to the glory of Ian Mac’s day and on into the professional era. There is something so energizing to see the Black & White running the ball, splitting open the defense as a packed ABSA Stadium rises to its feet to applaud another victory. As the smoke from the braai’s begin to perculate around the parking lot on College Rovers fields, KZN will live through another week, smiling, hoping and believing that the 30-28 win against the Reds is another brave step closer to a possible playoff spot.
It was an epic encounter, the Sharks who had started to gather momentum with 2 wins in a row have been on a ridiculous schedule that has seen them play 8 matches without a break. The Reds were rested, invigorated and expecting a punch drunk Sharks team to show up and get rolled over. Instead they found a home team willing to play for only one reason- Survival!
And survive they did in the most dramatic fashion. Trailing 9-21 at the break it seemed to all but the faithful that the jet lag, the endless weeks from home, the bad calls from refs, the injuries and a relentless Reds team would finally lay the Sharks to rest for the season . But the second half was about to blow away the cobwebs and reveal to anyone who dared to look just how potent this Sharks outfit can be.
It was forty minutes of the most committed Sharks rugby seen this year as they strung phase after phase together and repeatedly tested what was an unyielding Reds defense. Yet Jacques Botes who had run miles during the match steered a well worked maul toward the try line and lunged over for a five pointer. The attack continued for the full 40 minutes which saw the hard running JP Pietersen thundering his way to the try line after narrowly missing out earlier when he failed to gather and complete an Andy Goode cross kick.
With a broken thumb Ryan Kankowski will almost surely have no further part in the rest of the Super 14 which is a hammer blow to the Sharks who have relied so heavily on the pace and skill of the Springbok Eightman. Yet there is rejuvenated confidence peculating through the Shark Tank once again. Pienaar is looking as good as ever, Smitty is scrumming solidly, Stefan is good to go for another 100 games and the ‘Silent Lambie is taking big steps towards greatness. Why wouldn’t you bet on a Sharks playoff spot?
“Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival.” Churchill was dramatic in his assumption of victory and so he should have been. But how true he was….without victory there is no survival. Long Live the Sharks!
