Sharks 39 – Western Force 12. Injury Update*
It’s like déjà vu all over again.
First, injuries early in the match to David Pocock and Mitch Inman brought back memories of last year’s horror run. Both players were undergoing scans today to establish the seriousness of the injuries. The Force can ill-afford to do without Bam Pocock (knee) for any length of time.
Second, like a house of cards — in this case both red and yellow — the Western Force imploded, with Rory Sidey sent from the field in the 18th minute for a dangerous tackle on Odwa Ndungane. The Sharks winger was stretchered off the park and spent the night in hospital, but fortunately appears to be OK today.
Nobody likes to see this sort of thing in footy, but in my view it was a marginal red card. Yes, Sidey lifted him above the perpendicular in the tackle. Was it dangerous? Yes, it was. But the tackle became worse for Gene Fairbanks’s involvement. The video shows Sidey with his eyes closed in the contact and Fairbanks behind him. Fairbanks’s momentum tipped the balance and the tackle ended up looking dangerously spear-like.
Sharpie was right, it did ruin the game. A yellow would have sufficed, but them’s the breaks. Sidey was deemed the culprit, taken into custody and awaits sentencing.
As for Nick Cummins’s yellow card, well… to think rugby used to be a man’s game. It was a shirtfront tackle at chest height and he used his arms. The referee’s ruling was soft and pathetic. And even though it happened in the last few minutes of the game, it wasn’t without added detriment. The Sharks did score again against the remaining 13.
So, injuries and the send-off turned the game against the Force very early in the match. It was going to be a big ask at the best of times to hold this quality Shark attack; with a player down there was only going to be one outcome.
The Force tried their guts out but just couldn’t match a team who ruthlessly exploited their misfortune. Wave after wave, the Sharks played with width and regularly exposed the condemned man’s absence.
On top of this, the Force’s execution was untidy (to say the least) with pushed passes, dropped ball and general clusterf*cking. Maybe they were just trying too hard to compensate?
JO’C kicked four penalties for all the Force’s points. The Sharks scored five tries through Ndungane, Bismarck du Plessis, Steven Sykes, Willem Alberts and Patrick Lambie. Lambie kicked 4 conversions and 2 penalties. With the bonus point, the Sharks are now on top in their conference.
Bieber v. Bieber? The JO’C v. Lambie match-up didn’t amout to much and the rooinek had a good match, with plenty of front foot possession to work with. JO’C was tidy, didn’t get a lot of room to move but his ball distribution skills were first rate. Tactically, however, the Force backs overplayed Fairbanks’s angled run off JO’C into the 9/10 channel, and it was generally easy grist for the defensive mill.
The Force forwards performed manfully against an ostensibly superior pack. The back five worked hard with Ben ‘Single Malt’ McCalman and Sharpie standing out. Pocock was replaced by Sam Wykes who had a storming match, probably the best I’ve seen him play. As for The Fox, he generally held his own against The Beast and, after playing himself to a standstill, was eventually replaced by Tucky Dunning.
Nick ‘Peter Frampton’ Cummins was a standout in the backline; maybe it’s just the hair? David Smith looks dangerous but he needs more room and opportunity. Fairbanks also gave a good account of himself, especially in defence.
For the Sharks, the du Plessis brothers and underrated lock Steven Sykes were into everything. Captain Stefan Terblanche did alright for an old oke.
Force Coach Woody downplayed the effect of the send-off: “There have been numerous games throughout the years where 14 men have gone on to win and I still felt very confident with the way we prepared our game plan,” he said.
“Having said that, when you’re down to 14 men you’ve got to make sure you control the game, and we didn’t value possession – and as a consequence paid a fairly heavy price.”
The Force, potentially without Pocock*, Inman**, Ripia*** and Sidey****, will be short-handed for next week’s Blues clash. Oh no, it’s back to the future….
Wallaby Watch:
Put his hand up: Nathan Sharpe confirmed yet again that Father Time has not caught up with the old guy.
Did himself no favours: It’s hard to see Matt Dunning reclaiming his Wallaby jumper again; that said, he was only on for 12 minutes and realistically couldn’t do much.
Bolter watch: Sam Wykes was industrious and aggressive as Pocock’s replacement – he’s a valuable utility.
* Pocock out for four to six weeks with a medial ligament strain to his right knee
**Inman out for four to six weeks with an elbow injury
***Ripia currently wearing a moon boot
****Sidey suspended for three weeks for the dangerous tackle
