Graham
05-02-2009, 09:26
by Gavin Rich | 05 February 2009 (06:55)
The Sharks felt they had got what they wanted from their “hit out” against the Bulls in their final warm-up match in Durban on Wednesday night ahead of the Vodacom Super 14 season.
The Sharks, who play the Stormers in their opening match in Cape Town on February 14, scored six tries in winning 39-9, with most of the first choice players reportedly coming through looking in good form.
The best thing from Sharks coach John Plumtree’s viewpoint, however, was the spirited opposition laid on by what was essentially a Bulls B team. Plumtree had been concerned when he heard that the Bulls would be sending a second string side to Durban as this was to be the Sharks’ only big warm-up game following the cancellation of the planned clash with the Cheetahs in Dubai.
“I am pleased with that. I was happy that the Bulls got stuck in at the breakdown and defended so well,” Plumtree told reporters afterwards.
The Sharks now have ten days to iron out any faults picked up last night, and also to absorb returning Springboks Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis, as well as Beast Mtwarira and Deon Carstens, back into the team. Those four were the remaining men on the sidelines due to injuries and whose rehabilitation has been timed for completion in the first week of the Super 14 season.
Plumtree may not think it is ideal that these players have not been training and then get thrust straight into the Stormers game, but he can console himself with the thought that it is the same for his opponents, and indeed for most teams in the competition.
The Stormers have only recently welcomed Schalk Burger and Conrad Jantjes back from breaks forced by injury, while Sireli Naqelevuki is almost certainly out of the game due to bruised ribs.
On Wednesday, Luke Watson and Andries Bekker were sidelined with what coach Rassie Erasmus referred to as "niggles", while Peter Grant has been a bit of a mysterious absentee both from training and from the Stormers squad for the last game.
On Wednesday Erasmus said that there was nothing wrong with Grant, but that he was being managed.
Craig Burden scored two tries for the Sharks against the Bulls, with Ruan Pienaar, Ross Cronje, Frans Steyn and Odwa Ndungane weighing in with the others. Pienaar kicked two conversions, another was added by Steyn, who also kicked a drop-goal. The Bulls were unable to score a try and had to rely on three penalties from Francois Brummer.
SuperSport
The Sharks felt they had got what they wanted from their “hit out” against the Bulls in their final warm-up match in Durban on Wednesday night ahead of the Vodacom Super 14 season.
The Sharks, who play the Stormers in their opening match in Cape Town on February 14, scored six tries in winning 39-9, with most of the first choice players reportedly coming through looking in good form.
The best thing from Sharks coach John Plumtree’s viewpoint, however, was the spirited opposition laid on by what was essentially a Bulls B team. Plumtree had been concerned when he heard that the Bulls would be sending a second string side to Durban as this was to be the Sharks’ only big warm-up game following the cancellation of the planned clash with the Cheetahs in Dubai.
“I am pleased with that. I was happy that the Bulls got stuck in at the breakdown and defended so well,” Plumtree told reporters afterwards.
The Sharks now have ten days to iron out any faults picked up last night, and also to absorb returning Springboks Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis, as well as Beast Mtwarira and Deon Carstens, back into the team. Those four were the remaining men on the sidelines due to injuries and whose rehabilitation has been timed for completion in the first week of the Super 14 season.
Plumtree may not think it is ideal that these players have not been training and then get thrust straight into the Stormers game, but he can console himself with the thought that it is the same for his opponents, and indeed for most teams in the competition.
The Stormers have only recently welcomed Schalk Burger and Conrad Jantjes back from breaks forced by injury, while Sireli Naqelevuki is almost certainly out of the game due to bruised ribs.
On Wednesday, Luke Watson and Andries Bekker were sidelined with what coach Rassie Erasmus referred to as "niggles", while Peter Grant has been a bit of a mysterious absentee both from training and from the Stormers squad for the last game.
On Wednesday Erasmus said that there was nothing wrong with Grant, but that he was being managed.
Craig Burden scored two tries for the Sharks against the Bulls, with Ruan Pienaar, Ross Cronje, Frans Steyn and Odwa Ndungane weighing in with the others. Pienaar kicked two conversions, another was added by Steyn, who also kicked a drop-goal. The Bulls were unable to score a try and had to rely on three penalties from Francois Brummer.
SuperSport