Delicious
Digg
reddit
Facebook
StumbleUpon
Click here to bet on Rugby Union with Sky Bet
Offloading: Lwazi Mvovo
Related links
Teams
- Queensland Reds
- Sharks
Also see
- Minutes!
- Highlanders pip Hurricanes
- Coetzee cools Stormers
The Sharks came from seventeen points down to secure a 27-22 Super Rugby victory over the reigning champion Reds in Durban on Saturday.
Second-half tries from Keegan Daniel and Riaan Viljoen helped the Sharks complete a stunning turnaround.
The defending champions' huge lead was registered in the first half after early tries by James Hanson and Scott Higginbotham.
But Jandre Marais scored before half time and Daniel and Viljoen touched down either side of a Nick Frisby effort as the Sharks held on for a crucial win ahead of a four-match trip to Australia and New Zealand starting next week.
At the start, the Queensland outfit managed to score from their first attack when James Horwill won his own line-out and Hanson found a way through the maul as he burst through to touch the ball down one-handed.
Mike Harris added the conversion, but then missed a penalty in swirling conditions after an error from Bismarck du Plessis.
It was all the Reds thereafter with Higginbotham going in under the posts after superb play from the backs to take the ball wide and forward again after the Sharks failed to find touch with an ordinary clearance by Patrick Lambie.
Ben Lucas looped over a simple conversion to make it 14-0 after 26 minutes.
More erring from the home side and vice-captain Du Plessis, who was caught off-side, allowed Lucas another chance at goal which he successfully completed, before the Reds' momentum was finally halted in the 34th minute.
Marais had just come onto the field to replace the injured Steven Sykes and ran onto a thrown up pass from Charl McLeod to force his way over - Lambie adding the conversion.
Lwazi Mvovo was then denied a try after Willem Alberts was spotted going dangerously into a tackle.
Another precarious tackle by Digby Ioane on Marcell Coetzee resulted in a yellow card for the wing, with Lambie slotting over the resulting penalty to further cut the gap heading into half time.
Straight after the restart, Lambie narrowed the gap to four with another penalty, while Coetzee and Mvovo wasted straightforward chances to draw their side level.
But they finally managed to take the lead in the 55th minute when skipper Daniel picked up at the base of the scrum and scampered through a tiring Reds defence to score.
Lambie converted, but straight after the restart, Ioane and Frisby won a sprint down the right with the former setting up the latter to score after the Sharks threw away possession.
However, the hosts did the same thing from the next kick-off with Viljoen dummying smartly and cutting inside to score another converted try on the right.
It proved the final score as the home side held on for a second win of the campaign.
The scorers:
For Sharks
Tries: Marais, Daniel, Viljeon
Cons: Lambie 3
Pens: Lambie 2
For Reds:
Tries: Hanson, Higginbotham, Frisby
Cons: Harris, Lucas
Pens: Lucas
Yellow cards: Ioane (Reds - 40th min - Tip tackle)
Sharks:15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Tim Whitehead, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Keegan Daniel (c), 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Anton Bresler , 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Jandre Marais, 19 Jacques Botes, 20 Frederic Michalak, 21 Marius Joubert, 22 Louis Ludik.
Reds: 15 Rod Davies, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Ben Tapuai, 12 Mike Harris, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Ben Lucas, 9 Will Genia, 8 Radike Samo, 7 Beau Robinson, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Van Humphries, 4 James Horwill (c), 3 James Slipper, 2 James Hanson, 1 Greg Holmes.
Replacements: 16 Saia Faingaa, 17 Ben Daley, 18 Rob Simmons, 19 Jake Schatz, 20 Liam Gill, 21 Nick Frisby, 22 Luke Morahan.
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Comments
ruckingkiwi says...
It'd be nice to see the Reds doing well as the other Aussie teams look woeful but it cannot be helped if injuries etc happen, of course they will lack depth, it's right across the board in Aussie rugby.
Posted 03:26 22nd March 2012
Trinats says...
Retard:
READ the whole post. I said "Losing players to injuries is no excuse, Reds had heaps last year and everyone was writing them off !!" and it was not the reason we lost. (PS should be "written", before you bite back with something)
Mate you have issues.
Posted 10:25 21st March 2012
Trader says...
Trinats thats all you do is blame performances on injury just reread your 1st post on this blog - "Reds looked good until Diggers sinbin and then losing two no 10s in the game didn't help" and in your last post you manage to contradict yourself in the same blog - "Reds are missing, first chioce players prior to this game (and wallabies.......)" Man you are good. Also I don't know much about the Blues and don't care but can you enlighten me as to when Tony Woodcock moved to NZ from Samoa as you seem to have all those facts at your fingertips.
Posted 10:57 20th March 2012
Trinats says...
isthatrightref:
Losing players to injuries is no excuse, Reds had heaps last year and everyone was writing them off !! I believe the sinbin on Ioane was the turning point (evidence was the 13 points sharks put on)
Reds are missing, first chioce players prior to this game (and wallabies, not the first choice 7 in Blues who no one has heard of, except for the Samoan bloke !)
Ramage:
thanks for your support, I too with all the banter, would only wish to defeat a fully fit all hands on deck team. And you never know, with all the key No. 10s out we could call Caleb up from his fishing trip, have all home games and a ref to turn a blind eye and sneak a win in the final !
Posted 22:20 19th March 2012
Ramage says...
Yes it is hard for any team to lose their first 3 play makers. Having seen a team I support, admittedly at a higher level, do so but still prevail and not get too much credit for it, my heart goes out to the Reds. The team is already struggling to resurrect their last year's form and now have been done a very cruel blow. Whilst we throw the banter around I believe all good sportsmen like to see an even playing field and I certainly do not want to see the Reds defeated by this means. However no doubt Trinuts will come back with something "positive" to say about how they can still win and in sport that's what we always hope for. I much prefer to see a team like the Force take out a team like the Waratahs and isn't it amazing to hear how the so called Waratah fans turn on their players ONCE AGAIN. Is it the fact year after year the Waratah's are touted by the Sydney press as being Super Rugby winners and year after year they are either the bridesmaid or more often the flower girls. Who needs enemies when you have fans like the Waratahs.
Posted 13:27 19th March 2012
isthatrightref says...
@ rohan1992... agreed, multiple injuries in one position would cripple most teams but I was talking about injuries in general & the flow-on effect esp in a squad with limited backup to begin with. The Blues were missing 7 first-pick players this week but were still competitive even though they lost: take the corresponding 7 out of any aussie side & they'd get smashed for sure.
Posted 11:34 19th March 2012
7ton says...
I missed the game but it seems like a great comeback from the Sharks
Trinats
Why was Digger sinbinned?
Posted 11:30 19th March 2012
letsgoboks says...
Good job Sharkies!
Posted 09:17 19th March 2012
Trinats says...
Ramage:
On the flip side, if the Reds defeat Bulls in SA without Diggers (citing) and on their 4th flyhalf Genia, one could say everyone else could be in trouble !
It's a long comp this one and I see a few upsets this year (like the Rebels trashing the Hurricanes last year) The Reds will only improve and come the business end, with Cooper back, will be right up there again, hence my not too worried comment.
Posted 21:58 18th March 2012
carpelone says...
Good win, but expected.
Posted 17:58 18th March 2012
martinmarais78 says...
There lucky run will end soon! Shark tears again come play-off time. Actually a bit cruel giving them false hope again...
Posted 13:55 18th March 2012
rohan1992 says...
@isthatrightref."aussie teams lack depth, Reds may get exposed"
Bit harsh. I don't think any team in the comp could handle losing their first three flyhalves. (maybe the Stormers)
Posted 12:05 18th March 2012
Ramage says...
I believe this result was inevitable as the Reds as yet have not got the rhythm they had last year and certainly have not been playing the rugby at a pace one would have expected but as trader said so far they have only played posers especially the proverbial Bridesmaid the Waratahs. Still it is a long competition and as the press are finding out predictions are likely to turn pear shaped. The Reds will find where they are in the order of things when they play the Bulls for if hey are beaten by the Bulls who were beaten by the lowest performing NZ franchise then the Reds could be in trouble. Next week some interesting games Rabbles vs force for the Australian wooden spoon unless the Waratahs sink even lower by losing to the Sharks. Brumbies vs Highlanders first out of NZ game for the Southerners and the Blues vs the Hurricanes to see who is the wooden spooner of the NZ conference.
Posted 09:36 18th March 2012
Trinations says...
Pretenders. But the draw will look after them. Again.
Posted 08:57 18th March 2012
RuckingKiwi says...
The uncomfortable truth here is that the only time an Aussie team wins is when they play another Aussie team. The conference looks weak and even the most yellow of supporters must admit it.
Posted 08:33 18th March 2012
Trinats says...
Shock defeat, but wasn't helped by the fact that Sharks scored most of their points against 14 men. Reds looked good until Diggers sinbin and then losing two no 10s in the game didn't help. Not too worried as a reds supporter, 17-0 up they switched off then the sinbin, had Cooper been there it would have been 37 - 0 before the sinbin !!! or if only Giena could kick a goal. Just hope the injuries don't impact on the team next week against the bulls. Genia wont make the team of the week at 10, but he will at 9, had his best game this year.
Well done Sharks, great win, took your chances and made the Super 15 Champions pay. Even though the ref was a saffa, he had a good game, I was surprised.
Posted 04:00 18th March 2012
IslandPower says...
what? how did the chumpions lose? they blew a 17 point lead?
well done sharks for the comeback
Haha was just bidding my time for the reds to play a none australian team.,
Posted 01:50 18th March 2012
hayj05 says...
Not a suprise because the Sharks were at home but the Reds actually played a lot better than they have been.
Posted 00:17 18th March 2012
the_nines says...
All credit to the Sharks. Great forward pressure in the 2nd half. But with the loss of both flyhalves (Harris/Lucas) at the same time Ioane was off the park, the Reds were always going to be up against it. Don't write them off yet.
Posted 00:12 18th March 2012
Trader says...
I actually didn't stay up for this game and I did not record it because after watching the Red's play last week I will settle for watching the grass grow this Sunday. No surprises really the Red's won their first round against the posers and we have seen how bad the Warritahs are since then. 2nd round win against the Force but the Force are a little like France you never know what team will turn up and the Red's defence did look shaky in that game. 3rd round borefest over the Rebels, enough said on that really. The Sharks are my favourite Saffa team and are always hard to beat at home but really for the Red's to throw away a 17 point margin..... well as Borig says a bit of a choke really. As far as Trinats is concerned well he is wrong about almost everything so not surprising that his predictions have been so wrong and it is only Round 4. In Feb he says we (the Red's) will only lose to the Warritahs (wrong) and the Blues at Eden Park. Now we have a loss to the Sharks so it is all starting to look pear shaped. It would seem they are starting to follow the Warritahs in believing their own press (could this be an Aussie trait - nah never, don't be silly) but with big Ewan claiming this team is even better than 2011, who knows, although what he probably meant was that any team without QC in it would be a better one. I like the look of the Brumbies and it could be my prediction that the Red's should win the Aussie conference hands down may be off the mark. The Brumbies have my Highlanders next week and as much as I hate to say it the Brumbies could win this at home and set up an interesting clash with the Red's on April 6. Anyway lets wait on Trinats lates excuses, refs, hoodoos, injuries, resting players, family pets passed away, poisioned (opps forgot thats ours) etc etc should make for the normal fascinating stuff.
Posted 00:05 18th March 2012