Mozart
Here sis the match report on the Toulouse match last night:-
"The Cell C Sharks were looking forward to a transitional season when 2016 started, but they will return from an impressive pre-season tour of France with justification or feeling a lot more ambitious about their Vodacom Super Rugby chances than they may have been when they left South Africa.
After beating Toulon in their opening match last week, a mostly second string Sharks team followed up with an encouraging 34-17 win over Toulouse on Thursday night.
Toulouse were below strength but a lot less so than the Sharks were, and they had the advantage when it came to experience, so the way the Sharks outplayed them for much of the game came as a surprise.
An early try from wing S’bura Sithole set the tone, with the Sharks clearly stunning their opponents with the pace with which they played the game, and their willingness to play the ball wide and even employ the off-load, in the first half.
The biggest and most noticeable change to the current Sharks outfit in comparison to last year’s team though is the intensity of the defensive effort and approach to the breakdown.
Clearly former Italy and Southern Kings defence coach Omar Mounmeine has had a big impact on the young Sharks players in the off-season, with the Durbanites hitting the breakdowns and the tackle situation with frightening intensity.
The Sharks only had two or three anticipated first choice players on the field, but you could have fooled the Toulouse crowd, who were stunned into silence until the second half, which was when the rolling substitutions brought the hosts back into the game.
That though was when the Sharks’ defensive commitment and organisation really clicked in, with Toulouse being repelled when repeatedly it looked as though they surely had to score.
That forced Toulouse to become frustrated and the Sharks punished their indiscipline late in the game.
Marcell Coetzee, one of the few first choices, led the team magnificently, with his play at openside flank playing a big role in securing the quick ball that had the Toulouse defence floundering in the first 40 minutes.
Coetzee also played a role in slowing down the Toulouse ball when the French club team was attacking after halftime.
IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE
But we all know about Coetzee’s class so perhaps the most noteworthy performance came from young flyhalf Garth April.
The former Cape club and Lions youth pivot missed some place kicks early in the game that might have made the end winning margin even more one sided in favour of the Sharks, but he made up for it with some pinpoint pressure kicks later in the game.
It was in general play though that April was most impressive. His field kicking was pinpoint and so was his decision making.
He capped his encouraging performance by scoring the second try after former Canterbury Crusaders hooker Corey Flynn had put in a good pass after Gurthro Steenkamp had effected a turn-over to draw Toulouse back into the game with an Alexis Pallison try.
April added a conversion and to his try and then kicked a penalty to make it 18-10 to the Sharks at halftime, and then shortly after the break an accurate though well placed grubber infield put another of the impressive new Sharks on the night, Namibian World Cup centre Johan Deysel, in for a try that made it 25-10.
The substitutions saw a reversal of momentum after halftime, but in the first half the inexperienced Sharks scrumming pack was impressive, getting at least parity most of the way while also exerting pressure at crucial stages.
There were also some key touches in the lineout, with the lineout drive functioning well, and young lock Dave McDuling is growing as a player and is starting to look like an astute signing for the Durban union."
Talking of signings, former Bok scrumhalf Michael Claassens, who arrived in Durban from England during the last Currie Cup season, was classy, and Willie le Roux showed what the injection of his unpredictability from fullback could do for the team.
All in all it was a highly impressive performance and when you lump it together with what they did to Toulon a few days ago, it is starting to look as though long suffering Kings Park patrons might have reason to feel more enthusiastic about the coming months.
The second Toulouse try was scored by Flynn and momentarily the French side was back in the game with an eight point deficit, but in an ill-tempered last quarter of an hour April punished the Toulouse lack of discipline with three well taken penalties.
Etienne Oosthuizen went off in the first half to be replaced by Jean-luc du Preez, who made a solid contribution, but otherwise unlike the Toulon game, when they lost Patrick Lambie, this time the Sharks' win didn't appear to be marred by any major injury concerns.
Of course that will have to be confirmed once the bumps and bruises have been assessed on Friday.
The Sharks open their Vodacom Super Rugby campaign against the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth on 27 February."
Please note the highlighted passages above. Toulouse was weakened by the absence of their internationals - but the Sharks were much more weakened by virtually playing their "B" team against them.
Please also take note what was said about the usage of the backline - taking the ball wide - which never happened last year because of Fat Fransie. There defence was much better as well - not a missed tackle ratio of over 26% - like the case was with Fat Fransie.
I must agree with the article - Gold's new assistant coaches made a huge improvement with the team.
