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Sharks just make it in thriller

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 19:24

Finding 'serious form': Sharks hooker Bismarck du Plessis - Pic: Rian Botes

There was a huge crowd at Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg to see  South African rugby at its most intense and most unpredictable., The Sharks won it 32-28, partly thanks to great defence at the end, and they won a bonus point, which was their aim - but how they had to scrap for it.

At one stage the Sharks looked to be running away with it - up 19-6 and attacking relentlessly. Twelve minutes later the score was 19-18. A penalty on half-time gave the Sharks a 22-18 lead, still needing a try for a bonus point.

They got the bonus point but could have lost a lot more as the determined Lions came back. It was a match of high intensity, and the blood bin was active.

It was a wonderful match, full of surprises and twists and turns. The first surprise was Carlos Spencer at fullback where he had his best match for the Lions so far. The second surprise was the ardour with which the Lions defended after the slightly wobbly first 20 minutes. Obviously they should have had a defensive coach long before this and if they can keep this up they could still win matches.

The Sharks attacked in waves with big men bashing, the Lions were mercurial, using clever passing, clever footwork and clever appreciation of  half a chance.

Both sides were good at set pieces and both were much penalised (the Lions 12 times, the Sharks 10 times) and both sides competed at the breakdown with intensity.` In the end the closeness of the score was probably the biggest surprise of all - so close that it would not have been a surprise if the Lions had won.

The Lions scored first when Jean Deysel who had a bashing game was penalised at a tackle and Herkie Kruger converted, but Bismarck du Plessis got the ball from the kick-off and the Sharks went through short, sharp phases with Jannie du Plessis prominent, till Patrick Lambie swept over in the right corner. Ruan Pienaar converted. 7-3 after just 4 minutes.

When Stefan Terblanche was penalised for dissent Michael Killian showed Lion intent when he tapped and scampered off. But the Sharks came back. Jacques Botes was close and then Spencer broke the shackles with a chip to his right from near his line. Goode was offside and Kruger made it 7-6.

The Sharks made a penalty into a five-metre line-out and mauled and then bashed. Bismarck du Plessis was close and then they went right. Andy Goode threw a long, looping pass to Odwa Ndungane who was unmarked on the right and the wing scored. 12-6 after 16 minutes.

Pienaar hit the upright with a penalty attempt. The ball bounced back and the Sharks raced onto the attack. They mauled and then bashed from a five-metre line-out till Bismarck du Plessis swivelled over for a try. 19-6 after 22 minutes.

You would have been forgiven if you thought that what you were watching was déjà vu.  After all the Sharks were attacking enthusiastically down the left and Terblanche passed inside to JP Pietersen who lost the ball. Spencer was there to snap it up and give it to Kruger who passed inside to Killian who darted past Goode and then ran though 50 metres of empty pace to score under the posts. 19-13 after 32 minutes.

In no time the Lions were roaring back as Jano Vermaak broke off Spencer. Vermaak raced down the middle of the field and when he was caught the Lions went right where Franco van der Merwe gave to Killian and then looped round to take a return pass and score in the corner. 19-18 after 34 minutes.

Déjà vu went out the window.

When Gert Muller was [penalised at a sacrum, Pienaar made the half-time score 22-18.

The score in the second half was 10-all.

There were lots of wonderful moments - a long gallop by Nico Luus, a break by Riaan Swanepoel. Ndungane running free and brought to earth by Spencer.

Botes got the bonus-point try when he took a pass off Willem Alberts as the Sharks went through phases. 29-18 after 44 minutes/

The Lions had a really promising attack with clever, short passes and were close in when Botes tackled Muller before he got the ball and Kruger made it 29-21.

The Sharks were on the attack when Terblanche burst for the line and seemed certain to score but teenage Wandile Mjekevu got him and miraculously prevented a try.

Pienaar kicked a penalty and then Franco van der Merwe fly kicked twice a long way down the field. The Lions attacked. Kruger passed a wonderful pass to Killian who took it on the drift to beat Deysel. Killian drew Ndungane and gave to Minnie on the overlap. The loose forward raced down the field and swept inside Goode as if he were not there to score at the posts. 32-28 with 17 minutes to play.

Lots happened in that time. Lambie broke. The ball just beat Killian into touch when he could well have scored. The Sharks went left, right left and Tendai Mtawarira just had a foot in touch as he dived to score.

Cobus Grobbelaar won a bounce-back off an up-and-under and Killian raced downfield, chipping infield and catching Lwazi Mvovo right under the Sharks' posts but the Sharks survived. The Lions attacked left, right, left but were repelled. Rory Kockott kicked out on the full and then conceded a penalty.

The penalty gave the Lions a give-metre line-out and, with two minutes to go, they attacked with enthusiasm  till Doppies la Grange knocked on. scrum, to the Sharks. Siren sounded. Pienaar kicked out and there was vast relief in the Sharks camp and great disappointment in the Lions camp. They would so much like a win and this time were close.

Man of the Match: Michael Killian who produced magic with his every touch of the ball.

Scorers;

For the Sharks:
Tries: Lambie, Ndungane, Bismarck dud Plessis, Botes
Cons: Pienaar 3
Pens: Pienaar: 2

For the Lions:
Tries: Killian, Franco van der Merwe, Minnie
Cons: Kruger 2
Pens: Kruger 3

Teams:

Lions: 15 Carlos Spencer, 14 Michael Killian, 13 Marius Delport, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Wandile Mjekevu, 10 Herkie Kruger, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Todd Clever, 7 Wikus van Heerden, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Nico Luus, 3 Gert Muller, 2 Hans van Dyk, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Hannes Franklin, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Willem Stoltz, 19 Derick Minnie, 20 Chris Jonck, 21 Deon van Rensburg, 22 Tonderai Chavhanga.

The Sharks: 15 Patrick Lambie, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Stefan Terblanche, 12 Riaan Swanepoel, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Johann Muller, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 John Smit (captain).
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Alistair Hargreaves, 20 Rory Kockott, 21 Andries Strauss, 22 Lwazi Mvovo.

Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Marius Jonker (South Africa), Phillip Bosch (South Africa)
Television match official: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)

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