Sharks and Stormers play old-fashioned test rugby

Peter Grant typifies crunching first half defense Picture: Getty Images

It wasn't a game for running rugby or pretty moves. A howling gale appeared to make things very difficult for both teams at Kings Park.

The first half was all Sharks and their ball protection was out of the top drawer. The Stormers hardly saw the ball and possession and territory were in the high numbers in their favour.

Equally, the Stormers' defense of their line was gutsy stuff. They repelled waves of attack during every one of the first 20 minutes and again later in the half.

The difference between the sides during the first half was committed numbers to the ball. The Sharks forwards played to their support runners and committed numbers to the mauls and rucks. Speaking of mauls, they had clearly practiced the tactic and the Stormers seemed almost powerless to defend against it. One such rolling maul advanced over a full twenty metres and the Sharks were unlucky do be denied a try after both the referee and TMO were unsighted of the grounding.

While the Sharks were just fantastic in their commitment of numbers to the breakdown, the Stormers played to Mallet's belief that overcommitting numbers to the breakdown opens up too much space out wide. As a result, Schalk Burger and Big Joe spent far to much time out wide and Luke Watson was consigned to play a lonely defense of the tryline with the tight five. I understand the theory regarding overcommitting numbers to the defense, but such was the Sharks' control of the ball, that the Stormers never looked like winning turnovers or forcing the Sharks' into mistakes.

Speaking of the tight fives, I had eagerly awaited the battle between the Stormers and Sharks in the tight phases all week. The Sharks emerged clear winners although the Stormers never gave up - even calling scrums at penalties in the last quarter when all they needed was a goal to draw even. One has to question that given the Stormers' prowess in the lineouts. But perhaps they weren't ready to back Edmonds' throw-ins as the third choice hooker after Brits' late withdrawal.

It was hard uncompromising stuff and not a game that will be remembered for creative play. Highlights were the Sharks' multi-phase attack of the Stormers' line throughout the first half, the Stormers' incredible defense (never better characterised than through Shimange's hit on AJ Venter), Murray's incredible effort to stay in and score in the corner, Montgomery's conversions in a howling gale, Ruan Pienaar showing he could play in dour test-match rugby, Chumani Booi's fantastic workrate in the second half when he came on for Joubert and tight, controlling rugby played by the Sharks' forwards.

I was disappointed by Schalk Burger and Joe van Niekerk's efforts - I felt their workrates were below par and left the rest of the pack too much to do. I was surprised by Butch James' return to Super Rugby, but sadly not by his boots-and-all effort all over Luke Watson's neck in the loose during the first quarter. In my book he remains a hot head with more promise than performance.

Well done Sharks. Stunning tight-loose performance.