Black ‘n Whites get caught in the Red

Doesn’t happen often, but due to some in-house visitors I was spousally rationed to one S14 fixture this weekend. Looking closely at the schedule with a South African eye, but also an eye on quality – I had to go for the Sharks vs Reds. Apologies now to the Stormers who finally played some entertaining if not precision rugby – that fact and the mush the Sharks dished up – showed up my tough choice to be incorrect.

Despite the result going against my prediction and my wishes – I enjoyed the really excellent display the Reds put on. A rather poor crowd turned up to watch one of the straightest running backline performances I’ve seen in years. The Sharks defensive strength seemed to disintegrate in the face of the neat straight lines the Reds ran. Cooper the fly-half wasn’t actually at his best, but Barnes had an absolutely outstanding game. The Sharks seemed content with a slide defense and did not “push and then slide” as any modern side should  – this gave the Reds a few metres and Barnes ate them up keeping his opposite defenders focused on him and then unleashed the overlap with precision passes. Whatever the Aussies dish up later this year in the Tri Nations the Giteau / Barnes 10/12 combo is for me top notch – replacing the Carter / McAlister combo of a couple of years back. In comparison stand-in no.10  Fransie Steyn looked an incompetent clown – and did his Bok chances immense harm. Steyn just seems so unaware of not only the players around him but of absolutely everything that goes on around him. If he cannot translate his physical talents into a tactical and mental talent – then he will leave coaches very cool about playing him in any position.

Compliments must also go to the Reds front row – who kept the much vaunted Sharks Springbok trio – almost deadly quiet. Occasionally the Sharks scrum gathered and damaged the home team – but for the most part they wandered to the scrums with little intent – and quite frankly got no value. To me it is a lack of concentration – not to put weaker opponents under pressure at set pieces. The Sharks, run ragged out wide, seem to take the scrums as time to rest. Credit again to the Reds whose lose forwards ran great lines (just like their backs) and kept the shape of the game to their choosing. Kankowski had a mare – inexplicably heading out toward the touch line with ball in hand – on 3 separate occasions. Bismarck was back to his lobotomyzed worst – Do he and Steyn sit by themselves on a separate bus? Or do they travel actually travel with the team?  Anyway it was a bad day at the office for the Sharks – who have been so much better this season. 

Trouble is,  they catch the Force this week on the up. The Force backs will look to do exactly what the Reds did. Giteau is on fire, he is pretty much penned in at 10 for S14 team of the week – EVERYWEEK – and he will be looking eagerly at who the Sharks have to juggle as his opposite number. 

Even though the Tah’s should beat the Craders in the high profile game of the week – I’ll look to the Force/Sharks for entertainment. Tight NZ derby between the Chiefs and Blues – is a cracker on paper, but the massive history between these teams could mean this is one for the North Island aficionado’s rather than the neutral hoping for expansive rugby – Expect a few high shots! We will see if the Bulls can travel well this year – I’m not convinced – and with heavy rain forecast for Wellington on Saturday – mmm. Every team will worry if they are gonna be the suckers to lose to the Lions or the Cheetahs but my money is on both Cats going down – home and away.

I am playing for an over 30’s team in the  Inter Provincial Touch Rugby tournament on the weekend. Between this veteran’s run-around, the six S14 games and the 6 Nations – I hope to avoid watching the cricket entirely.

Good luck to you too. 

reuthers