Cell C Sharks force the victory:
The Cell C Sharks put in a commanding Vodacom Super Rugby performance against the visiting Western Force at Growthpoint KINGS PARK to emerge worthy and emphatic 37-12 victors on Saturday afternoon.
Following on from the outstanding performance against the Jaguares last weekend, we never looked like anything but winning, although it certainly took a huge effort against a very competitive, but ultimately outplayed Force side.
As the teams spent the early part of the game measuring each other up, most of the action was either close-quarters action or the ball being sent into the air. But a turn-over followed by some outstanding interplay between backs and forwards took the attack upfield before Curwin Bosch knocked over the inevitable penalty to get the scoreboard ticking over.
He converted his second on the 10 minute mark as the Force were finding the bounce of the ball and their own actions not quite going according to plan. They were having a torrid time at the lineouts and scrums and were also conceding turnovers on the ground.
But just when it appeared Sbu Nkosi had scored a great try on debut, the TMO decision ruled on an earlier knock-on and at the resultant Force scrum, a good attack sent them over for the opening try of the game. With the successful conversion, the visitors took the lead for the first time in the match as the game approached half an hour’s play.
Luck was deserting us as a second try was overturned following an infringement in the forwards’ driving movement. But sustained pressure kept the Force on the back foot in their 22 as the game headed towards half-time, they conceded a handful of penalties in quick succession as they tried valiantly to defend their line, before Jeremy Ward hit a gap at full pace and barged his way over. The Force were down to 14 men and the numbers advantage paid off.
Not a minute later, the Force kicked a high ball that went directly out, and to their horror, were under pressure again from the resultant attacking lineout. Lukhanyo Am grubbered the ball on attack, re-gathered, broke the first tackle and offloaded to Jean-Luc du Preez who cantered over.
Like the earlier try, Bosch converted for a 20-7 half-time lead and great reward for efforts that hadn’t paid off earlier in the match, but had just before the break, in spades. The Force’s indiscipline had cost them big.
Aside from a solitary loss to the Force in 2007, we have always had the better of the Australian side in Vodacom Super Rugby and this was proving to be the case. The second half started off like the first ended as we were putting the Force under immense pressure although they held out for the duration of the yellow card without conceding any more points.
Bosch maintained his 100% kicking rate with a third penalty to push the Cell C Sharks into a 23-7 lead and was the man in possession with the third try of the game which saw Jeremy Ward show some Ronaldo skills to keep the ball from dribbling into touch, before Bosch scored, converted then left the field to cheers, both for his own outstanding efforts, and for the welcome arrival of Pat Lambie.
With three tries in the bag and one conceded, the bonus point was beckoning with a quarter of the game remaining. Unfortunately, the next try went the way of the Force who spent a good five minutes hammering away at our tryline before finally going over in the corner. The result was hardly in question but it was disappointing in the context of log points.
But, in trying to run the ball away from their 22, the Force conceded an intercept try, Lukhanyo Am too quick for the retreating defence. Lambie added the two and although the bonus point was elusive, the four log points were vital.
The post Cell C Sharks force the victory appeared first on Sharks Rugby.
Preview: Cell C Sharks vs Force:
The Cell C Sharks entertain the Western Force in Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby clash at Growthpoint KINGS PARK, looking to maintain their unbeaten ways of recent times.
Unbeaten seven times in the last eight matches, and following on from last week’s outstanding effort against the Jaguares, this week is all about maintaining focus, continuity and progress as they look to build on the achievement against the Argentines.
Saturday’s clash rounds off the Cell C Sharks’ fixtures against Australian opposition and they will be looking to make it four times out of five this season that they have not lost.
Head coach Robert du Preez is looking for his charges to continue the good form they showed in last weekend’s defeat of the Jaguares. Given the fact that it was an intra-conference match, the win allowed us to grow the distance between the two sides on the log. It was also a massive step up from the previous week’s performance against the Rebels.
Regular improvement is what the team are looking for each week and no doubt that performance against the Jaguares delivered on the coach’s desire to show weekly progress.
“That game was a momentum changer for us, a very important win and helped us with our log standing,” he explained of the Jaguares match. “We’re very pleased with the win and especially pleased with the way the boys played.”
Given the Rebels match, the thinking in the camp is to give every side their full attention.
“What we’ve learned, the hard way, is that there are no easy games in this competition, although we always knew that, so we’ll take one game at a time and the Force is a massive focus for us. We owe our fans a big one this weekend and we’re planning on delivering.”
The big news this week is the return of Pat Lambie who has been named on the bench. Not only is it wonderful to have him back, but it came at just the right time.
“It’s great news, we’re very pleased to have Pat back, he’s in good spirits and looking great,” said du Preez.
“With Curwin Bosch probably playing his last match for us this weekend before he takes up with the SA Under 20 squad, it’s great to have Pat back. We were concerned about the timing that Pat wouldn’t be ready, but it’s worked out perfectly.”
Looking at the Western Force, the Cell C Sharks coach admits that they’re performing at a competitive and consistent level this season.
“There’s no doubt that we’re in for quite a fight,” he said.
The post Preview: Cell C Sharks vs Force appeared first on Sharks Rugby.
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