Ok I know its almost over but what the hell

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Its the Final weekend of the league stage of the Currie Cup, & the countries Top 5 teams are still fighting it out for the semi's.........ok the Cheetah's are kinda garuntee'd a home semi, but the other 4 all still have a chance. I cant remember when last the competition was this close! with just 4 points seperating the place 2nd to 5th! It all boils down to this Saturday!

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The Cheetah's are sitting merry on top of the log, with their behinds in a garunteed home semi final place

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The Blue Bulls look like they leaving the best for last, seeing that the started the season pretty slow, they currently in 2nd place.

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Then the dark dogs, WP looking all out of shape through out the season, but now currently in 3rd just a point behind the bulls.

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Sharks were proberbly (with the Cheetah's) the most talented young squad in the Currie Cup, with most of the experienced players in the Springbok squad for the Tri Nations, they currently in 4th spot, just a point behind WP, & could possibly grab 2nd spot IF the Cheetah's beat the Bulls & WP loose ...............cross your finger's sharks fans!

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& Finaly the Lions, no one really expected them to do this well, they are 2 points behind the Sharks, & also stand a very very good chance of making the semi's.

The fixtures for this weekend:

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
Pumas v Lions 19:10
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
Western Province v Griquas 15:00
Blue Bulls v Cheetahs 17:00
The Sharks v Valke 17:00

So who's it going to be?

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As the slogan go's, "The only time the Nation gets divided!"

C'mon you hippy's! ITS THE CURRIE CUP! & IT HASNT BEEN THIS EXCITING SINCE LIKE EVER!

Big send-off
Posted on Thursday, September 28, 2006 - 07:11
The Sharks will in all likelihood play their last home match of the year when they host the Falcons on Saturday and, accordingly, they have promised their fans that they will sign off in style. It is the last Absa Currie Cup league game before the semi-finals and the Sharks have no realistic hope of salvaging a home semi-final.
“We want to say thank you to our supporters by delivering a top notch performance,” said coach Dick Muir. “Our last match at The Absa Stadium Durban was the disappointing defeat to the Bulls and that is not how we want our fans to remember us.”

This is not good news for the Falcons, who have already picked up one hiding from the Sharks this year, a 46-17 smack in Brakpan in the first round. “It is also important for us to get our game right before the semi-finals,” added Muir. “We would like to enter the play-off week on the back of a resounding performance. We have lost our last two games and it is vital that we up our performance this week and get back on to a high.”

Muir’s team for the match took shape at training last night and it looks like pocket rocket Brent Russell (pictured) will be given a good opportunity to state his case before the semi-finals. Russell has been on the bench in recent matches but he is set to start at fullback on Saturday, with JP Pietesen moving to the wing in place of Adrian Jacobs, who will be on the bench.

Muir will keep intact the midfield and will start again with Frans Steyn at flyhalf, despite Butch James being back to full fitness, and Steyn will be partnered at halfback by Scott Mathie, who is taking over from Ruan Pienaar.

The latter has a minor shoulder injury and is being rested as a precaution. He will be on the bench along with James and Jacobs. Among the forwards, bionic flank Keegan Daniel is back in the starting line-up. Muir wants to give the youngster a run and at the same time the coach can rest the hard-working Jacques Botes.

In the second row, Steven Sykes takes over from Johann Muller, who is enmeshed in disciplinary negotiations with SA Rugby over the three yellow cards he has received in the Currie Cup, and Sykes will partner Johan Ackermann.

The back-up lock is 20-year-old Johan Snyman, who played for the victorious SA Under-19 team last year. In the front row, hooker Skipper Badenhorst and loosehead Deon Carstens have been recalled, with rests given to Bismarck du Plessis and Kees Lensing, both of whom are on the bench.

- Mike Greenaway of The Mercury

Botes to captain Sharks
Posted on Thursday, September 28, 2006 - 15:18
Dick Muir's side to play the Valke on Saturday at The Absa Stadium Durban in their 5pm clash shows a few changes to last week's team. With the hardworking Warren Britz being afforded a breather, his outstanding flank partner, Jacques Botes, will take over the reins for the first time at the Sharks.

Remember, there will be Live Updates of the match as it progresses, here on Sharksrugby.co.za

Keegan Daniel will get a rare start, generally being used as a super-sub, where he tends to make his presence felt - a try in last week's match testament to what he brings to the side when he is on the field.

JP Pietersen remains at fullback despite earlier reports that he would be replaced by Brent Russell and would be shifting to the wing. In fact, there is just one change to the backline, with Ruan Pienaar making way for Scott Mathie at scrumhalf, the former moving to the bench.

Johann Muller, facing a SARU hearing for his three yellow cards, drops out of the team with Steven Sykes taking his place, to partner Johan Ackermann. Johan Snyman is the back-up lock on the bench, and in the final changes, Deon Carstens and Skipper Badenhorst will start the game in the front row.

Butch James, over the knock he took to his knee against the Bulls, is back, and will play off the bench.

Sharks XV:

15. JP Pietersen
14. Odwa Ndungane
13. Waylon Murray
12. Bradley Barritt
11. Adrian Jacobs
10. Francois Steyn
9. Scott Mathie
8. Ryan Kankowski
7. Jacques Botes (capt)
6. Keegan Daniel
5. Steven Sykes
4. Johan Ackermann
3. BJ Botha
2. Skipper Badenhorst
1. Deon Carstens

Replacements
16. Bismarck du Plessis
17. Kees Lensing
18. Johan Snyman
19. Warren Britz
20. Ruan Pienaar
21. Brent Russell
22. Butch James

THE FINAL 4!

Free State Cheetah's vs The SHARKS & no offense to the afrikaans speaking people here, but the name is the SHARKS & not the Haaie! like how the VALKE are called the "VALKE" the sharks should be called the "SHARKS"

anyway, the 2nd semi, The BLUE BULLS vs the Western Province... guys.

My prediction is a Bulls vs Sharks final,
but Im hoping for a WP vs Sharks final!

oh boi ur lucky the server was down i was soooo going to rub it in how the bullies trash the sharkies a few weeks back oh well will have to trash again this weekend
final:mountain goats vs blou bulle
winner mountain goats"coz watson is captain then jack will have to pick him of eoyt"

Bro , the mountain goats cant meet Blue bulls in the final cos they are playing them in the semi's!

Oh & thanx for posting something here, I was afraid this thread was gonna be like one of Mo's olympic threads where he talks to himself :jk:

Bro , the mountain goats cant meet Blue bulls in the final cos they are playing them in the semi's!

Oh & thanx for posting something here, I was afraid this thread was gonna be like one of Mo's olympic threads where he talks to himself :jk:

har har.

mountain goats vs the deadly great white in slaop stad next week cos Im there on business and will have a blast

^^Im also hoping for that, it will be the "shocker final"! Wouldnt mind going to CT for that myself, my cuz got himself a new house in century city for his 350Z, so I can go see his new place & the rugga, kill 2 birds with 1 stone :D

oh ya right my bad i was confused in that case mountain goats to meet the sharkies in the final *sorri 2 the bully boi's i like running rugby * ya but hope its in ct my excuse to go home

Battle of wits ahead of semis
Posted on Wednesday, October 04, 2006 - 10:37
The Sharks yesterday went behind closed doors to devise their battle plans for Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup semi-final in Bloemfontein (5pm) while their opponents, the Cheetahs, began mind games of their own when they said they would delay naming their team until the last minute because prevailing weather conditions will determine which players they pick (there is currently a 60% chance of thunderstorms in Bloem on Saturday evening).

Every training session of the Sharks this week will be behind the locked gates of the Absa Stadium, confirming Dick Muir’s comments after the Falcons game that the Cheetahs can expect some surprises. This no doubt will pertain to both strategy and selection.

The Sharks wanted to try a few things against the Falcons last week in preparation for the Cheetahs but they canned it when a last minute decision was made to televise that match. But this week Muir is taking no chances and his team will prepare in total privacy, the first time they have gone to these lengths for a game under Muir.

There is no question that this showdown is as much about a battle of wits between this country’s best young coaches, Muir and Rassie Erasmus, as it is about brawn, skill and talent on the park. Erasmus is a master tactician and the Sharks are taking him on at his own game in their bid to break the Cheetahs’ stranglehold over them.

Erasmus says he will select players best suited to the weather conditions. For instance, if it turns out to be dry, he will find a place for the Currie Cup’s leading try-scoring, the fleet-footed Philip Burger and flying wing Eddie Fredricks, but if it is wet, places will be found for mighty kickers such as Gaffie du Toit and Bevin Fortuin.

The Sharks could argue, with some merit, that the Cheetahs will kick all day whatever the conditions, and they will certainly be preparing for the usual aerial bombardment that is so integral to the Cheetahs’ game plan.

AJ Venter, meanwhile, has renewed his contract with the Sharks for 2007 and he says he will retire from the game at the end of next season. He is recovering from recent knee surgery and will watch his current team take on his former team from the comfort of his couch.

“And I think I will be a happy man around 7pm on Saturday evening,” says Venter. “I have a very good feeling about this game. In rugby the wheel always turns and in recent games between the Sharks and the Cheetahs, I have had the impression that the balance of power has been slowly shifting. I honestly believe that this horror run of losses to the Cheetahs is due to end. I just think that the Sharks have too many good players and too good a coach for them to lose yet again to the Cheetahs.”

Semi-final Showdown
Posted on Thursday, October 05, 2006 - 15:10
Warren Britz will lead the Sharks in their 5pm semi-final clash on Saturday against the Free State Cheetahs at Vodacom Park in the Absa Currie Cup, one of relatively few changes from the side that beat the Valke last week at The Absa Stadium Durban in the semi-final clinching match.

In the backs, Brent Russell will start on the wing in the place of injured Adrian Jacobs (hamstring), with Ruan Pienaar returning to the starting line-up, displacing Scott Mathie to the bench.

Amongst the forwards, Jacques Botes hands the reins back to Warren Britz, the latter returning after a well-deserved break, where he takes over from the irrepressible Keegan Daniel at flank, to form an effective loose-forward trio, with Ryan Kankowski at eighthman.

Johann Muller takes over from his namesake, Ackermann in the second row, while at hooker, Bismarck du Plessis starts ahead of Skipper Badenhorst in the final change from last week's side.

This do-or-die match gives the Sharks the opportunity to show what they are really capable of, and interestingly, the Sharks are being touted as both the team to watch, and the team to lose, depending on where you source your information.

Perhaps this alludes to the fact that both semis are expected to be extremely close-fought matches. Western Province have a tough assignment against the Bulls at Loftus, but could make it three wins from three outings if they continue their successful forays against the Bulls.

Likewise the Cheetahs have enjoyed the better of the Sharks in all three matches this season (one Super 14 and both Currie Cup games), and at home are obvious favourites. This does not necessarily translate into the Sharks players believing that they have no chance. But they are aware of the enormity of the task that awaits them.

Coach Dick Muir explains: “There is an expectation and belief that we can go and do it, so although we are underdogs, we feel this is our year.”

In the knock-out stages, there are no log points, no bonus points for scoring four tries. You can win big, or by the slenderest of margins. “We need to make sure that we take the points we can, to win a semi by one point is good enough, so the approach is rather different to any of the other games,” says Muir.

“There is a lot to play for and the guys are very excited. At the start of the season we set our goals on reaching the semis, we wanted a home semi which we haven’t achieved, so we haven’t fulfilled what we set out to, however, the opportunities are still there.

“But we are very comfortable with where we are at, and that we are a side that can beat any of the semi finalists away from home, so we are excited to be where we are.”

The Sharks boast a relatively youthful side, with the likes of forwards Bismarck du Plessis and Steven Sykes at 22, Keegan Daniel at 21, and Ryan Kankowski at only 20, and in the backline, Brent Russell being the oldest player at 26, with four players 20 and under and the average age a shade under 22.

However, as in the Super 14, the experienced heads were there to compliment the exuberance of youth, and the players have experience of playing under pressure.

“The youngsters are handling the pressure well,” the coach admits. “There is a lot of excitement in the air, and that is what it is all about, to make sure we channel our energies in the right direction and make sure that our guys aren’t in awe of the situation.”

Although Durban has experienced spring rains this week, Muir says that, “preparations have gone well, the rain has disrupted us a little, but that’s unavoidable.”

Given the fact that cool and overcast conditions have been forecast for Bloemfontein, the preparations may well have been perfect.

GO SHARKS GO!


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fucking Hell, cheethas smoked us big time.
Go Cheetahs

what the hell was dick doing by benching butch and starting with steyn same goes with russel and now it seems waston wont make the end of year tour image a loose tri of
6) watson
7) juan
8) spies

and floors as a impact player
but good luck to my boys 4 pretoria ps dont feel bad for the sharks whats the average age of the backline like 22?
brad murray jp 20 steyn 19 ruan 22 russel 25 butch 26

OH DEAR

The cheetahs got pissed off from Campo's comments during the week, saying that they are scared to spread the ball, which was true. But then came saturday, they decided to play like the bulle, indentical game to what the bulls play, keep the ball, knock it in center then spread it wide, keep the pressure, finish the game off in the 1st half. we were outplayed, the only attacke we mounted in the 1st 20min was that drop effort from Steyn which fell short. good try, the errors made the try for us.

oh well, theres always next year, & the super 14

Heard Russel is joining the moutain goats next season, :( sad to see him go, but we got plenty talents to make up for him, but his pace & vision is electric! & AJ might be retiring

shitty sporting weekend on the whole, Sharks lost, Schumi blew his engine, Alonso won, England drew against Macedonia!

BUT Bafoona won! yes they did!

& now the domestic cricket league cup has begun, with its new sponsers MTN, the Dolphins 1st game was washed out in EL, then the eagle came to visit us in Durban on Friday, we drew the game! how they f*ck can you draw the game! when you you need 20 runs of 19 balls, with 5 wickets left?????

But the redeamed them self yesterday, they went to vist the Titans.
Titans smashed the Dolphins bolwing attack, making 293 in their aloted 45 over's, the highest score set by a batting team in the tournament, i think.
Anyway the Dolphins BEAT THEM! yes we made 295 with 2 wickets to spare, klusner & Hashim amla doing the damage.

Should I start a thread for this ? Cos I dont want to start a thread for nothing.

damit if bafana won that means zambia lost well at least the bulls made me happy this weekend russels is wasted at the sharks i dont know why dick didn't keep his core structure of the super 14 and play russel on the wing ps what happened to that adrian bloke who played 12 in the super 14 injured ??

Adrain Jacobs is still there! 13, our main center! u blind??????

adrain"dummy pass" jacobs is useless"gets picked over russel what the hell" im talking about the guy with the surname strauss"i think" his quite young but older than barrit

^^Dont know who you talking about? Adriaan Struass? I think we just had him for the super 14. So you think Russie will be having a joll on Sat too?
Whats with him sitting on the roof with the disco lights anyway?

wow what a match..the bloem stadium looked pretty decent from those aerial shots.

A freeken draw! yes I agree those aerial shot were amazing, trying to find pic's of them, good game good result, even better is that 10 sharks are in the springbok squad to tour UK!

Gents, isn't there any othe way that we can have one winner for the Currie Cup. It was disgusting to see 2 teams sharing the trophy.

I'm not a rugby fan as such, but I was supporting cheeters on the day. The game was magnificent, I think the more I watch it there more I will understand and will be a permanent supporter of the Free State Cheeters...\


HHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAKKKKKKKK Freistat...

It was a fair result, but we dont want FAIR! Gary Botha should have let his fly half attempt the last second penalty at goal, instead of telling him to kick it out! Just imagine, the whole of the stadium, packed with cheetah's supporter's, dropping into a dead silence whislt the ball cruises over the cross bar to win the match for the Bulls, but I hate the bulls so in the end good result.

Don't even say it!!! We could have to 3 clear points and repeat what we did to The Bulls last year.

oh well till next year bullys ps it seems jake has a thing for boys in blue no floors or watson in the end of year tour and what the hell is that average styen"sharks" doing in the team another meyer bosman

^^He's there to carry the bags, he may not be much now, but give him a few year's, you could be looking at the nations best fly half! since Henry Honnibal :D

im trying to find images of the final...that stadium was packed...

he is the best prospet at flyhalf in a long time, bes big strong and only 19, he has won and lost at the U19 world cup and has come on leaps and bounds this year. I first started watching him at U19 and the saw him play here in Duabi at the U19 world cup and also in the vodacom cup.
hes one for the future
as for watson and floors, 2 best open siders in the country by far-jake is a clown