Sharks show teeth against Stormers B
BISMARCK du Plessis made sure his last game for the Sharks was one he will remember as he scored a try in a convincing, yet ultimately empty win last night.
Bismarck was menacing in his last game but the same could not be said of his brother Jannie or of Willem Alberts, who both had quiet matches.
The trio were given standing ovations that were fitting for players who have served the franchise selflessly when they were replaced. The biggest one was reserved for Bismarck in the 76th minute when he came off for Franco Marais.
Against a Stormers “B” side, the Sharks did what was required of them but in a manner that was befitting of their substandard season. They were scrappy and seemed devoid of enjoyment even though they were not lacking for passion.
The Stormers were not much better and hardly created a tangible try-scoring opportunity, but they played like a side who had made 14 changes.
The majority of the first half was a microcosm of everything that has gone wrong with the Sharks this season.
There were early points conceded, some terrible rugby, a lost scrum, missed passes, sloppy hands and a yellow card. Andre Esterhuizen was the recipient in the 10th minute when he tip-tackled Michael Rhodes.
Fortunately, the young centre has time on his side to refine his game. That also applies to Kurt Coleman, whose handling mistake led to the Sharks’ first try by Lionel Cronje. Had Coleman caught Jaco Taute’s pass cleanly from a wrap-around move, they would have cut the Sharks defence open like a hot rotisserie. It came as a surprise that Coleman kicked as accurately as he did even though his game was serviceable at best.
Instead, hacks by Cronje and Odwa Ndungane saw the ball deep in the Stormers’ red zone before Cronje dotted down, seemingly at the same time as Pat Howard. Replays suggested that it was a dead heat but Glen Jackson awarded the try. Fortunately for the New Zealander, it was an inconsequential match as the qualifiers had been decided.
The Waratahs’ 31-5 victory against a despondent Reds unit condemned the Stormers to the unwanted play-off against the Brumbies at Newlands on Saturday.
While the Sharks’ second try by Stefan Ungerer on the stroke of half time was well worked, a crucial forward pass from JP Pietersen to Sbura Sithole was missed by Jackson. Sithole’s resultant chip was gathered by Coleman. It gave the Sharks a much-needed lineout platform to line up their forwards. They blasted at the Stormers relentlessly and the visitors finally gave in.
The Stormers showed more enterprise and brains on attack but they were let down by poor handling. One such error from Taute led to Bismarck’s 50thminute try when the Sharks again taught the kids a lesson on how to exploit turnover ball.
The lack of defensive cohesion was evident in the young Stormers unit as they battled to contain the Sharks’ runners.
When Lwazi Mvovo cantered over in the 63rd minute, it was the Sharks’ first four-try bonus point since their 29-12 win over the Lions in the third week of the tournament.
It spoke volumes about the Sharks’ dreadful season and the fact that the attacking game they promised leading into the tournament was stunted like dry mealies in a withering KwaZulu-Natal drought.
The game descended into nothingness in the last 15 minutes with Robert du Preez’s spear tackle on Mvovo earning him a yellow card. Ndungane followed up with a 78th-minute try that gave the crowd a feelgood factor they savoured.