Super XV Big Match Review - Sharks 21 - 17 Crusaders

It can pretty hard to break a bad habit – certainly much more difficult than picking up a good new one.  Whether it's drinking, smoking or indecently exposing yourself in public, once you get into a cycle or routine of doing something, it’s pretty hard to go without.  The Sharks' bad habit for years and years has been losing to the Crusaders, with an abysmal record against the New Zealand side that read "Played 16, won 2".  For one of the top sides in South Africa, this was frankly bizarre – how could a team with the reputation and talent of the Sharks fail to beat a side, even at home, for 6 years?

Thankfully, for fans of the South African outfit, their side has clearly spent the last year – in which they haven't played the Crusaders – attending C.A. (Chokers' Anonymous) classes, because they finally managed to turn the red tide with an abrasively physical, if perhaps a tad uninventive, win at home on Saturday night…but they were made to sweat by their underpowered nemesis.

Despite enjoying some early pressure and a subsequent penalty, converted by Pat Lambie, the hosts spent most of the opening 40 on the back foot, as the visitors played all the rugby.  The Kiwi outfit got their score moving following a superb break from Ryan Crotty that ended with the Beast, Tendai Mtawarira, charging into the ensuing maul from the side, handing stand-in stand-off Tyler Bleyendaal a 3 pointer, before the away side scored the first, and only, try of the game.  Following another Lambie penalty that gave the Sharks a 3 point advantage, a powerful handoff by Robbie Fruean gave Tom Marshall the chance to put Adam Whitelock away down the left, and the winger drew the last man beautifully to allow Andy Ellis a run to the line.  Bleyendaal couldn't add the extras, but there was little doubt who was in charge of proceedings, despite the fact that the Sharks only went in to the break a couple of points down after the Crusaders' 10 and Lambie had exchanged penalties.

 It seemed that the game would continue in much the same way after half time, with the visitors dominating possession and territory and earning another 3 points, but then the hosts gradually stirred themselves into life.  Keegan Daniel and Jaques Botes were both making decent headway around the fringes before Cobus Reinach made a fine break off good lineout ball, offloading to Franco van der Merwe to give the big lock a gallop to the line, but he was denied by a sensational covering tackle from young number 8 Luke Whitelock, who scragged his man into touch. It was to prove the closest the Sharks would come to a try, but they were rewarded for their stranglehold on the game through 4 penalty kicks, all of which were converted by Lambie.  Bleyendaal managed to pull one back, but the Crusaders were left to fret over the 2 attempts the young fly half missed in the final 10 minutes.

Game over, and the score was 21 – 17 to the hosts, with all their points coming from Lambie's boot.  It may not have been pretty but, if you're a Sharks fan, who cares? The Sharks have kicked their bad habit – and that's a pretty sobering thought for the rest of the challengers this year.

What else was happening in Super Rugby last weekend?

Blues 29 – 18 Highlanders:  The Highlanders slumped to yet another loss on Saturday night as they were edged out by the Blues in Auckland.  A moment of stupidity from Ma’a Nonu proved to be the difference, with the All Black receiving a yellow card for a mindless shoulder charge on Piri Weepu.  The Blues scored their tries through Steven Luatua, Angus Taavao-Matau, and a double from Weepu, whilst the visitors got on the scoreboard through Ben Smith and Phil Burleigh.

Brumbies 28 – 28 Kings:  The in-form Brumbies were held to a shock draw at home by Super Rugby minnows the Kings in Canberra.  Everyone has been impressed by the way the South African new boys have gone about their rugby, but nobody expected anything apart from a solid hiding against the top Aussie side.  Instead, they grabbed a draw through Schalk Ferreira, Wimpie van der Walt and a double from Cornell du Preez (who scored his second in the last play of the game), with the hosts only managing 2 scores through Henry Speight and Joe Tomane.

Hurricanes 41 – 29 Waratahs:  The Canes ran away with a solid win against a stubborn Tahs side in a game that was far closer than the scoreline suggests.  Both sides scored some great tries, with the Hurricanes touching down through Julian Savea (2), Reg Goodes and Motu Matu’u, whilst the Waratahs fought back with 5-pointers from Bernard Foley, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Israel Folau.

Force 23 – 30 Rebels:  The Rebels overcame their nightmare tour of South Africa with a solid win in Perth.  The Force scored tries through Winston Stanley, Will Tupou and Pat Dellit, but the visitors were too strong and picked up a bonus point with Hugh Pyle, Jason Woodward (2) and Richard Kingi all going over.

Cheetahs 26 – 24 Stormers:  A last minute drop goal from fly half Burton Francis gave the Cheetahs a stunning win over their rivals, the Stormers.  Robert Ebersohn and Sarel Pretorious both scored for the hosts whilst the Stormers thought they’d won it after Juan du Jongh scored a double.