Sharks try-scorer: Charl Mcleod
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The Sharks charged into the Super Rugby semi-finals with an impressive 30-17 victory over the Reds in Brisbane on Saturday.
The elimination of the Australian conference winners means the Sharks will face South African rivals the Stormers at Newlands in the semi-finals next Saturday, while the Crusaders will travel to Hamilton for an all-Kiwi clash with the Chiefs.
There was plenty of talk about teams carrying momentum in the build-up to the qualifying finals, and the Sharks showed they will be very a tough act to beat next weekend following this sterling performance.
The Durban side were scintillating on attack in the first period and backed it up with brave, well-organised defence after the break.
The Sharks led 20-10 at half-time thanks to tries from JP Pietersen and Paul Jordaan plus a Fred Michalak drop goal, while the Reds replied just before the break via a touchdown from Will Genia.
An intercept try from Charl McLeod early in the second period gave the visitors a healthy gap, forcing the Reds to chase the game. Radike Samo's 80th-minute score proved to be too little too late for the defending champions.
The Sharks dominated the opening exchanges and were 10-0 up after 13 minutes. Michalak opened the scoring from the kicking tee before Bismarck du Plessis showed fantastic hands to put Pietersen clear out wide for the first try.
Things went from bad to worse for the Reds as fly-half Ben Lucas was forced off injured and coach Ewen McKenzie made a big call by bringing replacement scrum-half Nick Frisby on, leaving Mike Harris in midfield and handing the pivot role to Genia.
The nightmare start continued for the hosts when Paul Jordaan showed a neat step, after a great offload from Keegan Daniel, and raced home for the Sharks' second try.
Harris stepped up to find his target with a long-range penalty, but Michalak replied with a sucker punch to put the Sharks 20-3 ahead by landing a drop goal from bang in front.
With half-time looming, Scott Higginbotham broke down the left touchline and found Genia on his inside for a try that dragged the hosts back into contention.
The Sharks were first to strike in the second half, however, when McLeod intercepted Genia's pass to bolt 60m and score under the sticks. Michalak's third conversion left the visitors leading 27-10.
Both teams then came within inches of scoring but the Reds were denied by the TMO for inconclusive evidence before Meyer Bosman stumbled with the tryline begging.
The Reds pitched camp in the Sharks' 22 for 10 minutes but couldn't find a gap in the wall of black jerseys, although Digby Ioane came awfully close.
Samo finally crashed over in the final minute, but any hopes of the Reds defending their title had already evaporated.
Man of the match: A mention for JP Pietersen, who scored the first try and was immense on defence, but we'll go for Bismarck du Plessis who continues to astound not only with his strength but with some awesome ball skills.
Moment of the match: The Reds were still in it until McLeod's intercept try moved the Sharks two converted tries clear. Genia threw the offending pass. Should he have even been playing at fly-half?
Villain of the match: No nasty stuff to report.
The scorers:
For the Reds:
Tries: Genia,Samo
Cons: Harris, Genia
Pens: Harris
For the Sharks:
Tries: Pietersen, Jordaan, McLeod
Cons: Michalak 3
Pens: Michalak 2
Drop: Michalak
Yellow cards: Sykes (Sharks)
Reds: 15 Luke Morahan, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Anthony Faingaa, 12 Mike Harris, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Ben Lucas, 9 Will Genia (c), 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Jake Schatz, 5 Adam Wallace-Harrison, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 James Slipper, 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Greg Holmes.
Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Ben Daley, 18 Radike Samo, 19 Jarrad Butler, 20 Beau Robinson, 21 Nick Frisby, 22 Ben Tapuai.
Sharks: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Keegan Daniel (c), 5 Anton Bresler, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Steven Sykes, 19 Jacques Botes, 20 Cobus Reinach, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Odwa Ndungane.
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), James Leckie (Australia)
TMO: Matt Goddard (Australia)
Comments
new_j4a says...
@Wallaroo, Oh okay, thanks for explaining it to me. It must be tough for you then to be beaten so often by third world countries in the only domain that Australia has ever made any contribution to the collective culture of the world: rugby and cricket. So you get absolutely smashed at rugby and you start asserting your cultural superiority? This must be the new Australia. I think I preferred the old cultural cringe. At least one could mistake it for humility in defeat. I could go into several first world contributions from that great African RUGBY nation, but I don't want to give the PR Ed a heart attack...he might need a transplant...By the way the English idiom "falling off the wagon" pertains to restarting excessive drinking...as evidenced by your statement "my paranoia is getting the better of me" and your bumbling misunderstanding of Trinats' rather funny post followed by the rather maudlin, bathetic statement that ...."time is a phenomenal healer, the Reds will heal." I couldn't help thinking that strong drink is involved: bravado and bathos the combined result?
Posted 08:37 23rd July 2012
TheRoof says...
Sorry - there is no way on gods given earth that the sharks have a hope of beating the stormers on Saturday. To play in Durban one week, Brisbane the next and then head back to Cape Town - 3 different time zones in 14 days, you would have to be a brave man to bet on the sharks. The Crusaders were shattered when they did the same in Brisbane last year. Richie McCaw said before last years final on the Thursday before the game that he thought his boys were in trouble. Too jetlagged.
The Stormers are paying $1.60 at the NZ tab. I think a lazy $100 should net a good return!
Posted 08:16 23rd July 2012
tha_mai says...
carpelone - can't help you with downloading earlier games, but for live I use wiziwig for streaming, has provided up to eight sources at times, good for internationals especially as you can change commentary to one you prefer as there's usually a choice from each country.
Posted 08:00 23rd July 2012
Wallaroo says...
@new_j4a ROLMAO, "Fallen off the wagon" How many times do I have to tell you this is not Africa we are much more advanced hehehehe.
It's only incoherent to you because you don't understand Australian, just kidding. If you read it in-line with what Trinats says about booing and bottle throwing then you may understand - anyway it was directed at Trinats who will understand as he was educated in a first world country. lol.
So! Does it pertain to rugby? yes from a supporter behaviour perspective.
Methinks it's time for you to come to Australia so that you can get a proper education lol.
Posted 05:00 23rd July 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
I do wonder whether the Reds lack of consistently tough games may have worked against them when it came to the crunch. The Sharks and Crusaders have been in finals mode for a few weeks and have had to play other top teams whereas the Reds had a fairly comfy ride in their conference.
Posted 01:19 23rd July 2012
carpelone says...
Wallaroo & trinats
I appreciate the words you used after the RWC quarter final.
I am sure that Australia will bounce back soon. As a former back, I was always interested in the Australian backplay, especially when you attack flat. Very difficult to defend. There is a problem of depth, but the 1st XV will be difficult to beat. It will be an interesting Championships.
Posted 19:30 22nd July 2012
new_j4a says...
@startledwombat, both are worth watching....a masterclass from the Crusaders and McCaw in particular....and the other game is classic.....massive defense from the Sharks....Stormers-like for a 20+ min assault on their line....massive heart from the Reds but missing a few key players (yes, even Cooper was sorely missed if the truth were told)....and great reffing except for those with a schoolboy understanding of forward passes.
Posted 18:05 22nd July 2012
new_j4a says...
@Walleroo who says "One has to remember that South Africa with all due respect is a third world country so comparing our behaviours to their's is an anomaly; hence comparisons such as RSA v. Zimbabwe or NSW v.QLD would be more reasonable." Is this rugby related? I need to know because the Ed gets his knickers in a knot if I stray off the RUGBY straight and narrow and I am trying to be a good PR citizen. Anyway, even if it is rugby related, it does seem a bit incoherent. Have you fallen off the wagon again?
Posted 17:21 22nd July 2012
new_j4a says...
@carpelone, yes i do. post a temporary email and I'll email details. It isn't as simple as it seems. First look up BitTorrent on wikipedia or ask your kids: this will give you very high quality games some hours after the live game. You need to move fast because I will away from Tuesday and only have intermittent www.
Posted 16:58 22nd July 2012
Wallaroo says...
@Trinats - I hear you mate, I too woke up this morning still in disbelief and feeling rather numb.
Mate, I think you need to be careful though, inserting insinuating comments in what is a fairly well articulated post demeans you and detracts from the gentlemen that actually resides inside of you. One has to remember that South Africa with all due respect is a third world country so comparing our behaviours to their's is an anomaly; hence comparisons such as RSA v. Zimbabwe or NSW v.QLD would be more reasonable.
- RSA v Zimbabwe well then one has to say it is safer to play in RSA.
- NSW v QLD, QLD crowds are a lot more antagonistic or we just too PC.
Words are the most powerful weapons we have, unfortunately these weapons also backfire, so choose them wisely. Take care mate and good luck, time is a phenomenal healer, the Reds will heal.
Posted 14:27 22nd July 2012
startledwombat says...
@ jaystarr - you might have taken my message the wrong way.
I haven't seen the weekend's games. Seriously. I'm looking forward to the midnight Monday highlights package, to watch on this coming Tuesday evening. On Saturday I had a prior commitment involving some rare whisky. Pop "Black Bowmore whisky 1964" into your search engine and then let's discuss priorities.
You'll find that after the Stormers beat the Highlanders at Dunedin's new Mortgage Stadium or whatever it's name is, I boldly predicted that the Stormers would win the S15. That was back in April. I've seen no reason to change my view.
PR's write-ups of the weekend's two matches, and the postings made by PR members, all seemed to me to avoid the topic of what the games were like as a spectator spectacle. So my question was serious. In the end I phoned New Zealand for an answer - the reply was yes, well worth watching, for both matches.
Posted 14:18 22nd July 2012
tha_mai says...
trinats - re team of the week, surely QC should be there, he'd get the SA vote for his contribution: "Suspended fly half Quade Cooper filled a support role as waterboy and provided instructions to the backs"
See he tweeted following the match: "SANZAR = lottery" - I guess he was thanking them for allowing his team to 'win' a home playoff?
Posted 12:49 22nd July 2012
carpelone says...
Does anybody know a website for downloading/steaming of rugby games?
Posted 12:25 22nd July 2012
new_j4a says...
@all those missing jonesy2, here's a great quote....seems to have been posted before the news reached the dark, damp space under the rock which he calls home: "jonesy2 says...ok ladies here is the bottom line. the reds are a far better team than the stormers, bulls and sharks. there. case dismissed." You could make a fortune betting against this low life's claims.
Posted 10:24 22nd July 2012
new_j4a says...
@papachinzo, you seem to have a problem with any ref that isn't Irish....see below:
papachinzo says.. only the welsh refs get away with helping their sides (James Jones, even Nigel Owens is guilty of doing it [In the World Cup, of all places]).
papachinzo says...I'd say the Irish referees are getting slightly frustrated, especially Rolland. He's gone a long time now without officiating a top level Final...
This raises the obvious question: why don't you confine your attention to Irish rugby at the level that it is only reffed by Irish refs....schoolboy level? Or alternatively you could stumble off back to hurling or Gaelic football where you are probably closer to understanding the Laws...if indeed there are any?
As a matter of fact, it is ignorant fans like you and the Oz commentators that are harming the game.
Posted 09:00 22nd July 2012
new_j4a says...
@ruggaluva who says..."i much prefer the aussies [commentators] they sound like a bunch of pals sitting around watching the game .... - of course they are biased so what ? so am i ! " Okay but they spread so much misinformation. I sincerely believe that they harm Oz rugby and beyond. Who would want to be a ref in Oz after they get so publicly (and incorrectly) trashed week after week? Kids go out on the pitch on Sunday with the the wrong slant on the Laws ringing in their ears or just plain wrong information. There is at very least a possibility that there is a link between the abysmal quality of your commentary team and the lack of top Oz refs and some of the ignorance of the Laws in Oz and other countries....we have to listen to them too, and believe me, they don't do Oz image any good around the world.
Posted 08:20 22nd July 2012
Trinats2 says...
The conference system is flawed. Reds should have played in Durban and had an Aussie Ref !!! Just stirring.
Reds were crap, Sharks were good, bottom Line. Maybe on a different night or if the TMO had of been asked "was a try scored" instead of "Did Ioane ground the ball" TMO actually said there was a try scored but if you are asking me if Ioane grounded the ball, there was inconclusive evidence, therefore no Ioane did not score a try ( Incorrect question from kaplan, which is probably why Kaplan has been dropped from the IRB panel for Refs) And his refusal to use cards after repeated warnings, is the reason why the crowd booed Kaplan.
On to the booing, it's OK for fans to show their frustration by booing just as it is acceptable to cheer with their approval. At least no one from the crowed tackle the Ref or spat and threw a bottle !!! Kaplan is usless and let the Reds away with a lot too, however he didn't have an influence on the outcome, sharks were too good on the night.
Gutted this morning, and the Bro outlaws are unbearable, typical saffa bad winners/losers, but the Reds will bounce back next and hopefully hot have the disrupted year they have had this year.
Someone mentioned "no depth in the Reds" ??? Reds were at one stage down to their 5th flyhalf (6th if you include Giena) and made it to the finals. Reds (and the wallabies) have the youngest team so come next RWC I'm sure there will be plenty of depth !
And to answer someones question about Higgers retaliation, the sharks player racked his face (which was not picked up by Durban born Joubert or Kaplan !!)
Once again well done Sharks, play like you did last night and you'll become the second team to lift the Super 15 trophy.
Is it possible for Giena to be included twice in the team of the week ???? At 9 and at 10 !!! Higgers is a shoe in for the 8 spot.
Posted 08:13 22nd July 2012
JayStarr says...
@ daibok: Lol! They boooed EVERYTHING! I think they even booed scrums... and line-outs and substitutions and the ball boys and the medics and seagulls flying overhead...
And that after Jonathan Kaplan penalised the Sharks silly! They just weren't happy bunnies... kangaroos? (Maybe startledwombat should change his name to disgruntledkangaroo)... I think they just didn't realise that the rules saying an Australian team is guaranteed a home play-off GAME doesn't mean they're guaranteed to WIN a play-off game. I'm sure after today John O'Neil would change though...
Posted 04:32 22nd July 2012
JayStarr says...
Amazing Sharks - brilliant.
Do not underestimate just how good this was people. To have to fly accross the Indian ocean and all the way to the most eatern part of Australia, and play the defending champions at their fortress, after they've been building up momentum of their own over the last few weeks, and beat them THAT convincingly - incredible.
And why? Because unlike last year, they went with the right attitude.
I take my hat off to you Sharks. If you play such positive rugby against the Stormers and win, I wouldn't even mind too much. I want rugby like that to be seen as "winning rugby".
Posted 04:21 22nd July 2012
tha_mai says...
was this loss just a cunning ploy by the Australians, that wily old Deans got them to throw the match? Now they have four weeks of no rugby to recover from injury, train together, in the lead up to the test series beginning mid-August.
this is tragic:
"On a night where the Reds' combinations would be severely tested it was perhaps appropriate that the large Super Rugby logo on Suncorp Stadium's turf was misspelt with letters rearranged to read SUPER RUBGY."
Posted 02:21 22nd July 2012