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Durban – After about 20 minutes of play, Sharks hooker Bismarck du Plessis complained to referee Mark Lawrence that he had beeen “Choked” by a Brumbies player during their Super Rugby clash on Saturday.
Du Plessis was seemingly quite within his rights to feel aggrieved about literally being choked, even though the penalty went against him.
And Matt Giteau slotted the resultant penalty to figuratively start choking the Sharks’ Super Rugby hopes in the first half.
By the time half-time arrived, the Sharks’ lineout was a mess, their handling had been poor and they were trailing 16-6.
Thank goodness for a second 40 minutes which the home side used to get out that choke hold, and deliver a performance that put the previous week's Newlands nightmare behind them.
Amazingly, the Stormers defeat was still weighing on the Sharks’ minds in the first half, with coach John Plumtree admitting that it was an issue.
“The team was bitterly disappointed after what happened in Cape Town and it showed on the training field,” he said.
Plumtree admitted that their confidence had been boosted by the introduction of Beast Mtawarira and Adi Jacobs in the second half.
Mtawarira played the second half and forced the Brumbies onto the back foot and stopped their momentum with a series of powerful ball-carries and crunching tackles.
“Yes, Beast was excellent. He would have started, but only recovered on Friday after a knock to the head and I decided to only let him loose in the second half,” said Plumtree.
Regarding Jacobs, who replaced a struggling Meyer Bosman, Plumtree was equally honest.
“We know he’s a very good player and is now playing some of the best rugby of his life. He did very well when he came on and I believe there will be more pressure on me to pick him in the starting line-up.”
Jacobs attacked the advantage line superbly, and scored an excellent try after a 50 metre dash.
“That try was probably inevitable because of the way he played, but I think Adi will be the first to admit that some good play on his inside made it possible,” said Plumtree.
Brumbies coach Tony Rea said: “We put them under pressure. But in the second half they exploited our errors and played good rugby.”
Scorers:
Sharks:
Tries: JP Pietersen, Steven Sykes. Adrian Jacobs, Anton Bresler
Conversions: Pat Lambie (4)
Penalties: Lambie (2)
Brumbies:
Try: Christian Lealiifano
Conversion: Matt Giteau
Penalties: Giteau (3)
Durban – After about 20 minutes of play, Sharks hooker Bismarck du Plessis complained to referee Mark Lawrence that he had beeen “Choked” by a Brumbies player during their Super Rugby clash on Saturday.
Du Plessis was seemingly quite within his rights to feel aggrieved about literally being choked, even though the penalty went against him.
And Matt Giteau slotted the resultant penalty to figuratively start choking the Sharks’ Super Rugby hopes in the first half.
By the time half-time arrived, the Sharks’ lineout was a mess, their handling had been poor and they were trailing 16-6.
Thank goodness for a second 40 minutes which the home side used to get out that choke hold, and deliver a performance that put the previous week's Newlands nightmare behind them.
Amazingly, the Stormers defeat was still weighing on the Sharks’ minds in the first half, with coach John Plumtree admitting that it was an issue.
“The team was bitterly disappointed after what happened in Cape Town and it showed on the training field,” he said.
Plumtree admitted that their confidence had been boosted by the introduction of Beast Mtawarira and Adi Jacobs in the second half.
Mtawarira played the second half and forced the Brumbies onto the back foot and stopped their momentum with a series of powerful ball-carries and crunching tackles.
“Yes, Beast was excellent. He would have started, but only recovered on Friday after a knock to the head and I decided to only let him loose in the second half,” said Plumtree.
Regarding Jacobs, who replaced a struggling Meyer Bosman, Plumtree was equally honest.
“We know he’s a very good player and is now playing some of the best rugby of his life. He did very well when he came on and I believe there will be more pressure on me to pick him in the starting line-up.”
Jacobs attacked the advantage line superbly, and scored an excellent try after a 50 metre dash.
“That try was probably inevitable because of the way he played, but I think Adi will be the first to admit that some good play on his inside made it possible,” said Plumtree.
Brumbies coach Tony Rea said: “We put them under pressure. But in the second half they exploited our errors and played good rugby.”
Scorers:
Sharks:
Tries: JP Pietersen, Steven Sykes. Adrian Jacobs, Anton Bresler
Conversions: Pat Lambie (4)
Penalties: Lambie (2)
Brumbies:
Try: Christian Lealiifano
Conversion: Matt Giteau
Penalties: Giteau (3)
