Johnson, 20 Sarel Pretorius, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Hennie Daniller.
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Pro Legoete (South Africa), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Apparently the Chiefs have yet to win at Coke/Ellis park, neever been able to get a win there…..hectic
My Blood is Blue
Well, this should be their first the…
Also, I am not anti-Shark. I just like upsets and screaming for the underdog (like most other people I suppose).
34
So then you’re a Shark this weekend….we sporting our underdog tag proudly, and rubbing everyones noses in it if they dont believe we’ve got one… 😆
FS
I see you made it onto the “Bloggers Photo’s”
All you have to do now is sit and wait , somebody will soon tell you how ugly you are… 😆
Watching the Cheetahs – Sharks game is one of those nice games I can just watch and enjoy. Does not matter who wins. No impact on Bulls hosting the final.
(Except for the sportspool comp… have not made up my mind who to pick yet.)
Does Kaplan get to officiate very Cheaters game this year ? 😯
WOW! Firestraeuli you ARE ugly!
Hahaha.
36 Blouste
Ja old GrootPienkSmile sucks with his Photoshop, he probably has the cracked version, all the genuine functions disabled… 😆
39 Hokaai,
I think we should send GrootPienkSmile on a photoshop course….he realy needs to learn how to work that program…. 😆
allo allo..
32 – Hokaai no problem just never knew who you supported. You doin well here on the RT predictions.
How do I get to the RT sportspool comp again?..I see no link or I’m I just daft?
Polla, home page at the bottom there’s a huige banner, that’s the way I find it
My bru picks are in. Nothing showing yet though. Picks are in with RT pool too. That is a damn hard one. Just picked quick there not giving it too much thought as it is a tough one..haha.
44 – Polla, RT bru code is waxymeld
So Puma…..Landers or Blues?
Puma
Did you see my post on the other thread regarding the Landers/Blues game ?
50!
FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRKKKKKKKK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Vodacom Bulls will have to do without the services of lock Danie Rossouw for their opening Super 14 encounter at Loftus Versfeld against the Brumbies on Saturday.
Rossouw received a blow to the neck in training and has been ruled out of the clash. He will be replaced by Flip van der Merwe, who came off the bench in his Super 14 debut for the Vodacom Bulls last weekend.
Van der Merwe’s place on the bench will be taken by Fudge Mabeta.
The 23-year old lock has played for the Vodacom Bulls in warm-up matches before, but will earn his first Super 14 cap if called upon.
This is bad for the Bulls !!!
I’m back…My Superbru picks are in and so is my Sportspool. Now the buggers must just play according to my scores!
Fudge…daar’s nou ‘n slot wat die opposisie se broeke laat bewe!!…lol
Hulle moes hom maar eerder Koeksister of Ystervarkie of Hertzoggie genoem het…fudge klink nie soos ‘n slot nie…
Ok baai!
Aai ja jaai….
VRYSTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!
^^ Gaan verloor ^^
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