The Sharks Go Down To The Brumbies In Another Nail Biter

The Sharks average less then one try per game. Fact. 

The Sharks have not won a single match this season. Fact.

The Sharks are a poor side with little in the way of skilled players. Fiction.

The Sharks poor start to the current Super 14 campaign has left the players and fans scratching their heads in puzzlement.

On paper, they have a team which should be winning games. Their starting line up against the Brumbies included no less than 10 international players. But despite this they have been looking ragged and at a loss of confidence.

It was not the referee that killed them this time, but the errors, such as Adi Jacobs poor pass to Kankowski, which pretty much sealed their fate for another match. And the loss of ball in crucial positions, which happened a couple of times when the Shark's were in a controlling position inside the Brumbies 22.

The main saving grace that they had was 'skulleted' (as the Aussie commentators names his distinctive hair style) fly half, Andy Goode, who kicked them into the game with some fine long distance penalties. Goode, while being pinpoint accurate with the boot, did little to inspire the Sharks back line when attacking, he also looked exposed when he was run at directly. It may be that his kicking may need to be sacrificed for attacking fair by moving Pienaar(Pee-a-naar, as the Aussies call him) into fly half and brining young gun Kockett into scrum half. Something for Plumtree to think about.

The Brumbies have prop Ben Alexander to thank for their victory. The big man scored two tries in the game, a feat as rare as finding a white taxi driver in down town Soweto. As a whole the Brumbies back line looked sharper while in position, and more likely to break the line than their counter parts from Natal through players such as Tyrone Smith.

So then, final score 24-22 to the Brumbies

However, I for one, have the feeling that the Shark's are due a 'big one' after two close, close defeats in two weeks. And with that a belated kick start to their Super 14 season.