And Ben scores again off a quick throw in. Too easy.
And Ben scores again off a quick throw in. Too easy.
Sharks seem totally disinterested. Process rugby…..just too many meaningless matches.
Who are the youngsters in this team Dave is always on about?
Dave obviously watches these guys way more than I do, but so far guys like Masuku, Hendrikse and Julius are looking positively ordinary.
And Hendrikse loses the ball in contact again. Keep this guy clear of the Boks please.
Julius….yes, that’s the chap Dave has as our future at 13 as I recall.
These teams both in white is ludicrous!
Sharks with a 30 man maul that gets stopped and then the ball is ripped from #16 as he breaks away and charges towards the tryline.
These teams both in white is ludicrous!
Ja I thought so too.
Nice backline attack that time from the Sharks. And Julius drops the scoring pass.
And now Hendrikse doesn't pop the pass as his 14 runs a winning line off him straight into a gap.
I’m going to play golf Pakie…enjoy your weekend.
Cheers Moz.
31-3. I'm gonna kick up my braai fire too rather than watching this dumpster fire any longer.
This ws a total disgrace - thee defne was non-exitent and donkey brain Esterhiuzen was carried back meters in a tackle, If I have to rate the Sharks backline none of them will get above 3 out of ten. Amongst the forwards Jenkins will get a 3 and the rest 4
In the casse of backline defense there was none so they all get 0/10 = a total disaster display, I like Julius - but he lacked a flyhalf and inside center to perform.
Piss poor...not the Currie Cup...more interesting discussing Dave's girth...
Stormers ook maar K@K of late...hope they can be a bit better today.
The guys are probably playing too much rugby. And with this competition it doesn't feel like there's much at stake.
Nothing at stake...sounds like excuse making.
Pakie = but total BS I am afraid. - the Sharks third game in the series - with cvirtally none of them in the test series =you need bckline players and none of them showomg anything even on club/fanchise level ed anything/ / .
Great Excuse
The Stormers were eqally patheitc. The only playe who showed anyhin in lnme-outs ec was Schickerling. Willemse was pahtic as well
Just for the sake of interest, there were concerns about fatigue for the Sharks even from Plumtree, as well as certain journos like Greenaway from IOL:
The Italians are under pressure and desperate to play to their potential while John Plumtree’s Sharks are close to running on empty after five demanding matches away from the green grass of home.
First, there was the 100-minute semi-final defeat of the Bulls, then a drama-laden Currie Cup final. But the reward was no open-top bus trip around KZN to display the trophy. Instead, the day after the final, the Sharks began a long journey to the west coast of Ireland where they had one good half and one bad half in losing by six points.
Next up was the Dragons and again the Sharks could only play for 40 minutes although this time they salvaged a win at the death.
The inability to play with intensity for longer than 30 minutes or so suggests that fatigue has set in and the phrase “flogging a dead horse” comes to mind.
And no, this is not a search for "excuses". I am thinking about the effect of year long non-stop rugby with constant travel on the players.
So players ike Esterhuizen and Masuku were too tired to tackle players running at them? Esterhuizen had a 4 match ban after going stupid in a mach and he was injured with some question marks as to the injury/ He had no tough playing program - but his normal pace-deficiency came on full display yesterday. If the Sharks had Hooker at 12 - the defense would have been at least 70% better.
Both Esterhuizen and Masuku proved yesterdaythat theyshould never play Sprigbok rugby again. They do not fit into any game plan - because they are basically deficient due to pace and rugby skills, .
Mike, your anti-Esterhuizen campaign is just tiresome. There was nothing wrong with Esterhuizen's tackling and not one Benetton try came as a result of anything he did wrong. His pace is what it is - he is a carthorse just like DDA. That's a payoff you have to accept if you want a huge 12.
I don't get how people can say it was meaningless match or nothings at stake. Its the third round of a league game, how do you know the result won't be important at the end of the season?
...if anything, easy wins should be prioritised.
Honestly, I want the Saffa teams to take a bit of a spanking for a few years.
Might help them realise that thinking you're good doesn't mean you're good and that reputation is the enemy.
I'm noticing a bit too much arrogance in our rugby. Some of these hallowed coaches are also being exposed...which is good news as far as I'm concerned.
Pakie
Remember the case where Beneton knocked on a ball and with an excellent opportunty to counter-attack Esterhuizen knocked on the ball himself You describe De Alende aqs a cart horse - but his pace is twice that of Estrhuizen and he has ball sense to be where he assist scoring of tries and score tries himself - while Estrhuizen has very little in ball skills and n bal sense and that means he was constantly in the wrong position where he should have been in defense. That cause try scoring by Belleton yesterday.
Your hero worship of Esterhuizen is a joke and it is clear Erasmus realizes that, I doubt it very much if he and Mostert will be in the November test squad going to the UK, as well as succeeding squads next year. .
Remember the case where Beneton knocked on a ball and with an excellent opportunty to counter-attack Esterhuizen knocked on the ball himself
Yes.
that means he was constantly in the wrong position where he should have been in defense. That cause try scoring by Belleton yesterday.
Give me one example.
Every time te Belleton backline ran straight through the Sharks backline that was the case. and that happened at least 4 times
I see. So Esterhuizen is the only person who can tackle in the entire side, is what you're saying? If he's not there, the opposition just run through them.
Never knew you rated him that highly, go figure. Most Important Player in the side.
Take it from me - Esterhuizen was always a dubious tackler and yesterday often was not in the defense line, In the one case he was the opposition atatcker went straight through the gap betwen Esterhuizen and Masuku - and scored a try. I other cases was nowhere in the defense line and Belleton had a field day.
To conclude the argument - Esterhuizen had a disastrous performance day whatever way you look at it.
Here's probably the typical stuff ou Maaik will blame on Esterhuizen "not being in position".
Benetton try #4.
Image 1: Ball comes down the backline. Esterhuizen (yellow) is in position in the defensive line. Watch the decoy runner (red).
Image 2: Decoy runner comes through and takes Esterhuizen out, while simultaneously Sharks 23 (blue), instead of holding the line, comes inside onto the carrier, opening a massive gap behind him.
Image 3: Esterhuizen can be seen on the ground after being taken out by the decoy runner, and Benetton about to run through the ground vacated by #23's stupid and unnecessary inside rush to score.
But surely, since the Sharks line was breached, we must follow ou Maaik's logic and accept that this has to be Esterhuizen's fault. Surely.
This should in fact have been a Sharks penalty.
In the one case he was the opposition atatcker went straight through the gap betwen Esterhuizen and Masuku
Which try?
I'm sure this is the incident the poor old confused sod refers to as someone running between Esterhuizen and Masuku.
Leadup to Benetton try #5: The break is made between Julius and Sharks #22, whatever his name is.
Pakie, lyk my jy't Vlagman se vlag opgetel...sterkte.
Let's keep it going, Draad, see what a sad smear campaign we have here.
Benetton try #3. Benetton takes a quick throw-in deep inside the Sharks 22. Esterhuizen is the only player awake to it and immediately tackles the receiver of the throw (yellow circle first image), but the latter manages to get the pass away to the Ben wing. He then beats first Jordan Hendrikse, and then Sharks 23 to score.
So in three tries so far we have Sharks 23 twice directly culpable, Sharks 22 and 13 joint culpable, and Jordan Hendrikse culpable. However, Hendrikse will be culpable a second time, as I'll show shortly. Yet not a comment from ou Maaik, not a one, on any of these players failing in their duties. It's all Esterhuizen.
Benetton try #1. The Sharks is in a world of shit here anyway, but the try is made inevitable by their only wide defender, Jordan Hendrikse, inexplicably charging into midfield, which easily facilitates the wide pass to the wing. Had Hendrikse stayed wide the long pass may not have come as there was a risk of interception, and putting the ball through the hands may have given the Sharks cover defense time to get across. Maybe, but doubtful. Howsoever, Hendrikse's decision put it beyond doubt.
As it stands it's a straight sprint to the line for the wing, with none of the 4 Sharks backs trying to get across making it in time.
Benetton try 2: phase ball, move to the right, Ben 6 gets the ball. He beats Masuku, steps inside Julius and shrugs off Jaden Hendrikse, bumps off Julius who got back to make an actual attempt, then offloads as Hendriks finally latches on to him and the try is scored.
Masuku, Julius, Hendrikse. Julius now culpable twice, yet not a mention from ou Maaik. All Esterhuizen.
So that's the 5 Benetton tries and incontrovertible proof of ou Maaik's bullshit. Not that any was needed.
so 3 photos nne of whom shows Esterhuixen so where was he in any event/ if hrepaased Masuku and then Julirs comesin as a deffender - where the hell was Esterhuizen? At criticl times ooccal times he went AWOL without any effort to defend anything.
There are two sides of a ruck to defend. Some of the defenders are on one side, some are on the other side. You've been watching rugby for how many decades now and you don't grasp this simple concept?
Here's Esterhuizen and #23 at top right covering the far side of the ruck in the lead up to try #5, for example. Play though goes to the near side. Elementary stuff. Common sense. But keep going. You look more idiotic every time you type something.
Pakie good job ..... take a bow.
ouMaaik ffs. lift your game.
Final warning 
Mike;
Yet again, there are people that provide evidence. Note Pakie's performance here.
And note Moz's performance in the other thread relating to Manie's defensive frailty.
Note also the numerous other instances where the same posters, myself included, show screenshots and provide video to back up what is said.
And then notice the other side, your side...who make up their own reality. Who never provide evidence. Who ask for evidence and then duck like a Greek child that has upset his mom, when the evidence is presented.
It's fact versus fiction.
The irony...it's the side that never provides evidence that are known for statements like "Bullshit" and "Stop spreading BS on the site"...and and and.
Pakie, thanks for your post.
Regardless of it being a bitchslap to BS, it's actually nice to have people putting effort into making informative posts.
Much appreciated, my good fellow!
ouMaaik, I heard rumours that you might be shown a yellow card .................. lift your game & I'll put a word in for you.
I heard rumours that you might be shown a yellow card
Yellow? Is Mike now the Owen Farrell of Ruckers? Red all day 
Cheers Plum & Blob.
So the players of Benneton just ran through the gap between Masuku and Esterhuizen in one case and the photos proved it/ Why did that h appen - either one or both are blamed for that type of situation and from the word go in 2018 in the first five tests of Esterhuizen and De Allende their defense stats were as follows:-
Esterhuizen - tackles made 22 tackles missed 5
De Allende - tackles made 42 tackles missed 5
Even Jake White in 2014 knew that Esterhuizen does not have the pace o be a backline player and tried to mv Esterhuizen to play at 7 and then realized he ould not play in that position at all. When Fransie was banned for five weeks in 2014 he used Bosman at inside center rather than Esterhuizen.
In 2018 in the test against the English Esterhuizen ran the most stupid line ever by a backline player and thus isolated himself with no players being there to protect the ball should Estehuizen be tackled.
In 2019 Esterhuien was left out of the Springbok squad for the WC and when Kriel got injured early in the tournament rsmus called up Willemse to replace Kriel. So why was that? The site "experts" have attacked Erasmus and what they want is always the same BS. According to them Erasmus is a failure as coach as he selected playes like Du Toit and De Allende ahead of Mostert and Esterhuizen.
When Erasmus gave Esterhuizen the opportunity to try and prove he can play in attacking backline play modem he got red-carded within he first 3 minutes and a ban of 4 weeks as result. According to you St Esterhuizen did nothing wrong and the red card was the result of an accident and the referee and panel reviewing tha card was wrong and the four week ban was unfair.
On Saturday in the case of one try runing through te gap between Masuku and Esterhuizen and in the case of another through the gap between Julius and Masuku. So why did those gaps even existed?
The oher issue that nobody eer questioned is ahy in he 18 tests Estehuizen played - he never scored a try. There was one excellent opportunity for him to score a try - but wen the break was made and Esterhuizen had an open run to score - he knocked on the ball passed to him - opportunity gone.
After the Portugal fiasco this year it will be a great surprize if St Esterhuizen is included in future Springbok squads. Too many obvious deficiencies and failures to perform is in evidence - two of the worse being pace indeficiency and ball skills absence. At the age of 30 ther is no chance that those wo deficiencies would be overcome and I beleive that players like Hooker and Kriel are better suited than him to play at inside center if De Allende needed to be replaced.
What is not surprizing is that mot experts worldwide believe De Alende is at present the best inside center in the world - while our site "experts" condemn him as being te worst. No urprising - if they cannot explain the fact tat De Allende scored crucial tries in the 2019 and 2023 they lied about what in fact happened in the tests against Wales and France respectively.
So when I said Esterhuizen is not a test level player and never will be the site prima donnas go into overdrive like happened in this case. It may be advisable for him not to go to sleep like the case is in "Nessun Dorma" - but he missed the advice totally.
. .
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So the players of Benneton just ran through the gap between Masuku and Esterhuizen in one case and the photos proved it/
There is no photo anywhere showing anyone running between Masuku and Esterhuizen.
Pakie
Lets face facts when opposition backline players ran through gaps in defense what was wrong? You yourself mentioned that a player ran throug the gap between Masuku and Esterhuizen and in al the photos shown Etehuizen in one made a mck dive when the Benneton playe was passed him by meters already/ You even circled him on the photo. In the other photo's Esterhuizn was not anywhere shown in the pics. He wss just trotting meters behind the Beneton backline and players with no haste to get into the defeendig line at all.
In fact the Sharks backline was a defensive disaster in the match and you do not ev try t indicate why it happened. To my mind it was Masuku and sterhuizen who went AWOL in defense - end of story.
To my mind it was Masuku and sterhuizen who went AWOL in defense - end of story.
Nee maar dan is dit piele, ou Maaik 
Jurenzo Julius is an amazing player if you don’t see that I’d suggest you go watch a different sport
He has to move to the wing in this game after Hooker went off early so was completely wasted out there while the past it Frans Venter occupied the 13 spot from the bench
Shocking performance by the Sharks
Agree with you about Julius. My commen on him was favorable - for the rest the Sharks backline was supershit - especally when it came to defense .
10,077 posts
17-3. Poor tackling. Jordan Hendrikse losing the ball in contact led to the second Ben try after their 6 made about 20 meters through 3 powderpuff Sharks tackles before offloading. Not much good happening for the Sharks right now.