Sharks make massive statement

Every champion team needs a season-defining performance. The Sharks delivered theirs in Christchurch, writes MARK KEOHANE.

The 30-25 win was magnificent. It was among the finest in the franchise’s history. It was fashioned on defence, courage, camaraderie, a mixture of experience and youth and a coach who knows how to win.

Jake White has been brilliant with the Sharks this season. The World Cup-winning coach appreciates the strength of his team and also the limitations.

White has also never been shy to entrust youngsters with responsibility and with 17 minutes to go he gave all his young men the chance to make history. And they did.

When Willem Alberts got sin-binned with 17 minutes to go, the Sharks, reduced to 13 men against 15, trailed 22-20. But the injection of fresh legs and minds that have not known a decade of losing in New Zealand meant that the visitors played to make history and not merely be another statistic in the history of these two teams.

The Sharks had drawn 26-26 in 1997 and lost nine other times in New Zealand against the Crusaders. They’d only ever won three in 17.

But on Saturday they couldn’t have made a greater championship statement in the manner in which they beat the Crusaders. It meant they retained the championship lead they have enjoyed from the opening week. That takes some doing.

The Sharks have won in Australia and in New Zealand and historically have enjoyed success against the Blues in Auckland. Even if they don’t succeed in Auckland two tour wins should set them up for a home semi-final and a top of the table finish would set them up for the possibility of a home final. The key to winning this tournament is hosting the final.

White spoke all week of making history. You got a sense something special was in the offering, but when Jean Deysel got red carded in the 17th minute the feeling was this was another history-making opportunity lost.

Alas, the gods smiled kindly on the Sharks and on South African rugby.

This was an away win desperately needed in the context of the season. It shows South African teams can win in New Zealand’s south and that they can win when confronted with the greatest adversity.

It doesn’t come tougher than the Crusaders in Christchurch. And then to play 64 minutes with 14 against 15 and 10 minutes with 13 against 15!

Wow.

The Sharks physicality always troubled the Crusaders, who played like a team believing the game had been gifted to them in the 17th minute.

They never had the urgency of the Sharks and they never appeared to have the desire. The Sharks were desperate and determined and they refused to be beaten.

White prides his teams on their defensive ability and their defensive organisation. The Sharks defensive effort in Christchurch was one of the finest illustrations of how defence wins games and how an organised and structured defence can squeeze the life out of any attack.

This is one win never to be forgotten and it should be given the necessary celebration.

What a day for the Sharks. What a day for Jake White.

ROOITWIT HOW ABOUT YO UR JOKE WHITE STORY - ITS IN TATTERS! 

It was a brave and passionate defensive effort from the Sharks, while the Crusaders showed they may be vulnerable mentally, as they returned to their stuttering performances of the early rounds. This wasn’t the Crusaders team that buried the Brumbies. It was more like the Crusaders team that lost at home to the Chiefs and Hurricanes and very nearly lost there to the Stormers.

Talking of that last game, this was almost a carbon copy performance from the Crusaders, who were way too lateral and as they had done against the Stormers (a match they were highly fortunate to win) they played to the Sharks’ strength.

The win was an important one, not only for the Sharks but also South Africa, as Christchurch has long been a barrier to South African players, and it proved that the New Zealanders aren’t invincible (Absolutely!). At the same time it perhaps also sent out a message about where the South African strength lies. The Sharks were no more inventive than they had been in previous weeks, with kicking, defence and the allround suffocation strategy that took them to the top of the log prevailing on this occasion.

What made the win so remarkable, apart from the Crusaders’ advantage in numbers for most of the game, was the many times the Crusaders regained the lead and looked to be regaining control, only for Jake White’s men to fight back with determination and tenacity each time. The lead changed hands many times, particularly during a tense second half where you could sense the nerves of the Crusaders playing havoc with their intentions.

The Sharks deserved their win as even when they had a disadvantage in numbers they never let the Crusaders dominate the gainline. It seldom looked as though the Crusaders were going to make any headway with ball in hand. Their best try-scoring opportunities in the second half came when they put the ball behind the Sharks with kicks.

Bye bye crusties?

 Yes Beeno, I'm ashamed...but there is sometimes a twist in the tales of rugby.

The longer I live the more I see it. I think that what makes rugby such a great game...sometimes you never can tell.

I knew the Sharks were a great side but like Ol'Mike I was getting really tired of FS's aimless kicking but something must have happened between him and the coach after Brumbies game...I think Frans is the type of mentality that needs tough words and a big kick up the arse to realise his potential... 

The difference between Pat Lambie and Frans Steyn is vast in mentality and the way the coach tutors them is different...Frans needs direction whilst Pat you just leave and give initiative and support as he is a natural sportman with intuitive skills...despite their age experience.

That's the way I see it...for one thing the Sharks would have never lost to the Brumbies with Pat Lambie...I'm quite certain of that.

But what's happened I think is good...a learning curve and a huge boost and encouragement.

Please Sharks don't underestimate the Blues...they'll be out to get you...from now on it's real hard work both in the mind and physically.

Come home with 3 wins and show the wee Stormers and Bulls how it's done...lolz.