I gues it can't hurt to have four loose forwards in the starting line-up, but surely it would be better to go into a do or die game with a specialist lock like Sykes (who is on the bench) playing at lock. Now they have a loosie playing out of position, while the specialist is benched. Odd move in my opinion.
its a very odd decision but i reckon it shows the type of game plan they want to play which might very well be high pace running rugby and not the a stigato set piece driven style. if it wil work only time will tell but i think they are going for a all out attack but i dont like the look of alberts at lock to be honest. its a specialist posistion and one must not be played around with. i for one dont want to see alberts doing the donkey work in the tight would much rather like him to be the wrecking ball on attack with his deft offloades. i think the fact that keegan daniel is the captain has caused plumtree to force this move. in my view keegan is not a first choice for his position.
Big call by Plum.
Could work really well.
Flash it is a big call but they are saying that Brisbane stadium is idea for running rugby. This should be a cracker of a game. extremely pacy Sharks loose trio - fastest in the competition? Also Coetzee and Kan kan although not huge are getting stuck in. Maybe Alberts can still do some good driving off the lineouts?
Sorry re my post on same topic. I didnt see this while I was busy composing my piece.
I also thought Ludik has looked a bit better. Some good pace in the sharks backline. Bottle up Digby Ione and Genia and you are half way home. Both are very good players. Genia's kicks behinmd the backline are dangerous and he needs watching on the break.
This is a mouth watering clash.
there wont be many drives beeno just running it from anywhere......if the sharks can starve the reds of ball posession and end up with 55% of 60 odd % of the ball then the game should be in the bag. all about balance in attack and defence.
if the forwards disrupt the reds ball supply and counter ruck well then genia wont have a decent game. breakdowns will be key in disrupting there ball flow
This may be a masterstroke by Plum, but I just don't like the idea of trying out new things in a knockout game. As one of you has said though, time will tell if it was a good or a bad call.
I could be wrong - but did Alberts not came on as lock replacing Du Toit in the game against the Cheetahs? I think he did and it is not exactly a new experiment. I agree with Beeno in this case about running rugby - that will be the only way the Reds could have a chance. Therefore the strategy to play Alberts at lock is aimed at getting a more mobile pack in place. I think that later in the game Sykes would be brought in and Alberts move to either 8 or 7.
I could be wrong - but did Alberts not came on as lock replacing Du Toit in the game against the Cheetahs? I think he did and it is not exactly a new experiment. I agree with Beeno in this case about running rugby - that will be the only way the Reds could have a chance. Therefore the strategy to play Alberts at lock is aimed at getting a more mobile pack in place. I think that later in the game Sykes would be brought in and Alberts move to either 8 or 7.
The Sharks Loose Forward combination in the last 2 games has been amazing. Who could be left out??
6 Keegan Daniel - is the Captain
7 Marcell Coetzee- The form loose forward in many stats for the Super 15 in 2012
8 Ryan Kankowski- The man of the match against the bulls- and in great springbok form for the most recent test.
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Their has to be a place for Alberts- the Strongest ball carrier in the world.
The Sharks locks have not been great for sometime- so looks like the most logical place.
Also against the Reds- should be a fast tempo game, hopefully without many scrums, so it should not tire Alberts out. Also the Sharks have lots of options in the Lineout.
Plus Brisbane is exactly like Durban, weather-wise, that is. So the high humidity should not affect the Sharks. Sounds like this will be the game of the weekend. Go you Sharkies!!!!
Sykes is more or less a neutral.....and Steph is way too inexperienced. I think Alberts is at least as powerful in the scrums as either of these two....and better in the tightloose. The lineouts are the issue. Much will depend on whether Kankowski can step up. But even if he does the Sharks will be short a jumper.
plum is not bounded to the conservative mentality of playing it safe and losing for changing your approach. the perfect sharks game pattern it will fit the mould very neatly as you said moz the only area of concern will be the line outs because they only have 2 primary line out options now. alberts ball carrier ablity will in general play will be much more a factor than the odd line out. something that the reds dont generally like to use as weapon either so in that respect the 2 will cancel either other out. nice to see plum going out to play some rugby and not the penile limp penile 10 man stormer style donkey rugby. even if the sharks lose at least they know they went down swinging.
with both teams having a attack minded approach coupled with there amazing ball retention skills i dont see a lot of set pieces. great game in the making. just hope we are sharp on attack and tight on defence. the reds defence will crack if its tested
