After this and for the next two weeks we will gaet one report after another about the geatness of WP> Save us from that!!!!!!!
No lets get to the game. Despite ll my suggestions that the Sharks will win by a substantial margin - I must admit I was wrong. There was a number of factors that worked in th favour of WP - I believe the major one being amongst the forwards. The qulity of balls the Sharks backline got was at times very poor and that neutralized the Sharks Backline.
Scrumming
I always thought that the scrum would be too weak to stand yp against the very experienced Shark props. In only three of the scrums they folded and those resulted in penalties for the Sharks. However, in other scrums they stood up to the Scram machine of the Shaks and towards the end of the game even won a tighthead. As a matter of fact the two WP props on the evening also made a substantial contribution to other facets of the game .
Line-outs
The Sharks did not do well in the line-outs against the Bulls - but they failed badly today and they lost too many line-outs against the throw. They rarely got clean balls from the lin-outs. Etzebeth was gigantic in that respect.
Loosies
The loosies on both sides at times carried the ball well. Both captains had very good games. There was ample justification to make Fourie the Man-of-the Match.
Half Backs
Both scrummies had ify games - the playing conditions and some poor balls hey received could have accounted for that. Both were good on defence.
As for the flyhalfs - both had solid games and they contributed to the majority of points of their respective teams. Catrakillis strategic kicks at times were too far for effective follow-up, but his line kicking was good. Lambie's strategic kicks were better - but for the rest it was good.]
Centers
I was worried about De Allende - but I think he was good on defence and also carried the ball well. What I liked about him is that every time he attacked the gain line he made sure hius side retains possession.
Se Jomgh will onviously be credited for the try he scored syrmming from a clever move initiated by Catrakillis. He ran somehat sideways and the Shark players thought he was going to pass to De Allende. He passed tpo De Jongh - who had no defenders in front of him and had a clear run for his score. For the rest he made two good tackles in defence - but otherwise satisfactory insofar as performance is concerned.
Whitehead made one good break and defneded well. Jordaan on attack showed some really good qualities and his defence was falltless. He is a very active player and is always there to protect possession inthe event of another ream player being tackled.
The wings
Pietersen was very good in all facets of the game - the other players were average. Habana being injured early his performance could not be assessed.
Full Backs
The playing conditions were far from ideal - but all three full backs (Ludick, Aplon and Pietersen did well.
The two really ouysynding players today was Fourie and Etzebeth - those two in fact made the difference to Wp winning the match.
