S6, R1: Sharks vs. Crabs - Completed

Discussion in 'Matches' started by HeathDavisSpeed, Feb 17, 2020.

  1. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    Sharks

    Shane Masters
    Eddie Morris
    David Dafter
    James McDougal
    Sam Verigotta
    John McGrath
    Steve Marais
    Samuel Yates
    Sam Bakkum
    Matthew Scoble
    Zac Macdonald
    Gunner Shriram
    Bobrad Smith
    Michael Edwards
    Regan Hutchinson

    Subs:
    Ishan Narang
    Ryan Gee
    Zohaib Ikram
    Chris Devonshire
    Bob Borisc
    Jake Taylor
    Zach Poole

    Crabs

    Os du Toit
    Okoudou Gbagbo
    Herr Burger
    Bruce Force
    Double Dong
    JD Hurricane
    Jake Howe
    Geraint Martyn
    Cobra Classified
    Ivan Ryabovol
    Daniel Speirs
    John Heads
    Chuck Faldo
    Chris Raftery
    Ginger Furball

    Subs:
    Magrat Garlick
    Hal Teja
    Pretzel Spark
    Zinzan Brumby
    Bill Kirk
    Dan Wayne
    Sticky Phlegm

    Odds
    Sharks: $3.05
    Crabs: $1.29

    Insight
    The Sharks are the weakest team in the competition now, with a complete rookie making his Seasonal Rugby debut in their back row. This is likely to be a down-trou moment. The only area where, arguably, the Sharks may be superior is in the pivots. Bakkum is a decent option here, whilst Classified has been erratic to say the least. Ryabovol is a reasonable comparison to Scoble.

    Even the areas of traditional Sharks strength - the front row and the locks - have started to weaken due to a lack of training. Verigotta-McDougal is still a good option, but probably now only equal to Force-Dong in quality. Even if there's an even battle here, the Crabs back row just blows the Sharks out of the water. You've got a lock, McGrath, playing out of position with Marais, a rookie on the openside. Yates has to somehow hold this together, and even with his experience that's unlikely.

    And just in case you hope the Crabs might tire, they can bring on a bench where any of the players would find their way into the Sharks' first XV (perhaps with the exception of Bill Kirk). This should be a shellacking.

    Expectation: Crabs by 20+
     
  2. Arheiner SIA Yates

    My ass is ready. We've still probably got 10/15 solid players but that's not really enough for the Crabs in any capacity.
     
  3. Howe JHF Howe

    Hyped for the new season!

    Sharks may be the Italy of this season but iirc Scoble is a very strong place kicker so this could be dodgy if we don’t keep our discipline.
     
  4. Arheiner SIA Yates

    Realistically even then we'd be 2 or 3 players away from somewhat competitive.

    As things stand though if we do a smaller season 7, the team will have to go. None of us have come back and the better players can easily find starting spots elsewhere.
     
  5. Howe JHF Howe

    I mean, no one is back properly. We just got more depth in 2013 and more signatures in 2015. Let's just see how she goes
     
  6. StephenZA S Marais

    Hopefully the new rookie can start his career with a bang and make some decisive tackles and steals.
     
    Arheiner likes this.
  7. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    JD Hurricane's transfer doesn't impact the line-ups for this game as the second XV games have been completed and the transfer would have impacted the 2nd XV line-ups.

    Still gives Marais the chance to show what he can do, but should mean he can ease into 2nd XV rugby and some 1st XV off the bench in future rounds.
     
  8. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    Kind of understand not making the Sharks line up but in fair turn I shouldn't be eligible for the crabs then either Heef for this match given the legalities of me not being their contracted player.

    You know the rules better than anyone but that is how it looks from a ten thousand foot level.
     
  9. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    You kind of have to suspend your disbelief, but basically assume that the match was simmed as soon as the line-up was named. Hence, your release and signing for the Sharks happened after the match has happened. In real life, matches are played not long after a line-up has been named. It'll be a bit weird for sure, but as the Squids/Nippers game has already been simmed and published, I can't see a viable alternative - though I do appreciate the optics.
     
    Cribbage and Hurricane like this.
  10. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    This, tonight 8pm NZT.
     
    StephenZA, Howe and Arheiner like this.
  11. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    Sharks with a surprise half time lead.
     
  12. morgieb MC Burridge

    I'm assuming they'll run over them in the second half, but would be a huge turn-up if the Sharks went 2/2 against the strongest squad in the competition.
     
  13. Arheiner SIA Yates

    Taken back the lead with 10 to go, it's a close one!
     
  14. morgieb MC Burridge

    What a turnup!
     
  15. Howe JHF Howe

    Carked a 12 point lead with less than 20 minutes to go. Hurtful
     
  16. Baxter MJ Deane

    :laugh:
     
    Cribbage likes this.
  17. StephenZA S Marais

    Never in doubt.
     
  18. Arheiner SIA Yates

    On second thoughts, you can keep Hurricane.
     
  19. Magrat Garlick M Garlick

    scenes.

    we might need a backline
     
  20. Dan DB Wayne

    Crisis talks ongoing.
     

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