The first week of the 2014 Super Rugby finals sees the Highlanders facing the South African conference leading Sharks in Durban at 1:05am (AEST) on Sunday morning.
Under the guidance of head coach Jake White the Sharks emerged as Super Rugby’s premier side in the first half of the competition, winning seven of the opening eight game. However, the Sharks have dropped the ball in recent weeks winning just three of their last five.
The Highlanders scraped into the finals in sixth place, just one point above the Hurricanes. Similar to the Sharks, the Otago-based franchise has not performed well in the latter half of the season, winning only one of their last five.
Having won six of their last eight games at home, and considering the Highlanders recent poor form, the Sharks remain firm favourites. White’s side lost some of its fear factor after dropping a home game to this weekend’s opponents — the Highlanders — and came further back to the pack following a road loss to the Brumbies.
Defeats either side of the June Test break to South African rivals cost them a realistic shot at top spot, but the Sharks bounced back to winning ways with an impressive 34-10 result away to the Stormers last weekend. That gave them a much-needed lift in confidence heading into the finals. In further good news, flyhalf Patrick Lambie looks set to return after a long lay-off with an arm injury.
The ‘do or die’ qualifying finals match features a number of key battles that could ultimately decide the game. In the front-row, Highlanders hooker Ged Robinson faces a challenge in international rugby hard-man and Springbok Bismarck du Plessis.
In the backline, Springbok wing JP Pietersen with pull on the 13 jersey and face in form outside centre Malakai Fekitoa. Fekitoa has been in fine form for the Highlanders in the 2014 season, earning the young flyer an All Blacks cap in the recent Test series against England – he also leads the competition in line breaks with 64. The Sharks will need to limit his options in defence if they are to claim a victory in Durban.
At the back, Highlanders and All Blacks fullback Ben Smith returns for the Highlanders after a leg infection kept him out of last week’s loss to the Crusaders. Utility back Frans Steyn will feature at first-five for the Sharks.
The Sharks will need to limit the Highlanders key players and take their opportunities at goal if they are to win this game. The Sharks have scored the second lowest amount of tries (29) in 2014 so will need to have rock-solid defence to limit the Highlanders attacking players.
Defence will also be key for the Highlanders if they are to prevail, going into the finals the side leads the competition in: missed tackles per game (26.6), running metres conceded (705m), and line breaks conceded per game (6.5).
With elimination on the line, however, this game will be much closer than the bookmakers are indicating.
Join The Roar for live score and coverage of the Sharks versus Highlanders from 1.05am (AEST) on Sunday morning.
Scrubbit
Guest
Well most gameplans rely on the players taking a certain amount of intensity into a match...
Mr.G
Roar Rookie
Looking forward to it BB and Harry. Do not disappoint me :)
Mr.G
Roar Rookie
Cheers folks, good to hear your views. Personally I'm of the opinion that if JP has to play, he must do so at 14. You don't want to be learning the intricacies of your position at the latter stages of SR. Both Fekitoa and Burleigh's tries were scored in his channel. Sbura was very impressive in the tour at 13. JP has the potential to be the world's best wing (as CR said, fabulous defender at wing), really not sure why he wants to play OC. Maybe he feels he's done all he can at wing, and wants a fresh challenge? My starting backline - Charl, Pat, Lwazi, Frans, Paul, JP, SP. Charl and Pat know each other, and I'd prefer Pat to play with Charl given this is his first game for a while. Cobus,Fred and Sbura on the bench. If Mvovo didn't recover from his knock, then Chavhanga in.
Harry Jones
Guest
Yes. Agree. It's the decisions
Totally agree with that.
;)
etienne marais
Guest
And if you compare these stats to last week's Stomers/Sharks game where the Stormers had all the possession and ruled territory as well, then all it tells you is that when opportunity knocks, you have to take it. I passed arounng the stats for last week to about a dozen friends, masking the teams, venue, final score, and asking for predictions of the final score. Only one reply gave the game to Team B (The Sharks). All the others were quite surprised to eventually find out that Team A did not (convincingly) win the game. Opportunity: not to be wasted. That's what Christchruch will be about.
Harry Jones
Guest
I'll send you a preliminary draft and we can team write it. You know Spiro better than me.
etienne marais
Guest
Come on, between the two of you, bake us something to smile about !
etienne marais
Guest
Well said BB. Total Rugby is what wins trophies. Deservedly.
Harry, you are far more poetic than I, your creative style will put out a satire worth publishing. ;)
Harry Jones
Guest
BB, you should write a Fake Spiro article about the Sharks win.
Harry Jones
Guest
Yes, agree, but if he keeps his eyes open he can offload like ag Wales in Cardiff when it was Habana to Bismarck to JDV for great try.
One area Bismarck does have a weakness is in ball carrying ability, he is very strong, but Adriaan is a much better ball carrier, Bismarck in my view is a demon in the tight, whereas Adriaan provides you more options when the game opens up.
Harry Jones
Expert
Now, against the Crusaders, far from home, I think the Sharks will feel a lot more free to find more angles, offloads, and phases. If Frans is at 12, we might see more line breaks or line bends, and I would not be surprised to see a few Shark non-maul tries. The problem is the Crusaders can score 30+. This will be a real test for Jake.
Harry Jones
Guest
Yes. Looking at those numbers, I'm struck by how many tackles the Kiwis had to make (in tight quarters) and how MANY our SA boys MISSED (in space). Also, how the kick ratio (given Sharks' huge possession advantage) does not fit Spiro's JakeBall narrative. Really, it's the quality of some of those few kicks that matters (Reinach and Frans ...). Bismarck's offloading ability is underrated. He's so hard to put down in the tackle, so he can look for speedsters. Like Read does.
Does show the perception is created due to the Jake ball acronym. It is however a little misplaced
Harry Jones
Guest
Hmmmm... Stats show a more interesting conflict of styles. SHA Match Stats HIG 68 Possession 32 91 Rucks/mauls 40 5 Line breaks 12 13 Offloads 14 14 Lineout wins 9 2 Lineout steals 0 121 Runs 81 423 Run metres 575 29 Kicks 25 0 Kick metres 0 49 Tackles made 131 17 Missed 26 18 Turnovers 25 6 Penalised 13
Harry Jones
Guest
I would definitely find a place for JPP to be on the field at 0:00, even at 13, because he's a game changer. I'm gutted for Reinach. I feel like he took a big backward. (Bok) step...
Harry Jones
Guest
Agree on Coetzee. He's adding to his game. Plays to and over the ball, now.