brave dare not go … This could well be the 1959 classic that will be pumping out of the Sharks convoy as it slips into Pretoria to take up the Bulls challenge and try to lay a claim to an unlikely playoff spot.There can be no bigger game in the calendar as the history and pride of these two sides will be enough to fuel the flames of fervor for the full 80 minutes.
The Sharks will probably never forget how close they once came only seasons ago to being crowned Super Rugby Champions. They will also not forget that it was the Bulls who stole that title from them in the vanishing seconds of the final, what greater motivation will there be for the Durbanites to … fight for the right, without question or pause ... To be willing to march into Hell, for a Heavenly cause ...?
The truth is that both teams need a 5 point win but for entirely different reasons. For the Bulls a bonus point win will ensure them a place in the semis whilst the Sharks will need to secure a win with at least 4 tries to keep the dream of a playoff spot alive. The Sharks future in the tournament is balancing on a knife edge and anything less than a spree of tries could well see them shifting their attention to the Currie Cup sooner than they would like.
What though are the chances of a visiting team entering Fort Loftus and turning over the Bulls? Out of 7000 votes on the Investec Super 14 Challenge only 9% are predicting a win for the Sharks and one would have to say that the odds are firmly stacked against them. But wait let’s take a look at the recent results of these two teams. In the past 5 matches the Bulls have only scored 15 log points to the Sharks 19 and what is more the Bulls have only won 60% of the last 5 games whereas the Sharks are rolling along on 100%.
Maybe I am grasping at straws here but there is plenty for the Sharks to be positive about. It was the Reds that beat the Bulls in dramatic fashion, the same Reds who the Sharks beat a week before. The Sharks are playing with a balanced, stable side and with the return of Keegan Daniel to the bench, the sublime form of Ruan Pienaar and a scrum that is finally holding own a victory for the Sharks is not beyond the realms of reality. Add the lightning quick Lwazi Mvovo who replaces JP Pietersen on the wing and you have as strong a side as any the Bulls have faced. Why wouldn’t you bet on the Sharks winning?
It is true that Bakkies “the enforcer” Botha makes a return to the Bulls team for the first time which is going to make their line outs virtually impenetrable yet with the predictable Bulls kicking game and a refusal to kick for touch this may not be much of a factor. Still the Bulls are not defending Champs for nothing and the Sharks will have to play out of their skins to keep up. But a win is still very much on the cards for either team.
Prediction: We all know it is going to be a massive match. Sharks in Loftus…a win is unlikely, but the Bulls are virtually in the playoffs and might not have the same motivation that the Sharks have to win. I am going to predict a win for the Sharks, but I can’t see them scoring 4 tries...This is my quest, to follow that star ... No matter how hopeless, no matter how far ...
Teams:
Sharks : Patrick Lambie, Odwa Ndungane, Stefan Terblanche, Riaan Swanepoel, Lwazi Mvovo, Andy Goode, Ruan Pienaar, Willem Alberts, Jean Deysel, Jacques Botes, Johann Muller, Steven Sykes, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, John Smit (Capt).
Replacements: Craig Burden, Tendai Mtawarira, Alistair Hargreaves, Keegan Daniel, Rory Kockott, Andries Strauss, Luzuko Vulindlu.
Bulls: Zane Kirchner, Gerhard van den Heever, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Wynand Olivier (67), Francois Hougaard ,Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez , Pierre Spies , Dewald Potgieter, Deon Stegmann, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Werner Kruger, Gary Botha, Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: Bandise Maku , Bees Roux, Danie Rossouw , Derick Kuun, Heini Adams , Stephan Dippenaar, Pedrie Wannenburg .
