Sharks vs Highlanders - live chat

Sharks score a try in first minute... the ref let us down on that one.

Sharks score again after about 7 mins, up by 14.

... JW what stream are you using mate

A slow start by the Highlanders but getting back into the game. 

The New Zealand teams have all certainly improved in their rolling mauls, as well as defending against them.

Hi Brycy, I'm watching it on ESPN. Now that I'm in the US I don't have to watch it streaming anymore. Hope you find a decent feed.

...this one is working

http://livetv.sx/enx/eventinfo/660776_sharks_highlanders/#webplayer_1x|1407453|660776|932345|434|33|en

Sharks score another try with some flashy play, good hands and creativity. 

Sharks pack is getting the upper hand. Highland pack is tiring. Sharks could look to open the game up

Nkosi has played well. Fantastic try - it looked like the kick was too far.

Snarks playing well.

Duh Tank leaves to standing ovation. He has played well- and his scrumming is improving. 

Bosch looking good- and an option at fullback for the Boks. He is certainly better than Coetzee. (other than tackling)

Sharks the only Yarpie team with a backline that can match NZers.

As I type that, Ben Smith rips the only decent Yarpie backline to shreds.

Esterhuizen is having a good game. He is the new Frans Steyn- but he has added some skill to his game

Esterhuyzen surely the Springbok 2nd 5.

Ben Smith ran through forwards. It was poor line defence giving Ben Smith too much space on the outside. 

Ka Maid, glad to see you enjoy Yarpy rugga.

Bosh fell apart as soon as he moved to 10. Over doing the chip kicks, and a bit too short

Good rogering all the same.

Esterhuizen must be a Bok centre.

The wee Highlaanders were whipped real good! Hahahahahahhahaha Wee JW was gobsmacked !!!!

The Sharks threw down a marker to the rest of the South African Super Rugby teams on Saturday as they forcefully dismissed the Highlanders 38-12 in Durban.

The Sharks gave a display so dominant, that if it happened earlier and more often in the season, you’d have them as a certain finalist.

They struck early and hard, like brandy on an empty stomach. The Highlanders never recovered.

The first try came in the 32nd second as Akker van der Merwe crashed over after Ruan Botha tapped back a high kick.

The next try came a couple of minutes later when Makazola Mapimpi bumped his marker with the ball tightly clasped in his hands before falling over.

The visiting Highlanders hardly had parity in the tight phases, and the best they could do was to spoil the home side’s moves. It seemed to be a rout, but then they scored a try from a rolling maul. It was the last time the crowd thought it was a contest.

The Sharks actually had their number all over the field. They had set-piece advantage, dominance in contact and even the great All Black fullback Ben Smith was caught out of position a couple of times.

Running out from the changerooms after the break there was only one team playing.

The second half saw tries by Dan du Preez, S`bu Nkosi and Robert du Preez, as the Sharks were pulling away.

Only a late Teihorangi Walden try gave the scoreline some respectability.

The Sharks won convincingly against a team that, just last week, beat the resurgent Bulls at Loftus.(lets not forget the contribution of the bent ref!)

Only one question remains: where are these Sharks every other weekend?

Time to crunch the wee Chiefs! Hahhahahahahahahahaha

The Sharks played the way most of us expected before the competition began but had a few blowouts...all of a sudden they get it right and then....who knows...another unexpected blowout...I hope not...consistency is what is needed...the meeting with the Bulls in Pretoria could be a litmus test if indeed they will show up again...then the Chiefs at home and the Jaguars away...both difficult as the pressure mounts...a must win and no blowouts.

The difference between SA franchises and NZ ones is consistency...the Saders and Canes are the most consistent of all franchises and I see only another 2 horse race, but I'm a Sharks fan and maybe, just maybe with an iota of hope a miracle might happen for a  Natal side like when we first won our first Currie Cup in Pretoria many years ago...against all odds.

Sharks getting it all right is the SA's franchises' only hope of a finals victory as both the Lions, Bulls and Stormers playing away is dodgy one as the history of supers shows...Sharks can play away when in form but I have serious doubts if the Lions, Bulls and Stormers have what it takes to win finals in NZ...I think we can by-pass Ozzie teams this year. But who knows maybe the Jags could finish at the top of our franchise and if so their performance overseas has been the best of both SA and Australian conferences.

Seb

Playing the Chiefs over the next two weeks will be a walk in the park for both the Stormers and the Sharks.   Fact is the Jaguares was lucky having to play the Brumbies, Blues and Chiefs on tour. All three are sub-standard teams that can only win with the active help of the NZ refs.   .         

Well, the trouble trying to predict at this stage is virtually impossible as we will probably see some unexpected results and a roller coaster ride with some as the competition fatigue sets in and wounded soldiers fall by the wayside...all things will never be the same for the Lions without Marx which means that the Stormers will probably defeat the Lions after their trip to Japan and back...an exhausting trip and in Tokyo...they cannot afford to disrespect the SW with a B side.

Sharks have a hard game in BA too but I'm not too worried about the Bulls in Pretoria.

This damn thing is a lottery and apart from the Crusaders who I think will win this one yet again anything that happens won't surprise...