SA Conferense and Derbies

[PaarlBok]

It hasn't had much attention on the forum but the first of the two Bulls-Stormers games has huge implications for the whole comp. If either team won both games they would be in a great position to take first or second overall, which is what you need to win. You have to do well in other games of course and the Bulls loss to the Clan doesn't help them, but this game will be absolutely crucial and I don't think that will be lost on the two teams. I am expecting a titanic struggle and am eagerly looking forward to analysing the game for both strengths and weaknesses.

The recorder is all lined up ready to go.

Stormers had all three at home. You have to win your home games first and foremost. Brutes have the pressure in this one but I I am sure they'll win at Loftus, thats what my head tells me and I'll be surprise if we get even 1 bonus point. The Brutes still have nicked two away wins , lost one when they drop the Highlanders game. The Sharks are the SA team leading at the moment, two vital away tour wins in Aus plus an extra bonus point. If they nick another on tour , surely they will be the favourates to take the SA conferense.

Not much between the Brutes, Sharks and Stormers and expect the Lions to close in as they get more experiense. Tin Ears are gone, already dropped two home games.

 

[Blue]

Stormers had all three at home. You have to win your home games first and foremost. Brutes have the pressure in this one but I I am sure they'll win at Loftus, thats what my head tells me and I'll be surprise if we get even 1 bonus point. The Brutes still have nicked two away wins , lost one when they drop the Highlanders game. The Sharks are the SA team leading at the moment, two vital away tour wins in Aus plus an extra bonus point. If they nick another on tour , surely they will be the favourates to take the SA conferense.

Not much between the Brutes, Sharks and Stormers and expect the Lions to close in as they get more experiense. Tin Ears are gone, already dropped two home games.

I think thre is daylight between them. The Sharks are miles ahead. The Bulls and Stormers donlt seem to know what sort of game they want to play, the star players are doing absolutely nothing.

The Sharks are playing a solid, direct style with width. You can see what they want to do and they keep at it.

 

[Hawko]

I think thre is daylight between them. The Sharks are miles ahead. The Bulls and Stormers donlt seem to know what sort of game they want to play, the star players are doing absolutely nothing.

The Sharks are playing a solid, direct style with width. You can see what they want to do and they keep at it.

Not so sure the Sharks are miles ahead. They should have lost to the Rebels who, whilst they have potential for years to come, are somewhat limited and inexperienced. The Chiefs and Waratahs games say that the Rebels are definitely second tier, yet they got within two points and only some brain explosions saw the Sharks get home. I think the Sharks might just scratch a win this week but next week at Twickenham they will get get beaten comprehensively. That's 3 from 4 on the road trip, and you'd take that anytime, but they have had relatively easy teams on the road, bar the Crusaders.

I said at the start of the comp that I thought they had a really good draw, but I am expecting that the Stormers and Bulls will finally hit their straps and overtake them. Still, that depends on the Bulls and Stormers finally getting going. The SA conference is going to be very interesting; the other two appear to be more clearcut, even at this stage.

 

[Blue]

Not so sure the Sharks are miles ahead. They should have lost to the Rebels who, whilst they have potential for years to come, are somewhat limited and inexperienced. The Chiefs and Waratahs games say that the Rebels are definitely second tier, yet they got within two points and only some brain explosions saw the Sharks get home. I think the Sharks might just scratch a win this week but next week at Twickenham they will get get beaten comprehensively. That's 3 from 4 on the road trip, and you'd take that anytime, but they have had relatively easy teams on the road, bar the Crusaders.

I said at the start of the comp that I thought they had a really good draw, but I am expecting that the Stormers and Bulls will finally hit their straps and overtake them. Still, that depends on the Bulls and Stormers finally getting going. The SA conference is going to be very interesting; the other two appear to be more clearcut, even at this stage.

With the posession and amount of botched opportunities the Sharks had against the Rebels they should have coasted but 20+

The Rebels performance has been talked up up on the back of a lot of emotion. If you clynically analyse their play its pretty mediocre with occasional glimpses of individual brilliance.

They did not take the Rebels seriously and almost paid for it.

I am tallking about the effectiveness of their game plan when they get it "on" and I think they will improve their defense.

At the moment you can't even describe a Bulls or Stormers game plan.

 

[hench]

This is going to be nasty. Both teams have sucked and need to put down a marker.

There could be some casualties.

I'm predicting Bekker and Matfield to get a yellow card. :lmao:

 

[whatty]

Bulls by seven, both teams still look match short for some reason but home advantage will see the Bulls by 7+ unfortunately..................

 

[PaarlBok]

Sharks lost this morning but still get the bonuspoint. Not a bad defensive effortt from them , still far from the Stormers one last week. They come home now , regroup in Durban and have a hit and run in London next sunday to get the Stormers the following week. Myself think the Sharks lack something in their backline but they got Marius Joubert from the 1st of July and he will mak a huge differense for them.

The Brutes and WP vodacom Cup team plays the curtain on Loftus. To show their depth, here is the teams
Blue Bulls:
15. Marnitz Boshoff, 14. Akona Ndungane, 13. Stephan Dippenaar, 12. Stefan Watermeyer, 11. Sampie Mastriet, 10. Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 10. Ruan Snyman, 9. Dustin Jinka, 8. CJ Stander, 7. Marnus Schoeman, 6. Okkie Kruger, 5. Juandré Kruger (captain), 4. Mthunzi Mabeta, 3. Dean Greyling, 2. Zane Botha, 1. Corné Fourie

Substitutes: 16. Henry Bantjes, 17. Morné Mellett, 18. Cornell Hess, 19. Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 20. Dustin Jinka/Neil de Bruin, 21. Louis Fouché, 22. William Small-Smith

Western Province:
15. Lionel Cronje, 14. Marcel Brache, 13. Johann Sadie, 12. Paul Bosch, 11. JJ Engelbrecht, 10. Kurt Coleman, 9. Nic Groom, 8. Tertius Daniller, 7. Yaya Hartzenberg, 6. Wimpie van der Walt, 5. Anton Van Zyl, 4. Adriaan Fondse, 3. Tom Botha, 2. Sidney Tobias, 1. JD Moller (captain)

Substitutes: 16. Siyabonga Ntubeni, 17. Frans Malherbe, 18. Allistair Vermaak, 19. Quinn Roux, 20. Louis Schreuder, 21. Reuben Johannes 22. Tim Whitehead

 

[Moono75]

yeah sorry haven't rated the Sharks and wasn't surprised to see the Chiefs get up over them. Kinda sloppy game, nothing to write home about. Bismark injected himself into the game as usual, shame we never got him across to the Force. From SA point of view interested to see how the Bulls v Stormers game goes. Is Schalk back for this game?

 

[PaarlBok]

yeah sorry haven't rated the Sharks and wasn't surprised to see the Chiefs get up over them. Kinda sloppy game, nothing to write home about. Bismark injected himself into the game as usual, shame we never got him across to the Force. From SA point of view interested to see how the Bulls v Stormers game goes. Is Schalk back for this game?

No he is still not 100%. Pieter Louw was pretty effective against the Highlanders.

 

[PaarlBok]

Think we deserve some silverware beating the Brutes at Loftus. Climbing Everest the way they did yesterday was massive for the players and supporters. 50,000 supporters at Loftus show this is still the game in SA. Our backline look threatening and the srums was outstanding. Brutes need some urgent work and think Matfield and kie need to do hard yards. They will be back, have no doubt.

 

[PaarlBok]

The Logs
South African Conference
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA BPts Pts
1 DHL Stormers 4 4 0 0 81 50 31 2 3 0 20
2 Sharks 5 4 0 1 132 80 52 13 4 3 19
3 Vodacom Bulls 4 2 0 2 90 101 -11 9 11 1 13
4 Toyota Cheetahs 5 1 0 4 90 98 -8 6 7 3 7
5 Lions 5 1 0 4 108 131 -23 11 11 3 7

Combined Log
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA BPts Pts
1 DHL Stormers 4 4 0 0 81 50 31 2 3 0 20
2 Crusaders 5 3 1 1 151 65 86 17 8 3 17
3 Reds 4 3 0 1 111 78 33 10 9 1 17
4 Sharks 5 4 0 1 132 80 52 13 4 3 19
5 Blues 5 3 1 1 140 119 21 14 10 2 16
6 Waratahs 4 2 0 2 94 62 32 14 5 2 14
7 Vodacom Bulls 4 2 0 2 90 101 -11 9 11 1 13
8 Highlanders 5 3 0 2 91 112 -21 8 10 1 13
9 Western Force 4 1 1 2 81 97 -16 4 8 1 11
10 Hurricanes 4 1 1 2 55 81 -26 3 9 1 11
11 Brumbies 4 1 0 3 87 128 -41 10 11 3 11
12 Chiefs 5 2 0 3 112 99 13 11 8 2 10
13 Toyota Cheetahs 5 1 0 4 90 98 -8 6 7 3 7
14 Lions 5 1 0 4 108 131 -23 11 11 3 7
15 Melbourne Rebels 5 1 0 4 70 192 -122 6 24 2 6

This weekend must win matches for Stormers , Sharks and Brutes. Stormers have opened up a 7 point lead on the Brutes after their win, if they win against the Force and the Sharks lost against the Saders on Twickers they'll open up a gap on them aswell. The Sharks and Stormers meet the following week in Durban and also an important one

Superrugby

Loftus result ups ante for Sharks


Regardless of what happens in the games that the Sharks and Stormers play this weekend, the first weekend of April is going to be a massive one for the two coastal teams as they get set to face off in a Super Rugby derby in Durban that will be a repeat of last year’s Currie Cup final.


It was always going to be an important game as it is now accepted that the conference system has made the four points picked up for a win against a fellow South African team more like eight points due to the damage that a defeat inflicts on a rival. However, it has become even more crucial after the Stormers’ win over the Bulls at Loftus, which effectively turns it into a top of the table clash and a potential must-win for the Sharks if they don't want to find themselves playing catch-up.

The Sharks certainly never helped their cause by losing to the Chiefs in Hamilton last Friday. It means that the Stormers are left as the only unbeaten team in the competition, and the Sharks now face the unenviable task of having to beat the Crusaders in their big game in London at the weekend to prevent themselves going into the Stormers match two wins behind their Cape rivals.

That would render the game a must-win for the Sharks, but they will be mindful of the fact that they face the Stormers at the end of a short turn-around week as they play the Crusaders on a Sunday and the Stormers game is on a Saturday. The Sharks also face the flight home from the northern hemisphere in the six days between the fixtures.

The Sharks are mindful of the pit-falls, and there is no doubt that the Chiefs defeat has heaped considerable extra pressure on them to win against the in-form Crusaders. Had they beaten the Chiefs they might have had a buffer that they don’t have now. It will not have escaped the Sharks’ attention that after their great start they could find themselves in a situation where they play against the Stormers trying to prevent themselves from losing three in a row.

So while it is a long season and anything can still happen even if the Stormers do go three wins ahead of the Sharks in the South African conference, this is a crucial phase for the Sharks who risk having all the good work they did in winning their first four games undone over the coming weeks.

For the Stormers it is a crucial period too, but for the opposite reason -- they must know that wins in the next two matches will put them in a commanding position on the conference log as they head towards their overseas tour.

They will also have the relative comfort of knowing that they are in that position after playing the top two challengers from the conference, the Bulls and the Sharks, in away matches and they will still have home matches against those opponents to come.

So Sunday is a massive day for the Sharks, and not just because they are up against a team that since Sonny Bill Williams’s arrival on the scene has taken a significant step up in performance levels.

The organisers of the game in London have announced that as of Monday night the second tier at Twickenham was opened for selling, with tickets going for 50 pounds and 30 pounds.

A big pre-game party has also been organised for supporters at short notice and will be held at the Harlequins’ club-house at the Stoop, alongside Twickenham. Half the money charged for entrance fee will go to the Red Cross Earthquake Relief fund.

 

[Blue]

Can't see the Sharks beating the Saders as much as I hope they do.

I am in London but can't make it to the game. Shit.

A lot will be decided in the Sharks / Stormers games.

Re Matfield. Shit, he and Bakkies are absolutely nowhere at the moment.

 

[PaarlBok]

I am in London but can't make it to the game. Shit.

Re Matfield. Shit, he and Bakkies are absolutely nowhere at the moment.

Bliksem would have been great to watch that one live. Think they'll put Bakkies away for a long time after the Duvenhage ckeanout, myself also lost my faith in him. I am more worried about Morne and FdP's form, Spies also, they look like Graeme Smith at the moment, sure about their places and dont care one bit. Expect them to hit back this weekend.

If the Stormers can beat the Sharks in Derbin they'll be in great shape. They play the Rebels/Bumbries/Blues/Chiefs on tour, having the home games against Brutes and Sharks all lined up.

 

[PaarlBok]

Team vs Lions

Bulls – 15 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dean Greyling.
Subs: 16 Gary Botha, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Danie Rossouw, 20 Derick Kuün, 21 Francois Hougaard, 22 Francois Brummer.

Guthro Steenkamp and Kirschner out injured.

 

[REDinCPT]

Team vs Lions

4 Bakkies Botha

Unbelievable!

Although his presence will probably cost them the game when he is sent off for intentionally breaking someone's neck. I don't understand how a judiciary let him get away with it.

 

[PaarlBok]

Brutes beating the Lions but not convinsely at all. Matfield way of kicking the ball out after the siren while hot on ttack show the Brutes aint high on confidense at the moment.

The Logs
South African Conference
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA BPts Pts
1 DHL Stormers 5 5 0 0 132 66 66 8 4 1 25
2 Sharks 6 4 0 2 160 124 36 17 9 4 20
3 Vodacom Bulls 5 3 0 2 120 124 -4 12 13 1 17
4 MTN Lions 6 1 0 5 131 161 -30 13 14 4 8
5 Toyota Cheetahs 6 1 0 5 98 139 -41 7 13 3 7

Combined Log
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA BPts Pts
1 DHL Stormers 5 5 0 0 132 66 66 8 4 1 25
2 Crusaders 6 4 1 1 195 93 102 22 12 4 22
3 Reds 5 4 0 1 152 86 66 16 10 2 22
4 Sharks 6 4 0 2 160 124 36 17 9 4 20
5 Blues 6 4 1 1 156 132 24 15 12 2 20
6 Waratahs 5 3 0 2 123 84 39 16 6 2 18
7 Vodacom Bulls 5 3 0 2 120 124 -4 12 13 1 17
8 Highlanders 5 3 0 2 91 112 -21 8 10 1 17
9 Hurricanes 5 1 1 3 80 123 -43 7 15 2 12
10 Brumbies 5 1 0 4 109 157 -48 11 13 4 12
11 Chiefs 6 2 0 4 125 115 10 13 9 3 11
12 Western Force 5 1 1 3 97 148 -51 5 14 1 11
13 Melbourne Rebels 6 2 0 4 112 217 -105 12 28 3 11
14 MTN Lions 6 1 0 5 131 161 -30 13 14 4 8
15 Toyota Cheetahs 6 1 0 5 98 139 -41 7 13 3 7

Stormers the only unbeaten side still and opened up a 5 point lead in the SA conferense. This weekend they will be up against the Sharks in Durban and double points on offer for them. Going to be tough to win there after the CC final but they wont find a better time as right now.

 

[whatty]

Sharks must be out on there feet after a huge five weeks travel load. Stormers will be brimming with confidence after finally scoring some tries and Schalk back?

Stormers by 9-12 points

 

[PaarlBok]

Sharks must be out on there feet after a huge five weeks travel load. Stormers will be brimming with confidence after finally scoring some tries and Schalk back?

Stormers by 9-12 points

Pieter Louw torn his X ligaments and will be out for the season, Schalkie will be back. Feel sorry for Pieter, he played some brilliant rugby at the moment. When any team dont miss the like of Burger then you know they have a decent replacement. Sharks will always favourates in Durban and have our number now for years. Another Everest to climb.

 

[whatty]

I have found that with Pieter Louw he is the type of player that you need to watch in isolation to appreciate the good work he gets through. BL tough game P.L......

 

[PaarlBok]

Stormers team announced.
Stormers site

Schalk looking forward to the battle
- Wednesday, March 30, 2011
DHL Stormers captain Schalk Burger is back at the helm of his team and is relishing the prospect of the physical battle that awaits him in the Super Rugby derby against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.

Burger has been out since the opening competition match against the Lions with a knee injury. Although he has been training with the team again for the past couple of weeks, and could at a push have played against the Western Force last Saturday, this will be his first match contact in a while but, typically, he is not concerned about the prospect of the hard knocks that might await him.

“It is really good to be back after a break and I am looking forward to the game a lot,” said Burger at the Stormers team announcement on Wednesday.

“The Sharks always present a big physical challenge to us, and we have fresh memories of what happened to us on our last few visits to Durban, when we were out-muscled and outplayed physically in both the Currie Cup final and in the Super 14 league game. I may not be quite as sharp as I could be, but I am really looking forward to getting back.”

Burger ended the Currie Cup final with broken ribs courtesy of a heavy tackle from Willem Alberts, but he said that the settling of personal scores will not be a motivation for his men.

“What we have to do against the Sharks is the same as what we did against the Bulls. We need to stand up to them physically at the breakdowns and at the first phases early on and get into the game that way. It is a very similar challenge for us as the Loftus match. The Sharks only lost two matches on their overseas tour and they are in good form.

“Against a lesser defence than the Crusaders I reckon they would have won that match at Twickenham (last Sunday). There were a lot of aspects of their game that were right in that match. They have a really strong back-row and generally their pack works well together.”

Burger’s return for the injured Pieter Louw is one of two changes to the side that beat the Western Force 51-16 in Cape Town last weekend. As anticipated, the physical young lock Rynhardt Elstadt comes back as second row partner to Andries Bekker, with De Kock Steenkamp dropping to the bench where he replaces Anton van Zyl.

Also back in the squad this week is former Lions hooker Ethienne Reynecke, who comes in for Siyabonga Ntubeni.

Stormers team: Gio Aplon, Danie Poolman, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Peter Grant, Dewaldt Duvenage, Duane Vermeulen, Francois Louw, Schalk Burger (captain), Andries Bekker, Rynhardt Elstadt, Brok Harris, Deon Fourie, Wicus Blaauw.

Replacements: Ethienne Reynecke, CJ van der Linde, De Kock Steenkamp, Nick Koster, Ricky Januarie, Gary van Aswegen, Juan de Jongh.

Meanwhile JL Potgieter struggle with a injury to make saturdays game. Look like Bosman may end up in 10 with AD Jacobs in midfield