Sharks set for revenge
Former Springbok ace Robbie Fleck looks ahead to this weekend's Super 14 action, tipping the Sharks to avenge last week's shock loss to the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. Read all this, and more, from rugby365.com's ace columnist.
We're past the halfway stage in the 2009 Super 14, but yet the shock results just keep on coming!
Who would have picked a Cheetahs win over the Sharks? Well, I for one did not and even though I was not able to get a column in last week, I did get my predictions into the guys at Primedia Online, only to have a pretty dismal weekend.
I have written enough about the surprises in this tournament, so I won't repeat myself this week, except to say that - once again - I still believe the Sharks are a quality side and they will bounce back from their shock defeat at the hands of the Cheetahs.
John Plumtree, John Smit and Johann Muller would have read the riot act in Durban this week and even though an off-day can be excused - as they had against the Reds in Week Five - the Sharks need to address this problem of theirs when they come up against 'weaker' teams...
They tend to drop their guard against inferior teams, but they have to be careful as every point matters in these final few weeks of league action as the final scrap for semifinal points begins.
The big thing for me at the moment is all this talk over the changing - once again - of the laws.
Love them or hate them, the ELVs are being looked by the powers that be at the IRB and it will be interesting to see how this affects the pecking order of the Super 14 next season.
Some sides are clearly benefitting from the ELVs and the mess that is the breakdown, or collision area, but if they sort out the breakdown it would be interesting to see how that would affect a team like the Sharks who play with two fetchers or a team like the Chiefs, who have scored some pretty special tries from turnover ball this year.
The Sharks play the current game cleverly. Aside from utilising two fetchers, they also have a good kicking game with Frans Steyn, Stefan Terblanché and Ruan Pienaar (when fit) and they are not scared to put boot to ball and rely on turnover ball to score some excellent tries.
The Reds, however, are a side that have suffered from turnover ball, but if the breakdown were to get cleaned up a bit they could be a serious threat come 2010.
My Super 14, Round 10 predictions:
BLUES v HIGHLANDERS:
Friday, April 17 - 9.35m
The Highlanders have been one of the surprise packages in the 2009 Super 14, but their approach is rather simple - they play to their strengths... and their strength is their pack.
I am no front row guru, but anybody can see that Clint Newland, David Hall and Jamie Mackintosh make up the most effective combination in the competition - and the Highlanders, as one should, have been using it to their advantage.
They know they do not have the firepower out wide - but that does not bother them, they use their pack to do the initial damage and put them in a points-scoring position and then strike. (They have CLEARLY rubbished my pre-season prediction, and many even consider them a dark-horse for the semifinals.)
The Blues, on the other hand, are an expansive team and they use it to their advantage.
Joe Rokocoko and Rudi Wulf are well-known attacking threats, but I am a massive fan of Rene Ranger, one of the most exciting talents to emerge at this level for some time. I am surprised the Blues do not use him more.
Fleckie's prediction: Blues will edge this one - only just. Blues by three points.
BRUMBIES v BULLS:
Friday, April 17 - 11.40am
This is going to be an interesting one.
The Brumbies, as we all know, have had a real tough time of it off the field, but they managed to lift themselves for an emotional victory over the Stormers last week. Conditions were not good, but they are a clever team and they used that to their advantage against the Stormers.
They have a few injury worries this week and I see they have shifted Stirling Mortlock to the wing, although I don't see this match being won out wide!
I was actually very impressed with the Brumbies pack last week against the Stormers. They scrummed well and more than held their own, but I cannot see them doing the same against a more powerful Bulls unit - even without Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha.
Wynand Olivier has been in brilliant form and Morné Steyn is playing very good rugby, but like I said, it's all about the Bulls pack and that is where this game will be won for the visitors.
Fleckie's prediction: I am going to tip the Bulls here again and apologies in advance to those Bulls fans who believe I am something of a bad omen for their Men in Blue! The Bulls by five...
HURRICANES v STORMERS:
Saturday, April 18 - 7.30am
The Hurricanes certainly left it late last week, but a win is a win and it certainly is not easy to win a game in Perth against the Force.
They are a quality side and so much depends on the form of Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith - if they fire, the 'Canes tend to win... and win well.
The Stormers, on the other hand, are low on confidence and clearly a team with more than one foot on the plane - especially after picking up some injury troubles too.
Unfortunately for them, they still have one more tour match ahead of them - against the Highlanders next week.
Fleckie's prediction: Expect plenty of tries - if the weather holds up - but, ultimately, the 'Canes will prevail. Hurricanes by less than four.
REDS v LIONS:
Saturday, April 18 - 9.35am
Both these teams like to attack, so expect an open game, with not much aimless kicking - even if nothing but pride is at stake in this fixture between two sides in 13th (Reds) and 12th (Lions) position on the log.
The Reds at home are a tough side, with quality players like Quade Cooper and Digby Ioane in the mix, whilst the Lions will be without Jaque Fourie and Louis Ludik this week - two big losses to any side... nevermind a side with just two wins to their name!
Fleckie's prediction: I am not expecting many big hits or a shortage of points... I will definitely be watching this game, but, sadly, cannot see the injury-hit visitors winning here... The Reds by less than seven.
WARATAHS v FORCE:
Saturday, April 18 - 11.40am
The Waratahs are an effective team, but I must admit, I do not enjoy watching them play.
They play to their strengths, which is securing first-phase ball, but it's a waste as they have some talent at their disposal. However, one of the better attacking weapons, Kurtley Beale, is on the bench and they start with Daniel Halangahu, who is not much of an attacking threat.
Tom Carter is never going to set the world alight at inside centre, he is simply there to crash the ball up, but it's a pity because they could make more of an attempt to play an expansive game and, perhaps, stake a serious claim to the Super 14 title in the process.
Relying on your pack entirely is a dangerous game, because as the Bulls proved last week it is not impossible to get on top of the 'Tahs and they do not - as one would expect - offer much without the ball.
The Force, on the other hand, are an exciting side and with Matt Giteau pulling the strings at flyhalf it is understandable.
Fleckie's prediction: It won't be pretty and I won't be watching this game - I just don't like watching the 'Tahs, even if the Force are a great side to watch. The home side will, however, do what is required and squeeze out a five-point win.
CHEETAHS v CHIEFS:
Saturday, April 18 - 3pm
The Cheetahs showed their true colours last week in beating the Sharks, but it was more of a case of coach Naka Drotské doing his homework and his players knowing the Sharks guys very well - I mean they play against each other enough!
Juan Smith was, as always, in a class of his own and Heinrich Brüssow was a close second and we all know what Jongi Nokwe can do when given some space.
Their defence is what won it for them; they rattled the Sharks players with their big hits and in-your-face 'D' and more of that will be required against the in-form Chiefs.
The Chiefs are a dangerous side - even without Masaga and Sivivatu - and people cannot lose sight of the fact that the Sharks had an off day against a very fired-up Cheetahs team who had just come back home after a long and disappointing tour abroad.
Fleckie's prediction: A Cheetahs win would be a massive boost, ironically for the Sharks in particular, but it's a long shot. Chiefs to win.
SHARKS v CRUSADERS:
Saturday, April 18 - 5.05pm
The Sharks had to slip up some time and they did so in grand style against the Cheetahs, but I really cannot see it happening again.
As I mentioned above, they tend to drop their guard against the so-called 'weaker' sides, but thankfully for them they are up against a side that one could hardly term weak - even without coach Robbie Deans and star man Dan Carter.
The Crusaders, of course, have one Richie McCaw back and they will be a different side from the one that currently occupies eighth place on the Super 14 log, but they are still missing Casey Laulala - the heartbeat of their backline this year - and they don't have enough quality out wide to seriously threaten the Sharks.
Fleckie's prediction: The Sharks by a good 10 points.
Catch you next time,
Fleckie
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