Tough start for Sharks
rugby365.com’s Robbie Fleck looks ahead to Round Three in the 2009 Super 14 – a tough weekend for the Sharks, who are now overseas and face the Chiefs this weekend.
The second week of the 2009 Super 14 produced some more exciting rugby, with all the home teams winning. When last has that happened in the Super 14?
I thought the Bulls were particularly impressive.
I wrote last week that their match against the Blues would be boring – how wrong was?! It was a refreshing approach from the Bulls, they ran their opponents ragged, but, yet again, their success was built on a powerful display by their pack and big ball-runners like Pierre Spies and Danie Rossouw getting over the advantage line.
When they get it right, they certainly get it right!
One side that did not quite ‘get it right’, was the Stormers, who laboured to a victory over the Reds, when it seemed that they would smash their visitors. But it’s a long competition this and as they showed last year, they are capable of getting better with time.
I mentioned by five favourites for the Super 14 title in my first column of the year. To refresh your memories, I said the Sharks, the Stormers, the Brumbies and one of the Blues or the Hurricanes would be there or thereabouts. I still stand by that!
My column is a bit late this week, so I won’t waste much time – let’s get onto this weekend’s predictions:
CRUSADERS v HURRICANES:
Friday, February 27 – 8.35am
This is still a very good Crusaders side, even though they went down narrowly to the Brumbies away from home.
They were without Richie McCaw, Brad Thorn and Leon MacDonald – three influential and experienced players – yet they very nearly beat the Brumbies on their own patch, eventually going down in the last minute.
One guy that really impressed me, however, was Casey Laulala. He is playing some of his best rugby and he needs to keep it up in order to push for an All Blacks place.
The Hurricanes seem a bit confused at the moment. I can’t understand why Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith did not start last week, but, wisely, they have both been picked this week and will give the Crusaders plenty to think about.
Fleckie’s prediction: Defence will win it for the home side. The Crusaders by less than five.
WARATAHS v HIGHLANDERS:
Friday, February 27 – 10.40am
The ‘Tahs continue to impress me. They are a good team with a good coach and some talented players. Most importantly, however, they are an intelligent team and they are very tough to beat at home.
Don’t read much into their narrow win over the Chiefs last week. The Chiefs are a dangerous side – as the Sharks will realise on Saturday – and they did well to contain them.
I wrote the Highlanders off before the start of the tournament and even though I cannot see them challenging for a play-off spot this year, they are a much improved outfit from last year.
They have shown that they are not pushovers, but it is a big ask to expect them to win in Sydney.
Fleckie’s prediction: The Waratahs are a mature side and that maturity will see them through to a 10-point win.
CHIEFS v SHARKS:
Saturday, February 28 – 8.35am
This is a tough one to call.
The Chiefs are an up-and-down side, but they are tough to beat at home and they have some dangerous runners in Sosene Anesi, Lelia Masaga, and Sitiveni Sivivatu.
The Sharks, meanwhile, have performed well in South Africa; picking up wins over the Stormers (away) and the Lions (at home). Sure, those scorelines might not look that impressive, but they never looked in too much trouble against either sides and they controlled those matches.
Fleckie’s prediction: The Sharks will not win all four their matches on tour – this is one they look likely to lose. It will be close and they will start brightly, but they have not been in New Zealand for very long and they will tire in the last 20 minutes. It will, however, be tight and the Chiefs will squeeze in by five points.
BRUMBIES v FORCE:
Saturday, February 28 – 10.40am
The Brumbies continue to impress me this season. Their senior players, Smith, Mortlock and Gerrard, have stepped up and Adam Ashley-Cooper has been playing some good rugby too. They almost look like the Brumbies teams of old!
Not having an established flyhalf still remains a problem, but they seem to have sorted that out for next year by signing Matt Giteau for the 2010 Super 14.
The Force, on the other hand, are in disarray. They obviously still have problems off the field and it can’t help morale when a guy like Giteau – their standout performer against the Cheetahs last week – announces that he will be leaving well before the end of the current year.
They struggled against the Cheetahs and Giteau was the only player to really put his hand up for the home side.
Fleckie’s prediction: The Brumbies will take this by 10 points.
LIONS v BULLS:
Saturday, February 28 – 5pm
Heinke van der Merwe has to play for the Springboks this year. I am no scrumming expert – as I always say, I leave that stuff to my old mate Robbie Kempson! – but this guy has class stamped all over him. He is, currently, the best loosehead prop in the country and he would be a real powerhouse for the Boks come June.
The Bulls were very impressive against the Blues last week. They destroyed the Blues, who are not the worst side in this competition, and they got their big, strong men to punch some pretty big holes in the New Zealanders’ defence.
One worry for the Bulls was their defence. They leaked a few tries against the Reds the week before and now also against the Bulls and they will have to be on full alert against a Lions team that I enjoy watching and loves nothing more than giving the ball some air.
Fleckie’s prediction: Home ground advantage will help the Lions, who will score four tries in what should be a high-scoring match. The Bulls, however, will have just a bit too much up front and will take this by 10.
STORMERS v BLUES:
Saturday, February 28 – 7.10pm
The Stormers seem to be operating like a 15 individuals and not a team of 15 guys playing together. I have written up this Stormers team and I still believe they can make the play-offs this year, but some players need to take a long, hard look in the mirror and see if they are actually contributing properly to this side.
Stormers teams have always had some pretty big names and some flashy players, but they have always played as a team.
That is what Rassie Erasmus needs to get these guys doing. Rassie is one of the best coaches in this competition, so fundamentally there are no major issues, it’s just a case of the players doing what is expected of them.
I thought the Blues showed some good touches against the Bulls, despite going down 59-26 and the likes of Isaia Toeava, Joe Rokocoko, Anthony Tuitavake and Paul Williams could cut any defence to shreds.
The Stormers cannot afford to give them too much space and luckily for them that Rene Ranger chap is not playing due to suspension…
Fleckie’s prediction: The Stormers will pick up their game and win this one by 10 points.
REDS v CHEETAHS:
Sunday, March 1 – 8am
The more I see of this Reds team under Phil Mooney, the more I cannot help but be impressed. They’re superb on the front foot and even though everyone is having a go at the Stormers for not playing well last week, I think people aren’t giving the Reds enough credit.
After a good tour of South Africa, where they gave the Bulls and the Stormers a good run, the Reds will be even better at home against a Cheetahs side that managed to run the Force pretty close last week.
Sadly, I can’t see the Cheetahs finishing to high up on the table this year and they could struggle this week against the Reds youngsters.
Fleckie’s prediction: The Reds have travelled from South Africa back home, but I am still picking them by less than seven points.
Until next week,
Robbie
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