Sam Cane: Man of the match showing
It certainly wasn't pretty, but the Chiefs claimed a valuable 18-12 win over the Sharks in Durban on Saturday to send them top of the Super Rugby table.
Twenty-five points were scored by the two teams' respective fly-halves, with Aaron Cruden's haul superior by one to that of Patrick Lambie's. A try after the hooter from replacement scrum-half Augustine Pulu simply adding salt into the home side's wounds.
With the gluttony of possession, the Sharks will feel that they really should have come out on top but a combination of too many errors and dogged defence from the Chiefs meant that the Sharks' homecoming was not a happy one.
The home side dominated the opening exchanges but errors from both sides punctuated much of the opening quarter.
It was only in the 19th minute that the deadlock was broken and slightly against the run of play too. Cruden ghosted over to score under the posts after JP Pietersen was distracted by the dummy run of Richard Kahui. The hosts protested the obstruction had occurred but their pleas fell on deaf ears and the fly-half added the extras.
The number ten added a further penalty before the Sharks finally got on the board just before the end of the first period, with Lambie slotting a three-pointer after Tawera Kerr-Barlow was pinged for off-side.
Both sides had their moments early in the second-half, but handling errors were the name of the game unfortunately as all too often an attacking move was halted by a knock-on.
It was the Sharks who kept the scoreboard ticking over, with Lambie adding two further penalties to bring the hosts within one point.
The Chiefs could consider themselves lucky not to have gone one man down when a shoulder charge from Lelia Masaga on Lwazi Mvovo while the winger collected a high kick left both men lying prone on the ground, with neither continuing but luckily making their way off the field without assistance.
Cruden and Lambie exchanged penalties as the Sharks fought desperately to take the lead for the first time. Penalties conceded at crucial moments hindered their chances though and the Chiefs held on for the win.
Indeed, the victory was secured with a try after the 80 minutes through an opportunistic try from Pulu. With the Chiefs in possession at a maul inside the Sharks half up against the touchline, the hooter went and with everyone expecting Pulu to boot the ball into touch, the replacement darted down the line and crossed over for the try.
The conversion would have denied the Sharks a bonus point but Cruden hit the post from out wide.
The result sees the Chiefs regain top spot on the Super Rugby standings while the Sharks slide further down the mid-table.
The scorers:
For Sharks:
Pens: Lambie 4
For Chiefs:
Tries: Cruden, Tulu
Cons: Cruden
Pens: Cruden 2
Sharks: 15 Riaan Viljoen 14 Louis Ludik, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Keegan Daniel (c), 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Anton Bresler, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden 17 Wiehahn Herbst 18 Pieter-Steph du Toit 19 Jean Deysel 20 Marcell Coetzee 21 Frederic Michalak 22 Meyer Bosman.
Chiefs: 15 Andrew Horrell, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Alex Bradley, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke (c), 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Mahonri Schwalger, 1 Arizona Taumalolo.
Replacements: 16 Hika Elliot, 17 Josh Hohneck, 18 Michael Fitzgerald, 19 Tanerau Latimer, 20 Augustine Pulu, 21 Jackson Willison, 22 Robbie Robinson.
Referee: Garratt Williamson
Comments
Ramage says...
Aye Kiwilad I knew Peter his dad a hard case and top bloke and very good cricketer for Hawera OB with Bill Batchelor later to be a Taranaki Coach Neil Mclean Chairman of TRU. I also selected and coached John in the Taranaki Primary Schools rep team and knew his brother I believe he was Paul mists of time tend to catch up.
Posted 14:23 24th April 2012
letsgoboks says...
Sharks are so frustrating... Such big names playing average rugby every weekend.
Daniel is poving his he's something special - other than that those other players don't deserve a run on in black and white.
Posted 13:24 23rd April 2012
KiwiLad says...
Ramage, I do hope The Blues slump to being potential flower girls is temporary, unlike others that you mention.
I new Peter Plumtree (Johns Father) better than I knew John, but Johns attitude, and general thuggish behaviour, always made me think that he lacked mental fortitude.
That said, he was then. and probably still is a tough buggar.
I
Posted 12:15 23rd April 2012
Ramage says...
Thanks Kiwilad and all the best we probably know each other as I spent many years in the Naki. Eltham, Hawera and Manaia and actually coached John Plumtree in his early years. lol are the Sharks the Flower Girls of South Africa ? I know the Blues actually won some Super titles but have they turned into the Flower Girls of NZ?
Posted 09:32 23rd April 2012
tweedledee49 says...
Trinats
I admit, he may not be as good as other second fives but he also aint as bad as you put him out to be.
Posted 08:32 23rd April 2012
KiwiLad says...
Ramage, at u21 level, then an accident stopped me playing at all.
Posted 20:32 22nd April 2012
jonesy2 says...
and the mighty chiefs surge on! never seen so much domination of opposition as i have from the last two chiefs games. sam cane must be in line for the ABs, the bloke tackles like a lion, immense player. chiefs far and away the best team in the comp, only the saders can stop them now you would think
Posted 13:57 22nd April 2012
martinmarais78 says...
Kiwilad, agree I think the Sharks problems start with Plumtree. Actually worst, it starts with Kaptein Staaldraad(Rudolph Straulli) in the management mix.
The Sharks will never make it to the top with a team they build mainly on imports. Get rid of all the imports an build a team from scratch with Natal talent. It is so clear their players are there for the money and passion and commitment are the missing link.
Posted 12:09 22nd April 2012
Ramage says...
@kiwilad rather harsh about Plumtree man. Wasn't he considered good enough to represent his province of Taranaki. Just a quiet question to help us see how valid your statement was. As a player did you ever get selected for the Naki?
Posted 10:02 22nd April 2012
davodiablo says...
So did Stuart Lancaster turn up with a suitcase of cash for Wayne Smith ? I wonder .
Posted 09:37 22nd April 2012
tweedledee49 says...
@jaystarr
After hearing Skinstads commentary, there was bound to be someone on here repeating all the things he was complaining about during game. Im not implying that all SA fans blame the ref after they lose but here on PR we have the good SA posters and then we have Leebok, whom i believe is bashing Craig Joubert on the other page lol
Posted 09:21 22nd April 2012
BokAvenger says...
JayStarr - for once you have said something sensible. The turning point was when Plumtree moved Lambie to fullback and put Michelak at flyhalf.
Posted 08:11 22nd April 2012
tweedledee49 says...
@capedcrusader, lol...i just figured thered be ref bashing since he was a kiwi lol
What was wrong with Masagas hit?to me it seemed as though he got knocked out before he could wrap his arms around Mvovo, maybe its just me. I hope Mvovo and Masaga are fine though because that looked nasty.
And what was up with Kerr-barlow? He looked confused and unsure what to do with the ball and SBW's worst performance...so well done sharks, you really did shut him down
Posted 02:51 22nd April 2012
kiwilad says...
Jaystarr, I played with Plumtree, in Hawera for a season when we were both much younger men.
I never thought he had the nous to be a good player, let alone a good coach.
Posted 01:31 22nd April 2012
kiwilad says...
Well done the Chiefs, however, I fear the draw has done them an enormous favour, If they were to play either the Stormers or the Bulls at home (in SA) I do not think the result would be flash for them.
This Conference System is a bit of a joke, The Tahs ( The Pretenders without Crissy Hynd) in 3rd???
MartinMarius, Are the Sharks the Waratahs of SA???
Posted 00:58 22nd April 2012
ABlack says...
the SA commentators soubnd such bitter and twisted people!
The chiefs took their chances well. The younger Chiefs players are proving very influential in these big games.Cane, Pulu, Kerr-Barlow,Retallick are all playing superbly.
Posted 22:28 21st April 2012
JayStarr says...
@ tweedledee49 & capecrusader: What are you guys talking about? Nobody else on here said anything about the ref...
Posted 22:19 21st April 2012
capedcrusader says...
@tweedledee49
Remember it's never the ref its the winning kiwi team that cheats by buying the refs off to get the result that greets those who don't understand the game and look pathetic in their own countrymans eyes.
Posted 19:24 21st April 2012
SACanuck says...
Time for the Sharks to get rid of those over rated over paid imports !!
Posted 19:21 21st April 2012
JayStarr says...
Trust Freddie Michelak to lose you a game...
I don't know how John Plumtree still hasn't noticed the difference between having Patrick Lambie at fly-half and having Michelak there... Because what on earth made him decide to bring Freddie on AT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE GAME - and move Lambie to fullback!? Freddie has not done ONE thing this year that gave the Sharks an advantage - and has made the one c*ck-up after another...
It was his mistakes and terrible decision-making that ended promising attaking phases by the Sharks and kept putting them on the back foot. He shouldn't wait until the end of the season - he should just go back to France right now. He has nothing to offer.
Good game though. Both teams played very well and it was entertaining right until the end. I thought Marcell Coetzee looked brilliant for the Sharks when he came on and Aaron Cruden is just SUCH a solid player this season - I think he is the best fly-half in the competition right now... good all-round and consistent. Lambie had a bit of a wobble, but also did some brilliant things - his line-break was pure instinctive genius.
Too bad Freddie came on to ruin their chances at the end... But frankly, I blame John Plumtree for that stupid decision.
Bad luck Sharks, well done Chiefs. Now I'm going to watch the next game and pray the Brumbies can perform a miracle...!
Posted 18:43 21st April 2012