Sharks blow Stormers away
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South African hard man Bismarck du Plessis cried after his final Super Rugby appearance for the Sharks ended in a 34-12 home victory over Stormers.
Du Plessis, a 31-year-old rated among the best hookers in the world, is moving to France with elder brother and Sharks prop Jannie to play in the Top-14 competition.
While the brothers have not disclosed who they are joining, reports link them with Montpellier, where 2007 World Cup-winning Springboks coach Jake White is in charge.
"Durban has been a very special place for me," said a tearful Bismarck at Kings Park after his 130th appearance for the Sharks, "and I will never forget my 11 seasons here.
"I will miss my teammates, the supporters and everyone who helped me develop my career.
"I was once the seventh-choice hooker at the Cheetahs and now I am told I am among the best in the world," Bismarck added after receiving the official man-of-the-match award.
Du Plessis recalled how he joined the Sharks after several seasons with the Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs.
"I remember writing my last examinations and packing everything I owned into a little Volkswagen Beetle.
"It took me about 12 hours to drive from Bloemfontein to Durban in a car that could not go much faster than 80 kilometres an hour.
"I had to fill up about six times because it had only a small petrol tank," he said.
Du Plessis and Bulls hooker Adriaan Strauss are considered certainties to be included in the 31-man Springboks squad for the World Cup in England this September and October.
Du Plessis scored the third of five tries as the Sharks romped to victory over a second-string Stormers side after leading 13-9 at half-time.
Sensing they were going to finish third whatever the result, the Cape Town outfit rested their first choices ahead of a home quarterfinal against the Brumbies next Saturday.
Flyhalf Lionel Cronje, scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer, fullback Lwazi Mvovo and wing Odwa Ndungane were the other try scorers for the winners.
Cronje kicked two conversions and a penalty and his replacement, Fred Zeilinga, slotted a conversion.
The bonus-point victory had no effect on the Sharks' final placing, though, as they came 11th, 13 points adrift of the last play-off position.
Stormers flyhalf Kurt Coleman shrugged off woeful recent place-kicking form to succeed with his four penalty attempts.
Man of the match: For the Stormers Michael Willemse debuted like a champion and Nizaam Carr had a strong game. Lionel Cronje had a good day with the boot and Ndungane was prominent on attack. However the award goes to none other than Sharks legend Bismark du Plessis for a courageous effort topped off with a try.
The scorers:
For the Sharks:
Tries: Cronje, Ungerer, Du Plessis, Mvovo, Ndungane
Cons: Cronje 2, Zeilinga
Pen: Cronje
For the Stormers:
Pen: Coleman 4
Yellow cards: Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks, 10 – foul play – dangerous tackle), Robert du Preez (Stormers, 75 – foul play – dangerous tackle)
Teams:
Sharks: 15 Lwazi Mvovo, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Sibusiso Sithole, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Renaldo Bothma, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Marco Wentzel (captain), 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Dale Chadwick, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Lubabalo Mtyanda, 20 Khaya Majola, 21 Conrad Hoffmann, 22 Fred Zeilinga, 23 Heimar Williams.
Stormers: 15 Robert du Preez, 14 Johnny Kotze, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Pat Howard, 10 Kurt Coleman, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Nizaam Carr (captain), 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Michael Willemse, 1 Oliver Kebble.
Replacements: 16 Neil Rautenbach, 17 Alister Vermaak, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Jan de Klerk, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Seabelo Senatla, 23 Kobus van Wyk.
Referee: Glen Jackson
Assistant referees: Quinton Immelman, Archie Sehlako
TMO: Marius Jonker
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