Odds stacked against Sharks in Canberra

BACK in 2001 the Sharks played in the Super 12 final against the Brumbies at the Bruce Stadium in Canberra, and the way that game panned out summarises how difficult it is for South African teams to win in the Australian capital.

Eighteen years later the Sharks are back at that same venue for today’s Super Rugby quarter-final and they will be only too aware of the obstacles to be overcome over and above the Brumbies themselves.

That evening in 2001 the temperature was zero degrees at kick-off, with an icy wind blasting in. I recall flyhalf Butch James complaining that he couldn’t feel his fingers... But the Sharks nevertheless started well and, to the displeasure of one of the most partisan crowds on the planet, led 6-3 at half time.

They lost 36-6 in a one-sided second half in which George

Gregan’s team cashed in on the considerable home ground advantage afforded by the weather and their parochial fans. At the post-match presentation, Sharks captain Mark Andrews was booed off the stage.

Not for any particular reason ... just because that is how the supporters are in the back of beyond.

The predicted temperature for today’s match (8pm local time) is an (almost) freezing 2 deg C and Louis Schreuder’s Sharks can also expect as hot a reception from the home crowd. The distinct home ground advantage is reflected in the fact that this fairly ordinary Brumbies went unbeaten in Canberra in 2019 after a shock home loss to the Rebels in round one yet are more than vulnerable away (six losses).

The way it has generally worked out between the Sharks and the Brumbies over the years is that each side wins at home. In 22 fixtures since 1996, the Brumbies have won 12 and the Sharks 10 (all but one at Jonsson Kings Park), with the average score being 26-23 to the Australians.

Current form is with the Brumbies – they have won three of the last four matches between the sides – but that span of matches has been decided by seven points or fewer, again emphasising how closely matched these teams are.

A statistic that will not encourage the Sharks is their very poor record in away Super Rugby play-off matches – they’ve lost their last five away from Durban and the last time they won a finals match outside SA was 2012 in Australia (30-17 vs Reds). Interestingly, the two teams have the same record on defence in 2019, both having been successful with 87.7 % of their tackles but the Brumbies have a clear attacking edge advantage. They have scored 65 tries (second to the Crusaders’ 78) while the Sharks are third last with 40.